The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, APRIL 7, 1902. MR CARROLL AT TOKOMARU.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 383, 7 April 1902, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, APRIL 7, 1902. MR CARROLL AT TOKOMARU.

It would bo a good thing for the East Coast if its member were less given to. promises and a little more inclined to deeds. Mr Carroll’s speech at Tokomaru was truly characteristic of that gentleman, but his blandishments were to a great extent lost upon those present at the meeting on account of the treatment that they have received at his hands. He was most candid in acknowledging his sins of commission and omission, but at the same time he assured them that nothing occupied a larger place in the region of his ambition than to represent tho East Coast, with which he was natively asso ciated. Their welfare, he said, had always a prominent place in his mind, in fact it was dearer to him than it was to themselves. These fine sentiments are all right in their way, but they have been rung on the electors of AVaiapu for so lon>* that they arc about worn out, and it is time they were accompanied by- something of a practical nature. Two matters in regard to the East Coast have been brought under our notice, and we should like to have Mr Carroll’s explanation with regard to them. The first refers to the Hikuwai bridges recently constructed by tho County Council out of a loan of J>lo,ooo. This work was undertaken by the Council on the distinct understanding from Mr Carroll that tho Government would contribute a subsidy of pound for pound, but as yet not one penny has been given. The work was absolutely necessary before a dray road could be constructed between Tolago Bay and Tokomaru, but the Council on account of the expense did not care to undertake it. The old bridle track was so subject to slips that it was impossible to construct a dray road along it, and the Engineer for several years urged upon the Council tho necessity of taking the road across the flats. To do this necessitated the construction of four bridges across the Hikuwai river, three being within a few hundred yards of each other. The difficulty i was explained to Mr Carroll at the time when he was Colonial Secretary, and he 1 stated that the Government would be j prepared, seeing it was a main road, to i grant a subsidy of’3os for every pound, 1

This offer was deemed an extremely liberal one by the Engineer, who assured Mr Carroll that the Council would even be satisfied with pound for pound. Mr Carroll replied that a subsidy of pound fur pound for such a work as was projected was the very least the Government could do, and he authorised his interviewer, in the presence of witnesses, to inform the Waiapu Council that Government would give that sum. Upon that understanding the Council raised a loan of TIG,OOO, intending to devote portion of the money to the northern part of the district, and the remainder, allowing for Government subsidy, to tbe bridges. Tenders were called for tbe construction of the liikuwai bridges, and they have been built at a cost of something like £BOOO, and tbe Council arc still waiting for the £IOOO promised by the Govern ment. The remaining portion of the loan money has been spent on completing the road from Tolago to Tokomaru, and the Council, on account of Mr Carroll’s un fulfilled promise, have had to borrow another thousand pounds. Their finances are at present at a low ebb, and, further than that, they have not completed part of the original works for which the loan of £IO,OOO was raised. A second injustice was porpetrated by the Government, who recently informed tho Council that none of the amounts placed on the Estimates for the past year would he available for expenditure. We agree wiih Mr Carroll in his statement that ho is not doing justice to those who form his constituency, more especially in tho outlying portions of the district. Ho stated that ho felt this keenly as lie rode from Awanui to Tokomaru, but wo think he must have been still more conscious of his shortcomings when he afterwards journeyed to Tolago Bay and crossed tho four magnificent bridges which the Waiapu County Council were induced to build after receiving a promise from their member that the Government would bear half the cost. In the face of such treatment as the East Coast has received during the last twelve months, it seems farcical that the Premier should state from a public platform in Gisborne that there is a surplus of over £200,000, and that the finances of the colony are in a nourishing condition. It is surprising to us that he was allowed to make such a statement without tbe true state of affairs as regards this district being placed before him.