LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 880, 1 October 1867, Page 2

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

The Editor does not hold himßelf responsible for opinions expressed by correspondents. Sib, — May I be permitted through the medium of your open column to enquire when our postal or other authorities are likely to establish a bi-weekly inland mail, of the desirability and advantages of which, there can, I think, be but one opinion. Now that Cobb and Co. are about, to run their coaches twice a week as far as Waipawa, the opportunity appears to be a favourable one for attaining so desirable an object, as a very paltry sum in addition to the weekly contract would secure an extra mail service between Napier and Waipawa. Surely, Sir, no earthly reason exists why tho good people of Hawke's Bay should any longer be deprived of the manifold advantages of more frequent communication with each other, and by this means also with the outer world generally. I am &c, Stale News. Sleepy Hollow, Sept 27. "Facilis descensus Averni." Sib;— His highness "R. H. L.," "Napier Punch," &c, &c, has thought well to descend from his usual innocent, airy style, to a sort of diluted Billingsgate. I fear thy educatioii in the repartee department in this style has been neglected ; I therefore, right or wrong, give in to its crushing logic. I trust this course will satisfy him and meet with the unqualified approval of his employer, who will, I dare say, with his usual courtesy, publish the " last dying speech" of Fiddle-de-dee. [When our correspondent uses the expression "employer," as applied to the editor of this journal, he knows that no such relations have existed, or do exist, between Mr. Lord and himself. "Billingsgate," so termed, bearing the name of the writer, is, in our opinion, infinitely preferable to anonymous impertinencies, such as those in which "Fiddle-de-dee" indulges.] Sib, — I read with regret some remarks made by your Wairoa correspondent, and which appeared in your issue of the 17th inst., which, if not absolutely contradicted, might be very likely to lead many astray. Our prosperous condition is not exactly as he has represented it to be, as I will plainly endeavour to shew. He says that "There is nothing new or worthy of remark here, except the fact of our having three vessels in the river at the same time, which speaks well for our trade, more particularly as they are all laden Avith produce." Wnere these three vessels got their cargoes I am at a loss to know ; one, I must admit, had something like from 400 to 500 bushels of maize on board, but what had the other two got ? Why, none ; and if my informant be correct, all the goods these three vessels brought ■to the Wairoa amounted to about five tons, out of which there were about three tons of potatoes, which after landing started as soon as convenient for Napier, together with the maize ; the other two, after a delay of some few days, for Mohaka, with about another half-ton of goods for that place. Then he goes on to say that we muster upwards of sixty volunteers, which I believe is correct, but where is our militia ? I learn that they number three — a strong force that, and truly worthy of comment ! And now for the "new houses that are going up in all directions" — where they are would puzzle any one but himself to know or hnd. I understand from men engaged in that line that there is one on the roads, (a good workman, too) others out of employment, while there are only three working, at what they call jobbing, and I can say on an average earn about five shillings per day, Avhich is equal to about four shillings in Napier, or rather less. I do not blame your correspondent for inattention to his duties, but I blame him for making misrepresentations ; perhaps some poor families qlsewhere, that are pushed to make both ends meet, might be induced by such glowing accounts to throw up their employment, hoping to fare better here, and what would bo the consequence ? Why, they would find they had been deceived by those who ought to be the most . reliable of all men. If your correspondent wishes to write anything interesting, he ought to give you the Court cases. — I am, &c, Sandfly.