HALL ESTATE HOADS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 4831, 8 May 1914, Page 2

HALL ESTATE HOADS.

(To the Editor). Sir,—l crave a little space in your valuable paper to expose the acrobatic feat of the member for the Tararua Hiding in the Paliiatua County. I have neither the time nor the patience to individually criticise any one Councillor, but am compelled to take the member for the above riding to task for the nay in which he cast his vote on Mr Avery’s motion at last Saturday’s meeting of the Council! On the 4th ult., I had Mr Matthews strongly advocating my claim for favourable consideration. He then thought it was time something was done to give me access. Exactly four weeks’ later, when he had an opportunity of doing me some service, by voting with Mr Avery on the motion before file meeting, that the metalling of my road he proceeded with as soon as the more urgent work of the Council had been completed; Lo! and behold “John” turneth a complete somersault and votes me further into the mire than ever. Sir. I can’t help thinking how far it shows a man is prepared to let petty partisan feeling carry him. I am sure there are dozens of travelling show men who would raise the above acrobat's salary from ten shillings per month to ten pounds a night. Wirth Bros, are always on the lookout for star artists of the first water. Now, Mr Matthews, I’ll take you back to the Bth February, 1913, considerably over 12 months ago, the date of my second interview with the Council. Do you remember meeting me near the Pahiatua Post Office and discussing my position re roading facilities, and do you remember suggesting to me, inter alia, if all else failed, that I was to ask the Council for permission to spend my rates a year or two in advance and you would back me up ? you behave on that memorable occasion? You sat like a “mute,” a sorry spectacle. Again, on the 12th August, 1913, do you remember buttonholing me at the Farmers’ SaleYards, endeavouring to prove the inconsistency of a brother Councillor, a gentleman infinitely more capable of running the Paliiatua County Council than some members 1 could enumerate. First of all pluck the mote out of thine own eye before bothering about thy brother. Have you forgotten having a little confidential yarn to me, in the Commercial Stables when no one was looking, on the morning of the sth April, 1913, prior to the Council’s meeting, giving me advice about approaching the Council in a meekly spirit, and not to try anything like coercion, for I would get nothing, especially warning me of the “stormy petrel.” Your statement at last Saturday’s meeting is contrary to. fact and figures, when you refer to my monetary offer not being equivalent to that of Mr Ruskell’s (apologising to that gentleman for using his name), as a fact my cash offer on the -sth April, 1913, was not only on a par with Mr Ruskell’s, but one better, my cash offer being £2O for 20 chains of metal, not including giving the metal free, and findin ga paddock for the Council’s teams. Mr Haskell's offer was £lO for 13 chains of metal. How do you justify your remarks, or vote, at last Saturday’s meeting? Now, I will leave the matter with the public, for afer all, they are the best judges. Trusting 1 won’t have to trouble you again. Mr Editor, and thanking you in anticipation.—l am, etc., P. STENBERG. Hall’s Estate .Paliiatua, (i 3 'll.