MR BRADLEY IN REPLY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 313, 7 April 1881, Page 2

MR BRADLEY IN REPLY.

To the Editor.

Sik, —I beg to thank you for publishing in your paper a full report of the Council’s proceedings of 4th inst. ; more especially of that part which refers to myself. I must also beg space in your paper to reply to what I consider a most unwarrantable charge made against me by Councillor Williamson re the East street channel. The first part of the charge—viz., that the fault lay at my door, and that the work was disgraceful—l treat with fcontempt. Any sensible person who saw the work done would know that it was done under difficulties, both in respect'of weather and also the carelessness on the part of the public in walking upon the kerbing before the work set, thus seriously damaging the same. If I thought Councillor Williamson was a practical man in concrete work, I would be prepared to discuss the matter fully, and show him the cause of the work being as it is ; but not considering hini an expert, I refrain from doing so. I most emphatically deny the second part of Councillor Williamson’s statement, in which he refers to the patching of the work after the frost, and the men neglecting to damp'the work or remove the loose sand. If Councillor Williamson had seen anything wrong which would affect the wotk, it was his place as a Councillor and a member of the Works Committee to have informed the Engineer of the same, and I am sure he would have enquired into it} but to let faulty work pass for nearly twelve months, and then refer to it, appears strange to me. I have not had the opportunity of doing work of a similar nature, till the present time, and I would thank Councillor Williamson, if he sees anything wrong, to make the complaint at once, and' make it in such a manner that any contractor would have an opportunity of replying to it; or to the Council, or to the Engineer. I will take the present opportunity of informing Councillor Williamson that for the last seven years that I have been in Ashburton, I have been fortunate enough to get a large share of the work that has been done in my line and I am not the least afraid that anything Councillor Williamson can say will in the least damage my character as, a ccjQtrfwtor. ,In con*; elusion, I beg to thank Councillor St tlill for his defence, and also yourself for publishing this letter. I am, &c., J. BnaniEy, Park street, j Ashburton, April 6.