THE FERRY MONOPOLY.

Westport Times, Volume 1, Issue 135, 6 January 1868, Page 3

THE FERRY MONOPOLY.

Sib, —I think diggers have a great grievance to complain of in regard, to the monopoly at present carried on by the ferrymen in this Province, for instance I should like to know why we are compelled to pay Jones at the Orawaite a shilling, when scores of other people would he only too willing to place a punt or boat on and take us over for sixpence ; true, if you wish to come back the same day you can do so free, hut I know that not one tenth of the persons who cross there do come hack the same day, so what good is it to them, but I suppose the "Warden is like the farmer, when he washes his dirty calf in tobacco-water—he goes upon the principle that thousands must suffer in order that one may live and prosper. Well, we don't object to Jones living and prospering, but we do strongly object to his being allowed to make a fortune at our expense. "Well, Jones is putting up a bridge now, and I suppose it will be said he must have protection for it or he would not put it up, all we say is then, let him keep it down, we don't want his bridge; at anyrate, we don't want to be compelled to cross it and pay him a shilling when other people would bo very glad to cross us for •sixpenoe, but I suppose the bridge is

necessary for vehicles. Well, let those who use them pay for it, it certainly cannot be considered right that a poor* fellow who has to hump his swag shonld pay for the accommodation of the more fortunate individual who wishes to go I over the bridge with his horse and trap, when we pay one pound per year in each province for a miners' right, half-a-crown an ounce duty on gold, besides an indirect tax upon every thing we consume, I do think we have quite enough in the shape of taxation, without having any unnecessary burdens placed upon us. I am, Sir, Yours obediently, A Digger. Caledonia, Dec. 4.