TOWN BOARD MATTERS,

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 3 October 1918, Page 2

TOWN BOARD MATTERS,

TO THE EDITOR

Sir,—Kindly allow me space in your paper to reply to the late Com. Beoroft's query as to what interest I have in your town, more than representing my employer two miles outside of Helensville. The above query is all the more surprising coming from a late member of the Town Board. The question alone is a proof and acknowledgement of ignorance of town affairs, by his not being aware that I am a property owner and ratepayer, and have been for over six years, Therefore the keen interest I take in Helensville is not only for my own benefit, or my employers, but for the benefit and advancement of Helensville and its people. As it is apparent to outsiders' coming into Helensville, it is a town that ..has had its progress cramped, and in fact strangled, through the short-sighted, narrow, and selfish attitude taken by some of its old administrators, in obstructing any progressive and advanced scheme to light and road Helensville, and thereby make it what it should be —the most prosperous and up-to-date town north of Auckland. Now, in conclusion, I wish to state that although the majority of the electors did not think fit to re 7 elect me as a member of the Town Board, I will continue to do my utmost to further and advance the town and district by assisting in any progressive lighting and roading policy, 'without which the town and district must be left behind, and the sooner the residents realise that they have to borrow money, and not cry the poor mouth, the better for Helensville and its people.—Yours for progress, F. W. Strange.

To the Editor.

Sir, —Allow me space in your columns to thank Mr Jas. Osborne for speaking th« truth (and a little more) before the | First Auckland Military Service Board on 17th September. In the first place he said he was capable of managing my i farm of about 962 acres (several acres of which are in heavy bush) and milk 50 cows besides. In fact he tried to make people believe that he was the only one on the farm that made any money, and that nothing wa6 made outside the cowj shed ;he also stated that Ido not know a bull from a cow. I have proof that James Osborhe was not capable of managing my 50 cows and dairy alone (only after a style). For instance, four of the best cows in the shed, that cost from £10 to £16, had foul in the foot, and they were dried off in the beginning of the season and turned out; with a little attention every day those cows could have been cured and milked throughout the season, but there were plenty more cows to choose from to make up the number agreed on, so they were allowed to take pot-luck, and the only time anything was done for them was when I carried down hot water j and commenced to bathe them myself, but he came and interfered. Another | cow I bought which cost me £13 10s had her teat injured slightly by dog or wire shortly after she calved, and she was turned out with her calf without even being tried; the latter happened while I was away for three .or four weeks. What would a herd suffer under such management in three or four years ? When James Osborne came to this farm the cow-shed and dairy were spotlessly clean, but when he left they ware a fifthy disgrace ; but is it to be wondered at when his little girl of six or seven years of age was often seen cleaning out the shed. I built a house of five rooms for him to start in, and it was in a dreadful state wken he left ; I had to get it papered right through and the paint cleaned before I could ask anyone else to live in it. His outhouse was left in a fifthy condition, in fact I believe It was not once cleaned out in the two years he was here, and everyone knows it is the first thing most people do when leaving a house. The cream cans and lids were lying all round his backyard red with rust, but firewood was conspicuous by its absence. The authorities were led to believe that I never did one full day's work in the two years he was here (which was a deliberate untruth), and I can bring forward half-a-dozen witnesses to prove otherwise, when necessary. They were also led to believe that whenever I left the house I carried liquor and returned home intoxicated, I will just quote one lot of work I did during those two years, as it would take up too much space to give details of all my two years' work (which I will also give when necessary). Perhaps James Osborne will remember the weeks I was blasting, sawing, hauling logs for the mill to be cut up for gate timber, that I many times put in more than eight hours, as when I came home at night, I often walked down the flat to turn the cow paddock windmills on or off. If he is in doubt he can cast his mind back to the night when there was a gale blowing (which I discovered when I came out of the bush), and I •mashed my finger in one the windmills and was unable to finish the work of logs for a few weeks. I was not intoxicated either, and 11 am able to prove my statements. He also stated that I never gave a hand at the shed with the milking. I did not pay him 8s out of every pound that was made from cream, calves, and pigs to milk the cows myself! But I went to the shed several times

when he was in town to look after the engine and see that the work was done. I also let my man knock off early to give them a hand at those times, and he was good enough to get here at half-past six, in the morning so as to help them " through, and he got no thanks, but war; "V told that he never did much. When*^* were supplying the butcher with fJfM^r I always got up early and had the water boiling before he was out of bed, and I always gave a hand with the scalding. And lastly, can James Osborne say that I ever made one mistake with his accounts, or that I was ever once intoxicated when he came to my house to settle up on the 20th or thereabouts of each mouth.—l am, etc., John Patrick Hand.