THE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS IN WAIHEMO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13995, 30 August 1907, Page 8

THE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS IN WAIHEMO.

Sib,—As the chairman m the Wailiomo County Council has accused me of , misleadin!!' the council in connection with its <iDi>lication for a Rranfc on tho Rock and Pillar read, I wish to make it clear how the council made the application. Before askinjr tho oouticil to n-ptly for this vote I pointed out that Rock ar.d Pillar was four miles nearer than Hyde—or eirfvt miles in the return iourncy—and that it would a.l°o l:o eight miles nearor Dnnedin l>y rail. Of tho road between Moonlight and Rock and Pillar about threo miles were a u'cllformed and partly-crravelled road, and another throe miles consisted of an old waggon track that had been «a>d for cartfo" wool in the early days, arid was passable, I then moved that the inspoctor report on the cost of forming the remaining two.miles, as ■tho settlers wanted an outlet in that direc- %.

cost about £300, and tho council thai applied for a grant'to mako the road. These aro facts that can be proved from tho inspector's report and ■ tho eonncil'e minute book. All the information possible was laid, before tho council before it was asked to apply for this voto. I wish to remind the chairman that assertion is not proof, and to ask him if ho will point out what have misrepresented. After getting a vote for the amount the council decided to allow tho vote to lapse, as tho initial expenses—i.e., coot of survey, limd required for tho deviation, and cost of transfer (about £30 or £40)— were, too groat. Tho land'required for tho deviation was then offered for nothing, and several of tho settlers offered to subscribe £5 each towards tho initial oxpensc. -That excuse Jias now been abandoned, but tho council. after going over tho proposed road and acknowledging that tho grade is not aa steop as >k was ( led to believe, and that thero is no difficuUv except with ono gully, which rerniires an embankment about one chain long and 20ft or 30ft high, still refuses to go on with this work. Its latest oxcuEo is that tho road is not roqnircd. At tho same time it applies for ft grant to straighten the road between Muddy Creek and Shag Point—a good, metalled road, close besido tho railway. Tliis is a. more necessary work than if, is to give tho settlers of Moonlight a 6hortor and bettor road to got to a railway station! With refoKHico to " button-holing," a person not interested in, a.nd strongly opposed to, the Rock and Pillar road told ir.o that lie li'ttd stoppod at tho Excelsior Hotel with the chairman, who ha-c] told him that nobody wanted the road, and tint it was not required, etc., and added: "You don't need to trouble vourself about it; you won't get tho road." The infereneo was that tho chairman would prevent the road from being made. As an impression is abroad that I am the writer of a letter that appeared in your is-iuo of the 16th inst., over tho signature of "Waihemo Ratepayer," I wish to State that I was Jiot tho writer of that letter.— I am, etc., Geokge Claiik. Moonlight, August 26.