TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2009, 25 August 1892, Page 22

TO THE EDITOR.

Sib,- By the report of the Clutba County Council's meeting appearing in the Witness, I notice Mr Brown states that there is no settlement on the Woodlands side of the M'Kenzie bridge, along which the road he refers to passes. and moves that ths Government be informed that it ia utterly impossible to do anything to the road leading to Tautuku. Now, I would like to ask Mr Brown where he gained such erroneous information as to state there were no settlers here, such a statement being entirely without foundation. I doubt if it was from a personal visit to the locality. I don't think Mr Brown would care to trust eithor himself or his horses along such an abomination of a road. I can easily find over 40 settlers on the road line and contiguous thereto, and if I were to include those out at tho Taukupu who are almost entirely dependent on the road, the number would be far in excedb of what I have stated. It is a fact that settlement is going on faster than the land can be surveye.l, and ere long I venture to predict that there will be hundreds where there are now only threescore settlers. There are now, I believe, two large blocks of Linri s'tm-t reuiy for selection, and the would-be selectors will he entirely dependent on the road in question ; an I if ever the settlement of tho people on tbe land is to be a success, the Government must take no notice of such motions from uninterested members of county council*. It is only justice that a portion of the p:rpotu.il lease— one-third— and deferred payment— jne frurth (at leas')— should be spent on whence it i- derived. Tlu ro"ul is quit: impassible ah the present time, and a great drawback to settlers, who mostly have only very limited means, occasioning thereby very heavy haulage rates for provisions and building material. It is very well for Mr Brown to make such statements, for he has tho benefit of a good met-illed road past his front door. Perhaps h' 1 would like the third and, fourth given to the Government as a Bubsidy to assist in bringing the railway to hi 3 back door, or spent on roads ne irer home so as to facilitate settlers bringing milk to his factory, oblivious of the fact that were our roads at least passable we might in the near future supply him with a large quantity of milk also. It is strugclc enough to get a living without havin? cold water thrown on our endeavours, and it is to h.i hoped that those interested will put their shoulders to the wheel when the time comes, and sea if we cannot get represented at the council's meetings (if only slightly). In cbnclusion, I would add that if Mr Brown's statement' was correct, then we are (unbeknown to ourselves) dummies. Trusting some abler pen than mine will take the matter up, and thanking you y* anticipation,— l am. &c, Bo.na Fide Settler.

In tho' [Supremo' Court yesterday the cases of Toddy. 'Mac Gibbon and of Paterson v. The Knapdalesßoad JJpard were disposed of before Mr Justice Williams, sitting in Banco. In the former ctjse the judgment of the court was reserved; in the latter the motion to set aside an v.yard of fchfc Compensation Court was dismissed. With reference to the amalgam robbery from the Sew Hoy Big B'-'acli Company's safe at Arthur's Point, we learn from the Lake Wakatipu Mail 1 that the door of the office had baen broken open, apparently by what is commonly called by' c:irpente-rs a "router," or "routergaugp," tflkeu from Mr E. Foord's (late manager) '-tool chost, which was lying in a small house or shed some distance away from the office.- Tho "router" was returned, as it was found lying outside the chest. The office, a small Vooden building about 10ft x 12ft, is situated more than a chain from any other building. . Mr Daniels, who was in charge of the office, plept in M'Chesney's Hotel on the night in question with the keys under his pillow.- Tho report that a duplicate key of the safe had been lost 18 months ago is not correct. A reward of LSO is being offered by the company.

The N. rth Otago Times states that tho Government have impcuuled about L4OO of moneys whi;b should have been remitted to the WaitaUi County Council, alleging as their reason that the money is withheld to satisfy the county council's share of the claims arising out of the proclamation of the Ma°rewhenua river a sludge channel for mining tailinjrs. Our contemporary is inclined to regard the demand as a piece of Government cheek.

A well-kuo.vn North Island journalist is sn'd to havo in preparation a novel dealing with New Zealand life, nnd which is to be of a very dramatic and sensational character The seer c is laid chiefly in Auckland and Chri«tchurch, aud the plot is reported to be an excellent one.

An unmarried man named Albert Goodchild, about 40 years of a^o, was killed yesterday by a fall of sand in the smdpit behind the Indubtrial School, He was a carter for Mr Didham, of Hillside, and went to fho pit about 9 o'clock in the morning to get a load of sand. At 2 o'clock; not having returned, a messenger ■was sent to the pit to see what had become of him. The horse aud cart were there, but there were no signs of Goodchild. As there were indications of a fall of sand having taken place, assistance was obtained. The sand was dug away, and the b )dy of the man was found. Dr Fergusson. was telephoned for, but life was quite extinct. The body was removed to Mr Porter's Hotel, Cavershini, where an inquest will be held this afternoon.