PEMBERTON ROADS.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 260, 7 May 1895, Page 2

PEMBERTON ROADS.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE STAR. Sir, — I cannot allow the letter which appeared in your paper on April, the 29th, and signed by " Stuck in the Mud," to pass without defending myself and other members of the Kiwitea County Council, as the writer imagines we are alone to blame for not starting the metalling in the Birmingham Block earlier. He takes up a considerable space at the commencement of his letter in attacking councillors, wardens, and engineer 3, but as he has not the courage to sign his name he is not worth bothering about, and besides all men are not of the same opinion. Had he taken the trouble to read either of the papers circulated in this district he would have seen that the Government are alone to blame — not the Iviwitea County Council — for the lateness in starting the metalling on the Oroua Valley and Kimbolton roads in the Birmingham Block, as although the money (which is " thirds ") has been due to the Council for some time, it was not forwarded until March 9th. If " Stuck in the Mud " refers to the Star of March 11th he will find an account of the Council meeting held in Feilding on the 9th idem; in which appears the following resolution : " Pro. posed by Cr Homer, seconded by Cr Morton, That tenders be called, to close on March the 16th, for metalling the Kimbolton and Oroua Valley roads to the extent of money now in hand, Crs. Morton and Homer, together with the Engineer, to open and deal with same. * — Carried." " Stuck in the Mud " must admit from this that as councillor for the riding I lost no time after the money was available, as I allowed only a week to pass from the time the money came to hand until I accepted the tenders in Birmingham. As for the quality of, the metal put on the Kimbolton road from the pit on the Spur road, I agree that it is very poor— in fact, it is little better than papa rock— and on April the 24th (five days prior to " Stuck in the Mud's" letter to the Star) I wrote to the Engin.

eer in the presence of two ratepayers in Birmingham, in which I told him (the Engineer) that the metal was no good, and requested him to have the balance taken out of Lowes' pit. " Stuck in the Mud " is anxious to know why twenty chains of metalling should be done on the Spur road, upon which only one ratepayer resides: The reasons are obvious : Firstly, because the money that is doing the work is thirds accruing from land held by that one individual ; and, secondly, because the Land Board insists upon the money being spent on that road. Trusting that the information I have given is what " Stuck in the Mud " requires. I am, &c, F. HORNEK. Birmingham, May 3rd, 1895.