ONE WEEK MORE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 19, 17 July 1912, Page 3

ONE WEEK MORE.

TOWN BOARD ACCOUNTS. Still Unpresented. A Private Letter. " There is uo official roply from Mr Patterson," was the opening romark of the Mayor when the Borough Council's deliberations on Wednosdaynight had reached the Town Board's accounts stage. Continuing, he said ho had received a lotter marked " private " from Mr Patterson. He had suggested that tho late Clerk should withdraw this restriction, but Mr Patterson had, "very foolishly, he thought," declined. " I can't say anything more." One of those painful silences which novelists delight to write about ensued. Councillors looked at each other and waited for their neighbour to speak first. The Mayor broke the silence by asking Councillors if tbey were going to do anything. Cr Hamilton moved: Tbat the matter be taken in committeo. Cr Hart seconded the motion. Crs Johns and Comrie objected. Cr Pollock took strong exception to such a course. It was public business, and should be taken in public. The motion, on being put to tho meeting, was lost. The Mayor: What will you do now ? Cr Comrie did not see they could do anything. Thoy could not force Mr Pattorson's hand. They could only wait in patience until he chose to give them the accounts. It was the Town Board's fault us much us Mr Patterson's in not seeing tliat the books wore kept properly. " We've simply pot to wait," concluded Cr Comrie. Cr Johns moved That Mr Patterson hand over all

books and accounts to the Borough Council. Cr Pollock in seconding the resolution, said, "If we do not do something we will go on till the crack of doom. Why, Mr Patterson has promised those accounts six or seven timea, and where are they to-night ? We can come down'fine or wet nights, but the accounts never arrive. lam thoroughly sick of it." The Mayor urged the rescinding of the previous motion. He did not agree with Cr Comrie that they had no other course. They could take very drastic measures. Cr Comrie: "Mr Mayor, can you give us any good reason why we should go into committee ? • He moved, That Mr Patterson be given another week. Could the mayor tell them any other way of getting the information The Mayor: There is another way, but in the interests of the Council andthe public I can't show my hand. Cr Comrie: If we give Mr Patterson another week have we any chance j of getting the information ? The Mayor: I can't answer that i just at present. Cr Bilkey seconded the amendment. Cr Johns explained that he moved the resolution with the desire of securing possession of the books. They could then get an accountant to go through them with Mr Patterson. Cj Hamilton said he was against the motion and the amendment. He favored having a discussion in committee. The Mayor again suggested dealing with the matter in committee. They could then have the letter read. Cr Lawrie objected to taking the discussion in committee. " That letter is dead" he said, pointing to Mr Patterson's letter. He did not think that all the accountants in creation could get the accounts as they wanted them from Mr Patterson's books. There was no other alternative but to wait. " Until to-morrow " one councillor ironically interjected. , The amendment (grantiug another week) was carried. What the Letter Contained.— As so much importance was attached to the privacy of the letter referred to above it is quite possible that ijuite a wrong construction might lodge itself in the public mind. In order to prevent this we are publishing (with Mr Patterson's approval) the text of the letter, which was addressed to the Mayor, as follows "It is with extreme regret I have to pen these lines, and so disappoint you and the council by not being able to present balance sheet to-night. As you know, I was away for a week, and since my return I have worked solidly with the hope I would be ready for to-night. lean assure you I never had such a job in my life before, and the more Ido the less nearer seeins the end. I have worked late and early to get clear. I shall bake no more promises, but will work on until finished; the eud will surely come. How soon I cannot say, but not one moment longer than I can help. I am at present neglecting other work with the hope I will be clear of this job soon. The day goes , by, and when I look at what has been done, it appears as if nothing has been done at all. I spent from six o'clock Monday morning to 12 o'clock at night getting through one railway account for four weeks, so that will give you some idea of what I have in hand. lam writing this explanation to you, as I feel it is due to you, as you were good enough to ask for the time to be extended. However, we : have not the ordering of things, and j circumstances have prevented my being , ready."