THOSE BRICK WALLS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1298, 5 July 1884, Page 2

THOSE BRICK WALLS.

To THE EdITOB. Fia, —It appears that a rumor has gained currency that collusion existed be* tween Mr St Hill a~d mytali in dealing with the Borough Council in t'.e matter of erecting certain brick walls. Now, in justice to Mr St Bill, I think I am called upon to deny this, as the following statement, to any but a biassed mind, 1 think will prove convincing. The facta are simply these .'—Havingoccasion toremove a building from one side of East street to the other, I advertised for tenders, and that of Mr St Hill's was accepted. Before he commenced the work, he asked me about the Council's permission, and I told him that the contractor would have to settle that himself. He then asked me if any conditions were required to be fulfilled by the Council, would I carry them out 1 To which I replied, "Anything in reason I will do." The morning following a subsequent meeting the Council the contractor cams to me and said he had obtained permission to remove the building, on the understanding that I erected brick walls to the approval of the engineer. I then asked Mr St Hill to call for tenders for the erection of the brick walls, when the tender of James Bradley was accepted, the work to be proceeded with at once and completed within fourteen days from signing the contract. The morning the contractor arranged -to come with his material he said to me " What are you going to do about the doors and windows ? Have you made any arrangements about skylights ?" He then told me that the plans given him were for a dead wall and that neither doors nor windows were to exist. I told him if such was the case I should not proceed further with the work. Upon Mr St Hill hearing this he stated that the perm'ssion given him was conditionally on his erecting tha brick walls, and that unless I erected them he would drag the building back again. I then told him that when I consented to do anything the Council wanted in ruason I did not anticipate that I should have my doors and windows blocked in,' and that if he cared to erect the walls leaving my doors and windows free I should be perfectly agreeable to carry oui the work. As far as Mr St Hill and myself are concerned the matter ended here. Not so, however, with him, for at the last meeting of the Council a vote of censure was passed on him by his fellow councillors, upon his absolnt* refusal to had over some document or other which he clings to with great tonacity, deserved or not it is for the public to judge. From the foregoing, remarks, Sir, I will leave the ratepayers to glean whether there is any truth in the rumor re the collusion between Mr St. Hill and myself. Thanking you for trespassing so much on your valuable space.—lam, eta, , F. Fkbhimak.