MR TRIPPS RESIGNATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1181, 1 December 1883, Page 3

MR TRIPPS RESIGNATION.

[Referring to Mr 0. G. Tripp’s resignation of the Chairmanship of the Geraldine County Council, the Ashburton Mail says“ We regret to learn that Mr C. G. Tripp has decided to resign his position as Chairman of the Geraldine County Council. It is understood that he resigns the Presidentship of that important and somewhat oktinate body, fer the reason that be cannot in future spare the time to discharge the duties of the office to his own satisfaction, for the position is one much removed from a sinecure. As far as we are aware Mr Tripp got along tolerably smooth with the body over which he presided, but he differed from the majority of the Council on the subject of payment of half the cost of the Eangitafa traffic bridge. At the outset Mr Tripp joined in the protest against the Ashburton County Council proceeding to erect the bridge on a plan disapproved by the local representatives of the district, which would be called upon to pay half the expense. As the Government had entrusted the very practical Council on this side of the river with the construction of the bridge, southern protests passed unheeded, although backed with a strong intimation that the Geraldine County Council would refuse to pay a single penny of the cost. The bridge was erected and opened for traffic, and then it was seen that the plan carried out bad saved the settlers o£ the two counties

several thousand pounds. The Chairman of the Geraldine CouncT was sufficiently broad-minded to express gratification at the result. The bridge was a success, and in Mr Tripp’s opinion the only honorable course open to his Council wa» to pay half the cost. It should here be mentioned that Mr Tripp is one of the largest ratepayers in the Geraldine district; so it cannot be said he was careless in dealing with other people’s money. Mr Tripp stood almost alone in the Council in urging that that body should pay its just dues. Had it not been for his consistent action ever since the bridge was opened, two of the most important local bodies in New Zealand would now be engaged in a costly lawsuit. The matter has been “ amicably settled,” and the Ashburton Council has been spared further trouble and ratepayers south of the Rangitata have been saved a lot of money. By the resignation of Mr Tripp the Geraldine County Council will lose a clear-headed and straightforward Chairman.”