THE DUNSTAN.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 90, 15 September 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE DUNSTAN.

(From the Otago Daily Times correspondent.) The Ferry grievance appears as far off settlement as ever ; we have had public meetings on the subject — heard explanations from delegates who have seen the Superintendent in the matter; also we have received advice from gold fields' members ; added to which we have read in the Daily Times letters fiom the Superintendents Mr Hill,«nd from Mr Hill to the Superintendent ; and, as a climax to the whole, tfee affair has got into the Police Court. But all that has been said and done is te no purpose •; we are -as far off a solution of the problem as ever. We are told by these who represent us in Parliament, as well as by the gentlemen who left their business to lay the case befoie his Honor in person, that Hill has not signed his lease, and that till he fulfils certain conditions expressed in that lease, tihat he oannot make any change; also that he is i-n illegal possession ofthe punt siies, &c. That we were actually led to believe that Mr Hill was a sort -of an ogre, who, in spite of both Government and people, had possessed himself of all the river crossings, aud was compelling us to pay tribute whether we would or not, and completely laughing to scorn the futile efforts of his victims to dispossess him ; and who, although he has received -written instructions from the chief of the Province, crumples up his letters -as he would the importunate epistle of some indigent stranger who made his living by constantly appealing to his benevolent tendencies, and defies the Government to compel him to lower the charges or remove him from his vantage ground. That Mr Hill has the Government at an immense disadvantage there can be no doubt; that he is the lessee and in legal possession of the ferries has been decided in the Manuherikia Police Court ; and that the Government will protect his claim is an undisputable fact, the Magistrate's decision there quite" sets that matter at rest, for although the Government say to us, " Hill has no right to charge as the conditions of the lease are not fulfilled.'" they at the same time are fully and ready prepared to protect him in his holding. That this state of things mnst be very unsatisfactory you may well imagine. People here do not know what to believe, or whether they are being deceived by Mr Hili or the Government, or both ; at all events, something must shortly be done, things cannot remain long as they are, or people must take the matter in hands themselves. We have waited patiently quite long enough, and have, in the most legitimate and constitutional manner made our grievances known ; but aU the consolation we have received is, that the grievance shall be remedied, and. that instructions have been given to effect that object ; yet in the face of all those promises, the action of the Government is quite the reverse. We are told through our representatives that Hill's contract is null and void; that in effect it is perfectly harmless, and we have no need to take any notice of it whatever, when by following the advice given us, we shall most assuredly get into trouble. If tlie Government really mean what they say, why not advertise tbeir instructions in the Gazette or some of tlie newspapers, verbally or by letter their instructions or commands are not worth ihe expenditure of the paper they are written on, or the breath wasted in giving them utterance ; and if they really mean what they say, let us have their instruetitm in print, and then weshallknow what to doandhowtoact.