THIS POETICAL SITUATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1110, 5 August 1879, Page 2

THIS POETICAL SITUATION.

Sn?,— ln my last, I did not anticipate that the public would so soon have an opportl o n A fcy '^ f siffcm S th -c past administration ot the doro»nwat, but, as MfKoche Jyvs,

dubbed himself their champion, allow me to set lum right m one or two things. In the first place, as to tho Public, Wolks, I will start nearest his home. For the Punui-Taranaki Railway, a certain sum was placed on the estimates, by the Government. As a set-off against this sum, another sum was placed on the estimates, • for railways m tho !_outh, which, I presume, has been carried out, as there was no obstacle to it. To put mouey on this Taranaki line, as- a work for the North Island, knowing it was impossible to carry it out, was a lio and a fraud to this part of the Colony. I wish to set Mr Roche right, regarding my disappointment. I wish t© say, lam not disappointed m the present Government, because I never believed m them ; neither am I a speculator m Native lands, but a plain working settler like himself, yet, I maintain, tho native should have tho right to sell to the highest bidder. What is more, the native, like every other British, subject, should have the right to meet, and discuss all matter concerning themselves and the welfare of the country, without that meeting boing swamped by two members of the Government, and a host of followers, as occurred at -the Kopua. But this is a failing of tho Premier, and I have known him for 25 years, that he is " ower fond of putting his spoon m other folka porridge." Sir George Grey was not invited. The meeting was convened by the Nativo King? and tho Premier was shown, as plain as possible, without downright insult, that he was not wanted, I consider It woidd have been more becoming to have stayed away, and allowed tho natives to have discussed their affaiKS m their own manner, without making this another cause for grievance. Too much importance has been set on this meeting, and people are pretty near sick of it. With regard to the Thames Railway, It has been plainly shown that this work has been carried on where it was not authorised, and if the Government wished to carry" it out 'with energy, something more shoidd have been done at the Hamilton end, besides turning the sod. In fact, some people are so blind, as to say, it is not the intention to connect these two places at all, as so many excuses have been started why the work was not proceeded with from tho Waikato end. The only money spent there was, for a wheelbarrow and spade, besides the lunch, to the Premier, and this came out of the Hamilton Borough ratepayers pocket. It was an unfortunate thing, Mr Roche mentioned that the Ministry had taken the Waimate Pull by the horns. Allow me to ask him, did he ever take a bull by the horns ? If not, he had better never try the expeiiment, or, he may get a hoist, and, like the Ministry, find himself m an ignominious position. But then the Native Minister said, it was only m a Pickwickian sense, all m a friendly spirit, when Te Whetu said he was a thief, all out of pure love and affection. This Waimate is likely to prove, if not a Bull, at least a very expensive White Elephant, and I cannot help but think it would, have been just as well if some one had made themselves acquainted with the state of ' affairs before taldng possession of Waimate. Will Mr Roche be kind enough, and tell us how the present Government favor Auckland m the New Representation Bill laid before Parliament, where the North Island loses about five Members. — I am, &c, Cbitic.