SUSPENSION OF THE OTAKI POSTMASTER,

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 45, 30 January 1880, Page 2

SUSPENSION OF THE OTAKI POSTMASTER.

The Pojtraastor at Otaki (Afr Buckley) has been suspended by Mr Butts, Chief Postmaster at Wellington. It appears that on (he 19th January the entries closed for the Wellington Knees, and on that day only two entries were received for tin{Empire Plate of 100 soys. — viz. Murtagh's Hurbaway, and A. Young's Sailor, but two d-.iya after Mr Lyou, Secretary of the Racing Club, received a letter from Otaki, bearing the postmark of tho 19th (twice stamped), entering Mr A. Campion's Commission. As there is <\ daily mail between the two places, suspicions were aroused, and the envelope being handed to the Wellington Postmaster (Mr Butts), he made enquiries of Mr Buckley, learning in reply that although the letter was posted on the 20th the postmark was dated 19th, at the request of Mr R. Stevens. Tho correspondence we publish below furnishes full particulars of the affair. Upon the face of it, we think it proves that Mr Buckly is a thoroughly honest young man, with but small knowledge of tho worlJ, and whose judgment is scarcely mature enough for him to be placed in entire charge of an office like that at Otaki. Messrs Stevens nnd Campion's action in the matter has laid them open to suspicion. Their conduct is just the same as would be that of men who, having heard only two contractors had tendered for some work, succeeded in getting a telegraphist to "post-date " a telegraphic tender, so as to enable them ti) compete. The whole thing looks as if, having hoard only two indifferent horses were entered, they thought Commission would stand a good chance, to favour which they worked on the weakmindedness of a youth. We do not say such was the ca.-e. Possibly tho reason was that Commission's legs were weak on the 19th, but considering the stakes were filOO.and the entrance foe only 45, we thiuk (hoy would have acted more wisely had they entered the horse at the proper time, and rot after the entries were announced. We have no doubt tho aff tir will prove a warning to nil the parties. Mr Buckley mast learn to carry out his duties as a public offiVr regardless aliko of personal feeling or sympathy; whilst Messrs Stevens and Campion will probably see the necessity of entering their horses on ihe day fixed. The following is the correspondence referred to : — Memo, from Chief Postmaster, Wellington, to (he Postmaster, Otaki. j The enclosed letters was received in your mail on the evening of the 2lst instant. You are requested to .expluu how it was that it did not arrive on the day previous, luving been posted on the 19th instant. The letter yen* ono of considerable importance to the writer. How is it you have stamped the letter twice ? E. D. Butts. Koply to the above memo. MrE. D. Butts. Sir, — The letter was handed to me on the 20th, by aMr R. Stev-'ns, on behulf of A. Campion. He requested me to put the date stamp of the 19th on it. I refused to do so, telling him the difficulties in which I would become involved by so doing, instancing the supposed dcl.iy of the letter, and perhaps some inconvenience (to soraa person or persons) of which I knew nothing. He assured me no inconvenience would como to any one, aud when [ asked him his reason for wishing to have the stamp of t l ie prior date on it, he told me ag follows : — Mr Campion wished to enter a horse for the Wellington races, and was in doubta as to whether the horse would break down or not, but hid however come to the conclusion he would enter him, and although a day late (the entries dosing on tho I9tli) ho thought that if the date stamp of the 19th wore on the letter, the secretary would accept the e.itry. and that, in any case, there was no harm trying. I asUcd him. " What if entry was not accepted ?" He answered, "He would have himself to blame." I then, seeing that no harm could come other than of an explanation being demanded from me, consanted to place tho stamp of prior date upon tho letter, reserving to myself the power to state the full particulars to you if necessary. Having the word of a trustworthy person, and being made aware of the contents of the letter, I concluded I wag

doing no harm in obliging the man by plac* ing the stamp upon the letter. You have now the full particulars. I had no partiouv lar reason for stamping the letter twice j I oftentimes do it You state that the letjfcev was of considerable importance to /tn&.^y writer. I was told to make my mind 'easy, "■ as, whatever decision the secretary of the Club came to, would be satisfactory to the writer. The horse has since completely gone in the legs. Trusting this exonerates me from any blame,— l am, &c, T. Buckle?.