THE £l000 LOAN.

Marlborough Express, Volume V, Issue 249, 17 September 1870, Page 4

THE £looo LOAN.

To the Editor of the Marlborough Express. Sir,- “Ratepayer,” in your last, says : “One or two publicans, a few storekeepers, with an ex-storekeeper at their back—the latter, being always amiable and disinterested, shall pass for nothing—are trying to induce the Corporation to raise a thousand pounds, which, I hear, is to spent on Grove Road,” &c. Now, “ Ratepayer” knows very well that the Council do not intend spending the thousand pounds on the Grove Road, but to prevent the Opawa ruining all the property on the North side of the town. As to the storekeepers being

closely allied to the contractors, I don’t believe a word of it; and the dirty insinuation could only have been hatched in the brain of a most unprincipled person, and one who has been closely allied to contractors in Murphy’s Creek, or elsewhere ; but, whoever he is, let him call a meeting of his fellow-townsmen and point out to them that it is not for our interest to borrow the money, not make such unprincipled assertions, branding the tradespeople of this town with such a stigma as to suppose our Council are composed of such men as he insinuates they are. I think they will bear comparison with any similar body in the country ; and I think very favorably with such men as the writer “Ratepayer.” As to the necessity of the thousand pounds, that is another thing. lan not a strong advocate of it myself, but I do object to such language being used towards the most respected part of our townsmen, the majority of whom are supporting this loan purely disinterested, and to better their fellow-ratepayers.—l am, &c., One Not Interested.