NORTH COUNTRY LEAGUE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2879, 17 October 1866, Page 6

NORTH COUNTRY LEAGUE.

To the Editor of the Daixt Sovtbibx Ckoss. Dear Sir, — The subject of a North Country League has been continually on my mind, but I have been looking for two things : more expression of opinion from the country settlers, and for some one more influential to take the lead in the matter. If the country settlers do not care about it, then nothing remains but for things to remain as they are ; if anything is to be done efficiently, it requires to be undertaken by a few men of power and practical experience. I can, however, accept the easier part of making suggestions. It is clear that the mere name will not combine any number of men together, nor will the best paper constitution ; it requires some immediate practical end to work upon. I think that that should be, in the first instance, the opening up of the country, towards which every holder of land in the North would gladly contribute all he can. This is necessarily the foundation of all prosperity ; till this is done, there can be no progress. The League, once established on this basis, may take any after form that is felt to be desirable and practicable. The three routes to the North, that are at present almost unavailable, should be impartially forwarded — viz , the route by Mahurangi, thence by direct road to the Oruawharo, and on to Kaiwaka, Wangarei, &c; the route by Riverhead and Eelensville, thence to all the branches of the Kaipara ; and the sea route from the Manukau to the Kaipara. It can scarcely be doubted that the influence of a powerful League would successfully accomplish any one of these — cren the canal scheme, which would look very different when taken up by 2,000 or 3,000 North country land-holders. I should suggest, however, commencing with the Manukau and Kaipara navigation. There is now a large and growing traffics between these two harbours, while the wreck of the ' Bonita ' is another evidence that small cutters are not fib for the work. A moderate-sized steamer is required to run between Onehunga aDd the pilot station at the Kaipara Heads, whence the goods could be distributed by cutters, &c. This might be done either by the purchase of a steamer to be devoted entirely to that traffic, or else by hiring one of the West Coast steamers, such as the ' Prince Alfred,' to run stated trips to the Kaipara. To carry this out, I •hould suggest the League starting as a company, say with 5,000 shares of £1 each, to be paid up as might be required, no single individual to hold more than 25. If this traffic should prove profitable, as £ have no doubt it would, the League would soon be in a much stronger position to undertake the other two routes, and neither the Hotea bridge nor the canal would long be barriers between Auckland and the Nerth. This, Mr. Editor, is the best suggestion I can make after looking at the matter for some weeks ; and I am so persuaded in my own mind that the undertaking would prove successful, and an immense boon to the North country, if taken up by some thoroughly practical men, that 1 am quite ready to put my name down amongst the first for 25 shares. If, however, any one can throw out a better suggestion, I shall be glad to forget all about mine. Very reluctantly I add one more last word about the breakwater, or rather the letter of "Justice." Once for ever, I positively refuse to carry on any discussion with any maa (though he should write ten times more truth than is in the letter of " Justice ") who prefers personal insinuations of mean motive? to fair and manly argument j as I scorn to adopt such a method myself, Ideclineallrecognitionof it. Indeed, I hare seenjfor some time that, if the province of Auckland is ever to attain to united action in anything, the public must discontinue this most ungentlemanly and ill-mannered practice, both in our public journals and in our assemblies social and political. — I am, &c, NoRTHEBIf.