CORRESPONDECE.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 56, 2 May 1877, Page 3

CORRESPONDECE.

[Oui* correspondence column being open, no responsibility can be necepted m respect to opinions expressed by correspondents.]

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — I was somewhat surprised at seeing a letter signed " W. McDouall " m your last issue. I had thought the resolution passed at the late meeting of the Highways Board would have been the means of showing him that his opinion was worth very little m the estimation of that body. But some people are very conceited, and consequently blind to ever3 r thing that does not fit into their particular views. Such appears to be the case m this instance, as he seems to be determined to insult, not only the present Inspector of Works and Secretary to the Board, but the Board itself. Comment on such a letter as his last is quite useless, and would be lost on such a man. If I remember right, one of the resolutions passed at the influential meeting of settlers held at the Rangiiikei Line, was to this effect: That the ratepayers m other wards of the Manawtau Highways Disti'ict were invited to express an opinion on the grievance's before that meeting. May I ask, Mr Editor, if Mr McDouall, or his sympathisers at the late meeting, have been favored with many responses to their kind invitation ? It appears to me that all the complaints yet brought forward are of a very trifling nature, and it "would seem that they can be summed up thus : The Inspector of Works on one occasion was attended by a member of the Board m Sandon district, where the temporary services of an axe and three pegs were required, and instead of said Inspector carrying the above-mentioned requisites m his pocket, said member did go and procure them, and did actually drive them into the proper place, which Mr McD. says was too tedious to mention. Now, Mr Editor, the public say thus : "Supposing the above to be true, what then ? The member referred to must have been evidently taking a rise o.ut of Mr McD ;" and I have no doubt enjoyed himself muchly at his expense. Mr McD. musthave been very inquisitive indeed to extract so much valuable information from any member of the Board, and I suppose thought he had succeeded admirably m getting so much data to lay before his public meeting. The late Assessment Court was another instance' of the samespiritevincedat the public meeting. Mr McD. did admit that his valuation was quite low enough, and said that the reason why he objected was because some of his own neighbours were undervalued. I may say, Mr Editor, that some of the audience were rather puzzled to think what had caused that gentleman to become so zealous for fairplay and the public weal. I believe they were right m coming to the conclusion that the spirit emanated from excessive love to the Board and its valuers. I have been informed that the said Mr McD. has had some experience m connection w r ith public, works under the jurisdiction of the Board. That experience went to show that the eyes of the Board were upon that individual, and found his work was not up to the mark and had a .report accordinglj% and declined to I pay for Ihe work "until it was done m a proper manner. Perhaps that fact may m some way account for his peculiar views about a board. The portion of his letter relative to suppressed tenders must be taken for what it is worth at present, but I for one feel quite confident that quite a differentconstruction has been put upon the affair than the case would warrant. I have watched narrowly for some years past the working of our Highway Board m this district, and can safely say it has been a public boon to the inhabitants. It has been conducted on honest principle, its usefulness has been publicly acknowledged, its works speak for themselves, its members have been carefully selected and publicly voted into their offices by a majority of the public, and may I add, that same public can see through the feeble and transparent attempt of Mr McDouall and a few of his immediate neighbors to bring discredit on that body. While writing I feel there is no need of any one to step forward, as I am now doing, to show another side of the question, but such statements should, I think, be contradicted by some one, lam quite sure that the Board will treat the whole affair with the contempt it justly merits, and by so doing will simply do their duty as they have done m times past. — rani; &c. E. B. Palmerston North, 28th April, 1877.