MASTERTON RABBIT DISTRICT

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 704, 28 February 1881, Page 2

MASTERTON RABBIT DISTRICT

(To the Editor of the Daily.) Silt,—Yuur editorial note to "Elector's" enquiry as to the non-publication of the accou'its of this Rabbit District within tho time specified by the Act, though true, will probably scarcely satisfy him, if he is really desirous of knowing what monies have been received and expended by the Trustees from the date of their election to the end of last year. Only a few days ago I received notice from the Government of the appointment by them of an auditor whose supposed permanent residence is in Wellington. On enquiry I discovered that the bunks of one of the local bodies here had .been in this gentleman's custody for the purposes of audit since September last; that he has not yet had time to go through them, and that as he had just received orders to proceed to a distant part of the clony, in all probability it will be some weeks if not months before he will have an opportunity of auditing the said accounts In order to avoid the inconvenience arising out of such circumstances, I was instructed by the Trusteesto request-Government to appoint h, local auditor. ' This request has been made, but no reply received yet. _ Cjause g7 of the Act directs the publication of a fu|l abstract of t lie accounts, as audited,-and it is riiuch more' Satisfactory to the person who prepares'the accounts, as well as to the ratepayers, to.have,!hem audited before publiQijtinn. If any,landowner it| the district deairos to make-him-self acquainted with the accounts kept by the Trustees,- he can avail himself-of-tho provisions of Clause.23,: under which the hooks ate at all reasonable times open to inspection by any Trustee, or landowner, without fee, -- lam, &0.., i ''■•• ; F.' G/Moohb, i Secretary to the Trustees. : Mutertoiij Feb, 26ih, 1881,

(To the Editor of the Daily) Kuripuni, Feb. 25. Sin, —At the last meeting, of the Masterton Borough -Council, I noticed the Mayor to say, when Breaking of certain byJaws or' standing "orders'' for the Borongli'Couhcil, '! [fhaf it was not so laicl down by Mr Coleman Phillips in the pro/ posed or suggested code as furnished by fjr. the'introduction into tlie yai'ious _Gppcils aj rule pf action."' Now, Sir,. I dp nqt'know who Mr Cqleman rMlips is,'nor .'doTwisnlq speak, in: any way. disrespectful of hirni hut I do think, thathjs proposa] should not be accepted in;any way uitp our Counoil, nor-shonld it be brought to beay upon.the electors of any distriot which that gentleman did not represent. If it were to be he-would be acting as a Legis. lator, in exercising, an influence in those CuaraberSwiiicli only tlie local residents, or the properly-qualified representatives have power by law to do.; I certainly felt a little sui'pfised to ; hear the Mayor put forth the statement.' I : ma'y b'elieve tbat' : Mr Phillips has 6pme.end in view—some; political object to secure; if so, let him' by all means obtain it, but I would protest against his or any other person's Muehcei being brought to bear on our Couacil, §5«

pecially by those who tiiveno land or standing interest in the placei- . i> : .- . ■'.-.lairi, fto.-,;--'.'--:..'--' ... • -.-: ' B0 „..'•'- '■■',T.W.Shute.;o P.S.—lf our own representatives are not competent to. frame ..by-laws or standing orders let them acknowledge their incapability, and immediately fetire,-.and- give place to those who can.

[Mr.Coloman Phillips, ashorttime ago, printed a pamphlet on regulationsfor the conduct of public bodies.- It was quite in order for the Mayor to allude to tnat publication as a work of reference. The Council is, of course,,only bound by its own by-laws. Our correspondent 'ii too suspicious altogether.—Ed. W.D,