To the Editor of the Invercargill Timers.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 11, 16 December 1862, Page 2

To the Editor of the Invercargill Timers.

Sic, — Whatever our thoroughly practical friends of the Gradgrind family may think, I will endeavour through your medium, Mr. Editor, to wedge in mv say as well as them. Feeling that at the present time the interests of the Province require every exertion on our partß to prevent anything like unfair dealings or private interests to bias any scheme pregnant with public advantages; now, it appears to me, is the time to use every every exertion to open up all available fields for enterprise and capital, properly and economically, The probable results of the late gold discoveries, 6bould lead us to think how we are to meet any extraordinary increnso of traffic which such affairs generally induce. The projected rail from Invercargill to the Mokomoko with its wharf, &c, is worse than useless, and a scheme which our enemies would glory in seeing carried out. That the Bluff is the natural harbor for heavy traffic, is proved beyond all argument, and if there is to he a railway communication with Invereargill, let it be to the Bluff, where the want of a direct road is being felt every day, with the present inereasingpopulation. Let us have no more going round the corners tosuit private iuterests, but have a proper road at once. What are we to do with any influx of immigrants of any class ? How accommodate < r forward them on their journey ? for a steamer will not always be at hand — or the weather permit of water conveyance. And for shipa of large tonnage to go to the Mokomoko, is indeed a stretch of imraagination — at least to lay there in any weather, without more than ordinary risk and detention.

I know very little of harbors and vessels, but this I do know, that more lhan once I have, in a small vessel, been laying under Stewart's Island from stress of Weather, and the last time 1 w* there, there wore three or four other vessels in the same fix, and the captains mostly old hands on the coast. Our friend ('apt Cleary, of the Queen of Perth, whs one, and how is it that tho email craft belonging to Stewart's Island, are so often obliged to put into the Bluff, to wait for an opportunity of getting into the New River, if the entrance to that port is a3 easy of access as some would endeavour to make us believe ? Delay may be of little consequence to small craft, but to vessels of large tonnage, which it is evident would have to follow suit, of the small fry, it would be rather serious not only from the detention but the probability of having a few hundred immigrants to feed. Now a vessel of any tonnage can always come to tho Bluff, and if she cannot get up the harbor, she can always anchor in perfect safety at the Heads. It appears to me that the ouicidal arrangement attempted to be forced upon the government, must, in some way, be guided by private interests, for, surely, enough has been said about both places, to set aside any doubt as to (he cspediency of a wharf or Jetty at the Bluff, and a rail for rapid communication «ith InvercargiL ; for although the EluT is much talked about, littie is done for its improvement, although of vital importance to the advancement of this Province. The only postal communication vouchsafed to it is mostly through private hands. Although there is a mail from the Bluff there is no return one, and to get a chance of answering a letter by the same mail is out of the question. Except on extraordinary occasions, letters a Idressed here are «eldom received within a week after delivery at Invercari;ill. nnd as no mail is made up here, it is useless posting letters, as they cannot at once be forwarded, however important orgoodthe opportunity. With difficulty it was made a port of entry, and now that a bonded store is erected, it will shortly be declared a warehouseing port. But Tampbolltown is not yet declared a township, consequently, at present, nothing can bo done in opening up its streets, or following out any local improvements, as no Town Board can bo elected (o act in the matter. Therefore I should like to know if this state of affairs is likely to continue much longer, and whit combination of interests are at work to withhold such a portion of'public attention and assistance as it is justly entitled to. Yours &.c, JOK WIOGISS. Bluff Tlarbor, Dee. 3rd.