RESIGNATION OF COUNCILLORS. SCANDAL-MONGERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1199, 4 March 1880, Page 2

RESIGNATION OF COUNCILLORS. SCANDAL-MONGERS.

to tiie editor. Sir, — Will you kindly let me drop :i line or two, through your valuable paper, as it is my desire to find out in some way or other, who is the originator, or the author of a leport going about Hamilton as to the suspicious characters, as they call them. On the evening of Thursday last, the 26th February, there u Quadrille party held in the Oddfellows' Hall, Hamilton East, and on the lollowing morning, a man, w. ho did not come to the party, was talking to a certain young man, about the dance, and when asking him how he liked the affair, said, "I am surpiised at you, 3lr , going to such an affair as that, when Mrs , and one or two other rather suspicious characters went there !" Ido not wish to mention names, although I know the parties in question, for I asked the party who I wab given to understand to be the one making up the yam, where he got his information from, and he said, "I'll tell you some time through the day," anil when 1 asked him again, lie told me where I could find out. so I went to this other party, and he told me to give his. compliments to M , and tell him that he was very much obliged to him for trying to put the blame on his shoulders, for he knew nothing at all about it. 3 wish to give this person or person* to understand, that if they don't mind their own business and be careful what they say of these affairs in which I am connected, and mind their .stop*., 1 shall Ixi under the painful necessity of making them prove their words before the Justice of the Peace; and those people who think these parties arc not lit for them to cometo, are quite welcome to stay away, as their company is not required. L can guarantee th.it any pai ties ] get up, an; iit for any company to attend: these parti%* that 1 get up are merely for our own enjoyment, When I say our own, I mean the Jfmf /Vs. which they commonly call us, for the higher class of people are what they call Jem Tail*, I consider one man is as good ab another, Jioit Tart or 2£i«l 1\( , or whatever ehe he might be, as long as he ib respectable and bears a good character ; so it mischief-makers will only come forwaid and own to what he or she lias been sayiug, 1 shall be very glad to see them. — I am, ice, Oscae Peat. Hamilton March 3rd, 1880.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,--I see by your correspondence columns that more light is required re resignations, I do not expect to be able, neither m ill I attempt to put the matter in a light that all the correspondents will understand. With regard to the matter of inequality of representation : when the Borough Council was formed, or in other woulb, the two sides united, the distinct understanding was, that Hamilton West should have five councillors, aii<l Hamilton East four, the Mayor from whichever bide he might happen to be elected. It now stands, si\ West to three East (inchulm-r Cr. Boale), or did so before i equations a\ eve bent in. At tor \ei y horioiih consideration, I ;na .still of opinioi, (hi^t mildly speaking-, under the en-cum-htWKJes it displayb \uy l«ul taste, and ai«

