THE ABATTOIR SITE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10572, 20 January 1896, Page 4

THE ABATTOIR SITE.

TO THE EDITOB. ' Sir,—The lengthy letter of Mr H. S. Fish calls for very brief reply from me. I did not visit the sites along with the General Committee in the early part of last year, though a member of that body. Not finding it convenient to leave town on the appointed day, I visited them on another day in company with Cr Solomon. Not being able to come to the r>,ime conclusion as the majority of the General Committee, I did not attend the meeting of May 18, and, therefore, was not a party to their report. That report was considered in committee of the whole: it was to this proceeding that I made reference on Wednesday Bight, and not to the General Committee's meeting. Mr Fish has a conveniently defective memory if hs cunnot recollect that. 1 then raised the question of a possible difficulty in acquiring a railway siding into the ground recommended by the General Committee, and indicated my pwn .predilection in favour of a site on the other side of the railway and equally close to the saleyard., or, if contiguity 'to the saleyards were not deemed to be of the first importance, a site a little 'beyond the limits of the Green Island municipality and possessing considerable advantages in the matter of drainage. Several of the councillors are, however, cognisant of the fact tha*, while so declaring ia favour of the sites 1 have named, I said I would let my individ&al opinion slide, in order that the council might arrive at a unanimous deliverance; so when tbe council resumed I gave my vote for adopting the report of the General Committee. It is hardly necessary to further refresh Mr Fish's memory, but if it bs I can tell you of another circumstance (it is not advisable to publicly mention it) that will bear out my statement of what actually occurred so far as I am concerned.

I voted on Wednesday for tbe adoption of tha General Committee's report because I had excellent reason for believing that the Taieri County Council are not likely to refuse their consent to some of the sites within theie j arisdiction that may be placed under offer to the City Conncil. Mr Fish must know as weU as I that the question has been materially affoefced by the legislation of last session, -which has increased rather than lessened the City Council's difficulties. But I prefer to await further developments before assuming, as Mr Fish evidently does, that tho Taieri County Council will give factious opposition to the City Council acquiring an abattoir site within-tht Jimits of tbeir county.—l am, kc,, January 18. M. Coheh.