BIRKENHEAD REPRESENTATION ON THE HARBOUR BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 31, 7 February 1899, Page 2

BIRKENHEAD REPRESENTATION ON THE HARBOUR BOARD.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —'Watchman,' in reply to 'Justice,' distinctly reiterated that Mr Kay used the exact words as published by you in your issue of the 27th ult. If there is any intention to mislead 'Justice' is making a bold effort to do so. As to Mr Shepherd, in his attempt to let Mr Bell down gently, he gave himself away slightly, which in no way affected the .signers of the petition, who were never more in earnest than when signing the petition to have Mr Witheford represent them on the Harbour Board.

With your permission, Sir, I will now reply to 'Birkenhead Resident.' 'B.R. contends that Mr Bell has the goodwill of those whom he represents, etc. This phrase may mean something or nothing at all. The something may be the clique who have ruled the Borough these past years; it certainly does not mean that the majority of the burgesses support Mr Bell in his representative capacity or that gentleman would not have been landed at the bottom of the poll at last election for Councillors. '<• Now, as to what Mr Bell has done during his term of office. 'B.R.'s' memory is either gone wool-gathering or he or she has obtained the information from someone who was not in the ken. Now, the facts are simply these. Item first: The pitching of the breastwork was done during Mr Witheford's term of office and had to be done to prevent the stuff which formed the big slip of earth from being washed into the harbour, and would have been done irrespective of who might have represented the Borough. Item second: Birkenhead Wharf has not been enlarged at any time during these last seven years. Item three: The cranes. Mr Malcolm Niccol is justly entitled for all the credit for their being placed on the wharf. Item four: The ladies' waiting-room, Northcote Wharf. The new ones simply replace those burnt down, and would have been built had the Borough of Birkenhead been entirely unrepresented. This brings us down to item fifth: The lining of the ladies' waiting-room, Birkenhead. The solitary feather Mr Bell is entitled to wear in his cap, and long may he live to wear it is the earnest wish of WATCHMAN.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—As one of the deputation that interviewed Mr E. Bell to-day re the ensuing Harbour Board election, I most emphaticaly deny that the petition presented to the Birkenhead Borough Council in favour of Mr J. H. Witheford's candidature contains any bogus names, or that any names were obtained by any other than ordinay, legitimate means, especially as the object of the petition is printed at the heading of every sheet of paper used for that purpose, and that, too, in good, bold type. Although our object to-day was frustrated by the unfortunate position assumed by Mr Bell, in which he loaded the unfortunate deputation with impossible conditions.and which after the emphatic denial of our worthy Mayor and Cr. Kay, and I might add Cr. Bagot, who, by the way, assures me he did not understand Mr Bell was canvassing him for his vote at the forthcoming election, and never would have given such a promise. Such, then, is our position, for the which, forsooth, the Council's late representative demands an apology, before he deigns to give a reply—an apology for an imaginary insult offered to members of the aforesaid Council—just as if the B.C.C. had no respect for their own dignity, and had not common sense enough to discern who was the insulted party that deserved an apology and whether it should not rather be demanded by the signers of the petition instead. It is no use dragging the ancient red herring into the controversy—that is only begging the question. We of the deputation who waited upon Mr Bell did so at the suggestion of Cr. Kay when the petition was presented to the B.C.C. on the 26th ult., a full report of which meeting appeared in your issue of the following day. Tour correspondent in to-day's issue signed 'Birkenhead Resident' does not quite understand that although the Birkenhead borough elects a representative it is for the combined districts of Birkenhead, Northcote, and part of the Waitemata County Council, so that the promoters of the petition were fully justified in obtaining all the signatures therein contained. —I am, etc., ROBT. J. HARDY. Birkdale, Feb. 6, 1899. P.S.—I can obtain two signatures to the i petition to every one Mr Bell objects to.