THE CHALLENGE TO MAYOR CROWTHER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8987, 19 September 1892, Page 3

THE CHALLENGE TO MAYOR CROWTHER.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Tn answering Mr. Alison's of this (Saturday) morning, I ain desirous to say that there is no chance for the Devonport Library to get £25 from me ; and I am further able to inform him that our library has not yet any need to resort to this two-to-one-bar-one business for the purpose of raising £25. It at any time I should find it necessary to consult Sir M. O'Rorke, it certainly will not be to decide a bet with either Mr. Alison or anyone else. I have not hitherto been in the habit of acquiring money in this way, and I have no desire to now begin. I have sat under eight or nine mayors in one place or another, and during that time I have not known anyono to be blamed for asking a hesitating member if he was ready to record his vote on the question at issue, more especially when such a vote was equal to a casting vote. I can now authoritatively state that Mr. Alison's manner lost him two votes at the said meeting. Another writer has been (under cover) pleased to describe myself and chairman Conservatives. Latterly, Mr. Editor, it seems to have become a custom to use this word Conservative to blacken a man's character. I believe it is used because no other sufficiently indefinite and meaningless word can be found to answer. If it is wrong for a man to conserve what he has worked hard for, then I plead guilty, and I am quite sure Mr. Alison is with me equally guilty of conserving his own. For 27 years I employed a large number of hands ; they were every one, without a single exception, paid better wages than any other set of men in the same business on this side of the line, besides which, in good times 1 ga/e them scores of pounds by way of Christmas boxes, etc. 1 can still find a dozen or more to prove my statement, if needed. I am somewhat doubtful if some of my would-be detractors have for such a length of time done likewise, after paying 20s in the £1, and still have something left to conserve. The Waitemata has got plenty of white elephants in its harbour at present. The Ponsonhy and St. Heliers wharves are both fast going to decay, and what use have they ever been, or to whom have they ever done any good other than the Ferry Company? Our last visit to the Lake proved beyond all doubt that at low water there is barely three feet of water above the mud. To put a wharf here means at once dredging, and in consequence of being so very much exposed, it means periodical dredging. It certainly would be useful for the Ferry Company to be able to take their moonlight excursionists to the Lake now and then for a change. But, Mr. Editor, the place being dangerous, I feel those authorising the building of a permanent wharf at this site will be mainly responsible should an accident happen. Therefore, I being one of those who would have to share such responsibility, I am going about this business with . a view to shift my share of it. If the Ferry Company and a few others want these moonlight excursion wharves, let them apply to the Harbour Board for the right to erect them, giving a guarantee at the same time that they will face all claims, etc.—l am, etc., W. Crowther.