The Manawatu Standard, (PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant la Verite. SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1883. FACTS FOR CONSTDERATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 150, 2 June 1883, Page 2

Manawatu Standard, (PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant la Verite. SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1883. FACTS FOR CONSTDERATION.

The Secretary : of the Manawatu Railway Company must be a man with strange ideas of his own. Some weeks ago he wrote us a fiery letter demand* ing to know why we had not inserted an, advertisement convening a special meeting of shareholders, which was appearing m the Wei iogton newspapers ? We replied that no instruc- ' tions had been received to that effect, but we inserted the advertisement immediately. ■ A few days siuce we noticed advertisements appearing, m both the j Wellington papers notifying that a fourth call, was due. Naturally thinking- the -advertisement was to appear m Manawatu, where a large number of shareholders reside, we inserted it, thinking the Secretary bad again forgotten to send instructions j or that they had miscarried. We drew his attention to the matter, and this morning re. ceived the following characteristic reply: "I cannot authorize the insertion of notice ot 4th call m your paper that your memo of 26th instant refers to. In future you must not copy any advertisements without instructions.'' In the first place we contend that a notice of a call being made is one that should most undoubtedly appear m all the Manawatu papers, and the Secretary neglecting to insert such advertisement shows that he is not up to his work. And m the second place, it is very inconsistent m him to .censured us m o.ne ; letter for. not copying an advertisenaent when no instructions bad b en received, and m a subsequent one to cennore us by implication for having done so. It is beginning to dawn upon the minds of a good many shareholders m this concern that it is being •worked chiefly to benefit' Wellington. Manawatn has very little voice m the matter. Contract after 'contract is advertised m the Wellington papers, that Manawatu peoplernev.tr bear, anything abont until the name of the- successful tenderer is published j and now if is evidently not wanted $q be known m Manawatu that a fourth call has' been made. Surely, there is something . very strange m all this. Why fihould not shareholder here as well as m Wellington be made aware of the fact that anothe , call has been made ? Has the local i member ot the directorate any say at all m these matters ? To our mind it is as clear as mud, as the saying is, that the preponderating influence is at Welling" ton, which can pull the : strings as it likes. It may be high treason to say so ; but t , such nevertheless, is and has been our belief and conviction for some time past. Manawatn contributes its quota of the ways and jmefins, but Wellington administers' Just how it' likes. All the outlay is at Wellington. >*o far as Manawatn is concerned, the expenditure to the present time has not benefited the district to any appreciable extent — 80" little, indeed, that it is not noticed at all. /i Months ago we were told, •* Oh wait till yon see the West Coast Railway started, and then there | will be, brisky time,s."> : Well, where are the brisk times ? The place has not ' been duller for months past— some say for years past. The fact remains that there is no' expenditure at this end, and all the money is being spent at the other end. Is not this so ? Who can deny it P And m case the bank account ehouldbe overdrawn before the Joan ijs floated, that we hear occasional mysterious rumours about, the Secretary appears to have received instructions, not to notify matters directly affecting Manawatu shareholders m any place outside of Wellington I The Secretary says, " m future we must not copy any advertisements withont infractions,",

Onr reply is that m future we will copy every advertisement, whether authorized or not, and thus enable Manawatu shareholders to lorm an opinion as to how the funds are applied. Till the preßent time Wellington has had the oyster, Manawatu the shells m connection with this undertaking, nor do we see much likelihood of any change m this respect, while the personnel of the directorate remains as at present. We suppose by the time the train is actually running out of Wellington so far as Pahautanut, the Wellington directors will begin to think it about time to call for tenders for a second section at this end. That is the way to keep the place lively and prosperous ! But the Man- I awatu shareholders have still to pay up their calls. They are to find their full share of the funds. But as to expenditure m the district, they must not dare to expo.pt or look for such. We think on caieful reflection- our readers will prcnouuceour criticism fully justified by facts.