THE OVERLAND MAIL SERVICE. To the Editor of the Taranaki Herald.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 1108, 22 July 1871, Page 2

THE OVERLAND MAIL SERVICE. To the Editor of the Taranaki Herald.

Sir, — Wednesday, three p.m., and the southern mail d-ie ou Sunday Inst, not yet to hand. As this, Mr. Editor, is not tho first, second, or third time the pubbr have had to compl-un of thp irregularity in the conveyance of the mail by the present contractors — Shepard & Co. — some action must be taken by the postal authorities to remedy such flagrant breaches of the contract, — and the soruer the hotter ; more particularly as so large a

sis" ci, 000 is paid Ahe contractor for Us con-vev;iin-i>. T'" wo compare this amount with a former subsidy (SfiOD) to Messrs. Atkinson & Co., for running the sums distance when I hers existed no mad* — only tucks; horse flesh costing than from fill) to £."j0 per head, aud the mail delivered at the hour, I tlnn'c we have a right to complain of the present iiTej*'iliirity, considering we have expended thousand* in ro. id-making ; and horse flesh is also reJueei] to £5 or -610. I, with many others, cannot but help thinking that, it is not lor the conv<»\',ince y'thp mail that tliu present subsidy is paid to Messrs. SliPoard & Co., but that it is for a political purpose ; ir" so, why not have advertised it ? I know persons th it would hnve run the mail through from Xew Plymouth to W.inganui for a iii'ioh l"<i« sum h:nl it hepn an open lomlur, particularly it 1 allowed the same privileges (bush licen-.es, &c), as enjoyed by the present contractor. Ifsolari»i«a »üm has been given for n political purpose, has is produced fruit corresponding to the outlay ? Many think not. Thi> telegraph, it is ti-ne, now flushes its messages from Opunnke to the extreme south ; — but why not north us well; or, at all events, t-» New Plymouth ? If nil is right, why the lireaks m the road between Opunake and Stonoy River; reports are in circulation that some tifte-n natives arc the only obstacles iv the way to the extension of both. If so, is it not a disgrace to the Government or any other Ministry that allows such n trivial minority to obstruct the progress of settlement? Cut off us this settlement is from all co'iimunic ition with the northern ports — both Uy hostile natives md. a broken and rough country ; from the East Coast by a dense forest — without a port — an open roadstead — not always available ;—; — there is only oue direct outlet open to us, and this we are prevented from making or improving by a few miserable wretches who find, amongst us, some who uphold tlioiu in their opposition to British rule, and hold them up as an inj-ired race. Tun sooner such mi obstructing people snncumh to old aue, rum, or other civilising agent the better. With their exit, New Plymouth will see a material progress, and not till then. — I am, &c, Progress. Beauty. — Two charming women were discussing one day what is it that constitutes beauty in the hand. They differed in opinion as much as does the shape of the beautiful member whoso merits they were disenssing. A gentleman friend presented himself, and by common consent the question was referred to him. It was a delicate matter. Glancing from one to the othor of the beautiful white hands presented to him, he replied at last : — " I give it up. Tlip question is too hard for me; but ask the poor, and they will tell you that the most beautiful hand in the world is the haud that gives." Of the anti-Mormon people we have never heard of any so strange as the Big-lip Indians of New Caledonia. A widow of this charming: tribe has not only to be half-roasted on the funeral pile of her dead husband, but has for three long years to carry about his ashes in a bag en her back. During *his time she is not al'owed to wash, but at the end of this she is stripped, smeared with oil, and covered with swaudown, after which, and a dance, she is free to marry again ; and, if she again survive her husband, to bo again half-roasted. Fashion Gossip. — Some of the papers, in their fashion notices, make so many personal allusions that we are not surprised to find a chap who does not mince words " doing the thing up brown," as following :—": — " Mrs. S , old Smith's daughter, by hif> wile's first husband, wore v short dress of sorrel popiin, striped with brown hew-gags, with a tight-fitting basquiue, made out of her ma's lash winter cloak. Sleeves moire antique, to match highest underskirt, and bonnet of red oak bark, tied with slippery elm strings. She was as beautiful as a butterfly. She looked a little old, but amazingly pretty." — Miss H , alleged to be the wealthiest girl on Cheyenne-street, wore a black aud tan Irisb^terrier poplin suit, trimmed with bias folds of straw-coloured bombazine, .vith blue stitching put around the skirt with Spauldmg's glue. Shoit sacque, tight under the arms, and bonnet of Buffalo chips, trimmed with pieces of cable." — American Paper. It was woman who first tempted mnn to eat, but he took to drink on his owu account afterwards.