MACETOWN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1754, 4 July 1885, Page 12

MACETOWN.

(.FROM OUR OWN CiinKESI"O\DL.M'.) June 28. .Otit JI.H.R. AM) Pmu,r WoiOvS.— There has been somewhat oi a storm in the political teapot in the Wakatipu district because Mr Fergus did not address the electors prior to procpeding to Wellington to take his place in Parliament, There cannot bo a doubt about the huge majority of electors being glad to see Mr Fcrgiih at any time, but it is also equally certain that nib triend* do not wish him to take a*ny unnecessary trouble or to inconvenience hmiself'niereh f o ple.tse his aspiring opponent, who treated him so cruelly over the last election. There aie such a number "of districts comprised in this electorate that it requires about, a do/.en and a-hulf of polling-booth^ to serve the purpose, and so w idc-'v is the population scattered that some districts have no polling-booth-., i-o it i". no ca-iy matter ior .i member to address the electors within its bound--. Xo doubt the local Press would be tntistied if Ihe member were to address meetings at the three centres where newspapers are located. But purely in t hese days ot tclegiaph and rapid communication any new want or question of importance cm be forwarded to the M.11.H. much more easily t han he could gather them by a hurried stampede through Ihe district. The electors at Macctown woukt like to see Mr Fergus, but no complaints have reached your correspondent 1 !- ears about his absence, although complaints against the Public Works Department for neglecting to carry out the promises ior works made to Mr Fergus last seosion of Parliament haw byen common enough. Whatever viitue tbete maybe in the Stout -Vogel (Jowrnment faithfully cairying out promises docs, not seem to by a part of their programme, for lapsed votes lwue becomo fashionable again at Macetown, about JE3OJO which had been on the Estimates for works at Maeelown or its neighbourhood having been allowed to lapse this last aeason. The Al.H.li. is not. to blame lor that, but the Government and the county council arc to blame, the one tor not instructing the engineer, and the other tor not pressing the Government. Tnc Government commenced to make a road to Alacctown, not under the provisions ot tho lioads and Bridges Construction Act, but by special void, and the money w.is voted to" the extent ol £1}(V) last ' session, but only some £i:'.uu spent . Now, seeing tlfat capitalists have sunk about £100,000 in trying to open up a quartz-field at Macetov. n. without asking one penny ot assistance from the Government, it does not say much for their sympathy with honest industry when they allow money to lapte in thai, manner, notwithstanding the i'.ic-t that it has been voted to open up a district, by making a passable ro.id, which ought tohcisebcfii made a dozen years .ago at least, The whole distance bet ween the beginning and end of the road is not more than eight mile.-.; -^o it is no Ilciculcan undertaking. The procrastination displa;, cd in its construction is a disgrace to all concerned. Wai'lh Supply. — An adequate wafer supply is an all-important dcofderatum for the tutuiij ot' iJaeotown; and in this connection o communication has bf>?n received trom the Minister of Mines to the effect thai the construction of a high-level water-race would be favourably considered by the Government '•it- r-vomnieiuled'bv the Lake County Council." Whether this is favourable to the promoters of the high-level water-race or not is more than your correspondent can siiy ; tor the Lake County Connc'l seems to suffer l rom anint ense atl aok of that terribly green-eyed mental disease local jealousy, and if some of the mumb-.'i-s wished Macetown blotted out entirely, their conduct in the past could not ha\e been better shaped to enVcl. the consummation ot fli >ir wisli. Yet Macetown has been a source ol considerable profit to <be council for the last three years, f hat body having received a. great deal moiv from M.icetow ii than they have seen lit to lay out on its very transparent needs.