“POOR BLENHEIM!”

Marlborough Express, Volume V, Issue 235, 11 June 1870, Page 3

“POOR BLENHEIM!”

To the Editor of the Marlborough Express. SIR,—On rising from the perusal of your paper of Saturday last, I was not sure whether I must not be something very bad, seeing I belonged to Blenheim. Certainly from the tenor of remarks reported from the Provincial Council. I was driven to ask myself what we Blenheimites have done, to be so strongly spoken against; are wo greater sinners than other men? Do we not pay our bills as well as those living outside this'condemned town ? Do we not live by our industry as they do ? I think we are pretty much as they are, and in one respect wo are different —we have paid rates for years past to make and improve our roads in the town ; while the people in the country have been pa\ ing no rates, but have had their roads made for them out oi the public tunds, part of which, as public funds, belonged to the Blenheim people. Some remarks from one member were curious and unfeeling. “As to Blenheim,” said he, “it was a poor, pitiful place, and would be so for ever.” A very excellent reason why it should not contribute. But when people’s prejudices are strong, their reasoning is seldom correct. How unfeeling, too, to insist that we should pay, and then taunt us with the poor, pitiful plight we are in, and for such a long time, “ for ever.” Another member said that “ Blenheim had no claims upon the country for support,” I still fear that Blenheim must be a shocking place. I suppose that this man and his friends may be going to cut off the supplies—our butter and eggs, for instance, will be stopped. 1 find, too, from the same authority, that Blenheim has “ back slums” (choice parliamentary language, is it not ?) aud “ back streets,” which it is thought it wants to improve. Very wrong, I am sure, that a poor pitiful place should want to improve itself. There is one good thing, however, Blenheim has done It has “ often amused” the worthy member. Now this is very good and satisfactory. It is no small matter to have the capacity of enabling a grave and mighty legislator to divert him-elf —to unbend a little, even though at our expense. We may reap our reward in the advantages which may accrue to society, when after these intervals of relaxation, the bow of his intellect is again bunt to its work.—l am, &c., A Poor Blbnhexmitb. Blenheim, 9th June, 1870.