CORRESPONDENCE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 291, 3 September 1910, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

Kawhia-Awakino Counties. To the Editor. Sir,— In reply to a letter appear' ing in the "King Country Chronicle'of August 17th, to which Mr R. Hally has kindly lent his name, and a number of nameless letters, I do not think the authors have the slightest idea of what they are writing about. In this, my last letter on the subject, I will try to explain as clearly as possible. To begin with the Marakopa river is the commercial centre of the district, steamers are now trading to the heads, at which place a township will be built. The movement to join the Kawhia county and harbour board is with a view to improving the shipping facilities, and improving the roads leading thereto. The reason for advocating joining the county and harbour board is that there is no other way of effecting the necessary improvements so cheaply, the cost of administration being a consideration. Besides, nearly half the affected area is already in the fore-mentioned county and harbour board district, the boundary extending to the river. Your corespondents will have to admit that any improvements effected to the river will benefit both sides equally, therefore why should those settlers on the south side have to bear all the co3ts of improvements which will benefit the whole district? Your correspondents will also have to admit that the Marakopa heads is the centre of this district, the roads leading to this centre being as follows -.—From Marakopa Valley road to Hangatiki, distance about 38 miles; this is the chief outlet for stock to the Waikato and about 18 miles of the road are in the affected area. Another road of importance is Marakopa to Te Kuiti, distance about 45 miles. This road will be used chiefly by Mr Hally and a few settlers on the head waters of the Kiritehere, 12 miles of the road being in the affected area, and Mr Hally, Moeatoa, is some 13 miles distant from Marakopa or the centre of the district. The other roads in the affected area are as follows:—Kawhia - Mahoenui main road. Kaiarimu and Whakahau. Readers will see from the above that Hally's road is only one of a number, and what is more, these roads do not all lead to Te Kuiti as stated by him. Mr Hally and h'"s friends may rest assured the Marakopa people's desire is to push the roads on as fast as possible, including the Te Kuiti road. Moeatoa, which has written so much, represents about one-twelfth part of the affected area. —I am, etc., JOHN WOULDES. Kiritehere, 25th August, 1910.

To the Editor. Sir, —I have to congratulate Mr Robert Hally on his able reply to Mr John Wouldes about county matters in your issue of A at 13th. I understand that M?. ouldes recently paid a visit to Wellington about county and other public works matters, and when I think of it I can only imagine a "bear in a china shop."—l am, etc., AWAKINO.

To the Editor

Sir, —The last effusion of Mr S. Riddle's is almost too silly and contemptible to waste much time on except one or two little matters that want "publicity. We will take the statement that the meeting wa3 well advertised and well attended. Out of about 20 settlers who live round the block six attended the meeting and the owner of the cottage made the number up to seven. Whereas, if the meeting had been advertised in the paper as it should have been and held in broad daylight in the public school room, there would have been a good attendance, and the proposed drainage board would have been consigned to perdition very probably, and where it ought to be. I never saw any sign of a meeting advertised along with others. Then one report goes on to say the matter was taken up with great enthusiasm. Y'e Gods! It is a wonder the roof did not blow off with so much enthusiasm. Then, it says the motion to form a drainage board was carried, two were against it, but did not vote. Well, I have asked both gentlemen, Messrs Bennett and Bredenbeck, about the matter, and they both say they voted against it. In fact, both gentlemen went round with a petition against it, so I will leave it at that: the public will be able to judge. Then, we have the sneer about the saw, which is just on a par with his action in putting people's names down to a scheme without even the courtesy of asking their permission. Then we have the fish basket gag which \\ just a piece of bluff to get away from the point altogether. And lastly the insinuation, as he calls it, that the settlers are not able to make tucker off their holdings. It was no insinuation at all. That is too thin. It is as easy to see through as a sieve. Of course, we are all very pleased to know and hear of our fellow settlers being so satisfied with their returns, and I congratulate Mr Riddle on the fact. And no doubt after a hard day's work in the marshes it will be very comforting to him to know that his returns are so satisfactory and that knowledge should, and no doubt will, enable him to bog into it with renewed energy and vigour. Only, be careful, Mr Riddle, and don't rush it too much, or you might have a dark spot, too, but not in your brain. Oh, no !- -I am, F. ELWOOD.