EX COUNCILLOR POTTER.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 971, 12 September 1878, Page 2

EX COUNCILLOR POTTER.

Sir,—On reading- Mr Potter's letter in Saturday's paper, I was surprised to see that he arrogated to himself the eredit of what has been done to forward the interests of Hamilton and the surrounding districts since July, 1877. Letter-writing is a little out of my line, particularly for newspaper publication, but, on behalf of myself and also the Council of which I am a member, I beg to ask you to insert the following facts. I may mention that there were quite as ardent workers to amalgamate the two Boards into a Borough as Mr Potter. As to the bridge, Mr Potter has never made an effort—either as a Councillor or a burgess—in any way to expedite its erection. On the contrary, he has in the Council over and over again, made and given- notice of motion which purported to facilitate the erection of the bridge, bnt in every instance it has tended to delay operations, and I may state that, when we- had received the sanction of the Government

to accept the lowest tender, it was he who proposed a resolution in the Council to postpone the acceptance of the tender for the consideration of a combined bridge. Referring to the extension of the railway into Hamilton, Mr Potter's action in the matter has caused all the delay that has taken place. I feel certain in my own

mind that it would have been commenced before this had not Mr Potter, with a few disaffected, narrow-minded individuals on the east side of the river, called a meeting in opposition to the general interests of the Borough—advocating a tramway and a station to be erected in Sydney Square, after a resolution had been passed, .upon

a motion by th® Mayor, to take the tramway across the river with a station to be built on a site fixed upon after the most suitable position was decided upon; But this did not suit Mr Potter, and, as is his usual custom, he opposed the motion because it did not emanate from himself—at the same time knowing full well that the Government would not consent to the Square being used for any other purpose than that for what it was set apart, viz., a recreation ground for the people. Mr Potter's great concern appears to be in the interest of Fiako, Kirikiriroa, Tamahere and Cambridge. Now, all these districts are fully provided for by the Thames Valley line and the branch line to Cambridge, therefore, those requirements are far better provided for than they would fy, by a station, as proposed in Sydney Square, and the interests of Hamilton suffer thereby. Hamilton is a centre, and always will be, when Mjr Potter’s little schemes are burst up, bjr, Rubbed out, but not in the way he is trying to rub everyone else out. What does Mr Potter mean by the amalgamation of the two Boards, “ United, we stand, and divided we fall,” when almost everything he has done, tends more and more to divide the two sides of the river. Mr Potter, by tabling a motion at our last meeting, thought, no doubt, he was doing a splendid thing to further his interests in the forthcoming election, when he proposed that a return be furnished of the receipts and expenditure of the Borough up to date, with the names of all persons having contracted for works, or otherwise, receiving money from the Borough Chest. I think Mr Potter must have felt very small, after the financial statement of the two boards, read by the Mayor, and, no doubt, would have liked to withdraw his motion, but it is better that it should stand, so that the Burgesst ■ will have an opportunity of seeing its uselessness. It is hardly necessary for me to refer to the egotistical style of Mr Potter’s letter, as it speaks for itself, “ I.I.I.” Notv, what has Mr Potter really done P He takes credit for , a resolution passed at one of the first meetings of the Council, that the levels and a plan of the township should be , taken j when, at the same time, it emanated from the Mayor’s address to the Councillors, when . he stated it ' was absolutely necessary it should be done, and that the Act provided for it. Further, he tells you that he had considered the interest of the working men employed by the Council, by moving a resolution, “that the workmen should be paid in cash weekly,” as if it was ever otherwise, when, not half-an-hour before, he proposed that resolution, the Mayor had informed the Council of arrangements he hadmade with the Town Clerk for the men to have weekly time papers, showing each day of the week what work they , were doing, and what time was occupied on the different works, with the materials used, &0., in order that it might be seen by all the Burgesses where the money was spent, and also to prevent any waste of money by men being employed upon unnecessary work, lor not giving sufficient labour value for the money they receive. Mr Potter is very clever in taking hold of any suggestion that is made; no matter from what,, quarter, and attribating it to' his own natural genius. Now, let us examine ;Mr Potter’s action in the matter of County funds due to this Borough' from the County of Waikato. The £IOO ,or £llO which the late Hamilton East;, I Township Highway Board was entitled to as their portion of the £40,000 grant would, in all probability, have been paid to this Borough, but for the action taken by Mr Potter, he being a member of the Kirikiriroa Board, which formed a part of that riding, in protesting against the money being handed, over to the Borough, without they would agree to spend it on the East side of the river. Burgesses must remembir that that money was thepiopeity of every Burgess in this Municip|Uty. a?d should not be spent outsidesSfe jjfetjSrßorough, without their consent, to be derived by making a road from the Piako to Hamilton, iio doubt, would be a good thing to obtain, but those who are most interested should contribute to a fund for that purpose, viz , the tradespeople of the place, and not the working man. Mr Potter being a member of the Council, and placed there by the Burgesses, it was his duty to see that that money was handed over by the County to the Borough, but, instead of that, he attended a meeting which was called by the Waikato County Council, and has since been acknowledged 1 a mistake, and, with only a few of the ratepayers present, proposed that the Borough’s share of the £40,000 should be , spent outside the Borough altogether. Mr Potter will find that a large portion of the Burgesses can think for themselves, and, after his action in the matter, will place him in his proper place, on the day of election of Councillors. Nothing ap- ; pears in Mr Potter’s letter respecting the Town Belt or Endowments which is not already known, and his share of the credit respecting them, no doubt, will appear some day. Mr Potter states that his great object of getting a tramway or railway through the Borough to Hamilton East was surrounded with serious difficulties, as, on the West (about three mjles) Atkinson’s station and Ohaupo stopped all traffic above, and into the Borough from that side of the County, Hamilton West Station and Newcastle, below, has a similar effect; thus, as far a® traffic goes, the West side of the Borough stands isolated. This statement is like many others he is in the habit of i making, and, I think, one which no one can understand. He also states that the greatest caution need be exercised, as, if the Thames Valley line should be taken to Taupiri, and the Cambridge through line carried to form a junction there, a station might be placed outside the Borough, leaving the East in a soniewhat similar position to that of the West, Now, this is humbug, and simply trying to throw dust into the eyes of the electors, for he knows full well the Bill now before the House is. to run a line direct from Hamilton to the Thames, with a branch line to Cambridge. Mr Potter also tells you that as far as his humble abilities would permit, he has advocated within, and without the Council, a course of action that would place the Council beyond suspicion in dealing with any public office or salaried officer. Mr Potter is a noble champion, and when the Council requires his services in that capacity, they, no doubt, will avail themselves of his humble abilities.—l am, &c , Richard Gwynne. Sib, —If the statement made by “ Spectator,” in your issue of the 10th instant, be true, Messrs Vialou and Coates have rendered themselves incapable of being Councillors; and, further, they are liable to a penalty of £SO for every such offence, which may be recovered by any person, witli costs of suit, in any Court of competent Jurisdiction —vide sub-stetion 4 of section' 64. and section 63 ot Municipal Corporations Act, 1876. — 1 am, &c., Bush Lawyer. Hamilton East, Sept. 11,1878.