"The Old Time and the New."

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4391, 12 April 1893, Page 2

"The Old Time and the New."

[To tue Editor W. D. T.] Sir,—Permit me to thank you for tbe eulogistic notice, in your issue of the 4th instant, of my letter to the Observer, and at the samatime to take exception to some of your deductions therefrom. You write as if I referred specially to the year 18G8, whereas I alluded to and quoted your belief in the" good old times"—the times antecedent to the public works policy and consequent taxation. Nor did I refer i to those settled on sections of ten acres only, for somo of ray remarks applied to holders of from one hundred to two hundred acres, It is true the coaches were running in 'OB, but they were quite a new feature, and even then a passage was a luxury which many could not afford, and those who could spare the fare had to Bpond two days in going too and fro | and a third to do their business, as the coaches reached Wellington after and Btarted back before business Lours. My 'reference to the serge jumper, slab hut, etc., must not be construed iDto an expression of disdain for suoh useful covering and shelter, but must remain as a protest aaainst a return to a condition of things when the masses could furnish themselves with nothing better, Your allusion to Mr Sooth is far fetched, for his firm were not capitalists, when they came here, in tho sense you imply. They were certainly a remove in advance of their predecessors and able to institute a. system of monthly payments, and by utilizing their real capital, oarried dose under their hats, they were able to forge their way forward, Mr William Booth, in particular, was able to bring to bear his business training and natural acumen towards tho successful utilization of one of Nature's endowments. Although Carterton was settled under very unfavourable circuiDßtancos, it had made slow but certain progress year by year, and in 1872, when the fire you mention swept the township, although it created temporary bardubip and iaconvonicnce, it made a distinct mark, in our progress, by devouring a qaantity oi debris that would havo taken years to get rid of in the ordinary way; but what gave .Carterton its filip, and what gave Messrs Booth their opportunity, was the Public Works Policy introduced ; by Julius Vogel, This was the Kacbel that th Carterton Jacob got to solace him. In referring to Mr Booth in the foregoing terms I believe I have not in any way detracted from his true worth, as no one donios that he has taken a leading position in assisting in the advancement of the district, and there is more credit due to tho man who makes his own money, than to him who has had it made for him.—l am, etc., Geo. A. Fairbroiher, . CitUrtQUiApjiliO, 1893.