WAIHI ANTI-BOROUGHITES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11564, 30 January 1901, Page 3

WAIHI ANTI-BOROUGHITES.

8--': TO THE EDITOE. ''.:'. '•.■.'. | Sir,—l wish, with : your permission, to | draw the attention of your numerous readers . 1 to certain facts in connection with the ob- ! jectors to the Waihi Borough movement, I which will, I think, prove rather interesting. lAt a meeting of the Ohinemuri County I Council, held-on November 28 last, it. was ' I proposed by Mr. H. P. Barry (chairman). ] seconded by Mr. Charles J. Saunders, "That \ the chairman •bo authorised to take all le--1 gitimate means to oppose the formation of i Waihi into a borough under the ■ advice of | the county solicitor." ■'. Carried. At a I meeting .the County Council, held on ] January 17, the account of .: Mr. James I Nicholson, contracted on bohalt of the anti- ! borough petition, was refused. . Now, sir, it would be interesting to know the ground '! for refusal. Was it that the means employ- \ ed by Mr. J. Nicholson were not sufficiently ! legitimate to satisfy the delicate consciences ! of councillors, or that they, having made all I possible "use of him, thought it beneath the I dignity to remunerate him for services. ren- > ] dered? It is no secret that Mr. Nicholson ] was taken from his .work in; the Waihi mine ■ | and his place kept open for him, with the ~ . J sanction of the general superintendent of ) the Waihi mine, j: Ho was also allowed to (J go ' through the various mine workings j. in i order to obtain the miners' signatures to the 1 anti-borough petition. The fact that the I anti-borough petition was headed with the " 1 general superintendent's signature, and that | he also holds the position of .chairman to § the Ohinemuri County Council, denotes the ij influence he could bring to bear upon those hhe wished to sign the said petition. 'That I Mr. Barry did not exert his influence as . 1 chairman to obtain the councillors' consent ■ Ito Mr. Nicholson's anti-borough account be- . I ing paid shows pretty clearly that Mr. Barry, I as superintendent of the Waihi mine, would I see him recompensed, seeing that .Mr. Nicholi son was obtaining signatures to the counter--, S petition in the mine workings; with Mr. ■ - I Barry's full authority. It is: not surprising 1 to those who are! aware of the artful tactics § of the anti-boroughites, that an inquiry has: g been demanded by the Waihi Improvement | Committee under the. provisions of ' the ■ | Municipal Corporations Act, 1886, : regarding ;-":y; | the'means employed in obtaining signatures. I to the counter-petition, and the qualification aof those having signed the same.—l am, etc., S Waihi Resident.

Waihi, January 24, 1901,