TUAPEKA COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1460, 8 November 1879, Page 13

TUAPEKA COUNTY.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sib,— Will you permit me through the column* of your paper to pass a few comments on matters whioh interest me as a ratepayer. The subject which I have to deal with is county

1 expenditure. At a recent meeting of our Tua* peka County Council a very animated diseußsion j took place as to the curtailing of expenditure, which resulted in a motion to employ not more '• than seven surfacemen within the county at tho present time. Now I quite agree with that, for I believe it to be a step in the right direction, for everyone who travels about the country can form a very good idea of what the surfacemen generally do. Now I believe in the county employing a necessary number of officials and re- ' numerating them liberally, but at the same time paying particular attention that they are com- > petent and attentive to their duties, and also that all county works entrusted to their care are judiciously and properly executed ; then I consider that our County Council would not be forced to the unpleasant task of cutting down wages. Now I can point out one source of extraordinary expenditure and also of mismanagement in the shape of our punt, which, I must eaj, and all who are forced to make use of it will quite agree with me, that instead of being a boon or even a convenience is nothing short of a pub« lie nuisance to the distriot, for were the punfc not here, a private punfc would be erected which would be properly conducted and be made more convenient for traffic, and people would be satisfied to pay a toll sooner than be humbugged and annoyed in the manner they are at present ; for if you are unfortunate e^nough to require to cross the river when there is a rise of a foot or eighteen inches, you must wait two or three hours and help to jaaul stages, &c, about, and if you are not inclined to do this you are at the mercy of the puntman, who believes in the motto " that one good turn deserves another." If our County Council were to call up a statement of the money expended on our punt from its birth until the present time, and then to look at the convenience that it now affords, they would be inclined to admit that it is the most fruitful source of expenditure that they have to deal with ; in fact the management of our punt reflects no credit on anyone connected with it. Hoping that I am not trespassing on your valuable space. —I am &c, A Ratepayeb. Roxburgh, November 3rd, 1879.