THREE "I.O.U'S."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14325, 22 March 1910, Page 6

THREE "1.0.U'5."

GREY LYNN COUNCIL CASE. ■-'-; TOWN CLERK'S EXPLANATION. At the meeting of the Grey Lynn Borough Council last night the Mayor (Mr. ; W. J. Holdsworth) stated that he had asked the town clerk to make an explanation regarding the three '' LO. U. • ".'■ of ;. which mention' had been made in ; the hearing of a case in the Police Court last week. The ratepayers of the borough had the idea that the Council ran a sort of advances to settlers department with the borough funds and that all a person had to do was to call at the office for money and on giving his 1.0. U. he would get it. • ■ ' The town clerk (Mr. A. R. T. Haultain) reported that the advance of £50 referred to was made to Mr. J. Rule, the contractor for building the Council's strong-room. The contractor produced a ; certificate from the engineer authorising the payment of the amount and asked for it immediately, as he wished to go to the Waikato that afternoon. He (Mr. H'aultain) was unable to get a cheque signed in lime, as the Mayor was sick and Mr. Schofield was- not available, and having tins cash in the office he gave JEfSO to the contractor, for which the, latter gave a voucher. The second incident which had reference to the payment of £61 15s 6d j to Mr. Prendergast, contractor, for fencing the park, was shown to have occurred un- | der somewhat similar circumstances. In regard to the £5 handed to an ex-Mayor, Mr. Haultain said this had reference to [ the handing of £5 to Mr. G. ; Sayers .On. j August 25, 1909. "I admit," said the j town clerk, " that I mado an error in my evidence before the Court »fhen I mid 'the | then Mayor, Mr. Sayers, had his 1.0. U. in the drawer for £5,' as the 1.0. U. was mine, and 'not Mr. Sayers'." Mr. Sayers, i ho went on" to explain, was appointed by the Council to proceed to Wellington on the Council's business. Hie expenses were authorised, and he {Mr. Haultain) drew and obtained , his signature, to a cheque for £10 for the cr.me. ' He then told Mr. Sayers that he would get -Mr.) Scholield's signature, and would bring him the money. Mr. Sayers said " All right," but he wanted some money, then to prepare for going to Wellington. He (Mr. Haultain) eaid he could lot him have £5 out of the office, and gave it to him, putting his own 1.0. U. in the drawer for the amount. | He subsequently got Mr. Schofield's signature to the cheque, and getting it cashed, ho gave £5 of it to the Mayor, and put the other £5 back in the drawer. ,-■■■ The Mayor observed that his explanation placed a very different complexion on. r the matter. ' •