CAPTAIN RUSSELL AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3859, 29 November 1883, Page 3

CAPTAIN RUSSELL AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

The following correspondence ivas read at tho meeting of tho Hawke's Bay County Council yesterday :■ — Flaxmcro, HaAA'ke's Bay, November 21, 1883. Tho Chairman Hawke's Bay County Council.

Sir,—On the Ist of August last I wrote you on tho subject of the unsatisfactory state of part of the Omahu-Okawa road. I understand thatiu consequence of that letter tho road overseer was sent to examine into the circumstances I alleged, and he reported that to raise the level of the road was in his opinion tho only ivay to render it safe from floods. Instead of acting on his recommendation I hear that a track is to bo cleared through tho flax, by which it is hoped the flood waters ivill be diverted from tho roadway. I sco an advertisement in tho papers calling for tenders up to the 27th instant for metalling the old roadway. Once more I tirgo upon you to have tho roaihvay raised above the lei-el of floods before placing metal upon it. I rode up the valley after tho heavy rain of about a fortnight ago, and found the water had been pouring over the road in torrents ; in one place a man on horseback had nearly been swept into the creek as ho travelled down the road, aud when I rode up, three days after tho rain, the creek ivas iloiving within six inches of the level of the road. I have not heard ono single person who knows the locality do other than laugh at the folly of persisting iv making a road where after every heavy rain it will be impassable. And I venture to add, if the funds of tho ratepayers aro being frittered away in other parts of the county as they aro and have beon on tho Omahu-Okawa road, it reflects but little credit on the administration of the County Council.—l am, Sir, your humblo servant, AY. R. Russell. Napier, 28th November, 18S3. Sir, —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 21st again calling my attention to what you consider tho improper conduct of the works on tho Omahu to Okuiva road. I am sorry to find from your several communications that j-ou are under the impression that the works referred to aro not satisfactory. It is usual in these matters to act upon professional advice and I do not think it advisable to expend largo sums of money upon neiv works upon the suggestion of any one who may happen to go over the works in their unfinished state. I may say that tlm portion of tho work you so much complain ot is being carried out in the way suggested by the engineer and approved by Mr J. N. WiUiams,>ho is, I think, well acquainted with the district, and eminently qualified to give an opinion. I presume the latter portion of your letter, wherein you are pleased to say that "If the funds of the ratepayers fire being frittered away in other parts of the county as they are and have been on the OmahurOkawa road it reflects little qredit pn the administration of the County

Council" is intended as a compliment to myself as tho responsible member of the Council. I will only say that this is a matter for the Council and ratepayers to decide, and Ido not fear their vordict. —I am, &c, F. Sutton, Chairman H.B. County Council.