WATER WORKS BANQUET. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4020, 6 January 1875, Page 3

WATER WORKS BANQUET. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir—T am heartily glad to learn from MrMassey's letter, in your issue of this morning, that the Corporation are not to blame in the matter of Air Gillies' absence from the banquet; but I should very much like to know—First, Whether the invitation forwarded to the Chairman was not in the hands of the Directors of the Water Company, and that its contents were withheld from Mr Gillies ? And, secondly, Whether they did not perfectly -well know, when they went to the banquet, that the fact of Mr Gillies having been invited was entirely unknown to, because withheld by them from, him. Tt is scarcely credible, in these days, that such liings should occur amongst, or be tolerated, or even thought of, by men desiring to be, respected amongst us. No matter what, or how trifling, the nature of such a communication, they had no l-ight to retain it. in any case; but, iii a public matter of this kind, and referring, as it did, to their cliairi.ian, whose labours on behalf of the shareholders have been such as few men would undertake, the decision come to by the Water Company Directors was a most unwise, dishonest, and disreputable one. T trust the shareholders at their next meeting will insist upon knowing, not only who had the effrontery and meanness to make the proposal, but also, and more especially, why it was that Mr Gillies, now that the accomplishment of all his labour and anxiety had all but been effected, saw cause to retire from tl c chairmanship. T fear there is more in this thi-.n meets the eye, and will look forward to the explanation of the Board at their first meeting. Jt is reported about town that the Corporation —very prope.ly, I think- suggested that the banquet should he given by the Water Company, and that arrangfiments with that object had proceeded so far. It is also stated that these were given up because one or more of the Water Company Directors opposed it tooth aud nail. The usual course in such transactions is that the sellers undertake such matters, and invite the purchasers ; but in their Colonial wisdom, the Board would not see it, and entirely threw overboard the provisional arrangement made with this object with the Corporation.—l am, &c, A Citizen.

Dunedin, sth January.