CORRESPONDENCE CONDENSED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13874, 11 April 1907, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE CONDENSED

E. M'Dougull, of Pembroke,, writing on' tho subject of tho Otago Central railwny, emphasises tho scenic . wealth of tho Wanaka district, but says that an immeasurably greater asset is contained in tho driving force within the lakes as applicable to the industrial machinery of the colony and its further usefulness ae an irrigating factor. He points out further that coal, copper, silver, and gold are to bo found in tho district, that it produces fla-x, wool, timber, all tho cereals, and fruit from tho grape to the harder fruits which will, in point of quality, challenge comparison with the products of any other part of tho colony. Ho sums up as follows:—"Wo have, indeed, a. plofhorci of wealth, genuine wealth, that which contributes to man's pleasure, comfort, and true happiness, to in extent not eclipsed by any other region under the sun. And yet what is the tise of it cither to ourselves or the outer world! In fact, it might as well not exist, simply because of our want of reasonable connection with the seaboard. By tho completion of tho Otago Central railway to Ilawca,' and.by that only, can this drawback be remedied.? Not till then will relief have been given to tho pioneer toiler on the land who lias battled against such adverse circumstances so long, but whose strcmiousness i 3 now rapidly declining. Something almost of a new province will then pour ite treasure into tho warehouses of Dunedin, animate its industries, lighten its harbour duos, and send our ships across the ocea.u laden with Otago's contribution towards supplying the legitimate wauls of mankind." E. S. Maniz sends us a long letter on Mornington Borough affairs. The following are the principal points:-"When I penned my last letter upon the above I was sot awaro that any other boroiHi had invoked the aid of ftn typewriter to dispense with the time-honoured advertisement of tho newspaper press, to which tho ratepayers are accustomed to look for a genuine copy of their balance sheet. In the utfer simplicity of my guilclessness I gavo credit to tho town clerk of Mornin;lon as being tho first to introduce this wretched innovation, but on Wednesday last that gentleman, with ' a merry twinklo in his eye,' gave inc to understand lhafc tho City Council had adontcd it, and if it was good enough for that body Morninfcton could' not go far wrong by following suit. This logic, will carry no weight with me. Tho Greater- Dunedin has its own hy-lawe, and thoso arc frnmu'd with such qualifications as will justify ils action. With an efficient'town clerk,-a capable business man for its Mayor, and a council of far moro intellectual calibre than Mornington is over likely to command, it may safely do many things -which it would bo madness on tho part df small Ixmmghs to attempt. For the past five years the result of Mornington management has been heavy loans, higher fates, waste of resources, onploymcnfc d amateurs instead of experts, ptiffilism inside tho council and dissension without, and, ,a' standing debt, of some £60,000 or £70,000, which 'lie borough will never bo able to extinguish. . But. as tho Vigilance Committee is in the process of resuscitation, these matters may be turned over to it, and I will confine my.attention to the mysterious document which tho Mayor is trying to enforce upon tho acceptance of the latepayors as a valid financial statement. My objections to this new-fnngled device mnv bn briefly staled: Firstly, it is against, tho spirit and letter of the Municipal Corporations Act. Secondly, it would be too costly, nc 1500 copies by a typewritiiigjnaehine would fav exceed the cost "of an advertisement, in tho two Dunedin papers. ' Thirdly, it would afford no guarantee that it was correct, until , it, was compared with Mr Warlnirtonls certificated copy.' Fourthly, it would compel the ratepayer, 'if ho desired .m copy, to pay a special visit to tjjc council'e chambers to obtain it—an artificial necessity for which there is neither rhyme nor reason. Fifthly, it miffht load to a wilful manipulation of the figures so as to render it impossible to trace out the items complained of, though Iho totals might ba fairly recorded, And, lastly, it is thrusting aside that principle of justice and fairness which has ever existed between the boroughs and the newspaper press." •