TO THE EDITOR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1140, 16 February 1884, Page 3

TO THE EDITOR.

g lßj —My words are coming true, that the ratepayers will regret the hasty step they have taken in signing the petition to the Government to suspend the Act in this County. It was only last week that three ratepayers came to my place and *aid they now saw their mistake in sign ing the petition, tfrat_ they would readily sign any other petition to say they had made a mistake, and that they now wished that the subject had been more fully explained before they signed, as they wish to keep the Act in force as it is at present. The ratepayers have been informed that under the Eoads and Bridges Act money will be forthcoming for keeping the Main Eoads and Bridges in repair. But what do we find? The Chairman of the Ashburton County Council stilted at their last meeting, held on Friday the Bth inst., that £430 on account of Main roads was available out of the Council's application for £2,869 13s 4d under the Eoads and Bridges Construction Act., on the requirements of the Act being complied with. The Southland County Council made application for £8,603 under the Act; they have just been informed they will receive £675 only. The Geraldine County Council made, I think, application for £2,500 for repairs to extension of the Op'hi bridge ; it has not yet transpired what they will receive. I fear we are relying on a broken reed in depending , solely on grant assistance for the repairs of our bridges and maintenance of main roads from the Roads and Bridges Act, What we really want is to keep the Counties Act in force as at present, and for all Councillors to work with a will for the advancement of the great works that are required in the County, and for no jealousy to exist between one part of the County and another. Ratepayers are beginning to sec that it is only the County Council have power to carry out wahr races from one end of the County to the other. It is only the County Council that can maintain and build the bridges. If Koad Boards think they can go on building and repairing bridges, their fuods for maintaining roads will soon be exhausted. Water races to water our dry plains have proved so far a great success. My water race of about two miles only coßt me for the land it has watered ls7J?<l an acre. A water race on the Ashburton plains, three miles long fifteen inches wide and eight inches deep, only cost one shilling a chain or £4 a mile. What farmer would not gladly welcome a stream of water through bis paddocks in preference to a well or a wind pump, which are always getting out of repair I Ratepayers must also remember that no rates need be struck over the whole County for these water races, it is only the land that receives a benefit from the water that lias to pay for it. If any ratepayer who has Bi'gned the petition to

suspend the Act regret his action lie has only to request his name to be struck off the list, or get up another petition requesting the Government to take tw action in the mutter. —I am, etc., 0. G. Tripp. Orari Gorge, February 13th, 1884.