CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2832, 25 February 1888, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

TO THE EDITOR, Sir,-It is reasonable to suppose that accuracy should, characterise the reports of public bodies, if any value is to be attached to their utterances. But the summary upon the report of the School Commissioners for the provincial district of Wellington, published some days ago—but which I have only now seen—can hardly be said to bear this, characteristic. The following extract from the said report and my own comments thereon, will shew what I mean and will enable the public to judge in the matter. " The Committee cannot allow this oppor " tunity to pass without remarking upon th ß " action taken by the AllrecUon lload Board " recently which action has arisen positively " through the refusal of the Board to render " separate accounts, or to acknowledge special remittances for tho liquidation of claims " on primary reserves,"

This assumption on the part of tho Commissioners is somewhat cool. I will not deny it is a misstatement, The action has arisen purely through the inability or unwillingness of the said Commissioners to satisfy the Board's just and legal demands, The Commissioners repeatedly ignored these said demands by simply stating that they have no funds and repeatedly ignoring the fact that as long as tho lands are there, funds are there in the lands themselves. I ask how would separate accounts enable tho Commissioners to pay rates 011 these secondary reserves, when they, the Commissioners, have 110 funds. Can tho.Commissioners poini to ono special remittance unacknowledged ? Tho Board is not aware of any, and as to rendering separate accounts, the Board knows nothing about primary and secondary reserves.

"They tog informed long before they " took legal proceedings against the Commis"Bioners, to wit, Ist August, 18S5,that the " Commissioners are quits ready to pay any "rates for which theymay be liable 011 primary "reserves, but have "no funds in hand" " out of which to pay rates on secondary " reserves."

Proceedings were commenced against the Commissioners in July, 1885. (Note that this was in July), and a summons was issued immediately. On 10th August, 1885, judgment was obtained in the E.M. Court for amount of claim with costs. Still the report says; " long before proceedings were taken." The Commissioners' letter, containing the offer referred torn the report, is dated the Ist August, 1885, in Wellington, and even if it did arrive before judgment was obtained, which I am not now prepared to affirm either way, it must, however, have arrived too late to stay proceedings, and thereby save expenses, Is it reasonable to suppose that at the lust moment—granting there was time—that any local body would stay proceedings on an offer to pay £1 2s Gd (this is what, as it has since transpired, the Commissioners were prepared to pay) on account of a demand for £3313s Od (exclusive of expenses). It might suit the Commissioners to saddle the ratepayers with the expense of the case so 'far, but not so the Eoad Board.

The amount of £2 8s 9d was certainly paid to the Board and acknowledged, but the Commissioners were well aware that this did not comprise all the rates included in the judgement, on the sections advertised for sale. In addition to this, and before the sale was ordered by the Registrar to the Supreme, Covert, .the rates upon primary resevveg

included in the judgement amounting to £2 8s 9d were paid by the solicitors to the Com- ... 1 : missioned under their instructions. • This is incorrect. ' The' Board accepted a payment towards rates' . on these reserves, being the ' rates •,. minus the amount of sgiial rates. . Clearly there must Wave ■■ been rejoicing over the misplaced con- ■ fidence of the Board, in accepting a part payment,.of which advantage has i ; already been taken. • In these matters the Board has been'entirely in the ' hands of the registrar, who no doubt believed that no adviiiitpge- would be >. taken, were a sum to account accepted. ' ' i The Solicitors write under date 18th May 1887: Alfredton Road Board 1m accepted ■; payment of the rates for Ik Primary v -, f R&txvts.; ' Certainly. . The Board has had no other, intention from the commencement—and they have made no secret ■' of it—than an honest attempt to get .. these reserves—these white elephants , ; of the district-to contribute towards the necessary Road making, that is , steadily enhancing the value of fey \ said reserves. In short, sell ApT reserves, failing payment of rates in the ordinary manner. It is quite clear that the intention of the Board was to;sell the reserves.. The Commissioner speaks of the '. repeated attempts to lease the Rangitumau reserve. It is well knign in this district it not to the CmSmis- . •sioners that years ago, and at almost - any time since, the reserve could have been let, even the report acknowledges as much. The rent might have been small, even supposing it was nothing, either way it would-have been a clear ; gain to the Commissioners. Local Bodies would Lave got much needed rates many years ago, and the Commissioners would now have had a much improved property. The Alfredton Road Board, instead of censure at ... the hands of 'the Commissioners, deserves credit for being the means ojf moving • the said Commissioners. ' in what has turned out a successful effort to obtain a tenant for the Rangitamau Reserve. I have no wislr to refer at present , to the "statement of claim" submitted to the Supreme Court judge iu asking the injunction, but if I hav4 shewn that there are inaccuracies ifr the report I have been dealing with, I do not think it will be a difficult mat-. ter to show as much in the" st Anent of claim," To the Commission®'and persons unacquainted with the facts, the matter in'dispute may appear trivial, but when I mention that the Board's claim amounts to £BB lis 3d (which starts with the year ended 31st March, 1885, no rates having been paid for any previous year, so far as I am aware) the matter may then have a somewhat different huo. To an outlying and sparsely populated district it means a great deal. The fact that the settlers at much personal cost borrowed money to make a road which taps the heart of this same Rangitu-. mau reserve, and have had for years ■/ to make up the Commissioners' share of special rate on the said loan, meets' all the. arguments that can be used against the Road Board,'and disposes at once of the assertion that the land - is inaccessible. • Will you kindly oblige by publishing this letter, and by doing so the opposite side as much publicises thfi : report commented on. M, lam, etc., . ' tv. . Chas. Macquarie. Alfredton, Feb. 4,1888.