BLACK AND WHITE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 821, 11 January 1878, Page 3

BLACK AND WHITE.

The following letter appears in the Cromwell Argus, and, as the matter more immediately concerns thisportionof the County we republish it for’the information of our readers. The readers of that paper knowing nothing of the matter would be disposed to believe the statements made by the gentleman from Blacks ; and the people at this end not having a Chance of seeing the letter would not be able to show the writer in his true colors Fortunately the Chairman and other County' officials were on the spot before they had seen the libel, and were able to contradict it. From nur own personal knowledge We cannot say if even there is a culvert—single or double-in that portion of the road known as the Muddy Creek contract ; but, being desirous of knowing the facts We have made particular enquiries from reliable people who are in the habit of traversing the road, at the very .least, four times a week, and who assure ua that, up to the time the letter appeared in the Argus the culvert was in good order, in so far as they could see from the cursory look travellers are able to give, and they were perfectly assured no one had been employed carting stones to prevent it being carried away. It is really too bad for the evil-disposed to disseminate such palpable falsehoods as the ones under notice appear to he without being amenable to either law or justice for such dastardly conduct. We publish the letter and preface it with these remarks, hoping the desired effect will be attained :

To the Editor of the Cromwell Argus, Sir, —The letter of your “ own eorresponilent” at Blarka, which appeared in the Argus of the Ist instant, contains the following statements The double culvert on the Muddy or Lauder Creek contract is aho>it tumbling down. The water has been turned off from running through, and a man is employed repairing, endeavoring to keep it together ; he is carting stones and depositing them at the lower enl of this culvert, for fear the storm water should break through and so carry the Culvert away.” Now, Sir, I personally inspected this culvert last Wednesday morning. The water has not been turned off; there is not any water to turn off ; there has not been anyone employed in repairing the Culvert ; stones have not been carted and deposited near the culvert ; nothing in fact has been done to it since it was taken over from the contractors. It is not “tumbling down” as stated by your correspondent. It is quit.; firm and stable. But. had it not been well put together it would have been destroyed, for some malicious person has f‘ rcihly removed and broken a large bearing stone from the middle wall, and which has caused a slight displacement of one of the outer cap stones. That this damage has been wilfully perpetrated I have not any doubt, and in this opinion I am supported by Cr Bitches and the Comity Clerk, hoGr of whom wore wi'h me on Wednesday, and also by the opinion of the County Surveyor, who has since inspected the culvert. Again vnur correspondent says ; “The County Surveyor called on Mr' Blakely at Ida Valley and asked him what he would construct 11 chains of road for, near Sloan’s farm ; Blakely offered for LSO. The Surveyor then called for tenders among a few (not by advertisement), when Mr Blakely sent in a tender in his own name at 1,35 and another in a friend’s name for 1,38. Imagine Mr B.’s surprise at receiving a note from the County Surveyor stating that he could not accept his offer at LSO, as someone had offered to do it for less, and still greater wonder when Ids friend came • 0 nim wiili r> letter irotn tire County Surveyor stating that his tender was accented for the work at L3S, while Blakely actually offered to do it for L 35.” The County Surveyor did not call on Mr Blakely. The tenders, five in number, are now before me. The highest is L 45, the Id west (which was accepted) is L 37 10s Cd, and Blakely’s tender is L3B, not Li). I as wrongly stated, I leave you and the public to form an estimate of your correspondent’s unverieity. I may he allowed to say that any further information from the sarte quarter reflecting on County woiks or County Officers should be received with caution and only published after due inquiry.—! am, Sir, &c., VI.N’CKN'T PYEE, Chairman. Civile. 4th January, IS7S,