THE MAYOR IN REPLY TO "RATEPAYER."

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 89, 14 January 1888, Page 2

THE MAYOR IN REPLY TO "RATEPAYER."

TO THB EDITOR OF THB STAR. Sir,— -As the comments of "Ratepayer" in that part of his letter published in jour last evening's issue, which relates to the Kiwitea bridge, are evidently founded upon an inaccurate report of the proceedings oi the Borough Council, at their meeting on the sth inst., it appears to me necessary that the truth respecting the matter should -at- once be made known. Your report of . the : proceeding, aa regards the Kiwitea "was as follows : >-r :.?« Or Fowles y said .that Messrs P. find J. Bartholomew's timber drays couldLnot croB& the Kiwitea bridge, -aiid that firm had made an offer to put up a certain part of the bridge in si substantial manner. The Public Works Committee had-accepted the offer.—^The Engineer said the work had started under his supervision this morning.- The cost would be £20 -f- exclusive of the timber presented by Messrs Bartholomew." The true facts of the case are as follows:— A few days before the meeting of the Council Mr W. D. Nicholas informed me that Messrs Bartholomew had complained that the Kiwitea bridge was! not strong enough to carry their timber . waggons .when loaded, and had offered to present the Borough with the requisite timber for strengthening it if the Council would do the work. Mr Nicholas said that if the work was to be done there should be no delay in commencing it, and I then said, that if the work was approved of by the Engineer I had no doubt the Council would endorse the action of the Public ]Works Committee in carrying it; out. A At the subsequent meeting of the Council {thinking it right .that the public should •be informed of what was being done in the matter), I questioned the Chairman of the Publio Works Committee upon it, when ho informed the Council of the faots as I have above stated them, not, as you have reported, that Messrs Bartholomew " had made, an offer to put up a certain; part of the bridge; in a substantial manuer," the fact being that Messrs. Bartholomew had neyer made any such offer. After the discussion of the subject and the statement of tke Engineer re the wire netting onto filled with boulders, and the protection works to the bridge, I do not say, as you report, that the Council mould support the Publio Works Committee in what they had done, -but that I thought they should be so supported by a resolution of the Council (including both the bridge and the protection works), y - Ra The above facts speak for themselves, and show that the concluding remarks in your correspondent's letter are quite uncalled for.— l am, &c., A Samuel Goodbeheub, Mayor. * Feilding, 13th January, 1887.