JOHNSTON'S CONTRACT, PIGEON BAY ROAD.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 93, 8 June 1877, Page 3

JOHNSTON'S CONTRACT, PIGEON BAY ROAD.

(TO THE EDITOR OF THE AKAROA MAIL.)

Sir, —Your leader in last Tuesday's issue after reflecting on remarks made by members of the Akaroa Road Board winds up by the inevitable editorial " if," "If these things are true." For nearly two years has this matter exercised the ingenuity of board members ; and it mnst be admitted— making proper allowance for the defective weapons used, they have made a redoubtable stand. But, now I think, the time has come; when this joke should come to an end ; and therefore the public are informed that "these things" are not true. To wit; the contract in question, w r as put up for public competition, and the lowest tender was accepted. The stone was broken according to contract. The tenders were opened by the Provincial Executive, and considered, and decided upon by that body. The contract was made, and signed, by the Superintendent on the one side, and by the contractor, on the other. The " subsidy" or special vote, was not voted to the board, but Avas passed conditionally, that it be expended under the supervision of the Engineer's department. It was an accident that brought the amount under road board influence. The financial year was nearly at an end, and there was a danger of £500 being lost to the district, and in order to prevent this, the then chairman assured the Government that, if this amount be passed to the Board's account for works in hand, it should be wholly and solely operated on by the Government. The next chairman, believing in the possessive nine points, repudiated the action of his predecessor, and hence all the difficulty. In conclusion, I repeat that" these things" are not true. Indeed, after a very careful search, the only point in your article, that in any degree infringes on truth is re the " civil growl." If your reports of board proceedings are more correct than your late article, now under consideration, it must be conceded all round that "the Englishman's privilege" has been most fully and freely indulged in, by the gentlemen constituting that body. And, being an Englishman myself—l say more power to them.—Yours, &c, F.

Akaroa, June 6, 1877.

[The remarks complained of in our article of last Tuesday, were a fair comment on the subject, having no special information we were guided by the light thrown upon it by the discussions at the Board meetings.—Ed. A.M.]