CORRESPONDENCE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 84, 29 May 1908, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

The columns of this paper are always open to settlers to give publicity lo their requirements and grievances, hut in the case of a reflection on a Government official, it should be remembered that such officials have not the privilege of reply. As loiir as correspondence is confined to criticising the system, we shall be pleased to publish it; when the criticism extends to the officer, in the interests of fairplay, we must decline.—[Ed. K.C.C.J

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —With regard to " Ratepayer's " letter in last issue of the CHRONICLE, I should just like to say a few words in explanation. I have undertaken the contract for the sanitary service, and am ready to begin the same as soon as the Council wishes. Up to the present I am told there are so few of the residents prepared, that it is not worth while carting the pans away. It stands to reason that to spend a night's work with horse and waggon over one or two pans is hardly a fair thing to the contractor. The pans are ready, and may be obtained on application. Those I have spoken to about putting in the pans want me to deliver them without charge. That is not in the contract, and is rather too much to ask. — I am, etc., J. PITCON. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I should like to draw attention to a rather serious matter in connection with the leases of township sections. When moiWtban oae section is included in a lease, and the leasee wishes to transfer one of the sections to another party, the Board will not allow a transfer to be effected. The only way to accomplish the object is to sub-lease, and this is a most unsatisfactory method. This also applies to the selling of portion of a section. Now, it is generally recognised that in any progressive place sections are continually changing hands, and as many of the properties were grouped in taking them up originally, the method in vogue is extremely unsatisfactory. I trust the townspeople will see fit to agitate for an alteration to* this objectionable feature, and hope you will see your way to assist through the columns of your valuable paper. —I am, etc., TOWNSMAN.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I am glad to see that your correspondent, signing himself " Settler," has taken up his pen on behalf of the settlers, and started, what I hope, will be a crusade against waste of public money in paying official travelling allowances. It would be very interesting to compare the cost of administration of the Te Kuiti roads district at the present time, when administered by two offices, with that of three years ago, when administered by one olflce. There must certainly be a difference, and that difference won't fill our bogholes; it will, I should think, rather tend to keep them empty. Somebody will have to pay the extra cost, and, therefore, our roads must suffer. There is far less work in this district at present than there was three years ago, and I don't think the work of the Te Kuiti roads district, as a whole, has increased much during that period. Then, why the extra expense of two offices ? Is it to fill the ranks of the Te Kuiti Tennis Club. I think it is about time this matter was taken in hand by the settlers of the various districts, as under the new regime I can see no improvements. I should say the reverse is the case. Still there may be a gain to the Aria settlers in the official pocketing of grants, as if properly advertised, the tourist traffic may be diverted from Rotorua to the Wairere Falls, and the mud pools of Aria. I would suggest, as a partial remedy to the present state of affairs, that officials visits be curtailed, and the gain thereby will not be trivial; in fact, I think it would fill many a bad hole in our roads. As those that labour hardest are paid the worst. — I am, etc., A MUD LARK.