CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 6, 5 June 1885, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

AN EXPLANATION. (TO THE EDITOK OK THE STANDARD ) Sib, — The gross distortion of facts, false deductions, and misrepresentation of issues, indulged m by a publication issued from the Theatre Royal Building, m the Square, Paluierston North, concerning inj r observations and conduct at the Borough Council meeting of Wednesday last, calls, for a passing observation or two, Emanating as it does from the source above indicated, it is not surprising that what occurred has been dramatized m its editiorial columns and garbled m its report. The publication alluded to (holding as its affects to do that it is entitled to a monopoly of public patronage) has for a long time exhibited much soreness at the fact that the Borough Council, and other important advertisements, appear m the Manawatu Standard. It is no seret that I have ever advocate I the extinction of such petty jealousies, hence the reason of the personal attack upon myself on the occasion referred to. My character for consistency and general prudence m the advocacy of any point that I urge m my public capacity is too well established to be affected by the waspish productions ofEiich mock journalists as those connected with that publication. All I ask ig that for their own credit's sake the next time reference is made to what I said they will sjate the fact that my observations were directed principally to the absurdity of Mr Councillor Abrahams and Mr Councillor Park, as the only two members of the Finance Committee, other than myself as chairman, carping at the illegality of paying the account presented by the Ratepayers' Committee for payment, when' m the same breath, at the same finance committee meeting, they were mainly instrumental m passing an account presented by Councillor Park, for payment to himself, amounting to £7 Os 7d, for goods supplied to the Council, m contravention of subsection 4 of section 61 of " The Municipal Corporations Act, 1870," for which under section 68, ot the same Act, any Count cillor is liable to a penalty of £50 to be recovered by any person with costs of suit ; while also the same Councillors at the same meeting referred m unmeasured terms to the fact that the Treasurer should be asked to resign his position for the reason that the above sections and subsections and penalties are recoverable from him for infringement of the same. The incongruity of the positions taken up by these pseudo-conscientious Councillors will commend itself to the ratepayers, and the value of their righteous indi?nation made manifest at a glance ; and, with this, I leave the subject.— l am, &c, G. F. Hawkins. June sth, 1885.