EXPLANATION.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 188, 18 July 1874, Page 2

EXPLANATION.

Sib, —In your report, on Tuesday’s meeting of the ratepayers, 1 notice my name coupled with certain questions in reference to the laying off a road from the Mill-road to Brown’s point. A short statement of my action in the matter may be of interest. Ori the occasion of Mr. Ormond’s visit, (as General Government Agent.) to the Bay in 1871, amongst other matters brought before him, was that of the advisability of opening a tine of road from the Ormond main road to the Makauri Bush. I was accordingly instructed to consult with Riperata and other native owners, and agree upon a line : this was done. Mr. King, and and ; the late Mr. Benjamin Harris/ stated to me that Mr. Ormond had also promised to have a line of road laid off from the “Saw Mill to Brown's point.” On looking over my letter of instructions, received from the Government after Mr. Ormond’s departure, 1 found that there was no mention made of laying out such a line ; but I agreed to lay out the line asked for, provided the native owners did not offer any opposition. I attempted to do this, butmet with most determined opposition from the natives. Shortly afterwards, 1 received a letter from Mr. Ormond, to the effect, that should I consider it advisable for the convenience of the public, 1 was authorised to lay off a road from the “ Mill-road to the Taruwhero stream,” (no mention being made of Brown’s point as the terminus) taking care not to interfere with existing fences, nor with the Biib-aivisions of blocks. In accordance with those instructions 1 laid off the existing Mill-rOad, extending it to the “ old Mill Bush,” forming a junction near the boundary of the Taruwhero block, and from thence in a straight line to a point on th er Taruwhero stream, about thirty chains aboljy Brown's point. A plan and report worm forwarded to Mr. Ormond, shewing this line of road as surveyed, and agreed to by the natives ; also the line of road asked for by Mr. King, through the Tahoka block, but opposed by the natives, together with a letter from Mr. King protesting that the line of road, as laid out, was of no practical use. About the beginning of 1872, the matter was brought before Mr. Locke as Native Commissioner who I believe confirmed the line, as surveyed. The matter was ultimately brought before the Road Board, and as Engineer, 1 received instructions to lay off a line from King’s Saw Mill block to Brown’s point. I stated to the Board the steps I had previously taken, as General Government Surveyor, and the determined opposition I had met with in attempting to lay off the line asked for, but it was resolved that notice should be given to the natives that the Chairman, Mr. King, and myself would meet them at King’s Mill, and endeavor to agree upon a line—Mr. King agreeing to serve the notices. Upon th® day appointed, the natives did not put in an appearance. A second notice was served with the same result, whereupon I was instructed to proceed with the survey, and in the event of my being interfered with to take legal steps in the matter. 1 was obstructed, and a summons was taken out against Mary Ann Brown. Subsequently I was accompanied by Mr. Tucker, who explained to the natives that the mere survey did not constitute a road, and that they would have ample time and notice given them to appeal, upon which understanding the survey was allowed to proceed.

I may state that in both case®—as General Government Surveyor, and as Road Board Engineer I have confined myself strictly to the instructions given, and which, as their servant, 1 was bound to carry out. As to the merits of the two lines of road in question, the same have been fully reported upon, both to the Government and Road Board.—l am, &c., John Drummond, C.E.