MR CORBOY IN EXPLANATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1324, 23 December 1880, Page 3

MR CORBOY IN EXPLANATION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — I observe in your issue of the 14th instant a local, the purport being an account of an interview between Mr Whitaker- and myself a few clays ago, and the decision arrived at to get the Government grant to pay the contractors for work done in the Newcastle District, I wish to say the particulars as stated in your local on the more important points ace incorrect, and has a tendency to convey a wrong impression to the minds of ratepayers and others interested as to who is the real cause of delay in having the contractors paid their money. And as the report given eeeras to have a sinister signification in reference to myself, I beg you will give me space while I briefly state the particulars of the case as I believe to be correct, and in order to do so it will be necessaiy to go back a little : On the 14th of November last, at a meeting of ratepayers held at Whatawhata, myself and four others were appointed a com. mittee with instructions to wait on Mr Whitaker, and urge on him the necessity of getting the contractors paid, as the Board failed to get Major Wilson's party to agree to any reasonable terms by which it could be done The committee proceeded to Hamilton on the following day, saw Mr Whitaker, and laid the case clearly before him by pointing out tho po&ition with regard to the Major's party, the proposals offered in order to settle the dispute, but which were rejected, and the grievance the contractors had by being kept so long out of their money, after having finished their work. Mr Whitaker admitted the proposals offered by the Board were fair and reasonable, and should havo been accepted, and recommended the deputation to make one more offer, and, if rejected, said he would take onhimself to pay the contractors out of the grant. The deputation, after consulting the ratepayers, complied with the recommendation, but with no better result than before. I again saw Mr Whitaker on the day referred to in your local, and informed him what had been done, also reminded him that according to promise at a previous interview with the deputation that the duty of paying the contractors now devolved on liitn. He then asked me to see Mr Carpenter and represent the matter to him, and say that he (Mr Whitaker) was anxious to see the contractors paid without further delay, and if satisfied would bo glad to see him on Saturday with myself or some person from Whatawhata, with the authority to act, so that he could send a telegram to Government to have the grant placed in the Hamilton Bank, and pay the contractors forthwith. I intimated to Mr Whitaker that the ratepayers of Whatawhata would be quite satisfied that he should get the money placed to his own credit in the Bank, and pay those to ■whom it was due without Mr Carpenter or me interfering. However, he insisted that I should see Mr Carpenter. I did so on the following day and. laid the matter before him as agreed on. Mr Carpenter said his party wonlcl insist on getting a portion of the grant to make their road, and would not agree that Mr Maunders should be paid up in full, neither did his party believe that Mr Whitaker meant to propose this. I said if he insisted on these terms there would be no use of our going to Hamilton on Saturday ; this was understood by Mr Carpenter, who said he would consult his party, and let me know the result on the following day. I received his note on the following day, confirming what he said the previous day with regard to payment of Mr Maunder, and his claim to a portion of the grant. As these terms altered the conditions under which we were to meet, and knowing as I did that the ratepayers would not sanction the condition, I did net think it any U 66 to go to Hamilton. However, in all probability I would have gone but the whole of that day was exceedingly wet. I went to Hamilton on the following Monday, told Mr Whitaker tho result of my interview with Mr Carpenter. At this time he knew I was entirely opposed to the terms wanted. He then said that he wished to get a member of the Board with Mr Carpenter present that they might come to some agreement by which a portion of the grant or some of the rates would be secured to make the road referred tu. 1 thou explained to him tho iv«

justice that this arrangement would cause to be inflicted on Mr Maunders and others if any of the funds now due to contractors were set aside to commence new works on a road that the ratepayers did not require but would be opposed to the Board agreeing to an arrangement so unfair. Now, Sir, the cause of this delay in keeping those unfortuuote contractors so long out of their money can be explained in a few words. The whole of the Government grant voted last session to make the main road, and this year's rates are now all due to them for work done. Notwithstanding this, Major Wilson's party insist on getting a portion of this money to commence new works on a road they want to make, and Mr Whitaker is favouring them in their agitation to obtain it. The ratepayers are opposing this unjust demand, which would have the effect of placing the financial position of the Board in such a precariqus position as> to render it impossible to pay some of the present contractors for the next two years. Sir, as remarked in your local, the cause of delay can be traced to the door of the right party. — I am, &c, I*. Cor boy. Whatawhata, December 19th, 1880.