THE HOPE-STREET PEBBLE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 897, 12 October 1881, Page 3

THE HOPE-STREET PEBBLE.

[To the Editor of the Wairaiupa Daily.] Sir,—l have just received tho letter which so insulted the dignity of tho Borough Council at a late meeting, and as I promised to send you a copy, so that the public might know wherein I had overstepped the bounds ot courtesy, or ihe rights of a ratepayer in my communication. Instead of sending a copy I send the identieal letter, so that it cannot be said I have either altered or amended. I am the more anxious it should be made public now since Mr Dixon has stated in a letter—which appears in your issue of the Ith inst.—that I sent an objectionable letter to the Council. He further slated that I have made an unwarrantable attack t on a fellow contractor. l With regard to the first of these stater ments, if there were anything objectionable in the letter why not point it out. As regards the second, if I have confined .. myself to the truth, whorein is my statement unwarranted ! If it can be proved that I have nut confined myself to the truth, then Mr Dixon would bo (]iiito correct in his statement, except that my remarks referred to the Works Committee, not to the contractor. Unfortunately for Mr Dixon he lias himself (uo doubt quite unintentionally) corroborated one of my statements. Ho says—" These large stones were never spread on the path any more than the pile of stones collected in front of Mr Girdwood's residenco in Hope-street the other day," \ i This very pile of stones are some of those I object to. The only mistake he makes is in supposing they wore deposited there by the youngsters. They were turned out of tho supposed J-inch gravel by the 5 of my boots, and were all deposited lejamio time, and with a great many b, which are to be seen at any time oy anyone who is not wilfully blind. I stated my reason for the action I had taken m reference to this matter in my letter to the Council. Having induced the ratepayers of the street to subscribe towards getting it properly formed, I was in duty hound to see that we got what we agreed to pay lor. This ought to have been sufficient without such unwarrantable assertions and imputed motives as " unsuccessful tenderer," etc. It would have been quite sufficient to satisfy gentlemen. I am, ifca, T. P. (I'nmwooi), [copy.] " To the Mayor and Borough Councillors of Masterton. " Gentleman,—Having after considerable time and trouble got the ratepayers ' of this street (Hope-street) to agree to subscribe towards forming and metalling the said street, and hearing that the work had been passed by your Works Committee, I wisli to call your attention to n few facts to which I have already called i / the attention of individual members of the Council. " Ist. The street is not carried out according to the levels shown in the plan, being still over 4ft lower in the centre, consequently there will he, during wet ' feather, an unsightly pool of water in watertables opposite sections s and C. " 2nd. The paths having been formed, still require the H inches of fine gravel which is specified to pass through a -| ■ inch ring, the present metal on footpaths being common road metal, which will not pass through a 4-inch ring. The said three- inches of fine gravel having been included in contract, ought to have been laid on footpath before contract was passed as completed, as in the event of it being done after the work is passed, the expense will have to be defrayed from the funds of tho ratepayers, which is neither just to contractors nor honest to ratepayers. 3rd. The metal on the wholo street has not for the specified 8 inches, been according to specification, the large stones not having been broken—in fact tho metal, as used on this street, would not pass on any public road in any civilised part of the country, and I cannot see why in the streets of a Borough wo should be less particular. " I send you a specimen of the gravel used. It was taken from the footpath in the presence of one of the Borough i Councillors of Masterton. Other speci- * me«s are forthcoming if necessary. "Yours, &c., " T. P, GIRDWOOD." [w.m.] Chambers, Masterton, " September 28, 1881. " Sir,—l lm'e the honor, by direction of- the Borough Council, to return your letter, which is referred back to ymi, and the stone with it. " Your obedient servant, "It. Brown, " Town Clerk, "T. P. Girdwond, Esq,, Masterton. "P.S.—Tho above may be had on j application at the Council Chambers."