OPEN COLUMN.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume I, Issue 50, 15 September 1893, Page 3

OPEN COLUMN.

( orrcsjmjnlcncr is inviU-tl upon all subjects, but we ilo not hold ourselves responsible for the ojnnions of our anrexpondentM,]

(To tho Editor.)

Sir, —I ask a small space in your valuable paper to explain my position relative to my letter to which was attached a rough list showing the receipts and expenditure of the Aohanga-Woodville lioad thirds which came before the Pahiatua County Council, the proceedings of which appeared in your issue of the 9th inst. The list was pronounced by the Council to be uniformly wrong. As to the accuracy of list 1 cannot vouch. I know some of the items are correct, the other items 1 obtained from tha settlers interested in the said road, which I naturally thought was a reliable source. Some of the items may be inaccurate. The thirds from the payments of the settlers fronting this road were not included, which are sufficient to make up for the items overestimated. I still maintain the aggregate amount of the thirds accrued from the payments made to the Government by the settlers is rather above than below my estimate, and the amount of money stated should be available to be expended on this road. I do not wish in any way to question the sincerity or intelligence of the Council; but I would ask, if not causing too much trouble to the member for the riding in which the road is situated, to cause the Clerk to make out a list showing the yearly and aggregate amount of the thirds accrued from each settler fronting the road from the date of his lease or ownership up to the present date. He will find the whole amount accrued is greater than as stated by me, and which if expended on the road would be the means of giving access to the land of some of the most back settlers in this road. I am willing to take advantage of the suggestion of the Council by calling at the County office for the necessary information as to the amounts of thirds accrued from the payments of the settlers and the expenditure on this road. I have done so before, but unfortunately the Clerk is very busy and cannot devote the time to fossick out this information. I was thinking of applying to the Land Board requesting to be supplied with the amount of thirds accrued from each settler fronting the Aohanga-Woodville Road and the* amount paid to the local body. Knowing some members of the Council, 1 concluded it was unnecessary if the question of receipts and expenditure was brought under their notice they would see the whole amount of money expended for the benefit of the settlers from whence it it came. Some of the settlers are anxious that such should be done ; they should notify the Council in writing to that j effect. The member for our riding is ; a most energetic, straightforward gentle- ! man, and at times causes himself great ! inconvenience for the benefit of the : settlers. He is a gentleman we can ! confidently trust as to our interests and see that we are fairly treated, and will have the money we are entitled to expended on our roads. As to the general rates. I am well aware that they should Ae expended for the general work of the County, and should not be devoted to any particular part ; therefore I say 'the Vohanga-Woodville lioad should have a •ertain amount of that rate expended on it. Up to the present such has not been the •ase. There must be over ATOO collected ‘iwn tin- settlers on this road under this ate, an i not one ahiV.i /g of that amount 1 -x pended on this road which is in need of ' ome expenditure either from the general rates or thirds so as to make it passable. Yfter paring our proportionate part to tlie j expenditure of the general supervision of he Mi rk of the Couutv. the remaining j (>.*•! we expect should be expended to 'mr benefit. Thanking you in anticipation.— I cm.. &c. f Tnos. Nestor. MR BRI CK ON BURNS. Sin. —-I was glad to see by your footnote to my last letter that th words you

attribute to Mr Bruce are almost identical with those which I ascribed to him, and certainly convey in themselves the construction put upon them in my letter, viz.. That Mr Bruce put Mr Burns down as a second-class poet, and your “ sop to Cerberus ” only serves to make the distinction more clear between Burns and the old masters referred to. Now, out of this condition of things naturally arises several questions which all your readers more or less are concerned in, and I think we are all entitled to a carefully worded reply. Ist. B Mr Bruce entitled to consider himself an authority on the relative positions rightly occupied by great men in the realm of poetry ? 2nd. If not (and 1 apprehend that will he admitted) can he cite a comjietent authority to verify his statement ? 3rd. Has the Pahiatua Burns Club been promoted to enable its members to worship at the shrine of a second-class poet, and periodically to offer upon his altar their miserable pittance of oatmeal and whisky ? The whole idea of course is contemptible and merits the derision only of thoughtful men. However, I will refrain from comment until we hear what can be said in extenuation.—l am, «&c., Alex. Reese.