THE METAL QUESTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12737, 10 August 1903, Page 2

THE METAL QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOII. Siiij—ln your issue of the 7th hist, there appears a letter over the name of Counoiilor Imyrencean which-he affirms that a. previous statement made by him in reference to the depth of metal placed on the George street roadway " was perfectly true, and if given the opportunity! can prove it. If I cannot do so I- -will apologise to the council and give. £10 to any charitable institution _of this city, if those who accuse mo of making false statements will do tho same, and give, a like sum should I prove my case." At a meeting of the City Council, held on Wednesday, ■the 22nd of July, Cr Lawrence is reported to have made- the following etitemont:—"Tho- council .was placing a foot of solid metal from the quarry in its place"' (tho excavation), "and to hie mind it os a scandalous waste." This .statement refers to •' Gcdrgo street on city side of the bridge." ' . A further statement was to tho effect that molal to "a solid depth of from 12in to 18in" was laid at the intersection of Pino Hill wild'and the George street extension roadway. ' ' I rei>ort?d on this matter, and requested tho Public Works Committee- to examine the- work. The nomination was made on Friday, July 24. when there were present his Worship tho Mayor, tho chairman of the Public Works Committee (Cr Tapper), , CrsLawrence, Braithwaite. end Barnos. Every latitude, was given to Cr Lawrence' to have .tho -work oxeminert in any place ho selected, but the result was, in cvory instance^.quite the revorao to his assertions, as tho motal wa<s found to vary from 4in to Bin in thickness; giving an average of 6in, and not. 12in to 18in as Affirmed by Cr Lawrence;' hence his " confusion." ■_ ' _ ■ After the examination by the Public Works Committee I was quite prepared to allow tho matter to drop. Seeing, howevor, that Cγ Lawrence has attain invited- attention to the work through, the medium of your valued Otngo Daily Times, I have no other recourse bill to accept his offer, and have now to renuest him to prove the statements circulated t'lroiiijh the public press. T am quite willing to leave tho selection of tli* gentleman to conduct tlm inquiry nnd examination ,-with j'ourself, but stipulate thai the' amount at sHko' fholl bft | 100 Ruincas,. and a fmthor fee of ,10 jruineas to I<i> paid .to thn Rfntlcman appointed to conduct tho examination. I. enclose herewith mv cheque for 100 mtinoas, In l>3 held in trust by you. Cr' Lawre-ne-". is in honour bound to forward a similar amount, and if he fails to substantiate (lie statements, circulated through the medium of tho press he must forfeit same. , I- have no desire to nrococd further in this matter provided Or Lawrenoo wilpgive o. ■proper apolotcy to tho council an<l forward his ohet]iio of £10 '.o the charita-blo institution. I leave Dunedin to-doy for a- brief rest, and onlv trust ibat ■thi ex-aminatinn flf made) will 'be condiic(cd impartially, in tlin nresnnco of. his Worship the- IFayor and l> Tapper, and without lo" of time.— 1 am, etc., i .Tons Ror.zits, Auaiirfc 8. Oitv Engineer.