GERALDINE FLAT WATER-RACE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3529, 30 December 1899, Page 2

GERALDINE FLAT WATER-RACE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin, —Kindly gn.nt me space in ycur widely-circalated journal to refute a false and misleading statement which appeared in the Guardian on the 23rd instant. In the report of the meeting of tho Geraldine County Council the following statement occurs;—“The committee of the Geraldine Flat Water Supply made objection to the Council for remitting Mr Shiers’ rates for maintenance of water race, on the ground (hat he had no need for cleaning near his section, os the water runs through a natural gully.” This statement is distinctly false and misleading. For the information of the other ratepayers, I will explain the matter, otherwise it might appear that I wish to evade my share of water-race charges. True I pay no maintenance rate at present, and why 1 I own only 20 acres in tho water-race district. Half of this was originally deep swamp land, covered with nigger-heads. To drain this portion, I went to the cost of cutting a large deep drain, 17 chains in length, 6£t x 3ft, on the boundary of the 20 acres. When the water race was made, I allowed the engineer to turn the water race into this swamp drain, being the most convenient outlet, and effecting a great saving in the cost of construction to the other landowners. 1 have always maintained this outlet drain at a cost of four times that the chairman is paying for the same length through his land, I should be very pleased if the committee would take over the maintenance of this drain, as it costs me about four times the ordinary maintenance rate. The council or the committee have never expended one penny in construction or maintenance on my property, henee the reason why I am not liable for maintenance The committee state that the water runs throu'gh a natural gully iu my land and requires no cleaning. This is the false and misleading statement which I wish to refute, and proves that the chairman has radly neglected his duty, by showing his ignorance of where the water-race runs; evidently he has never seen it. So much for his veracity. I was exceedingly surprised at a person, who professes to be a leading light in the cownmnity, making such a wild statement which is contrary to fact, I can only charitably suppose'That he has been misled by some designing persoo, I challenge him to attend the nest meeting of the council and substantiate his ’ charge. If my statement cannot be proved I will pay one guinea to the Transvaal fund or the Timaru Hospital ; let the chairman of committee do the same if he is proved to be wrong. This is a fair challenge, and I will agree to the engineer or clerk of the council to be the judge. A person should be sure of his facts before he makes a charge to a public body whose proceedings appear in the public prints. In conclusion, I may state that the races are a disgrace to the comufittee. They are, and have been for some months, thoroughly neglected and without a caretaker, this to save a few shillings expense to the monopolists of the land on the Geraldine Flat, who are the members of the race committee. Kindly give the chairman of the committee space for reply. Applogising for the length of this letter, which may appear somewhat personal, and thanking you in anticipation.—l am, etc., War. Shieks. Geraldine, December 23rd, 1999,