EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 140, 6 November 1914, Page 3

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

To the Editor, Sir, —I see by the report of the Ra- , hotu correspondent, there is a remark •re the Egmont County chambers. In his usual way, he only gives a statement partly true. Allow me, Mr. Editor to give the whole .transaction. I was on the Council for five years, waiting to see if some of the older niem- ! bers would move in thfc matter of accommodation for the Council. Seeing they did not do so, I moved in the matter. The room we met in was about 14 feet by 11 feet. In this room were nine councillors, clerk, three reporters, , engineer, and sometimes a deputation. : Anyone can see the utter inadequacy lof the room. It was moved that a comI mittec be set up to see what could be done to purchase land and build offices. This committee took every care and selected a section at a very low price. They took care to get from the agent a written option. The committee was congratulated by the Council upon the very good bargain they had made, seeing that the Council could sell the portion not required for offices for as much as the whole section cost, but the Council said we would not sell now. As soon as it was known that it was decided to get plans for building a deputation from the Opunake club, consisting of Messrs T£. J. Brennan, Burton and Myth, asked the Council in the event of their building to build so that the upper portion would suit them as club rooms, and they would take it on lease for 10 or 14 years at a rental. It was decided to get plans and an estimate. By the next meeting of the Council, the committee saw the architect, who gave an estimate of price, ■which would have left the Council with a number of offices to let, and to practically sit rent free, and in thirty odd years to have a good building in con. Crete, costing the Council nothing. The

: majority of the Council thought it was a very good business for the ratepayers. The offices were to be erected with borrowed money, not from rates. Now up to this time .there was practically no opposition, but when the whole of the plans were drawn and tenders called and submitted to the Council, it was found that the architect had not allowed enough, in his estimates, and the committee had to Teduce the ornamental ■ part of the ouilcling and get the Council j to allow them a larger sum of money, I but still the chambers would pay and allow the Council free rooms, and I think ; a little over, but from this time there ! was a certain amount of opposition to j the scheme, some open and above board, (Which I had no objections to , but the ■ underhand way some have thought fit to go about it—well, one up this end ; never did anything else. Now as rc- | gards the remark that the Council was not getting what it should have got in the contracts. I say that since the engineer has been here the- contracts have reduced in price from 10 per cent, to i>o per cent., as any ratepayers can see from the prices that were formally paid. Kven this year the contracts in trie Rahotu riding are let at about 3b lid. The same class of work was let three" years ago at 5s (id. The only thing there was to growl about was the quantity put out. Why did not mem- ! bers who have got so much to say behind the councillors' backs about the Council Chambers not see to this? It was in his part of the district. Did he make any remark about the quality or i the quantity put out? No. He left that for me to do, in fact I have been | on both road board and Council with | him. As regards the reference to the state of the road at Opua, your correspondent shows his ignorance, as lie would have known the contract was let long ago. Now as to the rate .some are eomplaining of, I-objected to it. I asked if he ever knew of a high rate, pro. vided that one halfpenny be earmarked to reduce the overdraft. This was agreed to. I am more than surprised to see the stamp of candidate put forward ' against two men like Messrs Maxwell '■ and Burgess as councillors. Thanking ' you in anticipation.—l am, PAUL WILLCOX. Paliotu, November 3. THE ,X>XC i)F Till: S! ill IT. Sir.--Your charming corrc-'iojidcnt Vlopin. has been taught, only onr cvreise in nh-.-sical drill, viz.. "leg-pulling.'' Yes, Utopia, someone h:is badly Killed ! your leg. and In ruled yott in 1 'ionin (nowlier"l. It is not "a .part of the : physical drill scheme'' that buys must I waer white sh/rts. Such an iiisi.ruclion | neror emanated from Mr (larlick. Anyi one who says it dd is unaUinst a fa'-' ! statement. (Mr Oarlick is ouito indifI ferent reparding the color of any boy's I shirt, nor would he worry if a boy went | s'hirt!eßß. However, hoy usually wear | shirts, which usunly reqnnv washinp;. i Why, my dear Utopia, shoud a while j be more d'id'ieut to wash Shan a eolovI ed one? Use Lily Waging Tablets take a liver pill and don't wear your I shirts too long.—T am etc.. CUTTY RATJ.K. MR J. HALE AND) Ii'KITISH FAIR PLAY. (To the Editor.) Sir, —According to'veur issue of 3rd mst., aggrieved and resentful Mr -L Ihiio . at Monday's County Council meeting an pears as having been a bit rampr.it that , laws and regulations should have been ;i applied to his delinquency. The fussing J \ about being "pumiced upon'' is so cim--1 ningy associated will, the read iVeI man's action as to imply unlainuss; ' j whilst immediate, icfcrcnce is ::iadc to l | the complainants' own superlative advo- '•| cacy of Uritsh "fair play." v \"c!l j reflect thus upon our honest and ■painsI Liking foifnian '! regard as a gross m j | justice. What about the fair play here? j Now to those who know Mr Hale's ways, ! his iniu-.tiee and aspersion, may not be regarded as of any consequence, and | therefore be harmless: but strangers ■ may meet with the published rellection ; and -knowpng no better, put a face value unon it. As a ratepayer who esleems t til,, foreman's infe;;rify, T now try to i- correct attenm:.- at a.-oersiye attack. The si nple moral of th's affair to those (. who know fact« is ".Don't be a deliu- .,' quent if von don't wc.ni; to be pounced ',' -i-cn " .-■■ 'h-ws and rb"ul;iti"iis are " often ma 'e for and applied to otiVudcrs. As to Mr Hale's method of coarsely vaunl 1 "" '''s virtues :.•! the evpruse o: his "Sermon," your «uh-leadi r of ,'V\ inst., admirably dealt v.i'ii such 0. met hod--. All T w'l Ti.l is Lis I when T am convinced that Mr Ha'.-,., ■i.vle is r a fonn.! sample of fa,',- ~'ay. f :-. sha!> then >m bv. ':-N. (lie rridc • j am, etc. P.E?CC\T Wl'i'pv:. Lower Manporei. ip l \...:,.i:d,er "th, I'll!. is,'