"The Extraordinary Attacks."

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2886, 16 May 1878, Page 2

"The Extraordinary Attacks."

PUBLIC MEETING.

A public meeting, convened by His Worhip the Mayor, for the purpose of replying to the " extraordinary attacks of the newspaper press " on him was held at the Academy of Music last evening at 7.30. There were about 4CO persons present (including a large number of boys).

Mr Hume was voted to the chair, and on taking it said he wished it to be understood that he did not identify him* self with any of the proceedings, whatever they might be. He trusted that they would give each and every speaker a fair hearing. Dr Kilgour, on coming forward, was received with loud and continued applause. When it had subsided, he said he had called this meeting by a public advertisement in one of the public prints, and in that advertisement he had used the words "extraordinary attacks," and he considered that he was fully warranted in justifying himself before the burgesses for these attacks. During eight or nine yean he bad been with them, he had been liable to be criticised like all public men by the Press, and they had not spared him, but on no other occasion but the present had he taken steps to set himself right before the public. On this occasion the case was different. It appeared to him that none of the charges, great or small, that had been made against him, taken individually, would lower him in their estimation. But thece charges taken collectively charged him with meanness, rapacity, and ungentleman-like conduct, | and he had convened them to make an explanation on these points, and would be prepared to answer any questions put to him with reference to his actions as Mayor of the Borough. A long speech from him would be unnecessary. He might say that this matter affected not only himself as Mayor, but also ihem as burgesses, as, if they had elected as Mayor what the papers made him out to be, they had made a very great mistake. He stood, before them as Mayor, and thought he should have an opportunity of clearing himself of the charges made against him. To do this it would be necessary to particularise them. The first, which was in the Evening Star, charged him with charging two guineas a day for travelling expenses. That charge had, however, been abandoned by the prosecutors themselves, if he might use the term. Theneyt charge characterised what he had said with reference to the first charge, as language unbecoming to a gentleman. They all knew that he was not in the habit of selecting words when he was in earnest, and was particularly

