CORRESPONDENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 7 April 1908, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor

. Sir,—Kindly- allow mo to place before you^readers the action 01 the East-' brook- Borough Council in connection with the Matarawa Crock. Qii January 30th, at a special meeting called for the purpose of appointing the foreman an inspector under the traffic- bylaws, the Mayor moved this resolution: " That the Council take over the Mataiawa Creek as.provided for by the Land' Drainage Act. Amendment."" I invite the Mayor to make public "the meaning of tbo resolution,- which I confess I am unable to' do. At the same meeting the then Borough^ : solicitor's (Mr. Mackay) written- opii^ton on the creek .was received, which advised that the Council could (1) compel the owners to clear out the creek within two months, or (2) oould apply for and obtain a1 Governor's warrant to have control of the creek so as to-.enable the Council to clean ib out.--Subsequently. Mr. Watt v\ a.s appointed solicitor to the Council/ and while- advising the Waitotara Country Council on what is known as Field's Creek, and considering the cir-. ■ c-umstunces and conditions <of the two creaks (Field's and Matarawa) were :;o much alike, sent a copy of' his .opinion to the Eastbrook-Borough .'Council. -In this opinion Mr. Watt expressly advised the 'Council to compel the owners of. tho creek to clean, it out. I invite the Mayor or any member of the Council to publicly answer the following questions :—Did the Council make any attempt to compel the owners to clean tho creek out," or (2) did the C-uncii obtain a. Governor's warrant to do it, or (3) did the Council, in direct opposition to tho advice of both solicitors, j let a contract to clean out 30 chains (one-half) of tho creek for £139 10s, and authorise" an additional £30 for. tho lower portion of the work?—l am, etc.. R, NEILSON, Eastbrook.