A SPORTING OFFER

Otago Witness, Issue 3145, 24 June 1914, Page 40

A SPORTING OFFER

COUNTY COUNCIL TAKES A JAUNT.

TOAD. COWYARD, OR QUAGMIRE?

An amusing episode occurred at the meeting of the Waihemo County Council on Saturday. ,A ratepayer in the Goodwood Riding wrote drawing attention to several chains of very bad road adjacent to his cowshed, which, it appears, is separated from the rondline by only a few feet. The gentleman in question also waited upon the council to impress upon the members his grievance in the matter. The council, he said, was in duty bound to do something for the road, seeing that for the last nine years he had spent something like £l2O to £l3O in rates, and actually had not got cue penny spent towards benefiting him. Councillors interrupting him, he explained that money previously spent on the road had been spent on work beyond his property — profiting his neighbour, but doing nothing for him. Had the money been spent at his end, where it was most required, it would have benefited both himself and bis neighbour. He was practically in the same as when he took up the property, and was determined to get at any rate a little spent. The road was a disgrace to the community. The chairman (who is' also the member for- the riding) here broke in angrily, asking if the ratepayers had not been told that if he erected a fence between his shed and the road the bad portion would bo metalled? The ratepayer said it was impossible to erect a fence. There would not bo room to handle his cows between the shed and a fence. The chairman retorted that the ratepajmr had no right to make a stockyard of the road. If he would erect a fence and keep his cattle off the road the bad portion would be attended to. As matters were at present it would only be 'throwing metal away to put it down. The ratepayer vehemently protested that he could not keep his cows off the road. He had to use the road to get to his paddocks. Councillors interrupted to the effect that that was not the point, and the ratepayer war, bidden to sit down. Both he and the chairman had shown some heat, and there followed a period of chaos, half the councillors showing a disposition to speak at once. The proceedings were not orderly, and when at length two or more councillors had ceased to speak at once, and there was a moment of calm, Or O’Neill pointed out that the ratepayer had not stated what he wanted done. This brought the gentleman to his feet again, and after another muchinterrupted statement of bis grievance lie declared that he would take the council down to the spot at Iris own expense and show it the road. If it saw the place, ho was certain it would realise the necessity of some monoj- being spent. Councillors" were sceptical, and once again the ratepayer sat down, the council continuing to talk, all at *’ sixes ard sevens.” A third time the ratepayer was on his feet, and now challenged the council to “come to the spot.” He declared emphatically that he wished it to do so. He would pay all expenses. Still sceptical, and still doing nothing in order, councillors suggested closing with the offer, and at length a motion was passed that the council go down after dinner. The .ratepayer then withdrew. _ Dinner over the council assembled at the corner near the motor garage to await developments. There was no sign of the ratepayer, and several members stated confidently that he would not turn up. Fifteen minutes in the sunshine, protected from the biting wind by a convenient building—a snug little spot o,n a bitterly cold daycouncillors continued to joke upon the subject, and confidence that the affair was “off” grew firmer every moment. Then a hush fell upon the gathering, and consternation in the demeanour of the more “knowing,” for there in their midst was th© ratepayer. A, mixture of anger, goodwill, determination, and a general “do or die” air was expressed in his countenance. A motor car to seat five was (standing beside the pavement and the council numbered nine. A short parley resulted in a compromise, and the ratepayer was given power to choose any five. He began by deliberately rejecting * the member for the riding, and chose his men, settling on those who knew least’ of the locality, one or two standing out on their own account because of their being already familiar with the conditions. The joking for a few minutes subsided, councillors becoming concerned about the payment. However, that question soon seemed settled, and confidence and levity were restored. Various estimates were made as to what the trip would cost, some saying not more than 15s, others pooh poohing the idea, and estimating at from 50s upwards. There was every indication that the road patching would prove an expensive item to the ratepayer, who, some

said, had bettor have undertaken it himself. Meanwhile the car had been got ready and at length, groaning under the added weight of the driver and county inspector, it set off up the hill for Goodwood, amt disappeared over the top, leaving Palmersston to resume its normal tone and revert to the excitement of the incoming through train. _ The upshot of the visit was that councillors agreed that the request was reasonable. After a look at the locality the majority formed the decision that nothing would be gained by making the ratepayer remove his fence. The Chairman thereupon moved, and it was resolved, that the engineer submit an estimate of cost at next meeting.