COUNTY COUNCIL v. BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1956, 15 June 1888, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL v. BOROUGH COUNCIL.

To the Editor of the Star.

Sir, — "Will you kindly allow me space in your valuable journal to protest mildly against certain remarks made in an article which appeared in your issue of last night, respecting the County Council having decided to take proceedings against the Borough Council for the cartage of gravel over county roads ? You will probably pardon me for pointing out to you that it is not a usual course for a leading journal to comment in nny way calculated to prejudice a case which is likely to come before a court of law. Do not misunderstand me ; I do not accuse yon of having prejudiced the case of the County Council. Far from it. What I wish to point out is the unusual course you have taken. You will also allow me to point out, for the information of your readers, that your remarks with regard to the damage done by the County Council to their own road is slightly, very slightly, misleading. The facts are as follows. The county contractors have only lately finished their contract. Their haulage extended over about 30 chains of road, which they have repaired at their own cost. The borough employe, or contractor, on the other hand, has carted over a distance of about 4^ miles of couEty road, to the great loss of the county ratepayer. In spite of my remonstrance, the offence is still committed. The real question which the county authorities wish to have soWed is, whether they have a legal remedy against persons doing excessive damage to roads, and whether they can compel such persons to pay for such damage. Failing' such, then, probably, the whole farming community, who themselves do very little damage to roads, and on whom falls the expense of keeping such roads in repair, will be called upon (in most cases) to incur additional and unnecessary expense, in providing new wheels for their drays, simply because a few offenders do not keep within reasonable bounds. We understand that a legal remedy can be applied, to restrain and punish, persons doing excessive damage to roads. The County Council has at laßt determined to take action, in the interests of the ratepayers, to prevent the continuance of an evil which has strained tho resonrcea of the council for many years past. The damage done by the use of narrow tyres when heavy loads are carried is both tangible and serious, as can be testified to without the aid of your learned friend of Philadelphia. — I am, &c, I. Bayly, County Chairman.