ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 316, 19 December 1857, Page 5

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Otago Witness. Sir, — A writer in the last number of the Otago Colonist declaims vociferously at the manner in which the law is administered in Otago relative to the Licensing system, and quotes in comparison the practice pursued in the other settlements in giving the utmost publicity to all matters connected with the application or granting of Licenses. It must be apparent that the writer in question alludes most unmistakeably to my advertising the removal of the Union Hotel License to Stafford Street — an act so pregnant to him with disastrous consequences, being placed ia juxta-position with a publican and public-house, the contaminating and baneful effects which he so gloomily and feelingly describes, such as pollution, loss of trade, and perhaps female ruin. I should be most happy to avert such calamities. But, Sir, had circumstances permitted, I certainly would have endeavoured to convince this terrified genius that he and his family could live and move in the atmosphere of a public-house with as little fear of contagion as in that of the atmosphere of a sly grog-shop ; and I take this opportunity of telling the public that nothing on my part would have induced me to depart from the arrangement, as advertised for two consecutive weeks, but the wilful and malicious misrepresentation of a class of men, who are apt on all occasions to waylay the unwary, offering their counsel and advice, which, under excited circumstances, are greedily-accepted, to the ruin of the man who becomes the victim of wilful and designing men. — I am, &c, Thomas Birch. To the Editor of the Otago Witness. Sib, — I am aware that it is absurd to argue the merits of a subject with the Editor of the Witness through his paper when his opinions are adverse; but I was not prepared to believe that an Editor who makes any pretensions of virtue would have betrayed the confidence of his correspondent. The only object of my last communication was to bring the conduct of the Town Board seriously before the public, as a subject of great importance. But since you have thought fit to reply, and to inform your readers that you have discovered interested motives for the reasoning of your correspondent, I hope they will see that I admitted my interest at the outset. As for the imputation of sinister motives to my arguments in favour of the Swamp Eoad as the best for the whole of the Southern settlers, I throw it back with the contempt it deserves. My statements in favour of that road are grounded upon the opinion of shrewd practical men, and from a firm conviction of my own, strengthened by every day's experience, that it is the legitimate outlet from the Town to the South, and vice iwsa. And what would strengthen that opinion is the fact that the other line has never been used by pedestrians or by horsemen from the country, nor never will be used, although paved with marble, so long as the line by Hillside is passable. People will instinctively, somehow, take over the lowest part of a hill, and much more so when it is the shortest. And as to the " all competent authority".to which you allude as having settled that matter long ago, when the public considers that they were surveyors, it will appreciate their competency. The settlers' experience of the competence of surveyors for laying off the best road lines will, I fear, cost them something handsome in the shape of compensation consequent upon their incompetency. Altogether, how absurdly foolish- does it appear to divide the small sum voted by the Council in making and keeping in repair two roads, when it is barely sufficient to make one good one. But, Sir, as it appears your method of throwing an argument is to impute interested motives for it, you acquaint me that I have neglected an important part of my case against the Town Board. When it is considered that of the nine members of which that body is composed, three of them have their stores in Rattray Street ; other three carry on business within speaking distance of that street ; and two reside in Maclaggan Street ; their interest in making those streets, and bringing country people to their part of the Town and to their stores, will be understood. Indeed it has been chucklingly admitted by themselves ever since they had the vote of the Board. Then compare the quality of the two interests. Myself and fellow-settlers in the district have a right to- demand a road to the Town, and especially if we have shown that the only road that will suit us is also the best for the settlers beyond, and thus be a great saving to the Province. The more we press our interest, the more laudable our perseverance. On the other hand, the more they press theirs, the more grovellingly selfish do they appear. Our interest is legitimate and good : theirs is sordid and depraved. It is a matter of great satisfaction to know that his Honor the Superintendent did wisely anticipate the foolish course in which the Board wonld have spent the money had it been given to them. ' And as there is not the slightest prospect of this body being of any service to the community, I, as one of the public, would venture to suggest, as almost the only course left for his Honor to adopt, that he should immediately instruct the Bond Engineer (who is the proper and responsible party) to commence, operations in Dunedin. with a view to the continuing the main country lines now in progress into the heart of the Town ; for which apparent (but only apparent) slight irregularity ho would receive ample redemption from the whole Province. I remain, Sir, your most obedient servant, Your Friend the Bullock Driver.