Original Correspondence.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1029, 13 April 1894, Page 6

Original Correspondence.

AN EXPLANATION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— Your report of the county council meeting in last week's issue so far as my case is concerned fails to convey an accurate idea of what actually occurred. I have never objected to " contribute the Ll5 promised by me unless the council make the road to my satisfaction." I object to handing over my Ll5 to the. county council until I see what sort of road the council purpose to make, and until I know that the money (L6O) will be equally spread over the whole of the road and full value obtained for it. I never demurred to the engineer's opinion that the L6O would make a very fair road, but I did demur to the engineer making a 12ffc wide road on one portion and perhaps nn Bffc road on the remainder. A councillor did make a remark to the effect that unless I gave my Ll5 the thing would simply drop, but your reporter carefully excludes my reply to that remark, which was thus : " Provided that your council will make a 12ft road according to the specifications forwarded by your engineer to the Surveyor-general for his approval, j r ou can not only have my Ll5, but more, and have it in five minutes." As to my asking for i preference of the offer of the work, everyone knows that I am, under the circumstances, entitled to it, especially in regard to my own contribution. Since the last meeting I have offered to do one-fourth of the road work at either end 9or 12ft wide, and the money or the labour is ! available at a day's notice. Seeing that no other settier is interested in the road in question, that I have been deprived of means of access to my section for about two years, and that a road will double the value of my property, you may judge who is the most anxious to get the work done, myself or the council. Any delay which Jhas occurred has been caused by the council or its engineer, and not by — Yours, &c. , George W. Deafer. Ratamii, April 10.