Citizens Say

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 893, 10 February 1930, Page 8

Citizens Say

(To the Editor.)

THE BUGLER Sir, The na-mo of the present Samoan Adm ini stra tor recalls to memorv a thrilling deed performed in the Taranaki War by an English bugler boy of 16, who, awakened by a stealthy night attack on the camp of sleeping soldiers, had his right arm struck down by a tomahawk while sounding his first warning call. Seizing the bugle with his left hand, he again sounded his warning bugle call, saving his comrades as he fell beneath the tomahawks of the baffled enemy, who were quickly put to flight, leaving the sorrowing soldiers to mourn the loss of the young hero, whose name was Allan; whose memory is fondly cherished, and whose bugle call seems sounding now an appeal for forbearance and sympathy toward the sorrowing Samoan people. WILLIAM PERRY. Great Barrier Island. MOUNT ROSKILL ROADS Sir,— I would like to congratulate Dominion Road Ratepayer” for bringing to notice in your paper on February 6 the important subject of the condition of the Mount ltoskill roads, and I quite agree with him when he states that no progress whatsoever has been made by the board during the past live or six years. The present members of the board do not seem to have any idea of advancement and it would be to the interests of the ratepayers if they would make room for a new body of men with new ideas. At present there are too many “I-second-the-motion" members. Take for instance the three loan proposals that have l>een made for Mount Albert Road. Each of these proposals has cost about £2OO and then it has cost hundreds of pounds drawing plans and taking levels for Mount Albert Road. The result was that the loan was turned down each time as the people round Greenwood s Corner who have the majority of votes did not approve of it. W hat I would like to know is whv the members of the board brought these loan proposals about and made no endeavour to back* them up? Thev have now- suggested taking another loan poll on Three Kings Road and it is one hundred chances to one this will also be turned down, incurring enormous expense, and the only peonle who will benefit by it will be the returning officer and the staff he engages for the day to assist him There m one part of Mount Roskill where the

roads aro fairly good, and this particular part is within a stone's throw lroni where most of the members of the board live—round about Greenwood s Corner. ■c A ? K he City ref uses to accept Mount Roskill as part of its territorv, I suggest that it be divided between Mount Eden and One Tree Hill. As any ratepayer will recognise, both these prisin" hS &re prosreEsive and enterf quite agree with ‘‘Dominion Road Ratepayer” when he says too much ancfT fe f 7 aSted offlce management and I feel sure these expenses could be reduced. The rates on my proyear j lave greatly increased and yet the roads now are worse than they were eight or ten years ago it S ol ihe b board e 0 ldea iPth * members oi me board were not too proud in seek outside advice from some other loca body who has made sl ie“™ MOUNT ROSKILL RATEPAYER, LAKE ROTOMAHANA OVERFLOW Sir, , am indebted to Mr. Warbriek of Sr 0 r 1 wSfloi® . the lake mn-face Gie n nTh y erl Biin' a been another rapid rise abouV l o 6ft h ! r ?" m tlm Skr’S’ Wa “ l *“ Ji- a abc,ut y on U ' Ck \ y ln a gradual slope ior about one mile, and water trae-Ji it at a^bS ai^° As I nothing can stop it. vsdtey—while (Continued in next column.)

were rolled down the river when i similar flood took place, that is, th bursting of a pumice dam betwee Kotomanana and Tarawera. Mr. Warbrick and Mr. Hid macie thorough examination •of Lake Eer whakaitu on January 14, and tell me there is no fear of it ev« tipping the ridge between it and Roti mahana, and that in all probability will overflow in. an easterly directio into the Rangitaiki; but the possibilH of the water finding an undergiooo way to Rotomahana must not be- fa gotten, more especially as Mr. Brel in his letter, says the ridge be twee Rotomahana and Rerewhakaitu is nt and that would wash away quite £ quickly as pumice or sand. According to the present four year: recorded rise in the lake, it will a over the top in three or four year probably less. It would be interest ing to knov; if anyone now living kn«‘ where the outlet of Rerewhakaitu ws before the eruption of 1836 when tis barrier between the lakes was either by the enormous fall of mud f by the upheaval of the earth at tlB point. On my return from Scotlac at the end of October next, I make a point of inspecting the rfe in. Rotomahana between now ** then. It has been suggested to cr» off the water by syphon, but it not appear to me to be practical#* moreover, it would not eliminate t» danger, as any day the pressure ■ water in the lake may find a seep •- the barrier between the two I®* ; which would quickly enlarge and ca® r the whole dam to burst. should be made to ascertain wneifi Okataina Lake surface is below ilevel of Rotomahana Lake is very high just now A HARBOUR BRIDGE Sir,— -jy As a frequent user of the ferry boats, permit me to join 0 " in lodging a protest against theP J ent inadequate service supph# l Xorthcot© and Birkenhead. not grumble at a car being left occasionally, on Takapuna or holidays, but when business P*”‘; are continually being shut out* * time the users of the boats lod» • protest. . hf - Prior to the season, I, with ® ' have been able to ascertain measure of certainty what time i reach my destination. Now I do no the faintest idea. Should this sta affairs continue —and I fear, inevitable increase of motor transit tion, it will become worse —the J for the four North Shore horo looks extremely dark. ft The Ferry Company seems * ## straining every effort to C °P* the traffic with the boats at posal. but I venture to predict l transportation other than by # of a harbour bridge will cope future demand. _ .-.ig, W. B. DARIA) 1^