EAST COAST. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1046, 22 June 1880, Page 2

EAST COAST. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

In my laßt letter I commented on the state of the East Goaat Road, and the action of the Cook County Council in reference thereto. My remarks brought forth a letter from our member for Waiapu Biding, who adtnitted the truth and justice of my statements, but explained that a misapprehension existed as to the £5,000 given to the Council by the Government, it being a special grant, he could not of course have obtained a penny of it for any other purpose than the one it was intended for. I can only say the misapprehension existed in the minds of a good many besides myself, but the facts being as above stated, it behoves one to make the "amende honorable" to our member, for having said he should have tried to get a portion of the £5,000 spent on the East Coast Road. I therefore beg to express my sincere regret for having blamed that gentleman unjustly. I assure you, Mr. Editor, that I respect our member, and would be one of the very last to detract from his merits in any way, shape, or form, while on the other hand I would be one of the first to give him credit for any praiseworthy action. I beg to return him my best thanks for his kindly notice of my humble remarks in re the East Coast Road. 'Ere I drop the subject, however, I may as well state that the money lately spent on the road is very little better than thrown away, as this is by no means the proper season of the year to repair a road. I cannot speak of the repairs as a whole, inasmuch as I have not travelled over any considerable portion of it lately. I make the above remark on excellent authority, however, and the repairs I have seen fully justifies me in making it. For instance, in one part for about 7 miles there are several new bridges which have been recently erected and they are all of the most flimsy description, being made of soft wood and each log not more than half the size of the old ones they replaced ; besides, in some places, the new bridge is placed at some distance on one side of the road, the timber of the old one having been removed leaves a gaping hole in the centre of the road which at night would be very dangerous both to man and beast. Ido not go into the question of the advisability of putting a new bridge in a different place, which may be very much better than the old site, but 1 think, when that has been done, the old hole should be filled up. I notice that you have written a good deal lately anent the new laws regulating the Registration of Electors, and t quite agree with your views on the subject. You truly describe the old Acts and amendments as being at once difficult and tedious, virtually disfranchising a large majority of the colonists by its red-tapeism. I speak somewhat feelingly on this subject, because during a long residence in the Colony, I have always been an humble unit of the said majority, and notwithstanding the fact that the Acts of last year anent the Registration of Electors, <&c, are vastly superior to those repealed, I am likely to remain as I have ever been "disfranchised," and so will many others I fear. In your issue of 31st May, you kindly told your readers " how to register to become an elector," and after informing them that they must go to Sergeant Huddlestone, and giving many other particulars, you conclude by saying it will be well to undet stand that if a man has a right to be an elector, and is not one, it is his own fault only, and nobody else's. On this point I beg to differ with you, because I recently obtained one of the forms, thinking it would be easy now to register my claim. As soon as I opened it, I saw that it must be signed before an Elector of the District, or Registration Officer, or Justice of the Peace, and that condition virtually disfranchises me "through no fault of my own," and it will disfranchise many others also, who, like myself, live where there are no such persons as above mentioned near them, and whose duties (to say nothing of many who could not afford the time or money) will not admit of their making long journeys in quest of J.P.s, &c, for such a purpose ; for my part (as I told you in a former letter) it is the eighth time I have been virtually disfranchised during a residence of 18 years in New Zealand, and I have made up my mind never to make another attempt. It may be obtainable, therefore it is not a case of sour grapes, but possibly it may be a privilege not worth contending for, and I have finally decided not to make a ninth attempt, and I know of others who have made a similar resolve, i.e., never to putjpen to paper on such a subject again.

" Do I think of you V you ask dearest wrote a husband to his wife, " 'Do I think of you ?' Yes Ido ; especially when a button comes :>ff or I find a hole in my stocking." "I am glad you think of me darling/ 1 she wrote in reply ; " I used to think a great deal of you when I wanted to go to the concert or theatre, or when I felt like having a drive : but since I found a gentleman friend who was willing to take your place I have not been troubled so much." He took the next train for home.

A great many calculations have been made recently respecting the debt of New Zealand, and it may be interesting to try another way in which to look at it A few figures show thai every morning the colonists of New Zealand rise out of their beds, Sunday included, they hare to pay the English capitalist £4,153 18s lid for interest on the Colonial debt.

Report aad Beoommen&ations • of the Civil Serrioe Oom-

missioners.