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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1314, 9 June 1883, Page 2

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —As our names appear on this occasion to be used very freely, and, in our opinion, in rather a scurrilous manner, we consider it our duty to put the matter in its proper light for the public to judge who was right and who was wrong. On May 24tn Alessrs. E. K. Brown, Fisher, Chrisp, Lewis, Ferris and Boylan, members of the Committee, met Mr Craig at Air Fisher’s office to discuss and arrange for the lunch, After arranging with Air Craig, we were requested to give the use of our hall free, ibis 1 demurred to, saying it was non* sense for one party giving tree. Mr E, K. Brown, who was in the chair, here remarked that everyone else were giving everything free. X said if everything else was given free it would not look well tor us to charge, and we will give it free, conditionally that everyone else gives free. L'he following day I find the different tradesmen employed intending to make a charge, and X immediately informed Air E. K. Brown of that fact, and that we would charge for the hail. Air E. K. Brown told me not to make any talk about it just then. I remarked “But now is the time for me to tell you, not after the | whole affair is over, for you would be the first to say ‘ you should have told us of that before,’ not now the whole thing is off.” I immediately told AXeasts. Fisher and Chrisp, after seeing Mr Brown, that if no charge had been made by the others, most certainly no charge would have been made by us. Let us see what charges have otherwise been made. We find that Air 8. Al. Wilson w’as arranged with for the use of his coaches for a certain sum, viz., £lO Is Od, and that the “Herald,” printed by Chrisp and Dufaur, charge £7 4s Od, which 1 consider very high; and ten or twelve other accounts, which I at present do not remember. All these charges have been made, without objection. Why are we singled out for unpleasant animadversion ? Our Hall was engaged for four days and three nights, the pioper price for which time would amount to £27. We consider we acted very liberally in our charge of £lO. I must now contradict Mr E. K. Brown’s remarks made at the Councill told him, and Messrs. Fisher and Chrisp parti cularly, that if the others were not giving free there would be a charge for the Hall. Councillor Chrisp confirms my statement that the Hall w*as promised free conditionally. Air Fisher said “1 will request you to deny it if such was not the case.” 1 would here draw Councillor Ciirisp’s attention to his remarks re “the high amount charged for the Hall,” when he rose at the committee meeting in the Alasonic Hail when passing the account. After several accounts had been passed and disputed up came the “Herald” account, £7 4j. For what? For printing toast cards, tickets, advertising lunch, &c., charged to the Council. Why did he not charge some of these accounts to Craig and the Decoration Committee ? Oh, no ’ He knew well enough that it would be paid. There is a clique of them, viz., E. K. Brown, Chrisp, the Honorable Air Carlaw Smith and such class of men. Ido not believe in this cliqucism. Xn the accounts rendered as far as I cun see (and it may be right) the County Council are paying the half of everything it is possible to put on them. Also re cliqueism—this is how the Hull was engaged. Alessrs. Fisher and Chrisp came over to my office in the morning about nine o’clock, and said they wanted to go up to the Hall to arrange with Craig for the dinner, and lay out the best positions for the tables. X went up with them, and after about an hour spent in suggesting, measuring, and calculating the number to be seated, left Air Craig to get to work. X left Air Craig the keys, considering as anyone else would, that it was engaged from then ; and it was engaged, for Messrs, Nash and Thornton painted all the decurations during the time they were putting up the tables, as they say they could not have done them did they not have the Hall. Councillor Smith, in airing his opinion, stated it was a« imposition, | and that we ought to be ashamed of the I course pursued, and that the matter ought |to be enquired into, With this latter reI mark we agree, and think so too.—l am, &c., 11. C. Boylan, P.S.—Since writing the above X have had a conversation with Air B. C. Fryer, who states that he went to Air E. K. Brown, and offered to furnish traps for the lowest possible charge, viz., £a. This was refused on account oi some one having ‘ • offered to do it free.” His surprise was great when he found that Mr 8. Al. Wilson’s charge was £ll Is.—H. B. [We have thought it necessary to leave out portions of the above letter, being of a personal nature.—En. F.8.8.]