CORRESPONDENCE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12436, 8 April 1908, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — Kindly allow mo to place before your readers the action of the E'nstbiook Borough Council in connection with the Matarawa Creok. On January 20th, at s> special meeting- called for the purpose o! a| pointing th:! forcmar. an inspector und^i the traffic by-laws, the Mayor moved tinresohition- "'That the Council take ovci ihe Matarawa Creek as provided for by the Land Drainage Act Amendnwvit." I invite the Mayor to make public the meaning of the resolution, which I confess I am unable to do At the same meeting the then borough solicitor's (Mr Mackay) written opinion or the cre>k was received, which advised that the Council could (t) compel th<? N owners to clear out the creek witnin two iroi'ths, or (2) could apply for and obtair a Governor's warrant to have control ol the creek so as to enable tho Council to clean it out. Subsequently Mr Watt wa.' appointed solicitor to the Council, aiwl while advising the Waitotara County Coui'cil on what is known as Field's Creek, and considering the circumstances and conditions of <he two creeks (Field's and Matarawa) were so much alike, sent a copy of his opinion to the Eaetbrook Borough Council. In this opinion Mr Watt expressly advised the Council to compel the owners of the creek to clean it out. I invite the Mayor or any member of the Courcil to publicly answer the following questions: — Did the Council make any attempt to compel the owners to clean the creek out, or (2) did the Council obtain a Governor's warrant to do it, or (3) did the Council, in direct opposition to the advice of both solicitors, let a contract to clean out 30 chains (one-half) of the creek for .£139 10s, and authorise an additional .£3O for the lower portion of the work? — I am, etc., R. NEILSON. _ Eastbrook.