DR. POLLEN AND THE PUMPING ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 4230, 4 June 1875, Page 3

DR. POLLEN AND THE PUMPING ASSOCIATION.

To the Editor of the Herald. I Sib, —I think that lamin a position to explain the imbroglio about the conduct of Pollen in regard to the Pumping Association. Having conceived the ilea (which, indeed, would naturally occur to anyone acquainted "with the financial machinery of the General Government) that the difficulty nnght have originated with audit or control, I made it my business to en-juire, and learned what anyone else could have learned for asking. Dr. Pollen had about as much to do with tlie matter a? you have. It was entirely the work of the Commissioners of Audit. Dr. Pollen, finding himself unable to get any arrangement; with the Provincial Government, obtained the former payments for the Pumping Association, as unaUthorhcd expenditure. On the last occasion the Commissioners refused to issue the three thousand except on the condition that it should be paid to the Provincial Government account. Ifc thus appears that Dr. Pollen went out of his way to make things pleasant to the Auckland provin ;e—even so far as to commit an irregularity, until checked by the Audit Commissioners, who would permit it no longer. Dr. Pollen and I are old political opponents, but I will never see any man run down where he is not to blame. 1 put a question some while since through your columns, asking why the series of telegrams published in the Provincial Gazette • was incomplete, but the omission has not yet been explained. One of those omitted (1 was in possession of the complete series, sent to me from Wellington) had a bearing on this question, being an announcement of a payment by the General Government on behalf of the Pumping Association.—l am, &c., Huoh C'ap.leton. Auakland, June 3, 1575.