THE SOHOONER CREEK SQUABBLE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXIX, Issue 183, 26 July 1893, Page 3

THE SOHOONER CREEK SQUABBLE.

XO THE EDITOB. Bib,— ln answer to " Ratepayer's " letter of 22nd inst., I think he must eithar know very little about Schooner Creek and its affairs, or else he must be trying to wilfully mislead the public. He says, Mr Chaytor's 4 Det engineering scheme" of turning Pukaka water into Schooner Creek. Why not speak the truth, and say three parts of the ratepayers hav6 formed themselves into an Adoration Society, not to worship Mr Cb aytor and his doings, but to save their property from ruination by the aotion of Mr Smith m blocking np the only natural water course they have m that part of the district ; and have forced on them a culvert through a high quicksand sandhill where it would cost at least seven times as much to open out «nd timber as the natural watercourse, Schooner Creek, and then only take half the vater m flood time. " Ratepayer" says •■" for downright mismanagement the River R.srd takes tbe cake," which I quite agree ynlh and for which we have to thank Mr Bmifft As for Mr Blackett and Mr Wilson's report,' " Ratepayer" only gives half of it. They staY** i* was the best courEe if cost was of no importance. Everyone knows the shorter the c oorse the better for drainage, but as to the .difference being 17 chains to 80 this is entire.^ false. Schooner Creek i 3 sot very many chains lorger than Sandhill route, not twic» as iong, let alone five times, as stated by " Ratepayer." Now wa come to the main part of the report— that is cost. Whsn an estimate was made as to work through the sandhill it was found that it would cost about £700. Tenders were called for Schooner Creek, and work let for about £80 ; so that when the members found they could save £600 m one piece of work, besides the endless patching and renewal of timber, which has cost the Board bo many pounds m the past on this one piece of work, is it any wonder that all the members (except Mr Smith) should work together (not as puppets) but as men representing the ratepayers of the district, to spend the rates m as economical a manner as possible, especially, as " Rate payer " says, " we want men m these hard times who can get a pound's worth of work for every pound expended." I should like to tsk " Ratepayer " if it is common sense for ft man of Mr Smith's experience to let a contract through a deep quicksand m the middle of winter and expect a man to make a job of it ; or to put m rotten sap of birch m the first place eimply because he wanted to get the thin edge of the wedge, and make the ratepayers believe it could be done for a mere trifle; as he (Mr Smith) was the Bo&td at that time, also tbe Road Board, and was tbe only man interested m getting the work done through Hunter's sandhill. It ib not the Chairman who is spending the funds— but four out of the five members (and surely they have a right to when they aro backed up by three parts of the rate payers)— in getting an outlet for the water, besides bavin? a watercourse which would not take one- fifth part as much to keep m repafe. As to compensation for land, Mr Bmith Fould not either sell, give, or exchange m any shape or form, though repeatedly wked to do so. It does seem a pity that the Chairman should have such liberty with the funds of the struggling local body, but if Mr Smith were to spend £700 for his sole benefit it would be allright, and could not be wrong. As to failure, "Ratepayer" must know all about it. Perhaps be, like the Picton Road Board, got a lawyer's advice free of cost. Surely, si "Batepajer" ib sneb a trice men, be anight have given tbe public the benefit of his name, so that they might have known ■whether it -was Mr Smith or one of his .puppets. — I am, etc, James Law. Tua Marina July 22, 1893. "The Sun Baking Powdeb eclipses »11 '•Others.