CR GRAY'S GRIEVANCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 38, 13 February 1878, Page 2

CR GRAY'S GRIEVANCE.

To tub Editor ov the ' Evening Mai_.' Sir,— Mr Gray— like the little boy that wrote naughty words on the wall, and then ran away— ia merely adding to his first fault by denying facts that cau be proved by auy person who was present at the last sitting of the Council, and to show the utter absurdity of such abjuration, it is ouly necessary to point out a few of the salient circumstances I in connection with Mr Gray's unfounded i accusation and unwarrantable consequent proceedings. Let me premise, however, that as the only newspaper reporter present at the Council meeting on the evening of the 31st ultimo, I am prepared to avouch for the literal authenticity of the speeches quoted in last Friday's Mail, and (prove, if necessary upon oath, that Cr Gray not only made use of the words imputed to him, but strengthened the unjustifiable statement by frequent repetition uutil compelled to beat a doublequick retreat to save a confrontation with the man whose character he had aspersed. The -words speak for themselves to any person able to understand English, and the reason for the speaker stating — as he does in the Colonist of yesterday — that he said nothing against the Surveyor's character can only be accounted for by the supposition' that Mr Gray's knowledge of that language is very limited. It is an incontestable fact that men of uncontrollable temper, pronounced prejudices and inferior intellect often say things they do not mean, but then as men possessing these failings should never aspire to public positions, the excuse •' I did not mean it " does not justify words spoken in public assemblies. It pains me considerably to use hard words, but when Mr Gray says he only repeated opinions that he heard outside the Council, I am constrained to say that he writes — or gets someone to write for him — that which is not true. If Cr Gray had only been repeating outside opiniou, Why should the Council murmur— shame ? Why did His Worship send for Mr Lightfoot to hear and reply to a serious accusation preferred against him by a member of the Council ? and why did Cr Gray floe so hurriedly from the Chamber ? Let these questions be answered in a satisfactory manner, and then Mr Gray's subsequent conduct will require some explanation. If the City Surveyor's offence was what his detractor insinuated, it was clearly Mr Gray's duty to insist upon an enquiry being made into it, but instead of so doing this eccentric gentleman contents himself by resigning his seat, and thereby succeeds in putting the electors to some inconvenience and expense for no beneficial object unless it be to put a more sensible man into the chair Mr Gray has vacated. Without knowing who arc likely to contest the seat, it may be said that Mr Gray's re-election would be the most unfortunate thing that could possibly happen, inasmuch as it would establish a precedent to justify to some extent any Councillor in resigning whenever the majority refused to bow to bis sovereign will or whim. It may be remarked en. passant that this is not the first time Mr Gray has sought popularity by claptrap, for It must be remembered that just ere he was compelled to retire, by effluxion of time of service, he managed to raise a great outcry about gas reform, was elected to carry out his scheme, and that was the last the public heard about it, however the old proverb about the pitcher and the well will doubtless apply to Mr Gray aud his bogus bids for notoriety. Of the merits of the present question little need be said, not only members of the Council, but every person outside who knows anything of the nature of the work is well aware that the readjustment of the retort benches is a job that could not have been let by tender, and no one knew this better than Cr Gray when in a fit of petty pique he challenged the account in a place where it is to be hoped, for his owu sake aud the welfare of the ratepayers, he will nover get another chance of making himself ridiculous in a similar manner. 1 am, Sec, Your REPORTER.