THE PETTY INFORMED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 153, 16 September 1880, Page 2

THE PETTY INFORMED.

[To the Editor.] Sir, —It is with reluctance that I am induced to reply through your columns to an offensive epithet directed against me by Dr. Trevor, who 1 has been recently, prosecuted at the R.M. Court for a breach of the Borough by-laws. ; Although prepared to make every allowance for a ■ gehtleman in his position being compelled to face the indignity of a prosecution, yet I am con-v strained to remark that he exhibited a spirit of malevolence quite unbecoming a person holding her Majesty’s-Commis-sion of the Peace, besides a multiplicity of nominated offices. „At ..the, hearing of the case tlie Dr. admitted his guilt, ind in extenuation, remarked that,he appeared in person in order to state that he had been “dragged” into Court on the information of a Councillor, wlio, in order to sustain a conviction against him, had descended to the level of a common informer. At the conclusion of the case the

erring doctor, with an air of authority, ascended the Bench, and publicly shook hands with ,the R.M., , who )had just punished him for violating a Borough bylaw. I feel sure that it is quite'{unnecessary for me to state that, as a member of the Works Committee, I- would be unworthy of the confidence of the Council, or the support of .the ratepayers, were I to stand quietly by and witness injury toour footpaths and inconvenience caused, to ladies and others by the thoughtless conduct of equestrians,Who, from their position, may think themselves justified in openly violating the law and causing damage to our fqotpaths, Hadvl f been actuated by the sordid ‘ motives which usually guide and influence the action of “ informers,” I would have applied for my costs against'the erring medico, .j merely drew the foreman of works’ 1 attention to the trespass, who, ‘in accordance with his instructions from 1 the Council, laid the information.. .That .officer subpoenaed me as a witness,' and I am pleased, that the Council is determined to prosecute all persons, irrespective of their titles or positions, for such breaches, and thus show that we have only one set--of bye-laws for the rich' and poor— the •' high and low. Dr. Trevor ought to have been the last man in Ashburton, to ’have, attempted to defeat the ends of justice ;,;an.d he, above all persons, ought to have set an example to his fellow; citizens (whose confidence he was unsuccessful in. gaining for the position of Borough Councillor); by conforming to a code of Jaws ■ framed ‘-for the welfare and good ■ government of the town. Although Dr, Trevor has been pleased to designate me an “informer,” I may asked to be pardoned for. stating that I acted in a representative capacity, having gained such position by the .vote .of-a majority of my fellow citizens, whose interest I was elected to serve and watch.over, regardless of gentlemen who- occupy such a position as the wounded arid irritated doctor. I can appeal with confidence both to the ratepayers and the Council for approval of my conduct in the case referred to. It was; only in the days when Ashburton possessed a limited populatibnthat the doctor was able to' obtain a seat in' a School Committee by popular electiqn—■the ballot. With the. advance of population, he has shunned popular representax tion, and is'only able to J, gain a public office by being made a nominee. The result of last Thursday’s election was. a. .true test of the esteem in which,he is held,land the position he occupied wais a mqst JldMering one.—l am, &c. ’’,* ’’ ; George Parkin.-, .