NGARURORO BANK PROTECTION.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3915, 25 May 1877, Page 2

NGARURORO BANK PROTECTION.

g IKj — However desirous newspaper correspondents may be to state only that which is strictly correct, sometimes they are led into error, as like all other members of the human family they are not infallible. lam very thankful, therefore, indeed, for the information contained in the letter of Mr Bennett's wherein he informs the public and myself that the piece of ground alluded to by me in my last is the property of the Government, and not belonging to any private individual. This is certainly worth knowing, as the majority of persons between Havelock and Clive looked upon it as the property of Mr Hamlin. But inasmuch as it is not, and does abut upon the road, and is the property of the Government, I would take the liberty of asking Mr Bennett why he did not make a motion that something should be doaic for the protection of the said strip of land 1 lam aware, as I have already stated in a previous communication, that he opposed the motion of Colonel Whitmore for the expenditure of £500, in accordance with the report of Mr Bold. Now, if he was sincere in his opposition, thinkin" that a portion of the said amount would be spent on private property, I again ask why he did not move an amendment that the said amount should be spent on the protection of the strip of land alluded to I He, however, attempts to get over this difficulty by saying, " But this is even not the principal clanger which exists. The encroachment of the river is principally in Mr Hamlin's paddocks, which I have no doubt will cause considerable damage to that valuable property." Sympathetic Mr Bennett, who can bewail the loss to Mr Hamlin or his successors, but fails to see the necessity of protecting the strip of land spoken of, and which if washed away will convey with it the homes and homesteads of East and West Clive. I have already quoted from Mr Bennett's letter, wherein, speaking of this Government reserve, he says, "But this is not the principal danger that exists" ; now, with all due respect to Mr Bennett and his thorough knowledge of road works and protection of river embankments, 1 say it is, and having watched the spot daily for upwards of ten years and a half, and indicated what was likely to occur through your journal, and having stood with others at the last flood and witnessed where the waters broke across the road, I claim also to have some knowledge on the subject. I reiterate that it was a duty that MiBennett owed to his constituents to take some steps towards the protection of this notoriously dangerous portion of the river. It's all very well for him to preach economy and talk Tutaekuri and Petane ; still, such preaching will not prevent the overflowing of the waters of the Ngaruroro at the piece of groud spoken of by him as a Government reserve ; nor prevent, through his lukewarmness in the matter, the inundation of both East and West Clive. In consequence, thereof, those of his constituents who returned him to the Provincial Council and to the road board, have little to bo pleased with him for in the exercise of his functions of County Councillor. For my own part, again thanking Mr Bennett for the considerate information he has afforded me, I would close by saying, _Ye sutov ultra o'epidam. — I am&c, Your Correspondent. May 24, 1877.