CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 18 June 1907, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE LATE CITY SURVEYOR'S TESTIMONIAL. To the Editor. Sir,— At the City Cum-il r.tei-l.us; held last Friday evening, it was li-arat wth surprise and indignation that the testimonial accorded by the Councillors uiiauimniisly tn th^ i-x-C'iv Lr.ivtvt.r a fortnight previously, hid' Lecu kept back by the Mayor. It seeni-i that, owing to the signatories not having been named ii\ the resolutions, the Mayor's signature was nccessaiy. Pivsumaltfy ho declined to attach it, although he kn?\v that his action would prejudice the chance of the tex-official to" li';.e appointment at Feilding. It would be interesting and instructive to learn the Mayor's reason from his own pen. It could not have been his discovery ( !) of the 29,000 spikes, because he told us that was only made "within the last two or three days." However, in spite of the Mayor, Councillors at onve remedied their previous omission, by nominating two of ther number to sign the testimonial and affix the seal of the boi'OUgh. It U'as a decisive and unanimous response to the Mayor's invitation to them to revoke the testimonial, and it is hoped that the testimonial is now »•■! its way to the ex-City Surveyor. The Mayor and majority of the Councillors refused the ex-official the inquiry he , asked for (thereby showing he had no- | thing to fear), and yet after the latter has been dismissed he is almost immediately accused, without the opportunity of denial or explanation, which no doubt would be very easy. I am, etc.. S. H. STRONG. 17th June, 1907.