OFFICIOUS OFFICIALISM.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2132, 20 November 1896, Page 5

OFFICIOUS OFFICIALISM.

(TOTHK editor l. w. m.) I Sir,—A rather curious German-English letter followed close on my heels the l&st time I took my departure from QuMoatown, etna- 1 nating from that important personage and officious official, Franz William Frederick Geisow, town clerk to your borough, gentleman, who,by the tenor of hia letter would like me to believe that he has. only as a matter of form to ask the Council to sanction the suing of anyone ha bas a dislike to. Of course if that were so, it would not only substantiate the report which was circulated shortly after Mr Geisow's appointment, to the effect that be did whatever seemed right in his own sight—the fact that he ruled the Council and that they weakly acquiesaed in his doings. The letter is of a personal nature—very—so that I would not court too much publicity, bnt for the take of others who may unhappily offend Mr Geisow, I should like " his letter published and I will let you into

the secret of my shortcomings. On winding up my Queenstown business I left accounts to be collected and my property to be looked after, and rents to be collected, but I instructed an agent other than Mr Geisow to transact the business for me. In that I departed from the usual course adopted by people qnitting the district for a time, and no doubt committed an unpardonable sin in pleasing myself. I have not cut connection altogether with' Queenstown nor with my friends there, from whom I received great kindness ; but I may at some future day return! to the place in which I spent many happy years. I have left behind me a considerable amount of property, so that I do not think I deserve to be looked upon as a defaulter, and threatened with proceedings as soon as my back was turned. In former years Mr Geisow used to call on me whenever it became necessary|to square the rates, so knowing as he confesses that I was in Queenstown lately for two days, he might have asked me to pay, instead of sending an insulting aud offensive letter after me. For nearly twenty years I have been a ratepayer iu Queenstown and may contribute for many years yet to the funds of the borough, If I had been a couple ot years in arrears as some people are, and if I had transferred all my property to my wife, I would not have wondered at receiving a sharp letter but I am or.lv four months behind (payment was due in July). When the ordinary notioes reached me I did not ignore them, but simply placed themJTto one side,! as other people would do in like circumstances, and I intended to remit whenever I conveniently could. I wilPnot further • trespass' on : your valuable space, but am, yours etc., W. C. Cochran. Drummond, 14th November, 1896. [We do not think it requisite to publish Mr Geisow's letter, which is a demand for overdue rates, notifying that unless pail or arranged for before next meeting he shall ask the Council for " instructions t'» sue.] >•