CORRESPONDENCE. [We do not necessarily endorse the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 351, 13 August 1874, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE. [We do not necessarily endorse the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]

(To the Editor oi the Waikato Times.) Sin, — Mo-t of our renders bate probably seen the question put by Mr Waterhouso to tho Governmrnt on t!io subject of the purchase of what i» known as tho Hamilton and Pialto ewotpp, and tho reply of the Hon tho Colonial Secretary, but as ifc may interest some people to know what it thought on tho subject by tho vpsidcnn in tho locality, I will, with your permission, «ay a few vrouls. In tho first place, I wish to state clearly that I have n<> interest direct or indirect in tho company « ho have purohu«cd the swamp, nor do I know the names of tho shareholder" or the terms of purchase, beyond what. I leurn from Dr Pollen's Very lucid explanation. But as a Waiknto settler, ami a resiilont rcry near the land in question, I think I am fully justified in stating that in this district the silo by Oovornmont to tho company is considered a very wise act. As a whole O7ily is this swamp of the slightest value; great enterprise on A large capital aro absolutely necessary to dorelop this property, although it will bo a very magnificent property when so developed. To individual settlers it would bo perfectly useless, and the only cbaneo tho Government had of obtaining purchasers and improvement was to soil as they did to an enterprising and monied company, and by so doing they have very largely contributed to tho advancement of this district. Tho com- ] any havo already undertaken largejworks, and in spring I understand they will go on on a much greater scnle, but what they have already dono hns been the means of bringing a great many labourers into tins neighbourhood and has addod very materially to the prosperity of this portion of the Waikato dutrict. The Hou the Colonial Secretary has so ably replied to the question put by Mr Wnterhouso as to tho pneo of tho land that it would bo taking too much on mysalf to do more Elian to touch very lightly on that point. The sale was mado at firo shillings per acre, with a rebato of two shillings and sixpence on certain conditions of roadmaking, but anyone in tho lenst conversant with such work* will eosiiy underhand that although the company nro bound only to spend £10,000 they will bo compelled to upend more than double that sum on a road for the public, and by such expenditure will cerlamiy pay moro than at tho nito of live shillings per acre; and it must »jt bo lost sight of that however much, tins expenditure may enhtinco the value of the company's property, it is nevertheless a public road. Tho advantages in a native point of view arc immense, and such aro well and forcibly put by tho Hon tho Colonial Secretary. [ believe I mn expressing tho opinions of ah least nine-tenths of tho residents in WaiKato when I say that had the Government made orcv tlio whole of lands in question to the company for nothing beyond tho stipulated roiid from tho main tvatcrd of the Waikato to thoso of tlitt Fiako. it would havo been considerod a wis»> niut prudent act. Well would it be for tho country if all tho swamp Luuls in tho hands of tho GoTcrnment were sold at a low price, with strict nnprovoment clauses, instead of, for tho sake of a trifling ndvanru in price, being sold to ttpecnlatovs, who do notlung but wait for a riao in tho value of their lards by tho expenditure und nidiutry of their neighboiu's. — I am, &c, Patrice Lksliu.

Another e «cnpcd Communist, prisoner lias arrived in Sydney, from Noumea,, in the steamer Kjmiont. His name is Coatilot, It is laid that while the steamer was lying alongside the whnrl ho slowed himself uwny in the- after hold, mid lemnined there until the vecsnl Imd been about six hours at ecu, when he camo on deck. Boforo the vessel left it wu« searched, necording to the usunl custom, by the Lieutennnt rff Ihe Port nnd hi» oflicorn, who uoro nil armed with long iron pikes, with which they protldfil the balr« of cotton and other onrsjo in tl'o fore hold ; tho.v however neglected to go into tho filler hold. It it reported that tho eecunco was a colonel in the Communist uny>T.