SCENE IN THE HARBOUR BOARD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 339, 25 May 1877, Page 2

SCENE IN THE HARBOUR BOARD.

A lively scene took place at the meeting of the Harbour Board to-day, the mild little rumpus being brought about by Mr. Shrimski wanting to know why no report had ibeen brought up by the Standing Committee on the matter referred to them at the last meeting of the Board. This, it must be remembered, was the considera. tion of the conduct of a member of the Board in originating a report that certain Board members and the Secretary were interested in the contracts for the works now in course of construction., and with reference to a member of the Board having been the instigator of a certain letter being written condemning the Board, and for the writing of which the member was alleged to have paid. The Chairman briefly explained that the reason of the Committee not making a report was that they had thought it advisable that, as some of its members were the members of the Board referred to in the report, either some other members should be added to the Committee, or a Special Committee be appointed to carry out the inquiry. Mr. Shrimski hereupon said it was a strange proceeding for the Committee to have gone about getting evidence in a quiet manner, and not bring up any kind of report. The Chairman : Mr. Shrimski has no right to make such a statement. There is nothing to show that any evidence has been taken. Mr. Shrimski : I know evidence has been taken. The Chairman : I must call the member to order. Mr. Shrimski : I am not going to be put down by you, sir. The Chairman : I do not wish to put you down, but I cannot allow you to go on as you are doing. Mr. Shrimski then said he thought it disgraceful that, in a British community, four gentlemen, who were Justices of the Peace, should constitute themselves into a Court of Inquiry into the conduct of another member of the Board, and call witnesses, and take evidence, without the accused being present. It was unfair and disgraceful. So far as he was concerned, he courted the fullest inquiry into the matter ; but that inquiry should be conducted in a proper manner. The right course to have adopted would have been for the Board to have asked the Government to appoint a Commission of Inquiry. Mr. Steward said that if Mr. Shrimski would move a resolution for a Commission of Inquiry, he would second it. "With reference to the remark of Mr. Shrimski about the members of the Committee sitting as Justices of the Peace, he would say that they had done nothing of the kind. They did not sit as a Court of Inquiry. They have not taken any evidence ; nor had they the power to compel anyone to attend to give evidence. It was necessary that this matter should be cleared up, and if Mr. Shrimski would move a resolution for a Commission of Inquiry, he would second the motion. Mr. Shrimski : I am not going to do that; let the Board do it. I am the accused. It was then pointed out that as yet no names had been mentioned, and and the Board was not justified in assuming that any one was the guilty party. A lengthy and irregular discussion then took place, every member of the Board present taking part in it. During this Mr. Lemon stated that when he brought the matter before the Board hejmentioned no names ; but if Mr. Shrimski thought the cap fitted him, he was perfectly welcome to wear it. Mr. Shrimski said he had been told outside that he was the member referred to. He had also been told that persons had been brought forward, and asked to state whether or not he had not been guilty of all the enormities complained of. Mr. Steward said that the only person who had been brought before the Standing Committee was Mr. Hesketh, who had told him that he (Mr. Hesketh) had written the letter complained of, and that he had done so at the instigation of Mr. Shrimski, and that he had been paid for writing it. When before the Committee, Mr. Hesketh had refused at first to answer

any questions, but afterwards voluntarily made certain statements. Mr. Shrimski : Well, if anyone says that I wrote the letter, or that I started the report about members of the Board being interested in the contracts, they tell a falsehood and a lie. Mr. Lemon : We shall find that out. I mean to have the inquiry carried to the end. After some further discussion, it was agreed that a special meeting of the Board should be held on Friday next, for the purpose of inquiring fully into the matter.