inclined to call a spade a spade. His impression was that the writer of the article bad written a deliberate he to injure himself, and it was so still. His reason was this : The writer, whoever he might be, could have no warrant for making it. He had therefore said that the man who wrote Hke that to injure another was certainly unfit to conduct a public journal, and he now went further to say that even if the writer did not know the statement was untrue, he should have done so. The office from which it had emanated printed the Borough accounts, and the writer, who be believed was a public journalist, did not ascertain what he had written was true, and had written without regard for truth. (Cries of " Yes, yes," and " No, no.") The next charge preferred against him was that he had charged £1 travelling expenses without spending it. That was a very curious charge, and the writer must have been a very 'cute minded individual to know what was his expenditure, not knowing what his habits were. He might say with respeot to the £6, in one sense he did not make the charge at all, as the Council had voted his expenses before he went to Hamilton, so that he had really not made the charge. He had only indicated what his expenses were; the vote had been made at the instance of the Borough Council. He was charged with Mr Gibbons to go to the Hamilton Conference at the public expense, and a third Councillor was to go if possible, but at his own co3t. He now came to the printing of the Burgess 8011, which, was at the bottom of all this^ in reference to which they might say Hire Him laerimes. (A voice : What's the meaning of that, Doctor.) It meant " Hence these tears." (Laughter). The fourth charge had been made for his protecting the Borough funds from extortion. The writer was evidently at fault here, as it appeared that he had not been aware that the Bovox^h Council had given authority to the Town Clerk to have the roll printed. He might say with respect to the printing of this roll, that in the early days, before printers had become advanced in their ideas, they had modestly demanded £12, and gaining a little confidence they had demanded £15 next time. The whole history he was not able to give them, but when tenders came in for this year's roll the Town Clerk was considerably surprised that the Star's amounted to £3118s, and the Advertiser's to £31. The Town Clerk somewhat staggered, asked his opinion, which he gave at once. He advised Mr Dean to get a tender from 'Auckland, and, try and get the work done cheaper. They did get a tender from Auckland, amounting to £2517s 6d,audas it was considerably the cheapest, he said he thought it should be accepted. There ended his connection with (he matter. The Town Clerk, however, again went to the local printers, and, telling them that he could get the work done cheaper, asked for another tender. The.Star made a reduction of £3 and the Advertiser of 30s aud the Town Clerk thought ■ both offers too high to be accepted. He should imagine that outside the precincts of the Whau Asylum no one would doubt but that Mr Dean had done right. (Cries of " Yen" and " No," and cpnxir.) The next accusation was one re the printing of the Balance-sheet. Two accounts came in, the one from the Star being £4 11s and that from the Advertiser £14. The discrepancy was so great that he at once thought there must be some mistake, and on his suggestion, one of the Borough officers went lo Mr Wilkinson, who corrected it to £9 15s. The Borough Council passed the Star's account and referred the Advertiser's to the Finance Committee to see Mr Wilkinson. In the meantime Cr Bead, who was in Auckland, telegraphed that the Herald would insert the advertisement for £3, and the Star for £2 ss. He might say that the reason given by the offices here for the high price was because it was said to be tabulated matter. The Star having ascertained what the Advertiser had charged increased their charge to £9 2s. (Dr Kilgour here read a note from Cr Eead stating that he bad ascertained from several parlies that the matter was not tabulated. He had got the prices he had sent from the printing offices there.) The speaker asked to be excused from reading more as the light 3 were bad. (Mr Williams offered to read it for him, which be did amidst a perf ct storm of cheers and hi»ses). Dr Kilgour continued —Another point mads against him was with reference to- bis refusal to s a beer ibe to the cost for the laying down the 9,-inch ma'is. He had re*u«3d to do so, and would have beea a mos- inconsistent man if be had done f>. He had not been in the Council nor in the Water Supply Committee whea the matter was undertaken. If he had he would have opposed it, as neither Borough nor Water Supply Committee wore at the time able to go into the work, and considering the expenditure, he considered that it had been extremely injudicious. It was also an injustice, as it only benefited a, small portion of the Borough. Could the work-have been made the commencement of an extended scheme of fire mains the case would have been different. The next charge was that he had sought the office of Mayor for the salary of £150 a year. (A voice: So you did). He was surprised that any man would make that charge against him. He gave his time to the Borough, and surely they did not doubt that if he. followed his profession that he could get more | than £150 per annum. The Advertiser also charged him with receiving £1 Is per day, but he had shown that was a mistake. He himself had only claimed £2, and as they all knew he had been frequently in Auckland on public business. Cr Butt had asked a question with reference to this matter at the Council meeting the other n?ght. He had asked Mr Dean what the former Mayors had done, especially indicating Mr Macdonald. He was sorry to have to contrast his expenses with his predecessor, whish for the visit to Wellington amounted to £79. He did not wish to cast any reflection on Mr Macdonald, he dared say that he had been quite entitled to it, but .he only did it to clear himself from the imputation made by Mr Butt. The Advertiser had also said that he had spent £400 or £500 on Kichmond and Sealey streets. . He had not done so in his private capacity. The Pollen street footpath was a very necessary work, and the inhabitants had frequently petitioned for it, but up to March last, through two or three refusing to contribute, the work was not done. In March last, however, they were under a by-law which would enable the work to be done. The total cost to the inhabitants had been £80109. His share was £16 2s Bd. The Works Committee had recommended the works in Mackay and Baillie streets; both of them were necessary ; Mackay street would require to be formed. The property through' which it ran was his, out if it

was M? McCullough's he would vote the same. (Applause.) Now as he had touched all points respecting his conduct as Mayor of the Borough, he was prepared to answer any questions that they might put to him. (Applause.) Mr J. C. Williams: Did you oppose the laying down of the mains ? , Dr Kilgour : I have already answered that.

Mr Williams : Are you against it now ? Dr Kilgour: Yes. Mr Williams : If they were up by your own place would you oppose them P Dr Kilgour: Yes.

Mr Williams sat down, and the audience began to call loudly for " Star," •"Tiser," " McCullouuh."

Mr Wickham commenced asking a question about some painting, but the noise was so great that it cord not bo heard.

Dr Kilgour said he had come prepared to answer any question arid he would esteem it a favor for them to question him. (Renewed cries of " Advertiser !" "Star!") '

Mr McAndrew asked where Captain Butt was when the travelling expenses were voted? Was he in the Council Chambers?

