Very Public Spirited.

Southland Times, Issue 4489, 29 November 1882, Page 3

Very Public Spirited.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib,— Permit me a word or two on the following sentence taken from your report of Mr Kingsland's meeting at Appleby :— "MrKingsland then explained at length hi» views of the probabilities of a large trade being induced to the river. He held that our population was, as yet, too small ; and that, even if accessible for ships from Home, it would be difficult to get cargoes for them. His own experience was that in the present position of the district, the bulk of the merchants' orders being for small quantities, these were and would be sent by steamer via Melbourne." Just so, but wherever lies Mr Kingsland's " experience?" He has been heard to boast repeatedly that for some years he has imported little or nothing ; that all the materials used in his latge establishment are local products. If that be the case he can well afiord to sneer at the river, indeed for that matter, at the railway too, since the complete drying up of the one, and total destruction of the other, would not affect him one iota. All honor to him for it, cay I, but, unfortunately, the town as yet is more a trading than a manufacturing one, and is likely to continue so, and this being the case, I cannot see anything but selfishness on the part of Mr Ringsland when he does his best to choke a splendid vehicle for trading purposes.— Yours, &c, Citizen.