CORRESPONDENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1868, 3 February 1892, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

ATHEN-SJUM RESERVES. (To the Editor) Sir, — I noticed from the report of the Athensßum Committee which appeared in your last issue that the Committee considered the fencing of the Dales Plat reserve would be completed by the_ Ist February. How they arrived at this conclusion is rather a mystery to me, seeing that they were on the ground only the previous day, and should, therefore, have a little better knowledge of the matter. On the visit of the Committee to the reserve on the day before their last meeting, I accompanied them over the ground, and the feucins? was then, as they could see for themselves, not more than half completed. It has taken two months to erect the part then done. How, then, could the other half be finished by the Ist of February? The Committee must have curious notions of fencing if they think two months' work can be done in two days. The season has been an exceptionally good one for grass crops, and my losing the use of the land during the best part of the season through the Committee not keeping the terms of the agreement made with me is my reason for asking £100 damages. 1 I should like to know if the Committee were aware of everything that was done in this matter ? If they also authorised the President to write to me in the strain he did ; and if they are aware that my letters in reply to his communications have been left unanswered ? The Committee now offer mo the land free till the Ist I'ebruary, but that is no concession whatever to me, as I cannot make any use of the ground until it is securely fenced in. The terms of I my tender distinctly stated that the land was to be securely fenced by the Jst December. The truth of my statement will be proved if the correspondence on the subject is produced at the meeting on Friday evening. It will also be seen that the Committee have been unreasonably slow in their movements, and have not made the slightpst effort to study my interests. The result is that I have suffered serious loss and inconvenience through the dilatory conduct of the Committee— a fact that 1 wis.i the public and the subscribers of the Athenaeum to properly understand. The position in which those gentlemen have placed me, Sir, is my only excuse for troubling you with this letter. — I am, &c, John Hall.