AN EXPLANATION.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 266, 14 May 1895, Page 2

AN EXPLANATION.

TO THE KDITOK OK THE STAR. Sin, —ln reply to " Ratepayer's " second-hand sneer at the Temperance folk in connection with tho alleged iuvitation to a Volunteer corps, I wish to repeat his own caution to Mr lieid, viz , " That he should make himself conversant with the facts " — not his, or other people's fancies — " before rushing into print," and throwing mud that only sticks to his own hand. Whoever heard of a Tern porance organisation that could afford to give a free lunch for anyone, much less fur men provided for by Government ? An officer in charge of the men attending the tea on Monday evening took good caro to have a voucher signed by one of the Tempo ranee men, so that the money might Ibe refunded by the Government. I don'i believe there is the least sinceriry in this accusation of meanness. It was just concocted and thrown at people who are really fighting the battles of tho country against a foe, compared to which the French or Eussiausare harmless indeed—soldiers who fight to savo, notjto kill. The idea of Temperance workers being mean and dishonorable, who are giving their time and money in working for the general good, is as false as it is original. We don't think for a moment that the public, who know better, will bo influenced by such base insinuations. They partake too much of the bar-parlour flavour. I am, etc., Another. ILvtki'Ayek. THE DEDICATION OF THE BOROUGH ROADS AND SQUARE. TO THK EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sir, —The great importance of this subject fully justifies me, I think, in again troubling you respecting Borough affairs. Mr Sandiland's letter, ■which you publish this evening, reminds me of the strongest argument to show the mistake which Mr Gieseu has fallen into in claiming, on behalf of the Colonists' Laud aud Loan Corporation, any private interest or control in or over the roads or streets and Squares in the Borough, as shown on the plan deposited by that Company at the Lands Transfer Office, namely —That the Borough was formed at the instigation aud with the influence aud [perseverance of the late Mr D. H. Macarthur, who was then the agent or manager of the Corporation. That as soon as the Borough was formed Mr Macarthur used all bis energy aud influence in carrying the £6000 loan, by far the greater part, if not the whole, of which was laid out under the presidency aud sanction of Mr Macarthur, when Mayor and afterwards, in forming, metalling, and improving, the Borough roads aud streets, thereby greatly increasing the value of the Company's laud. In the face of these facts I cannot conceive how the Corporation can claim any right over the Borough streets or roads, even if it bad a legal claim to exercise it (which I am fully convinced it has not). I remember when I was Mayor or Councillor —l forget which — submitting to the Council a plan which I bad prepared for improvements in the Square (this plau may be in the Council Chambers now for what I know), and on showing it to Mr Macarthur he was very angry because I bad made the roads round the Square half a chain instead of a chain wide as shown on the deposited plan, aud I bad to alter my plan accordingly. So much for the dedication question. Now I have beard it said, in fact it has appeared in some of your correspondents' letters, that a reason why the burgesses should not vote for the loan of .£9OO now proposed is because a meeting of the ratepayers has not been called to discuss the site of the proposed Municipal Buildings. My answer to this objection is that there can be no question as to the site unless the burgesses are prepared to sacrifice the site promised by the Corporation, said to be of the value of £'400. As to building on Manchester Square, I trust that Mr Saudilands and myself have disposed of that proposal as being impossible to be carried out. I trust, therefore, that under the circumstances all those burgesses who have the interests of the Borough at heart will vote for the loan on Wednesday next. I am, etc., Saml. Goodbehere. Feilding, May 11th, 1895.