NORTH ISLAND LAND ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10221, 15 December 1893, Page 2

NORTH ISLAND LAND ASSOCIATION.

TO THIS EDITOR. Sib,—We have to thsnk you for publishing the letter from Mr Greenup, and also the reply from Mr Anson in your issues of Nov. 18 and 16, as this is tfco first opportunity we have had of hearing a word about the Association’s business, and we assure you it is quite refreshing, as most of ua here Lave repeatedly written to the chairman, Mr Anson, but have got no replies, and are consequently, like Mr Greenup, entirely in the dark. Referring to the letters in question, wo consider Hr Anson’s letter is no reply to the questions at issue, but entirely evasive. Wo far as the contractor being a friend of Mr Gs’eenup, we consider lie has been a friend to all interested, as lie has persevered with the work und?r the greatest disadvantages. The five men who completed tho first contract were treated very badly. They ware nearly reduced to starvation in consequence of the Managing Committee neglecting to forward money loag utter it became clue and after they had written for it repeatedly. Now, referring to the second contract, Mr Anson about tho middle of September telegraphed to one of his friends to atop the contract, and in a short time after telegraphed again to go ou with the work. Ha states ia his letter that it will be time enough to pay when the work ia completed. A short timo since Mr Anson telegraphed to the contractor asking him if he could complete the contract. The reply was that the men had left the work for want of funds. Now it appears to us unreasonable to expect that men working up to their middle in water can work without tucker. *) * * Now no think the now men huva no legal right to touch the work until the woik already done is paid for in full. We also think the matter should have been advertised and others had an opportunity of tendering. * * * We would like to know if it ia tho intention of the committee to allow them to pass their own work and pay themselves. We should also like to know what object the committee can have in starting the second contract in the middle of the swamp, where it is over knee-deep in water, which etauda nt the seme level now the drain is cut as it did before, there being no outlet. We, like Mr Greenup, would like to know when this fares is going to finish: Wo have a chairman who holds no section in this block, and only one member of the committee has over seen the swamp. Under these circumstances mat!ore are likely to remain in the same muddle as they are at present. It ia unreasonable to expect that sensible people will part with their money to bo squandered away uselessly in this manner, the middle of too swamp, baipg utterly UyclcjG * a!ti- T.o.v Ut'oly r*.U i;iveft penny return for the nest ten years, and not actually worth the cost of the construction oi the drain. Wo badly want a chaage in the government of this Assfe : ation, feg we have at present a. tyrannical Conservative party iu power who have done the Association no good by the part they have taken in the late election by doing ail they could against the present Government, in which wo are glad to say thoy utterly failed. We think it high time they retired and gave way to more' practical men, as their ideas are entirely obsolete. * * *—We are, <ke.,. Harold Crowley, Gcoroe Greenup, Joseph Hat ward, George Lord, Frank 0. Greenup, Ja-bes Crowley. Whakat&ne, Dec. 7. [We have'had to expunge somo of oar correspondents’ allusions to the management of the Association.— Ed. £.2’.]