MR JEBSON IN EXPLANATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6473, 25 November 1881, Page 5

MR JEBSON IN EXPLANATION.

TO THE EDIXOE. Slß,—One of Mr Williamson's statement* at the meeting at Springfield was that a »um of £ISOO was put on the Estimates to make a road over the Pig Saddle, and that in my capacity as member for the district, I got that sum diverted from the Pig Saddle road, and had it spent on the South Malvern Bills road to benefit exclusively my own property. I state it was an “unmitigated falsehood,” whether in a platonic way or in an earnest manner is beside the question. On Monday last, I telegraphed to Mr 'Williamson that I intended to refer to hia questions pointedly at s meeting I was to address at Bussell’s Plat on Monday night, I allowed Mr Williamson to ask his questions and make his statements, and then referred him and the audience to the Proceedings of the Provincial Council of Canterbury, Session XLI, 1874, page 24, “Buildings and Works, continued—Little Bacecourso Hill and Kowai Bush road, 8 miles, £500; South Malvern Hills road, 5 miles, £1500.” I further referred to Proceedings of Provincial Council, Session XL!1,1875, page 63, “ Petition, read and received May 18,1875, re railway to Kowai Pass,” and further, to a petition, page 153, •• Prom residents, owners and occupiers of land in the Malvern district, praying for the opening up of roads in the district,” which was presented, read and received Juno 10,1875 5 also, to page 119, “ Buildings and Works, continued—Bus fell’s Flat and Selwyn Valley road, South Malvern District, £250; Cutting into Kowai River, Malvern and Bast Malvern Boad Districts, £500.”

In 1874, £SOO was voted for Selwyn Talley road, and the road was made from Bussell’s Flat and connected with the said Selwyn Talley road, and it was, and is a good road to this day. Any person curious enough to refer to the proceedings of the Provincial Council for the years 1874-5, when X represented the Bakaia district, will see that over £60,000 was voted for public works in that district, and every shilling was spent on the work for which the money was voted, but Pig Saddle road is not named in the estimates. I scorn this kind of political capital as much as I have scorned the persons who have tried to make it appear that I was so corrupt, as well as the Government and all its officers, that for selfish purposes I had used my best efforts to get money voted for a particular work, and then in collusion with other parties I had the money spent on works for which it was never intended. It is too contemptible for any man who values his character to entertain for one moment political capital of this kind, and my opponents are welcome to it. I am, Ac,, JOHN JEBSON.