WHAKAMARA BLOCK.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 390, 11 January 1879, Page 2

WHAKAMARA BLOCK.

The following correspondence has passed between the Government and the Patea County Council, in reference to deferred payment money available for expenditure on the Whakamara Block : Treasury, Wellington, 6th November, 1878. The Chairman Patea County Council, Carlyle. Sir, —I have the honor, by direction of the Honorable the Colonial Treasurer, to inform you that complaint has been' > made to the Government by Mr P. J. A. Gano, of Manutahi, on behalf of the settlers of that district, that no steps have yet been taken by the County Council to apply the proceeds of deferred payment lands paid over to the County Fund to the purpose to which by law they should be devoted, viz:—to “the construction of roads within, or to open np the Block for the benefit of the selectors.” The sums from time to time paid over to the County amount in ail to £436 18s; and, as it would appear from Mr Gane’s communication, that the settlors on the Block are in most urgent need of roads,*l am to request that you will be good enough to bring the matter before the Council at an early date, and that yon will communicate to Mr Gane. the intentions of the Council in rasp** to the application of the moneys referred to.—l have. &c., C. T. Batkin, Secretary to the Treasury.

County Council Offices, Carlyle, 2nd Dec., IS7S. C. T. Batkin, Esq,, Secretary to the Treasury, Wellington. Silt, —I have the honor, by direction of the Chairman, in reply to your letter No. 4492, to state that the complaint made hy Mr Gane is without foundation, and farther, that Mr Gane has wilfully and deliberately misinformed the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, in stating that the Council had taken no stops to apply the proceeds of sales of deferred payment lands to the purpose to which they should be devoted. On receipt of the deferred payment moneys, the Council passed a resolution to the effect that, before the money should he handed over to the Eoad Boards, the Boards should satisfy the Council that the expenditure would be in accordance with the terms of clause 59 of “ The Land Act, 1877.” The Boards interested in the matter were duly informed of this resolution—likewise the amount available. The Pa tea West Board applied for. and got their portion from sales in the Otoia-Cpaku Block. The liawera Board, however, did not send, nor could the Council get a statement from them showing how they proposed expending their portion of the money, until the 2Sth ultimo, and then only by sending a messenger twenty miles to forward it—the Council adjourning the meeting until it should be received. 1 am directed to state these facts to show that the Council in place of not taking steps, did everything possible to assist the Boards, and of these facts Mr Gane was well aware, ho being in the habit of applying at this office for information, winch has been in all cases fully accorded him, especially in this matter of deferred payment money. I am directed to add, that the whole of the deferred payment moneys have been paid to the Road Boards entitled to receive them, to be expended in terms of “ The Land Act, 1877.” I have, Ac., J. Black, Clerk P. C. C. Treasury, Wellington, ICth December, 1878.

The Chairman, Patea County Council, Carlyle. Sir, —Ihave the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 2nd instant, No. COS, replying to statements made by Mr Gane that the Patea County Council had neglected to apply the proceeds of sales of deferred lands to the purpose to which they be devoted, and I am directed by the Honorable the Colonial Treasurer, to inform you in reply, that your explanations in answer to the statements referred to, are satisfactory, as the action of the Council in regard to the matter in question appears to have been in accordance with the requirements of the section of “ The Land Act, 1877,” under which the moneys were handed over to the Council to be expended. I have, &c., James C. Gavin, Secretary to the Treasury.