RANGER FOR GERALDINE ROAD DISTRICT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1465, 9 February 1886, Page 2

RANGER FOR GERALDINE ROAD DISTRICT.

TO THE EDITOR. SiK, —Will you be kind enough to allow me space in your valuable paper to make a few remarks ? I see the Geraldine Road Board have called for applications for the post of ranger. I would like to know if the ranger is to ba paid to do the work of a few who call themselves farmers ? It seems to me they never knew what farming was unt ; l they came to this country, or if they did they would keep their fences and places in better order. Now, Mr Editor, it is shameful to see some fences those people have along public roads and riverbeds, a bit of slack wire hanging hera and there on the top of a few forkfuls of withered gorso, about two feet high, and in other places gates wide open. If you want to take a cow or horse to a sale, you have to take two or three persons with you to drive past such places, for no sooner do you turn the animal out of one gap than it is in at another. The Impounding Act—and it is a good Act foo~ does not allow such people to charge driving fees, because they have not a sufficient fence, and I think this is where the grievance lies, and as they cannot got paid for impounding stock, those men who call themselves farmers want the Road Board to do the dirty work for them. I say it is waste of public money, and an encouragement to laziness. I have been living for sixteen or seventeen years on my place, and some of my fences are not legal, but I have never had any occasion to send anything to the pound, and I have over four hundred acres

around which to keep fences in repair. Some say their gates get broken, and so do mine, but if they get four or five ehillingsworth of barbed wire they will be able to make a few gates secure. Now, Mr Editor, what about my neighbors who have good fences 1 What will the Road Board do for them? Nothing, but spend their money to serve a few. The next thing these farmers will want will bo some one to dig their gardens. I think it will be time for the Road Board when they get their own reserves damaged to appoint a ranger, and not until then. If any member of the Board does not believe my statement, let him come with me for a few hours and I will show him plenty of such places as I have pointed out. Apologising for taking up so much of your valuable space, I am, etc., Ratepayer, Geraldine, Fab. Bth,