COUNTY ELECTIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3368, 7 November 1911, Page 5

COUNTY ELECTIONS.

MR. A. FORDE MATTHEWS AT KAITI Mr. A. Forde Matthews, a candidate for the Whataupoko seat om the Cook County Council, addressed a meeting of County ratepayers at the Kaiti schoolhouse last evening. Mr. A. Cuthbert presided ,and there was a small attendance. Mr Matthews said he regretted there was not a larger attendance of ratepayers to hear what the Council had don© during the last three years, and also something regarding the maintenance of roads which had caused such inconvenience during last year. The continual light rains which had been experienced during the winter had made it difficult to maintain the roads. He was nearly declining to offer himself for re-election, but he had persuaded the ratepayers to vote for the borrowing of £IO,OOO for roads, and as that money had not yet been expended he thought it would not be fair to leave at this stage- About £2200 had been expended, and contracts for £IOOO had been let. The Borough Council had not been able to supply the County Council with the metal contracted for, and the county therefore had to suffer. The • Borough Council had decided to put in more machinery at the quarry, and once this was done they would get a good supply. The borough also suffered in regard to roads last winter. Hei had used his own professienol knowledge to assist the engineer .in matters connected with the county. He had gone over the roads, and made' suggestions which the engineer appreciated. He had been nine years ow the Council, and during that time he had noticed a considerable improvement in his riding. and -was entitled, he- thought, to a certain amount of credit for the development of the riding. He pointed out that the rate was L’d last year for the riding, and this year some members wanted lid to be a- general rate over the' whole county, hut to this lie objected, and the rate for his riding was 13-16 d, which included the hospital and charitable aid rate. He was certain that if care was taken to push on the contracts and. sufficient metal was obtainable, this rate would prove mere than sufficient. Regarding the' cartage of bricks over the reads, the Council had tried to alleviate the position, but. nothing had been accomplished except, that he believed the brick company had spent, a good deal of money and had given a. number of oild bricks for putting on the roads. He pointed out that the. cost of the metal made the formation of decent roads prohibitive. About five years ago he obtained estimates for a. tramway to Patutahi, but the scheme was rejected. If it had been carried they would .have had good metal to-day. The drainage question would have to be faced, and the work should be carried out systematically. The Whataupoko portion of his riding had £lll3 19s 6d spent on roads during the last three years, while £1528 18s 9d had been spent on roads in the Kaiti portion- The revenue during 1910 was £1035 from Whataupoko, and £874 from Kaiti. He had tried to treat both' districts fairly, and 1 , would continue to do so if. returned. Mr. Matthew's was accorded a. vote of thankte. He speaks aft Whataiupoko to-night. . ■