THE MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8544, 26 July 1893, Page 3

THE MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir,—l am not a worshipper of his Worship the Maypr; he has not, in my opinion, succeeded in upholding the honour and dignity of his office as rater and chief magistrate of the city. At the same time ratepayers are agreed that with all his failings he has shown raore intelligence and common sense, and less petty vindictiveneas, than I the majority of his Councillors. i Last night's meeting, like others precediog, was simply a disgrace to the city, and the Councillors, in their, iguorance and } pettiaese, have once more iu»d« themselves

the laughing-stock of the colony. Iα ridiculing and traducing their ehiet officer, they insult the citizens who elected him and degrade the office. Could anything be conceived more ludicrous than Councillor C. M. Gray hectoring and lecturing " even Mr Eden George," putting aside his official position, on the matter of dignity. Instead of assisting the Mayor, as they have sworn to do, to carry out his duties, "often difficult to the most experienced," they apparently are only too delighted of an opportunity to be-little him and his office.

Counillor Gray and his young legal friends may consider themselves very clever and cunning, with much- intemperate verbosity, but I am satisfied the ratepayers have judged who is primarily to blame. Whatever these councillors may think, the people are not all fools. The Wellington Conference episode, and the remarks made by certain members in the gossip shop and elsewhere, to the disparagement of the Mayor in this matter are well known. There is no question, sir, the real .business of the city is being woefully neglected, and paltry, personal questions introduced and encouraged by these young councillors. It is about time the citizens took the matter into their own hands and plainly informed these gentlemen—aye, and some of the officers, also—that they are the servants, and not the masters, of the public. There ia much good and useful work requiring to be done, and instead of quarrelling like children over small personal disputes, let them attend to the cleansing and repairing of our streets and footpaths, which for the last two or three years have undoubtedly been in a most disgraceful condition. There are many other matters, sir, municipal, which require urgent attention, but I will confine myself at present to the above, trusting we have heard the last of these squabbles and scandals, which reflect no credit on those responsible.—Yours, &c., Civis. .