TO THE EDITOR.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 526, 29 May 1880, Page 3

TO THE EDITOR.

[Correspondents arc invited to discuss matters of public interest with fairness and brevity ; this journal being an impartial medium of discussion and advocacy for all affairs relating to the County of I’atea.] PROPERTY ASSESSMENT. Sir, — How fortunate it is for us that all the assessors appointed under the Property Tax Act are above suspicion, otherwise we might fear that they would avail themseves of the opportunity afforded by the Government to show their partiality for or against individuals with their “ division.” The following clause in the instructions to persons filling up their returns of real property seems to me to open at once a door for partiality:—“( 6). Assessors will also value the property and it is very desirable that owners should agree with them in value.” Were it not, as I said before, that the assessors are above suspicion, and of course fully qualified to value real property, I should fear that the object of the Government, viz., to obtain a faithful valuation, might be frustrated. I must confess this sentence has considerably puzzled me, and docs so still. Are we expected to value our property first, then the assessor is to value, then we are to meet him somewhere, and by the simple process of give and take, get the value settled ? Arc we to be allowed to shout for the assessor, or to endeavor in any other way to soften his obduracy if we do not find him willing to come down near to our value ? Is it usual for Government to offer innucemcnts for collusion, or whisper the idea into our cars as Satan did evil thoughts to Eve in Paradise ? If you cannot relieve my mind upon this subject, perhaps your P.D. might. It seems something in his line. ITHURIEL.

HARBOR BOARD CORRESPONDENCE. Sir, —Mr John Gibson has written to Major Atkinson for certain correspondence between myself and the Government, re the erection of a wharf. Having promptly received copies, he has sent them to you for publication, together with a letter from himself to Major Atkinson, and tba] gentleman’s reply thereto. Mr Gibson charges me with having refused to allow the secretary to read a certain telegram, and stating, infcrcntially, that I had withheld other correspondence. To this I have to reply that the Board having unanimously decided to apply for an order-in-council to erect the wharf in question, I have made repeated applications to have the order issued, but have been put off from time to time with indefinite replies. On the Saturday previous to the Board meeting, finding there was still nothing upon which action could bo taken, I telegraphed to the Minister, the Secretary being absent, and I paid for the telegram myself. On Monday, just before the Board met, I received an answer, which was really no answer, being in effect the same as all previous communications —useless. I banded it to two of the members, and it was banded round and read by the remainder, Mr Gibson among the rest, and then it was thrown upon the table, not put “ with the other correspondence.” Near the conclusion of the meeting, Mr Gibson asked if the telegram was in reply to one read at the meeting. My answer was “No; that, is an answer to a telegram sent and paid for by myself on Saturday, but the members of the Board are welcome to the contents:” and so the matter dropped. Mr Gibson lias now published both telegrams, and the public can judge of the contents. Now, Mr Gibson knows that all the other correspondence came before the Board at the last meeting. There were two long letters and two telegrams read, and the Minister’s telegram in effect was but a

repetition of the other communications, so that the head and front of: my offending is in this, that in my efforts 10 give effect to the unanimous wish of the Board I have corresponded rather freely with the Government, and that I did not immediately bring a semi-official telegram before the Board. No one asked to have the telegram read ; so Mr Gibson’s statement that the secretary was not allowed to road it, is not in accordance with fact, Mr Gibson is also fully aware that Captain Johnson’s telegrams were received and read at the meeting, together with the other correspondence. If Mr Gibson will take the trouble to look through the correspondence, he will find that the Board have always allowed me, as chairman, a considerable amount of latitude in the matter of communications ; but I defy him to show that I have ever abused it in any way. My efforts have all been in the one direction, and of that course I have had the constant approval of the Board — except _Mr Gibson. That gentleman would like to reduce me to the position of a mere automaton, a machine to be regulated at pleasure ; but I have declined and shall decline to occupy that position. A new lino of steamers, independently managed and efficiently officered, will be shortly coming into the river. This will have the effect of reducing freights, lowering the price of goods, and giving the sett ers generally the benefit of the river improvements. To accommodate these steamers wo must have increased wharfage. The Government have promised to erect wharves on the other side of the river ; but when ? At the present leisurely rate of progress, it may, and probably will, be years hence ; and in the meantime are we to keep steamers away from the place because we have no suitable accommodation. I believe lam correct in saying that is is to Mr Gibson’s antagonism to having anything done on this side of the river that his present action is due. That correspondence is still going on, and the result is likely to be in accordance with the resolution unanimously passed by the Board.—l am, &c,, G. F. SHERWOOD,