THE DRAIN TILES AGAIN.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1011, 19 March 1883, Page 3

THE DRAIN TILES AGAIN.

, TO: TH B' EDITOR. Sib,—-Your correspondent 11 Factotum ” seems to be an inveterate guesser ; he ought to be a valuable acquisition to evening parties when conversation becomes flaggy. ? This embryo councillor some time ago fathered my epistles on a draper’s assistant, his, next wail was an ex-mayor; after a few more guesses “Factotum” is again on tbe wail, trlan Abei jq nothing more nor less than a full blown councillor. What a promotion all m a few weeks! I am glad that I am not descending lower in the human scale. Perhaps “lactotum,” when taking up the scent again, will kindly promote me to a brevet-rank of solicitor, doctor, J.P., or a would-be railway contractor. Although I would mildly object to receive honours that are not my due, yet I feel equal to bearing all the brevet honours he might in future shower on my devoted head. “ Factotum” mentions some “ councillor” (whoever does he mean) with a “ natural obstructiveness at all meetings he attends.” He (“ Factotum”) must have a very crude idea of politics ; why, opposition is the very life of politics. If :his echo system at political and council .meetings were to become the rule, the whole political systems would die of Inanition, and our councils and public meetings would only be places “ Where asses congregate to hear each other bray And echo answers echo all the live long day.

politician; who was given to make wild statements, is equally applicable to “ Factotum,”: “that if he wanted to make his mark in: politics, he ought to be certain of the; truth of his statement.” To come to the: point “ Factotum’s” following statements are nothing more nor less than an attempt to throw dust in the, eyes of the public. “ Drain tiles lower rate “ superior quality;” “ wanted urgently;” “ perfectly legitimate transaction;” “so soon as the Mayor found that there was likely to be a wrangle he arranged to take only £l3 10s worth of pipes.” Well, sir, what are the facts :—why, that the Mayor at the February meeting recommended paying the £BO tile transaction. The Council refusing to pay for any at all, ho goes and purchases £l3 10s worth of pipe without the slightest authority, and in face of a motion passed at the same evening “ that the consideration of drainage be held over until next meeting of the Council.” The objection 1 arose in my former letter was that it was not a legitimate thing to father Leicester street with the transaction. I do not think that the public have yet understood the real cause of this drain tile shindy. The original cause occurred about four or five months ago in another similar , transaction r , between the . same Messrs _ Miiroy and Dale. The' works committee were empowered to get some timber for kerbing. Councillor Milroy ordered some £2B worth from Mr Dale, got Mr Dale a cheque Tor the,, amount ; (he-being:one; of the councillors appointed to sign cheques) before the account was before the Council. The late Mayor, Mr Sherwood, mentioned the matter at the following meeting of the Council, and there was a small storm about it, and very proper too ; but the matter was allowed to drop or a promise that “ we will excuse you this time, but don’t do it again.” The Councillors'saw tlfat fhetbig dram tile - transaction bad a similar.rin|r siboul iVexcept the* payment. Naturally, they could not as honourable men (however much they might wish to excuse the Mayor) over-, look a second transaction of the kind, so they put their veto on it. 'Tn conclusion, “ Factotum’s” remarks on Councillor Bartons’ and the Mayor’s failure in his retrenchment policy, is well expressed in the following : “ In Asination’s tongue, he asinates.” Yours, &c.

Glan A bee. Patea, March Htb, 1883.