THE MAYOR AND HIS TRUTHFULNESS.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3809, 14 March 1881, Page 2

THE MAYOR AND HIS TRUTHFULNESS.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sie,—ln this morning's issue of the Advertiser a local appears, in which the editor says that he is authorised by the Mayor to state that if the writer of 11 Humanifcas," "Truth," and "Plain Speaker"—who is no doubt identical — will append his name to the communications in the Stab, and show how "the office has been disgraced and the burgesses insulted," the resignation asked for shall be placed at his disposal." Now, sir, I did not write either of the letters referred to, nor had I anything whatever to do with them, but, as one well acquainted with the whole of the proceedings in the Council referred to in ( the letters, and especially as my name has been freely raised up in the matter of the election for the Harbor Board, I desire to state the whole of the circumstances, and allow my fellow ratepayers fa judge whether the Mayor has disgraced the office, or insulted the burgesses. In the first place, y the Mayor nominated me as a candidate for the Harbour Board, and refused to withdraw my name when I urgently requested him to do so, thereby compelling me to go to the vote. He next proposed that the voting should be by ballot, which course was adopted by the Council. Having nominated me, the least that might have been expected from His Worship was that he should vote for his candidate, but judge of my surprise when I saw him from my seat at the table strike out my name, Mr Dean also saw the same, for the paper was handed to him by the Mayor only partially folded up. Further, Cr Wilson, who was my seconder, voted for me, and the result showed that his was the only vote in my favour, which fact is fully borne out by the miuutes of the proceedings. Now, sir, notwithstanding these facts, at the last meeting of the Council, on Thursday, the 10th inst, . His Worship thought fit to say that my questioning the legality of the election of the members of the Council to the Harbour Board was dictated by . personal enmity to himself because he (the Mayor) had not voted for me at the said election, and he immediately stated that he had not only proposed, but had voted for mcv This statement I at once contradicted* relating all the circumstancss or the case, mentioned above: and further, said that Cr Wilson, who was then present, was prepared to state that his was the only vote given for me at the election in the Council. Under such circumstances I am not surprised that " Plain Speaker" should characterise the conduct of the Mayor " as disgraceful, arid the burgesses insulted." lam of the same opinion myself, but having placed all the facts before the ratepayers, I will allow others to express their opinions about his Worship the Mayor and his truthfulness.—l am, &c, John Osboene;