"HOPE I DON'T INTRUDE."

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 164, 16 July 1867, Page 2

"HOPE I DON'T INTRUDE."

To the EniToß optiik Nklson Evening Mail. TOWN TALK. Sir —The attention of the people of Nelson appears to be divided between the Estimates, increased Government salaries, and a paper railway —questions very important in their own places. Some of our good citizens at the last election of a Superintendent went in for a railway and progress instead of our usual jogtrot pace aud quiet streets so familiar to the denizens of the Sleepy Hollow, thiuking if they could elect their model railway candidate to the office, they would have a panacea for all their grievances and a season of prosperity would be ushered in unequalled in the annals of Nelson. The prosperity appears to be all on one side, yet there is no use in crying over spilt milk. Let the people endeavor to do something for themselves instead of trusting to others. It appears the Government have determined to do nothing regarding the opening up of Mr Hough's track to the Karamea; but the two miners who accompanied Mr Collins in his late exhibition, finding the Government would do nothing towards cutting a track, have arranged to cut one into the Karamea valley at their own expense, provided they get the privilege of putting a toll on the road, and be allowed to charge for horses, sheep, aud cattle that may pass along it. Nothing but right some of your readers will say; so do I, quite right in the men; and I wish them success in their praiseworthy undertaking. But is it right in the people to allow the Government to perpetrate such a wrong upon the community? It appears they will spend money upon any and every other track but this one, however impracticable they may be, and refuse to spend a moderate sum on this track. I hope there iB still some public spirit in our commercial community, aud that some of our leading citizens will call a public meeting of the people for the purpose of thoroughly investigating this question and settling it satisfactorily, and not allow prejudice auy longer to stand in the way of real advancement of the province. If it will pay these men to make the track, surely it will pay the Government. I, for one, object to this mode of road contracting —it is quite opposed to the spirit of the age. Suppose a large mining population go to the Karamea valley next summer, is it just that the price of their provisions should be increased by the toll-charges made with the consent of our Government? This is a question within our reach, and worthy of the support of all classes, and I hope it will be approached in an enlightened spirit, setting aside all party feeling and personal prejudice. "They who would be free, themselves must strike the blow." Paul Pry's Ghost. July 15. 1867.