Correspondence.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 3, 7 May 1872, Page 2

Correspondence.

[We do not necessarily endorse the opinions expressed by our correspondents.] (To the Editor of the Waikato Times.) Sir,—Please to insert in your next issue the enclosed petition sent to. the Manager of the Waikato Steam Navigation Company on the 14th March last, in reference to the "W hart, in order to show the ratepayers the folly of expending their money in building a Wharf for the accommodation of the Waikato Steam Navigation Company opposite to their store. —Yours truly,. C.. Bell. Ngaruawahia, 4th May, 1872(True Copy:.) Ngaruawa>hia, 14th Ma/rchy 1872. We hereby agree to. make the Wharf opposite to our premises on the Horotiu. River a public Wharf, and to- hand the same over to the management of the Town Board, providing it is made the regular calling-place tor the steamers to. take and deliver S °° dS ' (Signed), Hamilton Newell. Charges BELL. TO THE MANAGER OF THE WAIKATO S. N. & C- M. COMPANY— gxß,— The undersigned beg leave to-request that you wiil in future land and receive all goods to or from us at the Wharf above-mentioned, and oblige your obedient servants,. (Signed) Charles Bell. And eleven other Ratepayers. + — ■

(To the Editor of the Waikato Times.): Stb,—l notice in your remarks with reference to the proceedings of the last meeting of the Town Board that you express the opinion that the £20, voted as a contribution in aid of the liberal offer made by the Steam Navigation Company, might have been better applied. I cannot understand how you came to- snch a hasty conclusion. I must say hasty,, for you certainly are scarcely aware of the requirements, of this township during the short time you. have been here,, but 1 fear you have imbibed some: of the notions of a few who would like to expend the. rates within, a chain, radius of their own slofix.-s,. You also say that a good wharf has been already erected by private enterprise which, is quite sufficient for our present wants,. Perhaps you are not aware that in summer, when the river is very low, the steamers are unable to get to the wharf in question, and I believe, in the coming winter floods, ic is likely to be submerged. Neither is it conveniently situate for a great, number of our business men who pay the greater.part of the rates, and who do not wish to be at the mercy of an individual, however enterprising, who might at any time prevent access to the wharf on the plea of private property. Again, our out-settlors in using that wharf would have to make a circuit of the township if their horses, were heavily loaded, as it would be impossible to pull up the hill past the brewery even were the irregularities on that incline removed, and on the hospital end of the wharf road nature has indelibly affixed the words "No thoroughfare !" But set aside for a moment the decision of the majority of the Town Board, and let the wharf question be decided by the choice of nautical men. Have they not uninterruptedly from the earliest days selected as the mooring-station for the steamers the site on which the public wharf is about to be erected, and can evidence be more conclusive than theirs as to the good judgment of those who, deriving their power from public confidence, have also, I submit; decided the wharf question disinterestedly, and in a manner to justify a continuance of that confidence.—l am, &e. v A Ratepayer. [The writer ©f the above has allowed his party feeling to blind his judgment. He can know very little of the law when he says that the builder of a wharf» oa Government "land ean exclude the public from its use. As regards the difficulties of getting alongside during the dry season, he is wrong, as no such difficulty has been experienced since it was built. The inconvenience to other rate-payers in having to use the wharf is not worthy of a moment's consideration, the distance from it to any store being not much more than 150 yards. We took a common-sense view, regardless of party, and see no reasons to alter the opinion we nave already expressed-—.Ed. W. T-l