MOUNT SOMERS ROAD BOARD DISTRICT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1547, 4 June 1885, Page 2

MOUNT SOMERS ROAD BOARD DISTRICT.

To the Editor.

Sib, —As an old ratepayer of this district I was immensely pleased to read Mr Herring’s remarks on the management of this Board at the public meeting, because there is no doubt that the rates have been iuoraasiug lately in a moat alarming manner The unsatisfactory state of thair finances ie, 1 believe, more the result of extravagance committed in the past than the present. Comparison was made with the mansgemant of the Geraldine Hoad Board, but that Board has had its affairs conducted by men of great prn enoo and economy;—and they never wonld have incurred such unnecessary expenditure ae erecting costly bridges over streams such as the south branch and Tayler’a branch of the Ashburton river, where good ford* were always obtainable, and the traffic but very moderate. Nor would they have laid out so much money ea a road to Alford Forest in a wrong direction, going ae it does to ene aide of the Bush of to the middle, where the forest was still nnbnrnt and not worked out. I am aware it. was the Council erected the bridges in question, but tha Road Board could aaeifrs have demanded thair shara of tha l lm| ~ fund from tha County Connell, tha sama as the vieraldina and other Boards did* by which mesas they wonld have saaßMd a good permanent rand to fall back OB daring bad times.

1 observe that Mr Herring was doubtful of receiving support at the election of members, which has just taken place. Perhaps he was correct in his views, for the avenge ratepayer or elector prefers » smart schemer, or one who votes steadily for prolose expenditure. Now, Ufe Herring is an honest and prudent KngHallman, and nothing more; and lor these reasons would stand hot small chutes oi oldctim* Hqwi be is to defend himself against the exorbitant ntea now levied in this district, is still a question, which affects both him and many others. There is at this moment before the County Council • petition lor the separation of a Hoad Pis-

trict. and one gentleman’s estate is indnded by a ring fence of three public If the Council sanctions this separation, then Mr Herring might imitate this example, at least in a measure, r ~i by this means avoid being excessively rated. —I am, etc-, LR.0.0 Graham.