CORRESPONDENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXV, Issue XXV, 9 August 1893, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

ROXBURGH MATTERS. (To the Editor.) SIR, — I noticed a letter in the last i3sne of your journal, signed "Pro Bono," making unfounded assertions in reference to one of our esteemed citizens of Roxburgh. If " Pro Bono" will be good enough to come from under his norn deplume, then I will try and give another side of the picture. In the meantime, — I am, etc., James Wilson. Roxburgh, 7th August. (To the Editor.) SIR,— As it has been reported he^e that I am the author of a letter signed " Pro Bono " in your issue of the sbh iust., reflecting on the management of the Achensoum concert, etc., I wish it to be distinctly understood that I had nothing whatever to do with that letter. I neither wrote it myself, nor do I know who did. Kindly bear me out in this. — I am, etc., WM. TEbFORD. Roxburgh, 7th August, 1893. [Our correspondent is not the author of the letter in question.— Ed. " T. T."J A GRAVE CHARGE. ('l'o the Editor ) Slß,— Some time ago a letter from Mr Michael M'Carthy appeared in your paper in which he accused some member of the Tuapeka County Council of having offered him a bribe of £10 fco waive his right of having the road through section 3, block xir., Crookston, opened for public traffic. But, although the letter virtually impeaches the whole Council,- strange to say no attempt has been made by that body to remove the stigma cast upon it. Can it be possible that the members have lost all sense of self respect ? Like many others, I thought at the time it could only be a silly jest. However, I must say that after reading the report of last County Council meeting a strong doubt exists in my mind, and in the minds of a good many, that the statement may be correct and the sooner councillors clear themselves the better the ratepayers will be satisfied, as they may rest assured that although they (the councillors) seem to have lost all respect for themselves, the ratepayers here are not so far gone and will, I hope, within the next few months, show tbat they are determined to have no man representing them whocannot look beyond his own personal inUcests and thai; of his friends. — I am, etc., A Crookston Settler. sth August, 1893. STEAM NAVIGATION TO THE BLACK CLEUGH. {To the Editor.) Sir,— l observe by the "Glutha Leader" ttof/fc the steamer Matau made her first trip to the Blackcleugh uuder the pilotship of Mr Tyson. Now this is only six miles further than what could be done twenty years ago. Still it is another step further into the in- | terior, and Mr Tyson estimates that with an expenditure of £400 or £500 a safe channel could be made to the Beaumont. But this I question very much ; and no one knows better than Mr Tyson from his large experience, i that there are some very treacherous plaooa in

the river between the Bhclccleugh aiul the Beinmont, especially during low water; and £100 or £500 would not go very far iv tho Cluthi Itiver. Yet if the above amount is sufficient to open up a safe waterway to the Baauraont, I consider that £5000 would make the river navigable to Coal Creek, as it appears that dredging has proved an inexpensive success in cutting out a new chinnel at Bnch imn's Beml, neardydevale statiou. It could, therefore, br applied with equal success in many places higher up the river. Surely, then, such a trifling sum would be well spont in such an important undertaking. Tho main obstacles lie between the rapids about rbrfe miles above Bra'imont bri'lge to a I'ttle beyond EJie and Kirkpatrick's claim. From that point to Coal Creek ia an almost unbroken stretch of navigable stream, sucli as the Matau never had an opportunity of steaming along The •' Clutha Leader " exults over the trade that would accrue to Blclutha by the steamer being able to run to Beiuraonfc, as it considers the steamer would there tap the traffic of tho interior. But lamof a different opinion, as only a few settlers about would take the advantage of sending their grain by the steamer, it being very unlikely i hat woggoners and consignors of goods would be at the trouble of unloading at the Beaumont and sending goods a round about journey of. at least, forty extra miles when they are within twelve miles of the Lawrence railway station. But should steam communication be opened up to Roxburgh or Coal Creek, then the traffic of the interior would be properly tapped and that, too, at a cost not exceeding one mile of the Otago Central railway, whhh at its present rate of progress will take twenty years more before it is complttod to Clyde. That; the project is no* as insurmountable as people generally suppose it to be, I am quite confident;, and even now, with a favourable river and a rttle extra cmtion, it would net be a matter of impossibility for the M3 f au t > navigate safely to Coal Creek aid back. Such a trip would show the public the feasibility of opening up an important highway, which, if once opened, would require no fur her outlay in keoping it in repair and save the ratepayers the expense of maintaining the main roads, even in their present incomplete and unsatisfactory condition. — I am, etc., P. C. Gkant. Millers Flat, sth August.