A LECTURE FOR THE 'TIMES.'

Lyttelton Times, Volume XX, Issue 1111, 4 July 1863, Page 3

A LECTURE FOR THE 'TIMES.'

TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE LYTTKLTOX TIMES. Sik, —The " Saurian " is, it appears, renovating his creeping powers in his hole, let us hope his mental aberrations will disappear with his physical lethargy in the balmy spring. His friend " 6eta " is awakened with others—a happy lot. " B." writes now, and retires for a time, and another member of the group will, I suppose, next try his power in the columns of the 'Lyttelton Times.'

" Beta's " " blarney stone," and other phrases, do not need a remark. The questions are contradictory ? " S." says Government, through the lioad Board, are expending mone}' on Rhodes' town which should, in all fairness, have been laid out on the Government sections and in the gully to appease the magnates of the place. " B." asks whether Government will allow their township and its purchasers to be sacrificed for the benefit of Messrs. Rhodes.

The absurdity of those remarks is their own confutation. "B." says, "if I ever knew, I have forgotten how we managed to supply provisions to the stations, or get our firewood, &c., five or six years since?" Then he remarks that " wants create wants." True the increased consumption created more traffic, and the natural tracks becoming impassable, they wanted forming and metalling, so we came to a standstill. I know we are now getting some of our sawn timber from the Waimati, but only lately, and not before the roads were made. Fire, and the large demand for sawn timber, have almost denuded the Arowenua, and bush is getting used up. Laying out the money on the Government town would not have made the roads available for those station masters who are now sending their wool to swell the exports of Oamaru. This state of things is being remedied, and I believe our southern roads are now formed and metalled as fast as the works will permit.

Truly those gentlemen who constitute the Road Board, little need my defence ; their actions, like iny statements, carry their own proof. What a happy world we should have if every man would mind his own business.

In finishing this subject, I cannot refrain from expressing my disapprobation of the remarks made by the Editor of ' the Lyttelton Times ' on this correspondence. " Saurian Genus " commences it, and is applauded. "No Saurian " replies, and is criticised, and told "he had better employ plain language than sly insinuations this is decidedly unfair.

Don't misunderstand me. A newspaper is fully justified, and to be commended, for allowing correspondents freely to express their opinions in its columns, but it should not drop those biased hints without good reasons for so doing. A free press, with no " moral code," is the greatest curse that can fall on a young community; in other words, a newspaper lias duties to perform as well as rights to assert, and should possess some guiding principle, and not pamper a depraved appetite. Not long since the 'Lyttelton Times ' informed its readers that the unpatriotic ' Press' remarked "that Lyttelton harbor was unmistakably silting up, the railway had better be carried on to Gollan's Bay, rather than expend public money in building wharves and making jetties at Lyttelton, which in a few years would be useless." The 'Lyttelton Times'was very indignant: Lyttelton, its merchants, and citizens would be ruined, and the 'Press' was denounced. At Timaru merchants and citizens are to be sacrificed without the least compunction—not that there is a better landingplace, but that a few absentee section holders have grown fat on the public money which has been so liberally contributed and lavishly expended at Lyttelton and Christchurcli. The public think things are done the same at Timaru. Not so my friends. The amount of your whole purchase-money is a very small sum, and the money is not squandered with us, but spent on works of urgent necessity. Mr. King laid out £20,000 with us in one lump, more than you all contributed. Studholme, Cox, Hayhurst, and I will say Rhodes, have bought largely of the waste lands, and in their sheep stations and other property have an amount of capital invested, which makes them both anxious and energetic in business. When they send a dray load of wool to Timaru, they want to unload at the place of shipment and not capsize the dray as soon as it turns out of the South Road. This road is a convenience to the stores, and to all who deal there, and to the public when cargo is landed in the Government Town. It is time enough to make roads when we see where they are wanted.

At Lyttelton they want jetties where steamers can lie alongside and unload.

At Timaru Mr. Hayhurst could not land a piece of machinery belonging to the corn mill which he is erecting as there was no crane to lift, and he was obliged to bring it in a dray from Christchurch to Arowenua.

Messrs. Innes and Rhodes have imported pure Merino rams from Germany or Europe—l need not say at great expense—and had them drowned or injured in landing at Timaru, just when they were within a few miles of the station. Importers of valuable furniture have had it damaged, but they must not grumble, for all the Government's energies are concentrated on Christchurch, Lyttelton, and the railway. It appears they have been amusing themselves and the inhabitants of Christchurch by erecting for view a public clock. I am informed it is now pulled down and laid-up for a time, and I suppose it will come in again after the public holiday. As they are hard worked they keep a toy in store for relaxation and healthful amusement.

We are congratulated that the Government have been fortunate in purchasing a few acres of land at an expense of several thousand pounds sterling for the Cbristchurch Railway Station. This lucky section holder can pocket the public funds of course without challenging, as he sold the land at its marketable value. It may be asked, why did not the Government reserve it ? Because it is a common failiug with Governments to leave undone what they ought to do. If at Timaru and elsewhere they have reserved the wrong spots for their townships, the public are not answerable for their folly. Lyttelton and Christchurch are lucky spots ; Government votes public money to assist them in building town halls and other public edifices, and say " you must supplement the grant in aid." " We cannot, we are poor, and have no funds." " Oh, never mind, we will lend you the remainder." They don't deal thus liberally with us. Mr. Editor, if you intend to re-

tain your position as a public journal, show no favour to either sect or party; hear without passing sentence, and when your decision is needed give it with candour according to evidence. There should not ,°" e ' aw at Christchurch or Lyttelton and another at Tiniaru. Your journal will then become popular and a valuable source of information to the public, likewise a profitable investment for the proprietors. I remain, Mr. Editor, Your most obedient servant, THOMAS FRENCH. [Our correspondent thinks lie is arguing with us. There might, no doubt, be much said for some expenditure on Mr. Rhodes' town; but Mr. French does not in the least answer the objection made by us. The Government have sold town land at Tiniaru at a high price as town land. They took a vote in the Council for Tiinaru town. That money they cannot legally or honestly spend except on the town as laid out on their own maps and sold by them as the town.—Ed. L.T.]