NGARURORO BACK PROTECTION.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3919, 30 May 1877, Page 2

NGARURORO BACK PROTECTION.

Sir, — I notice in your paper of yesterday a long letter, signed "An Uninterested Observer," in which ho states that in this instance I ought to have made myself more acquainted with the subject before I acted or wrote thereon. I beg to differ with him in toto, for, having had continual opportunities of watching the action of the river in that locality for years, and having also inspected it twice since the last Hood, I am enabled to say that I do know the case exactly as it stands, and I think a little better than ' ■ Uninterested Observer" does (for who is to know if he is a competent person to pass an opinion or oiler suggestions when he is afraid to sign his own name to such an elaborate production e>f genius and skill as he has furnished the public with). " Observer" says that from almost daily observations he can assert that the river is encroaching the most on the Government reserve, of the truth of which any one can satisfy themselves at a glance. In answer to that I say he is entirely wrong, for if the river had encroached as much on the Government reserve as it it has done in Hamlin's paddock there would ne>w be no road left. Where your "Own Correspondent" and "Uninterested Observer" are wrong is when they think, or would like to make the public believe, that I am adverse to the Government reserve being protected, which is far from being correct, for 1 know it is clearly the county's duty to protect the public property, and alse> that this is a very necessary work for the county to do, that is so far as the river abuts on the reserve. As to " Observer" saying, " Is it right to saddle the whole expense on one individual where more are concerned .'"I think it is sufficient answer that I never entertained such an absurd opinion. What I said in the Council, ancl I am still of the same opinion, was that it is the duty of the county to protect the public property where the river is encroaching on the same ; but before entering on private property it ought to be done with extreme caution, seeing that there are so niany places within tlie county similarly situated. I will instance Taradale ; that is' now submerged with half a iiood, and the river is encroaching very fast both on public anil private property. My opinion is that where protective works are required on private properties the parties interested should pay their share of the work, and if the public roads are benefited by any such work it is clearly the county's duty to give a grant in aid in proportion. As this is the last letter I shall write on tlie subject, I will leave the matter for the public to judge whether the action I have taken, in a county point of view*, deserves condemning or otherwise. — I am, &c, John Bennett. Omaranui, May 29, 1877.