PUBLIC MEETING AT HAMILTON.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2572, 5 January 1889, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT HAMILTON.

About thirty ratepayers met in Le Quesne's Hall, Hamilton East, List night, to liesr Mr I). Lees give an explanation of his dismissal by the. Hamilton Borough Council. Mr C J. W. Barton (late. Mayor), was voted tn the chair.

Mr Lees said that sinco his appointment as poundkeepur, ranger and doe registrar, in 1880, he had given satisfaction in the performance ot his duties. Ho had received from the Town Clerk all the books lie was instructed to keep, which had been kept to the satisfaction of the Government Auditor, who had, on his last visit, told the Clerk to supply h»» with u proper receipt book for pound fei'S. Ho explained the method he had adopted in keeping the books, besides a private oneof his own, which he produced to the. meetiupr, and also explained how ho had lost a receipt book, but had all the entries duplicated in his own book as a check. He gave a history of the charge made on Mr Qualtrough's cattle of Is M per head, for one night in Bradley s paddock, which had been done by direct instruction of the Council, on Cr. Knox i> motion, and which Mr (Jualtrough had applied to the Council to be refunded on the advice of the Mayor (Mr Coates). Although Mr Qualtrough 'made no charge agains!, him (Lees,) and denied before the Council that he had stated he had been pruvinusly charged 3d per head, Cr. Knox moved and carried a motion of "not proven" against him, and he then received notice of dismissal. The speaker next gave an account of the impounding of five of the Mayor's horses for tresspassing in Mr \V. A. Graham's paddock, the scene that ensued between him and the Mayor, and the language used by the latter towards him, who also afterwards threatened to make it hot for him and starve him out of the town. After this came his dismissal and Cr. Knox's motion to suspend the collection of all dog fees in the meantime, in order to deprive him of something like £15. Mr W. A. Graham (formerly Mayor) said that in impounding the horses out of his paddock, Mr Lees had only done his duty and obeyed his positive orders. (Applause). Mr Hammond Mr Lees statements, and said he had himself gone over his books and found them kept in good order. The Council was setting aside the law and acting most discreditably. Mr Manktelow asked who suggested the charges of Is (jd on Qnaltrousjh's cattle. Mi- Lees : Cr. Knox. Mr Manktelow: That is the man to blame, then. Mr W. A. Graham said he felt he must justify Mr Lees, whom he had always found attentive and honest in the discharge of his dutie«, and he thought his explanation quite satisfactory. Tho Council were appointed by tho ratepayers, and they should givo them a reason for their action, and allow Mi- Lees to approach them. He moved "that the Council be requested to allow Mr Lees to be heard at tho Council, and be given the reason for Ills disThe' Chairman endorsed Mr Graham's remarks, and said he quite understood how the affair about Quulti-ough's cattle arose. He thought the Mayor was being made a. "catspaw" of by two councillors, and Mr Lees was the "iiuts." (Applause.) Mr T. Kolly seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The chairman was requested to convey the motion to the Council, and with the usual vote of thanks the meeting terminated.