CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 10558, 7 March 1896, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

[We ate not responsible for th» oj*»(mu «rpr«»»» f by correspondents Th» miter 1 * name, as <k guarantee of good faith, must lie antloa»d ia thk letter,]

WEST COAST LEASES. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — Some considerable amusement has been caused amongst native leaseholders and other residents by the perusal of a sub-leader which appeared in tho N.Z. Times, and was pretty generally copied into the local journals. This paragraph sets out the immense benefit the district has derived from the successful working of the Public Trustee in Native Reserves. The whole paragraph teema with worse than inaccuracies, and might well be re- Britten as f ollowa : — "Wei h r ye to c 1 ■aw attention to the wave of depression, we trust temporary, wkieh is running over the lands under lease by the Public Trustee on the West Coast, The low price of stock, the want of communication, and the cost of producing milk which exceeds ihe price given '• at tho factories, have tended to make leaseholders more dilatory than usual in psying their rents. Those who have done so have sacrificed a portion of their capital rather than incur the terrors of the Wellington autocrat. Were Mr Ballance now alive, his blood would boil at the manner in which a tentative measure, which he intended only to act as a commencement of judicious legialatian, has been peiverted to grind the straggling settler to the dust, and not for one day would even tho exigenaies of the Colonial Treasury be allowed to guide the policy of a successful settlement of the Ltnd. This Act has never yet and never can, as it stands, settle the long standing difficulties of the management of these reserves. There is still considerable dissatisfaction! on all aides with the administration of theAct, which in many points requires alteration. The fact that the leaseholdershave banded themselves together into a League to obtain redress of grievances, and that influential natives are considering what steps can be taken for the better management of the estate, spe^k for themselves. Mr Ballance inaugurated a system which, had the present administration worked as he wished, would havo brought peace and content all over the* coast, but by the want of knowledge of Ministers and want of come and go on the part of the Trustee, these are now non-existent. Still, in spite of maladministration, the lands and district continue to develop, and with tno removal of the present Government and their foolish refusal to adjust grievances, will become as prosperous as prices current will admit. What the present position of the district would have }>een had Mr Ballance lived and the Trustee been guided by that wise " discretion" which,, required by the Act, is so systematically repudiated, it is now impossible to say,, but all residents are well assured that it would have increased at least two-fold. The Government may rest assured tliat a fire is smouldering which will one dayburst out to their astonishment." Perhaps the N.Z. Times will be. able to find room for the above.— l am, &c, J. J. Elwin, Chairman WesJ Coa » League.

Caterers for Xmas enjoyment!, family parties, open air piciics, &c, -wili ba pleased to know that Messrs White & Carter have just received a choice selection of Syrups (Maconochies') that will b« welcomely refreshing to thoso whom tha prevailing heat induces unusual thirst All flavours to please overy taste are included, Raspberry, Red Currant, Al mond, Argate, Pineapple, Orange, Cherry, &c, &c, besides Black Currant and Raspberry Vinegars, 'i hey are delicious cooling, and, just now especiallVj accept able. — Advt