CIVIC WHITEWASHING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 109, 10 May 1909, Page 8

CIVIC WHITEWASHING.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — In your issue of the 6th inst. you quote Mr. Kneeshaw as veni vidi vici. This estimable gentleman, travelling in state on the tramways, placed everyone in connection therewith on good behaviour, and thus confounds the critics. As a humble citizen of the great democratic institution call the Public, I will, with your kind permission, state why a clamorous majority are not satisfied. Mr. Kneeshaw's remarks regarding track equipment are well merited; but I take exception relative to one portion of the working staff — that is, some of the conductors. There are a good many who are civil and obliging, but there are others who seem to think that the tramways were built for their special benefit and not for the public. I will give a case in point : A week or &o ago a, lady, with an infant in her arms, wae leaving the tram at one of the stations ; the conductor was on top of the tram, and blew his whistle, not looking to see if there was anyone leaving. A passenger, seeing that there would be a serious accident, immediately rang the bell three times, which brought the car to a sudden stoppage. He then went and helped the lady out. By this time the conductor came down from his perch, and demanded why tho bel] was rung? He was told the lady would have met with a serious accident if the car had not been stopped. Seeing an athletic young man before him the conductor said no more, and as far as I know the incident closed, for I left the ti-am shortly after. This case is one of many. — I am, etc., , DEMOCRAT. Bth May.

Christchurch papers have common cause for complaint regarding the way in which the authorities are apparently allowed to waste the ratepayers' money. The instance they give as illustration of this is that the road in llanchesterstreet, which has just been nicely metalled and put in good order, was on Friday torn up for the purpose of laying a telephone cable. The next sitting of the Bankruptcy Court will be held on the 31st instant, when John Morris Schapiro, Frederick Norman Harold Eade, Owen Thos. Baigent, and 'William jM 'Alley, will apply for orders of discharge. As a result of a fall, James Waddell, residing at 52, Adelaide-road, was admitted to the hospital to-day, suffering from a broken ankle-bone. The man was engaged in connection with the erection of a new building on Wellington-terrace, and fell fiom a height of about 15ft. At a Taieri gathering, the Hon. T. Mackenzie told his hearers that to fear for the future of New Zealand was to hold an opinion that could only be arrived at either because a man was of a dismal turn of mind, or because he was incapable of judging of the condition of affairs. A Press Association telegram received this afternoon stated that rain had again set in in Nelson. The Wellington Poultry, N Pigeon, and Canary Society will hold its annual show , this year, at a date yet to be fixed. Chief Judge Jackson Palmer, of the Native Land Court, is on a visit to Auckland. He will return by tho end of the week. The postal authorities advise that the Moana, which left Sydney direct for Wellington on Saturday, Bth inst., has on board an Australian mail, which is due here on Wednesday morning next. At the Taihape Police Court an hotel waiter pleaded guilty to stealing moneys to the amount of £7 10s. He admitted that he opened the safe by means of a key he had made out of a table fork. ! The charges against a dozen various private companies for alleged breaches of the Companies Act, 1908, were struck out in the S.M. Court to-day en the application of counsel for the Crown.