CARLYLE TOWN BOARD.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 337, 10 July 1878, Page 2

CARLYLE TOWN BOARD.

(To the Editor of the Patea Mail. - )

Sir,— The Wanganui Chronicle of the 6th instant, contains a partial report of the proceedings of the last meeting of the above Board. The furnisher has not been content merely to give the resolutions, with the divisions thereon, which would be fair to all parties, but in a mischief-making sort of spirit, by stating part only of what was said, and wholly omitting other parts, has given a distorted and untruthful account. Of course, the object is plainly apparent. A would-be prominent member of the Board desires to show up his own importance, and decry any who fail to value him at his own high estimate. He has not been content to furnish the onesided report only, hut in his usual vainglorious manner, has been blabbing and chuckling over his great cleverness in a Wait till yon see the report I sent, sort of style. I have no particular objection to any member of the Board, if he can find nothing better to do, reporting for the Chronicle or any other newspaper, though I don’t think it would raise any such member in public esteem. If he cannot find anyone else to blow his own trumpet, and does not scruple to blow it himself, why, I say, let him blow. The public will know how to appreciate it. In reference to the resolution proposed by Mr Dale, That Major Atkinson should be requested to bring in a Bill next session giving the Board power to borrow up to £3,000, the Town Board member who furnished the report,-has, by suppressing part of what was said, given a distorted view, and makes it appear that, on account of some private personal insult offered to me by Major Atkinson, 1 v-led against the motion. Long before Mr Dale became a member of the Town Board, I had proposed to the Board that money should he borrowed to ho spent on drainage, formation of roads, and other town improvements. In speaking to Mr Dale’s motion at the last meeting I stated, That when I had first introduced the subject of borrowing, I became aware of the fact that borrowing powers must he obtained, and that a short Bill must be passed through the Assembly for that purpose. I did not think that Major Atkinson was a fib person to be entrusted with that business at present, and suggested that as the present Government was so very popular, it would he advisable to ask one of them to take it in hand. Moreover, Major Atkinson had personally insulted me on lastmeet-ing-his constituents. When asked by me ifhe would be in favor of recommending that Patea should bo made a Port of Entry to enable merchants and tradesmen to sell much cheaper, Major Atkinson replied, “ That he would not recommend it, and that traders would pocket the extra profit if any was to be derived. If even they did get a Port of Entry, the public would get no benefit,” Now, sir, the above will show that I was personally insulted by the Major and how ? It was not on any private, but on a public matter, and in a public manner. In replying, as he did, Major Atkinson offered an insult, not only to to me, bnt to the meeting and to the whole of the community. The Chronicle reporter, in his account of the meeting, could not be honest enough to show in what manner the insult had been offered, but tried to make it appear that I opposed Mr Dale’s motion through spleen for an insult offered on private grounds. This explanation will tend to show that Major Atkinson in sneering at one of the most important questions of the district, is not worthy to be entrusted with a Bdl such as is required by the Town Board. My impression is that he will devote the whole of his time next session in trying to reinstate himself. I might state that partial arrangemens for getting the Bill referred to passed, was made before Mr Dale had the honor of sitting with that august body—the Town Board. Trusting that the next attempt at reporting for the Chronicle will be a little less one-sided.—l am, &c., ■SAML. TAPLIN.