TOWN BOARD CORRESPONDENCE.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 118, 27 May 1876, Page 2

TOWN BOARD CORRESPONDENCE.

(to the editor of the tatea mail.) Sir, —As there appears to he some misconception regarding the action of the Town Board in the matter of the application for the money voted for the construction of the gaol, I must ask yon to be good enough to insert the enclosed letter, addressed by myself to the Superintendent, which will explain what has really been done in the matter : Carlyle, May 8, 187(1. ■Sir, — I had a conversation with yon whilst in New Plymouth, in re'erenee to the erection of the proposed gaol in this place. Ymir Honor will proh.dfy renumber that yon (lem stated, ‘ That in consequence of no application having been made for tiie expenditure of the money voted, before the expiry of the financial year, the vole had lapsed, and was not now available, A-c.’ I was nofat that time in a position to answer 3'on, hut I have since my return referred to my papers, and am now able to say that yon must have been misinformed. On the Kith of June, 1875, in my place in the Council, I asked the question, when the gaol and pilot-house were to bo erected, and urged upon the Government the great necessity of having the works proceeded with. The Provincial Secretary replied that, ‘The buildings would be erected as soon as possible.’ Cn the 20th September, 1875, I telegraphed to the Provincial Secretary, asking when the buildings were to he commenced, and received an answer on the 29th, ‘ Tenders will be asked for buildings shortly.’ I made other applications, ami received favorable replies. But I think I have written, enough to show that your Honor was slightly in' error in saying that no application had been made. Further, will yon permit me to observe that there being no duly constituted body here at the time to make the application, it was one of the functions of your Executive to have seen that the money was expended in the manner authorised by the Council, without waiting fbr an application from a body not in existence. I trust that _your Honor will see your way to a reconsideration of the question, arid that you will cause the money to be made available. You willprobably remember that I icpresented the very bad state of the main road through this town, and that, the Board having no funds wherewith to repair it, I suggested that the money voted for the gaol should be handed over to the Town Board to enable it to put the road in a passablestate. I was more induced to recommend this course, as by the abolition of the provinces, which will take place shortly*, the Government will take the sole control of all gaols, and no doubt it will recognise the groat desirability* of erecting a gaol here ; for this reason I am of opinion that it would ho better to apply the money voted by the Council to repairing the road through tine town. But if this course cannot bo adopted, I submit that the contract for trie erection of trie gaol should he at once entered into. There is one other matter upon which I should be glad if--your Honor would kindly throw some light, It is with reference to the proceeds of the sale of lands which took place here a short time ago. I have made several applications to (he Hon. Major Atkinson for aid to carry out some works of an urgent necessity, and have in all cases been referred to your Honor, because ‘ the proceeds of the confiscated lands are in the hands of the Provincial Government.’

Now I find that your Honor, in a telegram to Mr Campbell, 12th April, 187G, says that, ‘ You know nothing of the proceeds of the late land sales.’ Yopr Honor would confer a favor upon this, and I believe upon other Boards in this district, by explaining definitely how the matter really stands, as at present it is apparently involved in mystery. I am directed by the Board to thank you. for the £IOO granted in your telegram of the 13th April, and to ask yon to cause the same to be placed to the credit of the Board as soon as convenient.

1 am, <£c., G. SHERWOOD, Chairman Carlyle Town Board. His Honor the Superintendent, New Plymouth.