Manawata Road Board.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 62, 12 August 1885, Page 2

Manawata Road Board.

The adjourned meeting ottho above hoard was: held m Mr Linton's auction room to-day.' , Prosfciit-r- Wardens Snelson (chuir) Mjitb^soif, Akers, and Sly. The Chairman opsnecl the proceedings by stating tint since tho last meeting an inventory had been taken of the Board's safo rescued from the fire, and that j everything had been found intact and exactly as stated by the Secretary. The inventory of the documents had been taken by '-himself (Che chairman) and m the presence of Warden Pratt, the con. stable,' and the late secretary of the Board. v „- . y_ ; •- - • Warden Bfy wished Ib/'inoMr if the sa^e was: ,sti|l ; a^Hhe c^Ssffible's house. ' Tlie Ghairman stated "the safe had since been removed to the .Bank: Chambers, r TV?:; % 3 . - , ■.' .''., ' .7.' • Warden Sly Vould*uke*fo*know if any loose cash was m the safe. The Chairman : ;Yes. As stated by the secretary. The .Chairman informed the .meeting that sinee .^thpy lastrmtjt tjbgethjbr the .secretary, itf r T. S. Hoe^, had sent m his resignation. The following letter from the late, secretary was then read by the Chairman : — Dear sir,-— I think the time has ar. rived when it is incmiibent on me to lay before you ioatters connected with my past, connection with your Board and also to resign, my ' position as its Secretary. ; You • afe : " dottbtle'ss;] aware, that I have acted as Secretary, acting Treasurer, Collector, and at times Eeturning Officer since Mr Linton's resignation, which; is^rig^r about eight years. During this 4imß 'I have served under five diffeieo:tj.GMairmen including yourself, and.,jd^c|^^ ; tt^whole of the time I have to.^j^estiiejl^y. kuowledge given satisf ac^^^r|H|^^os members of the various b^m^^Q^j^p|at|all times and under, all t^^s^ago^fpne my duty to tlie^estdii||i^^^p^^ieed scarcely say,mydu||^^^|^|ei^ritil qnite recently^ carr^^af -^||ipieasure to. myself,;, awl .as^f^o^i^^^vjth profit and satisf aetionjilio^^he^j^rd." You are also aware of la% a',H^iys|aper published m Palrperstori* Has; .tjifkes;&' special delight m keeping Bo^Vrd i^ajEteW" prominently before 1 the p.#lic'^tidf: cashing slnrs repeatedly,.at me r^ndalso at yourself, for some specnaF reason^best known to its proprietor «• cMany -intiendoes have been indulged in' ; and.curi;ous rumors circnlated for I beUevtf the^eigress purpose 01 causing annoyatice.tp both of us, and possibly giving some sachet pleasure to certain members of your Board who may safely be termed busy-bodies,- creatures who delight to annoy their neighborus and who take a delight m bringing discord and bad feeling generally into this "community. The * climax has now been reached through .the destruction of the Town Hail by fire and the loss of nearly all the Board's books and documents which I sincerely regret. It is even hinted; that. I must have ha-rsoma secret connection with the origin of this disastrous fife, and possibly this is believed by a few of the creatures referred to. Evil be ; to him who evil thinks. Should any such suspicion rest m the' mind of any .one "I shall only ba too pleased to court the fullest enquiry into this matter, as I feel I can with- the /greatest certainty thrust .the base lie down the throats 01 such vile culmiriators. I also challenge any one :to ■ prove anything, wrong connected with my accounts of the Board trough the of the expendir ture under, the Epads and Bridges Act have been greatly, multiplied, and have become more difficult, to keep correct m consequence/ This will be apparent to any one who knows anything about accounts;, also that when any ; hew system is suddenly introduced; it is often iound that sinall;errors ; o'f detail will creep ih, but not necessarily that these will follow any dishonesty or deficiency m the funds ■of the 1 institution. There Has been. I admit, some instances m detail under the new system, where the accounts have been not quite so clear as under the old and sirnrle system originally practised m the book; keepin? previous to the introduction ot the. Aet^named, But m no case is there anything wrong with the funds, and I- defy anyone 'to prove the reverse* including the auditor and "- all big .staff.. I repeat this assertion and now take my stand firmly against allithoge who' say or hint the reverse, and fhrtheV