RIVER NAVIGATION. [To the Editor.]

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 426, 7 December 1889, Page 2

RIVER NAVIGATION. [To the Editor.]

[To Editor.] ; Sir,—.-Through the medium of your valuable paper I wish to.refute the misstatements made at the last Piako County Council meeting in reference to my barge and the sinking of Mr Edwi Gallagher's punt. My barge did not strike Mr Gallagher's pnnt (not within several feet), but only just grazed a loose platform hanging five or six feet over the end of his punt, from which it shifted only one plank, 1 believe "an offer was made to fep^iV tljie damage dono for half a-crovm. Aa to'having no rudder, my barge has one raoie substantial than any other here, and experts have pronounced h<ji f the most manageable barge on the river. Capt. Anderson, of the s.s. Matulcu, states that he could take her safely with 40 tons from Matamata in tho dry season, and that she is a mo9t suitable barge fur this tortuous river. I have been told that Mr Gallagher's punt was in a very leaky condition long before my barge was launched, My boat '

was only drawing two fret, but Mr Gallagher's rope was stretched across the channel so tight that it cauorhtnntl nearlypulled my rudder' off. I wish to deal fairly with my neighbours, but am not at nil inclined to put up -with ' any imposition ; -and I only hope Mr Gallagher will test his case in a Court of lju* r whera we will both getrfßtV TffTfavour-, as I shoVild be grieved to withhold any tiling that he may be honestly'entitled to. The steamer and barge afe always turned up stream and slowly dropped through the bridge. — I am, etc., Robt. P. Gibbons, Junction Saw Mill, Paeroa, December 3rd, 1839.