Dr Kilgour : I don't think he was, but I am not certain.

Mr Me Andrew : Did you take any steps to obtain a recreation ground for the Thames.

A voice: What's that to do with the pries of coals. (Cries of "Shut up, Mac.P")

Dr Kilgour said he had taken steps, and the question was now under the consideration of the Council.

Mr Oldrey : Did your brother Councillors endorse your ideas in the matter of—(Mr Oldrey was here interrupted by a volley of hi^es and cheers, and sat down without finishing his question). Mr McAndrew: Are you opposed to tne contract system ? Dr Kilgour : Do you refer to Cr McGowan's motion.

Mr Me Andrew: Did you support that resolution. '

Dr Kilgour said it had come up before the members of the Council. The Works Committee had unanimously adopted the principle. ' He himself thought that all jobs for more than £20 should be let by contract, but he did opt think that Borough Councillors should be excluded by law from tendering.

Mr Me Andrew again got up, but the audience would not heir him.

A voice : You've lambed them all down, Doctor. (Laughter.)

Dr Kilgour said, as no. one appeared likely to ask any questions, he would thank them for the patient bearing tfcey had given him.

Mr Speight said, as it appeared that ho one else was prepared to face the Doctor, it was no use them wasting any more time. Having heard what the Doctor had said, and read the newspapers the last tew days, he thought they would all come to a conclusion which might be expressed in the following resolution :— " That this meeting is of opinion that the recent newspaper attacks upon the.Mayor, on account of his action in connection with the printing of the Burgess Soil, were quite unjustifiable, and were made not so 'much in the interests of the Borough as with the view '.o injure the reputation of Dr Kilgour, because of his having interfered with the attempt made by the Thames printers to involve the Borough in unnecessary printing expenses." The press was a powerful engine for good and also for evil. He had no desire to fait foul of the mighty press gang, but he must say for tl em to try and stamp a man's political character out of existence because he did not run always in the Bame groove with them was wrong. It appeared to him that tendering by public contract was the correct principle, and although it might cost a little more for the notices, &c, it insured perfect fair play. The matter was that so jealous were these rival luminaries of one another that an arrangement had to be made that one of them had the printing one part of the year, and the other another. lie had gone iuto the Borough Chambers to-day to get a few figures, and had examined the various rolls, and to his unpractised eye, there was little differerce between the £12. and the £Z0 one. (Mr Speight proceeded to explain the diflference between the rolls.) The number of pages were less for the present roll than in those of former years. It allowed an utter want of mind in the newspaper proprietors in not knowing what to charge for newspaper wo?k, but they had been taught a wholesome lesson to-night. (Mr Speight here referred to the various charges.) He referred to the advertisement in the Advertiser calling for a book-keeper, saying he supposed the poor book-keeper was made to suffer for what was not his own fault.

A voice: What has the Advertiser's private concerns to do with this ? Mr Speight said when charges fluctuated, like that it was time to make enquiries and if " mistakes " were made it was' time the -remedying rod of competition was brought in. ' (A voice: Good shot.) Referring to " Observers " letter in the Advertiser he said the/ Advertiser had not the manliness to say "James McAndrew wrote that letter" but spoke about the individual that had been hammering at a block of wood outside the Doctor's residence. In conclusion he urged them to insist on the principle of tendering. (Applause). Mr Thompson seconded. . Mr Wickham said that not having come with a speech prepared like. Mr Speight, he would not address them, but simply move an amendment" That this meeting have nothing to do with- the quarrel between the Mayor and the Press." (Cheers and hisses). The Doctor had been in their pay before, and was only advertising them Iqow. , Mr Leydou seconded. The amendment was put and lost, and the motion carried. Mr McGowan briefly moved, " That this meeting affirms the principle of public tender for all supplies and work for the Borough of Thames as far as practicable." Mr Hammond seconded. Carried with cheers. Mr Connell asked Dr Kilgour by whose authority Dean and Mason had prohibited them from driving on the new County road. •',■• /•Dr Kilgour: I did not know that they had any authority. - The meeting then terminated.