LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 205, 23 August 1860, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

August 10, 1860

Sir,—“ Mutter ” cannot expect that the secrets'of any trade are to be divulged by those who carry it on. Were they so by millers, they would not have enough of pollard left to make porridge for themselves in the morning. I presume, the miller to whom “ Mutter” sends his wheat must prefer a hot muffin to his breakfast, .as he seems to give all the pollard to “ Mutter.” My usual practice has been to give 44 lbs. of firsts, 2 lbs. of seconds, 2 lbs. of pollards, and 10 lbs. of bran to the bushel of wheat of 60 lbs., thus leaving 2 lbs. for waste ; and 1 would rather not grind in small quantities for Is. 6d. per bushel, as the trouble is very great. Of course, inferior or damp wheat will give much less flour. , \ l am, A Jolly Miller. [“ A Dusty Miller” gives us another version—namely, 36 lbs. of firsts, 2 lbs. of seconds,- 5 lbs. of tliirds, 15 lbs. of bran and pollards, and 2 lbs. of waste.]

. August 20th, 1860 , Sir, —Men of JTanganui; In the several letters I have recently addressed to the IVangarni Chronicle there is no pretension to evoke any political opinion, nor indeed awe their subjects of any political creed. It is to your prejudices I would address myself; it is your lethargic indifference to your rights and privi-

lege3,l'would wish to,dispel,and.a waken..you from that' slumber during which they have been .insidiously and ' secretly at tacked ; and if you,, slumber ; much longer you will awake too late for their-protection. Mark ; not one of the. magistrates have, attempted to ' justify their' “request” to the Superintendent, that these rights and privileges should be knocked down to the highest bidder; thus tacitly acknowledging they have no ground of defence for their extraordinary “request.” They may, perhaps, hope to shield themselves by their high position—forgetful, that that very position makes their acts more noticed by the public. Seeing these -attacks have been already made, why then do you remain still indifferent ? There is but one mode of securing these rights and. privileges—why do you neglect it,? The only means is, that Wan ganui should become a Municipal Corporation, by. which alone you could. really be put in possession of the “ ample 7 reserves for. .public purposes” alluded to by the Superintendent; as it is, ithese ample reserves are not in your possession, though, if you really held them, they would become a - source of large revenue, and not remain “ unproductive.” The history of the- Reserve on the opposite side of the river is, from all I can learn, as follows.. When the New Zealand Company’s Surveyor was-laying off the adjacent land, a Mr. Bell (who then held the land now belonging to Mr. Nixon), suggested to him the extreme desirableness that that portion should be reserved to the town, for the purpose of holding cattle fairs, sales; &c. thereon, 1 especially as it could be approached without trespassing on any ; man’s land. The then New Zealand Company’s principal officers coincided in this view, and it was appropriated by them as a reserve for the town. When the Imperial Government agreed to take the Settlements out of the control of the Company, they undertook to make good all the Company’s arrangements ; and hence, I believe, it was, you were asked a second time, some eight years ago, to again express your desire whether the Reserve should be sold or retained, when every vote but two was for its being retained, and the Imperial Government have never attempted to exercise any claim thereto as waste land for sale. Under these circumstances it may be a question whether the Superintendent has power to sell the Reserve; and even though lie may have the right, I am sure his Honor has no desire to enforce it, in opposition to the wishes of the inhabitants.

- Brother Settlers—read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest these matters, dedicated to you and your children, by Yours faithfully, . Jas; Broughton.