Correspondence

Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42784, 28 September 1905, Page 2

Correspondence

Ve do not ho d ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents. To the Editor

Sir.—l was pleased to see that, onr County Council had decided t» do nothing hurriedly. it shows that our councillors have some backbone and will not be turned aside from their vork although ’here is a Ratepayers’ j Association inexistence, InMrCbep* , umllwehaveainan wh • has represented us well on the Coancil for over twenty j years, and there is no fear of us allows inghim to be turned out by the Ratepayers’ Ass a-iati -n’s nominees. It is not right that he should be abused by anyon”. The roads are now in a much better state than they used to be; why, at one time all heavy goods had to come by boat to Moi rinsvill •, but thanks ro Mr Chop mell, we can now bring them there by either road or railway. He is quite right to snub the Ratepayers’ Associ atom and refuse to receive their letters or accept their worthless advice. For nearly thirty years Mr Chepmell has been on our local bodies and has man* aged their affairs excellently : why should he now be worried by any Ratepayers’ Associations? It was not wanted in this district and cannot justify its existence by anything the Association has tired to. do, but soon its members will see the mist ike they are making—if they are capable of seeing anything—aud will disband, ceasing to worry the Council and the settlers in the district.—l am, etc., Ratepayer to the editor. Sir, I think it is a pity that there are not more county electors who think that there should be a change in County makers, not only with regard to orderly 1 mguage, hut as regards orderly ro ids also. I think it is high time that the electors putin men who would look after the in'erosts of the ratepayers, and also of the travel' ing public, as most of onr so-called roads are not worthy of the name, being at present mere bogs. If the Council dues noc intend to improve the roads, would it not be a good thing if the numerous dangerous places were marked by notico-boaids bearing such words as ‘ Drive slowly.” ‘‘Get out and push,’V' Ambulance kept at Mr—” ere, As an old resident iu the district uid one who uses the roads (?) constantly, I cm, safely say that I have never seen them in such a disgraceful state as n>»w, and it is plain that the councillors do not grasp the condition of the eon itry roads. Those reap msible for the bad condition of r.he roads from Hog in’s Corner at Mnnawaru, to Shaftesbury Bridge, and to the TeAi oha-Gordon road, should b© compelled to travel that part daily till it is put in Yhetter state of repair. One or two trips would satisfy hem, especially at the cutting leading lown to theShaftesb&ry bridge, which was reported over a month ago to be a dangerous place, and what is it now after the heavy rains, and increasing traffic? Simply a man - trap 1 The Council is evidently waiting for some accident to happen here, What are the ratepayers in that district d -ing that they don’t one and all rise and protest against the disgraceful mangement of their district. Hoping that someoue 'else who is interested will t ike take this matter up, and thanking you in anticipation [ am, etc., A Traveller. (To the Editor).

Sir, —I was not surprised to see that the County Council should decline to give compensation to Mr Cauldwell For his cow which was killed in one of theiCouncil’s gravel pits, although they gave ccmpensation to Mr Allen when his cow fell into a drain. But Mr Allen is a rich man who had just been at law with the Council over his trees and beaten them. No doubt Mr Chepmell did not desire to be again beaten in Court by Mr Allen, and receive a further questioning as to the state of the roads. After the handling he had already received, he was very glad to get out of the difficulty by giving compensation for the cow to Mr Allen, who is a rich man anl could fight him.' But with Mr Caildwell it is different. Now, is this justice? Surely in this colony we are not going to have one law for the rich man and another for the poor. It is all very well for little quibbles ro be raised, but the fact remains : Mr Allen’s cow falls into a ditch and dies; he 'gets compensation. Mr Cauldwell’s cow falls into a gravel pit and dies; he gets no compensation. This, Sir, is a disgraceful state of affairs. Yours, etc., j G. H. L., Manawaru: