FORTIFICATION ROAD

Southland Times, Issue 20538, 14 July 1928, Page 11

FORTIFICATION ROAD

COUNTY COUNCIL’S LOAN. CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION. The trials and tribulations of back-country life were brought forcibly before the Southland County Council at the monthly meeting yesterday when an indignant Fortification resident sent in a letter claiming damages to the extent of £l6O. The letter read as follows:—“When you accepted the £lOOO loan for the completion of the Fortification road it was to be completed within a reasonable time—five years. It is now nine years since then and the road is not yet completed. During that time I have paid £lOOO to the council for rates and interest. I now claim compensation for four years at the rate of £4O per year. If your councillors consider that I am over-charging, come along and inspect the 30 chains that are left. You have only to appeal to the travelling public to see what kind of a road it is, as we are continually pulling cars out of the holes with our horses. I am also put to considerable inconvenience with my sheep, being compelled to use this road bringing them backwards and forwards to the sheep yards. It was the duty of the councillors in power when this £lOOO was accepted to see that this road was completed within the reasonable time. I ask you to forward me a cheque for £l6O, which I now claim.” It was decided that the indignant rural resident be advised that the council expected to complete the road next year.