RIDING ON FOOTPATHS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 118, 12 August 1913, Page 4

RIDING ON FOOTPATHS.

County Councillor's Letter. And a Surprising Rejoinder Differences at Patumahoe. Some amusement was created at Thursday's m:e,irg of the Franklin County Council by the reading of lette:s showing a sharp corfiict between Mr J. Henry, Councillor for Mauku riding, and Mia Awdry, of Patumahoe. Cr Henry's letter to Mrs Awdry was dated 16th June, and real: "I have to inform you that a complaint has thn day been lodged with or, a3 member for the Franklin County Council, by cne of the ratepayers, tli&t you did, en the 16th inst., ride on the foutpath at Patumaho;, which action is a breach of the Council's by-laws. Such breaches of the by-laws are a:tionible ar.d subject to penalties provided, i As ycu have probably acted in contiavention of the;e by-laws in urorance, I have na doubt ttiia nonce will save you from any further breaches."

Mrs Awdry's reply, dated June 18th, addressed to Cr Henry, said: "Your note re complaint l.dged against me for riding on the footpath on the 16th inst. is to hand. 1 am quite well aware that such breach; 3 'jf by-laws are actionable, etc., and should your Council see fit ti take proceedings against me I certainly could not pl;ad ignorance. But why single me out to enforce the by-hwa when you yourself are in the habit of breaking them daily? Also, I have a very shrewd suspicion that the ratepayer who complained is a person whose horses I myself have repeatedly had to driva off the footpath to enable me to get past wiihout going Mo the mud on the road, May 1 ask, was the owner of the horse grazing on the footpath (at the same time that I was o:i it out of rain) written to and asked to keep his horse off the fojtpath for the future? I certainly did ride under Mr Sheppard's verandah on the 16th to avoid getting wet from a sudden shower, tut had no idea the by-laws were enforced hare, especially as the 'member' does nut set us an example. However, row I know they are I certainly won't trangress and hope the 'member' and others will be able to say the same." Mrs Awdry, dated July 9th, also wrote to the Council, sending a copy of the above correspondence. The lady added: "May 1 ask if you have two sets of by-laws, or.e for me and another for Cr Henry and the ratepayer who complained of my getting on the footpath? (Mrs Awdry stated the name of the person whom shs supposed 'informed,' and charged him with various breaches.) Beturr.in? to Cr Henry the correspondent resumed: "I am sending you a list of breaches which have come under my notice eince Cr Henry so nobly did his duty by writing to rr.e. would like to know if Cr Henry is allowed to have steps ard a platform piojecting on the footpath fiom one of his sheds (in fact, 1 am told t is built on the footpath itself) and his waggons daily drive some chains along the footpaths to get to Same thed and into his yard, and m front of his stable, also on footpath, is simply disgraceful. But when 1 tell you that 1 have had to complain mure than once of postal matters not being satisfactory, you will see why Mrs Awdry was written to and ethers allowed to ride, drive, allow horse?, etc., to wander on footpaths and no notice taken of same. Of course, we can sympathise with Cr Henry who, having lived in such a small place all his life, when vested in a littie brief authurity he is apt to get a swelled head. May I suggest, gentlemen, that if you were to begin with myself ar.d then take others in the list enclosed and fine us all, and Council arrange for the said fines to be given t) the Council, why th-:n the money coulJ go lowa/ds putting the nad to Fukekohe in order, and so save the special rate we have heard of. I know I may leave the matter to you all and thus get fair play." This was Mrs Awdry's little list:— Jun? 16-Mrs Awdry rode on footpath. June 16, 17, 18-fJoth Henry's waggons on footpath, also a packing

as?, a scantling protruding quite two feet over footpath (just a nice height to hit a man in tin e,e). On 18th, hcrse cf Henry's let cut of stable ar.d Bllow.d to wander down footpath. June 17—Howard's horEe on footpath and sccop and some hard substance (scoop still there, July Bth), also his gig allowed to stand day ar.d right in water-table on rosd (still there, June 19th). June 22—Howard's gig in watsrfable. June 24—Two Henry's horses on footpeth. June 25, 26-Ditto. July I—Henry's horse on footpath in afternoon, and his empty waggon on footpath with shafts sticking out (at dusk). July 4—Henry's horse on footpath (and at present). The hedge been cut for soma time and the rubbish allowed to block water-table, also packing esse in same. "All these breaches been noticed by us and I have the rough notes here, and can produce same, but if 1 watched 1 expect all your valuable time would be taken up reading and noting same. But think thi3 is e ough to show how the wind blows.— C. Awdry." tVr Motion thought they should acknowledge the Utter courteously and say that the letter had been received, Cr Campbell: I think the letter should be referred to Cr Henry, to interview the lady. (Laughter). Lv Henry was not present when the correspondence was read. Mr Chairman (to the Press): I think, Mr Reporter, that it would he ai well to take no cotice of any comments on the letter. No further enmments were made and the letter was passed over.