GREHAN VALLEY GRIEVANCE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 428, 27 August 1880, Page 2

GREHAN VALLEY GRIEVANCE.

To the Editor.

Sir.—Mr " Truth " Bays it is a poor excuse of the Rond Board to say they have got no money to repair certain roads that he has stood by and seen destroyed. Now, sir, I hold that if a man sees any person wilfully destroying any public road, it is his duty to at once take steps to put a stop to it, more especially if it is only used by himself and the destroyer. It is very little more than a year ago that the Board expended a good deal of money on this said road, which is new very little better than a pig-track, through the trespass of Mr D. Curry's cattle, and the logging car 'ried on by H. T. Worsley.

I It is all very fine of Sir Curry to try to lead the public astrny, stating that he offered to do the work, and wait for the money. But even w>, would the Road Board be justified i:i expending more money on a road that has been so shamefully used, especially when they would lave to do it on " tick " ? I say no, and I am sure every right-minded ratepayer would be of the same opinion. What is mpre/if I remciubeit rightly;! was present at a meeting of the; Board when they offered .Mr Curry aboufc'li3 to repair a ford for which the Olerlchad orders to prepare ft specification, but Mr Curry* said it; would be useless; us lie could not do it for the ■money. Then, why does he'attack the Clerk and his—l may say miserable—saliary|wheh he haa only himself to blame ? It seems to me, Mr Editor, whoever it was signed' I'lims'elf " Truih " made a mistake : he must have meant " Fudge." Every one remembers the big flood about fourteen months ngo.' when a large log came down with a land slip and went clean through the Road Board stables. This damage had to be repaired to give shelter to thejßoard's tools, and to the poor horses ( thftt hare to carry some of the members eight or nine miles to serve the public, who get such a handsome return from such men ' as Truth for their time and trouble. If the Board would take my tip, they would have none of this repairing roads by settlers on the nice torms so many seem to be offering of doing the work for half price,, and then waiting for the money till the Board is in funds. It is not a satisfactory way of spending public money. Even at tho last meeting of the Board I caw by your pape r

thiit there was about: a dozen oi: these milking Applications ; but remember, boys, the ltoad Board's calf ia weaned, and the cow is dry. I would advise Mr D. Curry —or Mr Truth and Co.—to tackle tho County Council, as I li,anlly think the Balguerie Calf will bo allowed to suck the Council dry. I hope, Mr Editor, the next we hear from ''Truth" will be that the Government intend to make the Akaroa railway ; then ho need not bo short of a job, nor try to run to earth a poor devil o£ a clerk who has already live masters. —I am etc., QUID RIDES.

To the Editor. Sir, —Mr D. Curry's champion, in his remarks with reference to tho Road Board members, is anything butj flattering; but as one of that body I maintain that the actions of the Board vriH bear ventilating cither by Truth or any one else. Truth,in his endeavors to prove Mr Curry's grievance, forgets that a large amount of money has been spent,upon .the tirehan Valley road, considerably more than a fair share upon the rateable value after contributing its proportion to main roads.niaintenance and also that where this particular grievance crops up the road 'in almost ft private one—i.e., to Mr Curry's, and a very small ratepayer. .■This small ratepayer,Mr Curry informs tho Board, has entirely destroyed it, more especially the ford, and turned the creek down the road by hauling logs. Now, sir, Mr Curry did not like to interfere, because the poor follow was getting hie living, and yet Truth' makes rambling statements about "others thinking that the Road Board members were making reads to their own residences," which remark is as untrue jis it is unfounded. I have no doubt, from the tenor of Truth's letter, he would turn the. .whole Board out of office, because he cannot get them to carry out his particular fad. Why, sir, I think the Board should fee commended for their pluck by holding office now when theyharo no funds. The only harm I wish Truth is. that he was a member, and had to plead want of funds to numbers of requests more equitable than Mr Curry's. I cannot conclude, sir, without censuring Truth's attacks upon our Clerk, as it is the first time, other than this grievance, that any ratepayer has had a chance of finding fault, and if it is any satisfaction Cβ Truth I can asßure him this matter has been thoroughly investigated by the Board.—l arti, etc.,

A' MEMBRR