THE BOROUGH COUNCIL AND THE HOSPITAL SUBSIDY.

Kumara Times, Issue 1073, 9 March 1880, Page 3

THE BOROUGH COUNCIL AND THE HOSPITAL SUBSIDY.

[to THE EDITOR.] Sir-—I observe by your report of the (proceedings of the laSt meeting of the Borough Council, that two well-known clamorous councillors With refectory tongues, bandied my name about in father an objectionable manner, to say the least of it. Bolting has got quite fashionable with Mr Seddon lately} the other day he ran away frobi the KJdunty Council and placed his grievances before a public meeting at Dillman’s Town. Receiving but cool con;so&tion in that quarter, he runs aWay fiddling (like the boy to his mother) to the Borough Council to inform that august body that h‘6 considered it taost unfair’ 1 on my part to have netted at a public meeting at Dillman’e T6wn that the Hospital had received bo subsidy from the Borough Council, knowing as I did that the money was Voted, and would be payed as soon as 'the Council was in funds. Now, Sir, ■1 have stated at the public meeting referred to, that the Hospital had re■x)6ived no subsidy from the BoroUgh 'Council for a period of over two yeart. Councillor Was present when I made this remark, but knowing the Uxikiisputable truthfulness of what t said, ie had not the manliness to call it ** most unfair 1 ' to my face, so he poured ’calumny in a most cowardly manner into the ears Of BorOUgh Councillors. When 1 made lli'6 remark complained ’of by some of the Borough Councillors, I Was, as Councillor Seddbn said,, a Wave Uit the Council voted a Subsidy of ■£&o to the Hospital some six months ago; and t was also aware that all entreaties, pleadings, and representations bad hitherto failed in extracting a sixpence of that £SO out of the Council, and the invarible and Oft repeated excuse has always been u Council out k>f funds f so that personally , I have Men long convinced that the Council neVer will be in funds to pay that sub aidy. 1 also stated at the public meeting in Dillman’s that the Council oUghl to haVe payed the £SO they voted to the. Hospital before voting £3O for a bam kjuet to gormandize themselves at the expense of the ratepayers. This portion, of my remarks Councillor Seddoii may consider *• most Unfair,” as it had •a direct inference to a shady transaction first mooted in the Council by himself. However, t am perfectly Satisfied that all impartial and rightthinking persons will admit the justice Of the remark, and agree with me that it would be more honorable for Councillors to have voted their £3O to the Hospital, and paid their owh personal expenses at Mr Mr Olivet’s banqilet. I have been informed that, that paragon of civility politeness and courtly manners, or, if you prefer it, that absolute moral monstrosity, Councillor Hanna got ferocious on hearing my name, and rusJted at it like a bull does at a red flag; but, being aware of Bills’ batural weakness for displaying his imaginary oratorical abilities, I will on this occasion acquit him of being actuated by malice, which appeared to hgve considerable influence with his Councillor Seddon. Councillor Campbell is a gentleman in whose truthfulness 1 have implicit Confidence; but I think that his memory must have been serving bim falsely, when he said that he told me shortly ’before the Diilman’s Town meeting that the Hospital subsidy would be paid. I do hot remember having had a conversation with Mr Campbell on this, or any other subject for several months. Craving your indulgence for this

trespass on your valuable s 4 ace.—l am, Sir, your’s &c., fe. M‘Kenzie. Larrikins, Bth March, 1880.