ROAD BOARD MATTERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1113, 26 June 1883, Page 2

ROAD BOARD MATTERS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin,-—I have seen of late in your paper several letters published by Mr Tripp and Mr Postlethwaite, which appear to be the outcome of a long standing grievance, and am very sorry to see such a spirit manifested by two of the most influential men in the district, more especially when the breach was just upon the point of being healed ; for it appears, according to the correspondence passijig between these two gentlemen, that a letter had been posted .but did not reich its destination until after the untimely remarks of the latter gentlemen at his public meeting, about Mr Tripp—remarks as far as his constituents were concerned which were altogether out of place, for in my humble opinion Road Board matters, and more especially those affecting the election—which appears to have widened the breach instead of closing it—should not have been referred to by a member of the House of Representatives when addressing his constituents upon what took place at the last session of Parliament. However, I know this,-that Mr Tripp consented to be nominated as a candidate at the last election j from a moral point of view, as tho spirit manifested was not to be imitated, and he would as far as he could endeavor to bury the past and work harmoniously with Mr Postlethwute; and I also know that he did not come forward with a view of contesting 'the Geraldina seat; for his letter fully carries this fact on the face of it. " If elected I shall endeavor to work in harmony and good feeling, and I hope that nothing will disturb the peace between us;" and I feel confident,sir, that, if Mr Postlethwaite :had received the letter before his trieeting he would, not have referred ,to ;election matters at all. There certainly is something noble in Mr Tripp's action in taking the first step towards a reconciliation. There is another matter which if happily it could be settled would bring about a bettfr feeling between the two Boa'ds and pave the way to a settlement of differences between the parties named : I mean the Rangitaoa riverbed road. Now it appears that a sabdivision or severance «f a portion of a road district would dissolve the Board, and a new Board would bs elected that would not be responsible for fulfilling the agreement that has existed so many years. Some say there has been a dissolution of the Mount Peel Board on account of a slice off their district being joined to Mount Homers or Ashburton; but the question is, has the Road Board recognised the existing agreement since th<ir resurrection at tho severance, or is it only the old Board revived again ? But, sir, setting aside all these little points my opiniou is that it was right and proper for the Mount Peel Board to share the cost with the Geraldine Board years ago ; but since the la?id has been sold and settled upon and the settlers have to pay rates to the latter Board, I ask why the Mount Peel Board hhould be called upon any further to pay any portion of cost of main tenance any . more than the Geraldine Board should, be called upon to pay toward* the cost of maintaining the road

leading from Oonnol's, on the Waitohi Flat, into Temnka, or the road leading to the Pleasant Point station from the upper end of the Waitohi Flat, and these settlers benefited by these roads (and only outlets to their market) pay their rate 3 to the Gerald ine Board. Also John Hay's road accommodates the rate- y payers of the Geraliline district on the Waitohi Downs and Kalcahu. Cannot, the Temuka and Levels Road Boards, - with nearly as much reason for their, claim, ask the Geraldine Board to maintain these roads referred to, as the latter Board can ask the Mount Peel Board V One. word more/arid that is,-The road should be put in a thorough state of repair by the two Boards ; then destroy',: I the agreement ; the Geraldine Road ' | Board to look after the road in futuie. [ I am, etc., , I .-•*"■ Justice.