The Adjournment of the Committee.

Manawatu Herald, 7 March 1895, Page 2

The Adjournment of the Committee.

Wednesday's Standard has at laftt ;' let a little light into the Stipendiary Magistrate's peculiar adjournment! of * the utaki Licensing CommitteesHe erred, though his attempt was tt> ; ... be obliging, and from paying top little attention to the Act. Fronf ° • the teleg.ams which passed between Mr Gully and Mr Stanford, it is plain that an adjournment had been agreed to between the first Darned gentleman and Mr Skerrett, representing the applicant fur the removal. Thi? having been arranged, we learn < on March 2ud, Mr Stanfoid received** the following farther wire from Mf*" Gully:— -r ,'■ "Otaki Licensing meeting. -Mr dker* rett's cli-nts refuse to ratify arrangements for adjournment. Skerrett endeavouring to obtain their consent Meantime will you be ready to attend en Tuesday if necessary. Will wire definitely first thing Monday morning. I contend that meeting, ha* been adjourned. This will be the first question raised. Think you should be there to decide." On this telegram there hangs a tale, which, fully unfolded, would • show in the clearest light that oar leader on Tuesday was written with a thorough knowledge of the parties implicated. March 2nd, was Satur* day, on March 3rd an energetic supporter of the removal of the license visited one of the Committee living at the Hutt, pressing, him to attend at otaki on Tuesday. He only saw this one member. On 4th March a telegram was received in Foxton to this effect, Levin transfer safe if Foxton members do nou attend. Are they going ? Two and two make four, and a little arithmetic will show why the adjournment was only, agreed tq by Mr Skerrett on' the Oiaki platform when Messrs Thynne and Williams

the two Foxton members of the Licensing Committee, so considerately enquired about, got off the train. Mr Stanford is cleared of all suspicion of being actuated from a i desire to act at the dictation of the Ministry, but he will have learnt a lesson that human nature is not devoid of guile.