From the Maitland Mercury report:
The Mercury has been a sounding post for many and varied viewpoints since 1843 and throughout its history space has been devoted to letters and opinions from readers.
Pollution to politics, roads to rallies, comments and concerns are all published in the Mercury.
Back in 1865 one of the most distressing issues facing Maitland residents was dust in our streets.
Published under that heading in the Mercury, January 8, 1865 was a humorous letter with a serious subject from John Gilpin to the editors of the time.