THE MAYOR “ON THE QUIET."

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2389, 29 November 1881, Page 3

THE MAYOR “ON THE QUIET."

To the Editor of the Globe. Fir,—This city of the plains will be pointed out in years—ay, in centuries yet to coma—ae having possessed the moat astounding classic gentleman of the day. I Jme»n our present Mayor, Mr James Gapes. If we could swallow all he says anent what he has done single banded, we would be the veriest feels cf the day. He told us that ho had subdued and compressed the Town Hall scheme, tho water supply, and every other (to hla mind) unnecessary outlay. He takes the whole credit of different Councils, and d fferent Mayors, better, sir, place this to his classical teaching, he ignores t.e shanties on the market square, and rightly, too ; but there was a shanty partly burned down not one mile from tho Bank of New Zealand, and It was reported on by advice of the Council. The report was to the effect that it would be unsafe to patch the old building ; the works committee endorsed the same j our class man made a long speech in favour of the patching. He had a majority with him, merely on account of the owner of the property being a wealthy man. Tho house was repaired, and Mr Gapes got the painting of it, “on the quiet.’’ Tenders wero invited for the painting of a bridge. A blacksmith tendered for the painting and was accepted : a painter painted the said bridge ; the surveyor would not pass the same, on account of its not being done according to specification. The surveyor was forced to be silent; a cheque was drawa for tho blacksmith. I believe the painter received tho said cheque intact, “ on the quiet. ” Well, sir, all these things, and many more of a similar kind, he has doze for the benefit of the ratepayers for the sum of £3OO per annum, which, being divided by 52, gives nearly £5 9s Oj-i per wee' l- , out of whioh he spent the gigantic sum of £2B in regaling the Governor and his friends.

With respect to the Town Clerk, I will only say that if a petition was taken from house to house In the city, ninety-nine out of every 100 ratepayers would sign it In favour of his immediate dismissal, and chance the consequences. Yours, &c. A RATEPAYER.