MR. BILLENS, IN EXPLANATION.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 296, 20 May 1879, Page 2

MR. BILLENS, IN EXPLANATION.

To the Editor of the Akaroa Mail,

would kindly allow me Buffieierit of your valuable space for the following:— ''.".' As some expiation is due to the ratepayers on account of my again resigning my seat in the Council,, t wish to state that I allowed myself to fill a vacancy in the Council, with-the understanding that 1 did'not forfeit my right as a manof husFhees to supply any little thing the Council might want, if they chose to purchaie it from me. As I understood, on good authority, that I did not break the Muriicipai Act by bo doing. But from the -way several Councillors expressed themeelviM when my accounts came before the last meeting, I felt I had no right to sit any longer as a councillor, or, at any rate, that that was their opinion. But I was asked by the Works Committee to supply three new street lamps. I did so, and at * price that could not be heated in Christchurch, let alone the risk of getting them down glazed, without breakage. Yes, they might have been tendered for;- it would have only cost another pound «r two for advertising. Another item in the account "was for three new lamp burners, an article no other storekeeper keeps in Akaroa. Certainly half-a-crown Coach hire would have brought them from Christchurch, and it would not have made any difference for the lamps to have been unfit till the burners arrived. Then the office clock. I used no undue influence with his Worship, nor do I allow 1 him a commission on' the clock. As a business man, I said if he chose, I would get it; he agreed, and. I have supplied a , good article at a reasonable price, which the. Council need not keep if it does not suit them. ~ Now I would like to ask a question of Cr Henning. If the Council should require a bag of coals, would he make them a present, or will he tell them to go to Christcburcb for them ? Also, will he not charge any - comtnission on freight he* riiar ! collect from the Council ?, He sorely will Inot be guilty of the crime ''■. of sending in a bill ~fq"~-he Council while he holds* seat there. 0 And in-JTFJgard to other Councillore who have had bills paid ■to ;*ny, comment, forgoods 1 supplied an^worki,done. ; iWiJI; they: riot. 'I do ft again Iflhey get the chance ? GrSrited ! I had broken the Jaw: it is not the Council's place to callme. to account for it. It is an astounding fact, that the mihd gets expanded'by being a Councillor, and matters which before were;quite beyond our intellects, can now be grasped with ease, and Councillors who, when newly fledged, had" (by reasons pf their. i_rid'JVel6ped Council bumps) little or nothing -to, say; "now, as soon as a question is brought forward, are up on their, legs before, ypu can say knife," arid; " Well, your Worship, I suppose I must say something on this." Then,. oh, my I'don't it come .wit- v;ltdoes riot matter [what the. m biijigeß—every 'subject is,, .exhausted ere - ithey resume their. ; seat, conies an. awful when you, might hear a fl_a'ju__p ; "or evelri magazine 1 explode (if you were near enough). ; ■ Ah"!' what a loss it will be 'to fut tif that the proprietors' "of the. M_JL. had so., few short-hand reporters; even my own , f«little songs" would have been a treasure in themselves, let alone the' oratadns of my lost brothers. It seeing a great, pity that so much lof the Council's time is taken up by members "nagging" at each other, instead of transacting the business ;in fact sometimes-the principal part of the evening is taken up with small, talk, quite>fQreign to the subjects before them. The resmt is, business "dummed " late suppers, and the-nightmare., I'certainly think for the; future; that no man in business, or likely to be asked to. supply. anything to the Council, should allow himself to be nominatedlfor. the Akaroa Borough Council under the present state-of, things.* ' '-.;-"_.. .. .' .■■"': "•' Before closing, I cannot help bearing my Jhuinble testimony in favor of Cr W. Meech, and think it a disgrace to those who treated him in the way they did at the late meeting in the Town Hall. < A man with perhaps more true, patriotism in him than all the' rest of the Council-put together, and who gives more of his valuable time to the interests of the. ratepayers and the business of the Council jthan any man that has ever been in it; yes, arid is better lip in all the matters pertaining to the Council .(arid yet no man is less thought of or •more vmisrepresented than he). The Mayor and Town Clerk' can bear me outiirtthis;. or; for further rpro of, coxtis and live nest door to him for awhile.;: 3ut ■ such men do not seeip to be? wanted; but time will try all things. Hoping I have not trespassed too much,'' I am, yours, &C, ' - : H. BILLENS. -