THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1869.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 569, 9 September 1869, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1869.

The three absent members of the County Council, who returned from the Assembly by ihe Tararua, have made sad havoc with tho arrangements which, their colleagues had made in their absence. On the first night of their arrival they were found occupying the seats, which they ought to havo been filling for the last few weeks, and made a furious onslaught, which almost looks as if it had been preconcerted, upon the Chairman, the Estimates, the system of accounts, and everything else which could be dragged in. It almost looked as if these gentlemen had returned with minds resolved to revenge upon tho heads of their brother Councillors tho sneers and insults to which their connection with *' that unfortunate County" had subjected them while in Wellington. But we do not say that it was so. Most probably the position of antagonism which they so suddenly took up, was due to the superior knowledge which they had acquired at headquarters of curtain operations iv connection with the financial arrangements of the Comity, and of which they could find no explanation on the face of the statement of accounts as laid before the County Counc'l. Mr Harrison, who led the charge, moved an adjournment for three weeks, in order that the fullest enquiry might be made, and a clear statement of all financial transactions laid before the Council before the Estimates were any further proceeded with. He grounded his argument upon the facts that there were in the accounts many irregularities and discrepancies unaccounted for, no Auditor's statemeut had been laid on the table— indued the Auditor could not complete his re pur t from want of proper answers from the Clhiirimvu as to the ex-

peditureof certain sums ; that a short examination of the accounts had taught him that the Council would not be doing its duty if it hesitated to put a stop to all proceedings until tho whole of the finanoial ad'airs Avere made known and could be understood ; that the true statement of ad'airs had not been made known to the County, and it was absolutely necessary that it should be done,, If these facts are correct, the sooner they are brought to light and remedied for the future the better, so as to prevent the possibility of a repetition of "irregularities" such as have lately been brought to light, and in order to place the system of. accounts keeping in connection with the County in a perfectly safe and intelligible position. In order to accomplish this the adjournment was asked for, and it is to be hoped it will have the effect of bringing to light the truth or falsehood of the statements which have been made in reference to the letting of contracts hy the Chairman to the amount of over £4000, after he had received notice from the Manager of the Bank that the overdraft was stopped ; that a number of the votes of last session have been misappropriated or exceeded ; that the Chairman, in addition to his fixed salary, has been drawing the honararium as a country mem-: ber while the Council was in session, and three guineas a-day as expenses when away from Hokitika. Those are a few of the statements m.ade. We do not say that there is any truth in them ; it will be for those who have brought them forward to substantiate them after the adjournment. On the other hand, the late ActingTreasurer, Mr Lahman, who has made, only the other day, a thorough investigation of the affairs of the County, stated that the whole affair was, what is vulgarly termed, a mare's nest ; that the statements of account laid before the Coxmcil were amply sufficient for all purposes ; that the newly-returned members only wanted a little posting-up in what had transpired during their absence ; and that the adjournment would result in nothing. Well, time will show. Whatever the result may be, it is absolutely necessary that at the present time the fullest enquiry should be made into our financial position, and the causes which have led to that position, for, as the mover of the amendment stated, the whole Colony is now standing as a jury over the County of Westland.