ever nominating a candidate. If the six had only shown a sincere, unselfish, disinterested disposition, to work purely for the advancement of the interest of the Borough, it would have been an entirely different matter; but the facts of the case are quite the opposite. At a special meeting held recently, to consider by-laws, when there appeared tv be a probability of the by-law referring to cattle, &c,, being altered so as to include the whole of the Borough, instead of the iniquitous forty chains radius, a slip of payer was passed round, to members of the clique only, it eminated, I believe, from Cr. Beale, he passed it to Jones (Peat had left a short time before), Jones to Davis, Davis to Vialou. The simptoras which followed the perusal of the missive, clearly demonstrated that something like Siamese Twin sympathy or affinity existed between them ; they appeared to be all suddenly affected with a desire to leave quickly ; the latter councillor left his seat, but did not appear to be quite so much under the influence, being allowed to hover round the Council Chamber, but totally unable to take his seat, so that business might be proceeded with. Consequence, the absence of a quorum, necessitating the calling of another meeting for same business. At next meeting councillors were more pliable, or the elements more propitious. I adduced every reason and argument I could think off against this iniquitous by-law. Cr. Price quite " agreed with me that it ought to include the whole of the borough ; forty chains radius quite absurd, but through some glamour or spell of some kind he voted for the forty chain radius. There must be powerful mesmeric influence at work. Cr. Davis almost waxed eloquent about the unfairness of the bylaw to those living beyond the magic circle, having the cattle, horses, &c. of those favoured ones turned loose to roam around their homesteads, if not within their enclosures during the silent watches of the night, and he would be decidedly in favour of including the whole of the borough or doing away with the by-law altogether. Of the tv o he would rather &cc it done away with altogether. This description is very faint, but from a signal, or suddenly thinking of the liberty of somebodys live stock being interfered with, within about a minute of the finish of his peroration he voted straight for the forty chains radius. I think a compromise might be made — better exempt councillors live stock — than allow eveiybody to turn their animals out on their less favoured neighbours. In this form I have no doubt it would pass. I will quote another instance of the way the clique attend to the legitimate business of the Borough. At the List regular meeting of the Borough Council, one of their number happened to be absent from Hamilton and not one of them put in an appearance! If the burgesses wish to foster this sort of conduct, and strengthen the hands of those who act in this erratic manner, I for one cannot afford to waste the time, neither have I the inclination to attend meetings, returning home twice out of three times, without being able to transact any Borough business. In one instance the people's ' ' chosen representatives " (save the mark), at a given signal, walking out oue after the other like so many sheep, in the other instance staying away in a Tbody ; thereby, in both cases preventing any business being done for want of a quorm. It may be pastime for Crs. living close by with plenty of spare time, indulging in the innocent amusement of hiding in the furze, peeping round corners, posting scouts, &c, to watch the movements of the "enemy ;" some of the burgesses apparently approve of this sort of undignified dodging, if otherwise (although perhaps confined to a small circle) there would not be such an avalanche of indignation against the unfortunate Crs. who have strenuously objected to such unseemly proceedings, and finding they could not stem the torrent, exercised the privilege of resigning. I may state that during the time, I have had the honor of sitting at the Council Board, I have never absented myself without good cause or left my seat to prevent business being proceeded with. And on any and every occasion, I have exercised my vote on every matter brought before the Council, according to my own ideas of right and wrong, and not according to the dictum of any clique or party, us the manner of borne is. I think there is nothing more pitiable than a man placed in a public position with a mind and conscience of his own, being afraid to use them. If the business of the Council had been conducted in an honest, upright spirit, and the different matters affecting the welfare of the borough dealt with purely on their merits, I would have willingly devoted the necessary time and any little talent of which I may be possessed to the furtherance of the borough. In Cr. Jones' effusion there is little sense, and less logic : it is simply an immense conglomeration of unfounded assertions, erroneous inferences, and base inuendo — see samples. Gumming, Knox, Beale, McDonald, and the Mayor, all East Hamilton Councillors. His vote of warning to the East Hamilton burgesses, very unique for him ; " facing duties in Council," immensely refreshing ; "in a feeling of fair public spirit, " it would have been no wonder if the inanimate pen had for once refused to trace the words, coming ass it does from the Assistant Arch Schemer, at whose door might be laid a <leal of the dodging and sleight-of-hand tricks for retarding or preventing altogether the legitimate business of the Council. Had he been as anxious then as he appears to be now for the credit of the borough and the conservation of its funds, a totally different spirit would have been 11 lanif ested. Tin-owing dust appears to be 21 very genial occupation in a certain quarter ; many of the votes at the late election were obtained by industriously promulgating a deliberate falsehood, viz., that if the East side candidate got in Breakell was to be reinstated. With regard to "Puck's" remarks about "petulance," "think a little," "spleen," "childish," &c, I can assure him that the action taken, so far as I am concerned, was after a cry mature deliberation. He has more .spare time than most people ; why not devote a portion of it to the public weal '! Besides, "Puck" would have an advantage over ordinary mortals if able to spirit himself away, when he thought he had had enough ; his honest opinion after three months experience would be worth no end of theory. " Ratepayers" statements are on a par with his deductions. Cr. McDonald informs me that he did not Uhc his influence to procure a single vote for Mr Grwynne ; had the other councillors iihed their utmost endcaeon, or even ordinary endeavors, to get a man elected to work with them, the result might have been different. But with six West against three East— and such a six— l am fully convinced that the interests of the Borough will be quite as well served, and n deal of annoyance obviated, by staying at home to mind one's own business, and I have no intention of doing otherwise while the present Western preponderance continues. To such purpose had the falsehood previously referred to, been circulated by the clique, that even their candidate himself believed such were our intentions. To the above, and nothing else, their (doubtful) success may bo attributed. Cr. Knoxs motive for resigning I am not aware, uuVs, they emulated from that innate spirit of Britjwh fairplay so firmly implanted in his bo^oni, vyHiyll would not permit of his remaining in the Onincil, much l<^s work'ug with those who have been mainly instrumental in

' tice. With regard to Cr. Knox being put down as member for the East, it is very far fetched; sometimes he voted for Eastern interests, perhaps always when it seemed right and just. On the other hand (it is the only time I have known Cr. Jones attempt to be facetious), about the only thing Cr. Beale is credited with, as having made a decided stand in the interest of the East side, was in the matter of having a Borough lamp set up opposite his own gate ; in other matters, as a rule, lie is due West. Finally, aix to three is the situation, no quibbling can get over it. The Mayor belongs to neither side. With regard to clap-trap about the Engineer, I have heard none of the party to which I am accredited, express any opinion or intention of continuing his services ; all we asked was a little British fair play, in the shape of a notice of motion, making a special charge or charges, thus giving him an opportunity of refuting, if able to do so ; or if inclined, to be straightforward given a month's notice that his services would not be longer required. Even if the Engineer had been twice as black as his enemies desire to paint him, he would be still entitled to a little fair play ; it was not the man, but the manner of going for him. Do unto others, &c, Sec. The Borough Council, if their progress should only be so marked in the future, as it has been in the past, will be able soon to find their own levels, thereby obviating the necessity of employing even a gratuitous Engineer. — I am, &c, Wm. Ctodung.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — I cannot help making 1 a few remarks on Mr Jones's would bo mnj bcvire letter in your issue of Tuesday last. He commences with a statement, which, put i in the mildest form, is directly opposite to facts. As to Mr Price, per.-onally,l have no possible objections, and have no doubt he will make a first-rate councillor. Mr Jones says, " They omifc Cr Beale's name from the list of East Hamilton Councillors, and so raise another false issue." His opinion of the good Cr. Beale has done for Hamilton East, or any other part of the Borough must go, I think, for exceedingly little, and praise from such a partisan is a very c mbtf ul compliment, " however, taste* differ." The minute-book, to which Mr Jones refers, will prove the fact that Cr. Beale has been one of the obstructionists, and but seldom used his vote in favor of Hamilton East. With regard to amounts expendod, I doubt the accuracy of the figures quoted, and if correct, still the money has been spent in the Borough. The latter portion of Mr Jones's letter is so very mixed and unintelligable, that I find no point worthy of reply. I entered on the duties of Mayor, determined to do my utmost for the advancement of the Borough as a whole, but found it impessible to carry out my intentions, from persistent opposition of a clique, of which, Mr Jones, no doubt, considers himself a luminary. Thus the cause of my resignation. Had I seen the least chance of a fair opposition, I should not have resigned. — I am, &c. Thomas Dawsox.