my intention is to watcht narrowly such persons m future" for the express purpose of brihginff" them before a court of justice, when they will have an •opportunity of proving their bafie assettions of the case, and when J. will Jiave the same opportunity of .proving my honesty. If certain ; members -of- y.our Board think, l am a worm to be trod on, lam determinecl to show them that I am not, I am au honest iiian and can prove it, and for mv own sake, and 'that of my family, lam only too anxious to do so. I hereby caution those busy, bodies to be careful m future. In order to give myself sufficient time, and for the, reason that some Board members have no^respect "for my private feelings or public character, lam determined to shew them "tha*; I ; am not going to ■ consider their feelings m. this instance, • nor am I going, ito expend my energies m putting their public business straight under the difficulties I'plairily s 'forsee, no, I resign nowiahd leave them at liberty to appoint some anxious enquirer to take .. my -place. One prominent member of y&uV- Board did not"'^ hesitate to tatc^to Hint graye suspicions about certain documents bein? m the safe, -,as I had sfafed at 'last meetihg. 'How cha^iuned that gentleman must be when he finds my statement quite correct. A deal ot energy has been shownby another in' 'Wellington, re documents,' &c", Bco. 1 wpnrlornow innch Batisfactiou he obtained for all his trouble. It he has not done himself harm I feel hb has riot injurc<| me m the least. Should you, sir, require my services at any -future ture, and the Board agree to pay me for v my, time, I will be at your service for the purpose of putting past matters quite satisfactory, but ; I decline from now to act <as the, Board's Secretary. anyldngßr. As regards yourself and several, of the meiijbers, I feel that I cannot express my feeling of gratitude ifor your kindness and consideration, arid were the Board com-posed-of sucb men I could willingly servo youialways, but my spirit rebels at Serving the others any longer ; I- am not a slave, I am not a beggar, lam not quite so poor as to be compelled to remain a ser^ vant to thosp I have been brought to utterly despise for their unmanly, unfeeling, and despicable conduct,, towards one who has never, by either word, act, or deed, merited such ungrateful treatment. Again thanking you, sir, for. all past assistance and kindness. — I remain yours obediently, ■ - '- . ■" ,'■■•; T. s.Hoe.. . P.S. — I am prepared to hand over all m my caro, beloriq^ng to the Bard at any moment. V • ;' Warden Sly wished to know what was m the care of the Sbcretary" belonging to the Board, and was informed by the Chairman that the safe was m his. charge. . ..-, The Chairman said it was a pity there was not a full Board to discuss the matter of the Secretary's resignation Thesafeand tlje books which the Board had 'author- . izedtobe procured at the last meeting were .at the ; Bank Chambers. - : The Chairman stated that only one application had been received to supply the Board with a room, from Mr Linton there., were :^vq: ropms on. the upstairs^ floor mentionpd, f and> also the use ofa strong room, for a rental of. £26 per year. ; . ... > ' 7 ;%Yarilen Alcprs, did not think the charge an nnreai?onal)le one. . .Warden &ly remarked that it would! not be if the Board was hot m such abdSl

position. Ho ha:l been informed that Jorgorison's building was to I c let, and it was, he believed a good placo. ' The matter at thiß stage dropped for the time. TENDERS EOR BUSHFELLING. Four tenders wore received for the above oh Mjllerick's line, as follows : — C. Rosenthal, ICs per chain ; C. McColl, 18s per chain : B. King, 17s Od per chain; J. H. Anderson, 13s 6d. In reply to Mr Sly, Mr Akers said' that he : believed that Mr Anderson would carry put the work satisfactorily, -and would move a- resolution to the effect —That the tender of J. H. Anderson be - accepted. Seconded by Mr Sly, and carried. : The Chairman asked Warden Pratt who here took his seat at the table, if he had brought down a copy of the inventory, taken by' v -liim, when the safe was opened, after the fire, and received a reply m the negative. The Ohairnian then read a copy of one taken by himself. ■ Warden ;Sly here left the room and proceeded to make arrangements to have the safe conveyed to. the meeting. • ■. y ; / [Left Sitting. | ' "•; - :