"THE HIGHWAYS' ACT, 1866.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1122, 19 June 1867, Page 6

"THE HIGHWAYS' ACT, 1866.

To the Editor of the New Zealand Herald. ® I ?> * 3 °f v «sfc importance to us k-i,„ appointed to tlie office of Trustees, under theTrT ways Act of last Session, that some riteSionSoe made in it, or uhat we should get a new l>ill ed at once; otherwise all our wo?ks must St am glad, therefore, to see your con" ponded of yesterday, hi a letter headed "What hinders prosperity of thsJCountry," has referred to the sub. ject , and hope the present Government -will do something m the matter this Session. Th« Suner •iitendent has always devoted so much attention £ country matters, that I think I am justified in ex[lecting he will attempt to remedy the difficulties in which a faulty Act lias placed us. ' At present wherever the collector goes, amongst absentees? h e i" b - v ambles and objections „f various kinds and au appeal to la\v, instead of assisting Boards' seems only to get them deeper in the mire.—Yours .June 19th. Justice. CTo the "Editor of tho New Zealaxd Hunim.) Sp,_Tho grievances ,of the passengers of the f lying Cloud are becoming daily more complieited - it is evidently the intention of the authorities in Auckland to starve us on board-.m order harms been received this day to land all the coffee, tea and sugar, consisting of one bag sugar, two and a-half chests tea, and fifty pounds coffee; a certain firm in Auckland having been engaged by Captain Seon to pa=s the customs entries. We regret that a firm supposed to be doing a large business, cannot find more lucrative employmeat, than that -which would tend to starve people already oppressed. It is only just to jou, Mr. Editor, to offer our thanks for the very able and unbiassed manner von have advocated our cause, from a true sense of ina tice alone, without taking notice of the several acta

of charity you have bestowed on. 119; we wish it were in our power to make the same remark concerning ; at the same time we are always willing to return our gratitude for any act of kindness, however small, and we now thank the editor of the Cross for several advertisements free of charge; but as regards the opinion lie has so often expressed concerning tbe case of tho passengers of the Flying Cloud, which, in our opinion, as well a3 in any right minded Iran's, is deserving of sympathy, and reflects the greatest discredit on the whole mercantile community—if it may be so termed—of Auckland. We wish it clearly understood that it is our intention to lay before the Colonial Secretary by next mail, the whole of the facts concerning the passengers, also the important correspondence from Sir George Grey, K.C.8., and the Government of New Zealand, in order to show that upwards of one hundred able-bodied men, desirous to work," were obliged to seek American soil to obtain a living whereas they are still detained in the Port of Auckland, . going on three months, after paying their all for a passage to San Francisco, and are now threatened I to be staived. out. of the vessel by the Collector of Customs. Is it judicious to detain a number of men iaa I colony who are dissatisfied with the conduct of the Goj vernment towards them. A majority have served and j gone through the hardships of the New Zealand campaign in the Forest Rangers, Waikatos, and men I of her Majesty's 12th Kegiment, who have bought I their discharge since landing in New Zealand. Those | passengers who belonged to the Hangers- were I engaged during the short time of four months at Kakarame.i, Ofcotuku, Putahi, .Otapawa, Ketemarae, and Waikato, under Major-General Chute, E.C.8., and Major .Von Tempsky. We refer especially to one whose character is described in his discharge by tho gallant major, namely— " His gallant behaviour in all these actions is beyond praiiC ; his conduct throughout his service with me has been most irreproachable." Ibis man would not-serve the Colonial Government under any circumstances again. Is not the disgraceful manner in which the public money has been "squandered by the General Government well known ? and that nothing has been done to open up ti'ie Waikato country, so that wo could cultivate the land given to us "with advantage. Tho high s llaries given to some gentlemen in office who have never shown any capacity or example in morality, have not escaped us. Wc cannot help remarking the shrewd precedent of one wiu kept a lucrative appointment till the salary was reduced. What dil ha do ? Betire enriched, and we expect another eximple of thii shortly in the South. Ic is our opinion that men in this country, with from 40 too!) acres of land, and no money, are not required, and of no use to the colony; they cannot improve their land, and in preference to becoming paupers are desirous of leaving this country while it is in their power to do so. What would be done to us if we were to go ashore and live on each other, for the want of a war, a'goldlield or the country being properly oyened, and receive goods from the old country, call a meeting of creditors, pay tho-e in Xew Zealand 20s. in the pound, and those at home what they can get-.' It is a great pity that hard-working, industrijus men should have to leave a country which, if properly governed, could and to be srar of the' South, from its natural productions—>iz , cold, ij-on-3and, flax, petroleum, &c., hut eneouragem n" to open up these resources are not »iven; and the G ivernment neither uses them itself, nor pen-airs others to do bo. From facts in our possession, the editor of tho Southern Cross has endeavoured to excuse and paint to the public as injured men thoso who have been the instigators of all these misfortunes, and especially Mr. Seon, the master of the bri*, to whom we made the liberal offer of £-30 <o leave with his family if he would ta':e us aivay. bu h • refii-cd, the amount b.ing too small, modestly requiring £100. We wish to make no nmre comment on the matter, but simply add, having been much injure 1 by t'ie Southern Cross on account of their vi-.-ws express -d in that j urnal, we have up to tho piesent tirn *. tak -n littie notice of their criticisms, as we must ever think and speak of the gentleman representing the Southern Cross, wherever we may wander, as bad politicians, worse moralists, and critics equally incompetent and unjust. —We are, &c., for the passengers, David Abmstuong, Geoeoe HIsCOCK, Jonx Daly, Jons' Wir. White, Thomas Grant, Wir. Biuchfield. Flying Cloud, ISth Juno 1567.