An Outspoken Letter.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 97, 7 June 1895, Page 2

An Outspoken Letter.

At the County Council meeting on Monday, a letter was read from Mr O'Brien, engineer for Parihaka, which caused a gentle flutter among the councillors. The letter acknowledged receipt of a copy of a portion of the foreman's report, traversing part of the work under his (Mr O'Brien's) immediate supervision. The writer desired to know on what authority the foreman, who was his subordinate, took upon himself the liberty of traversing or inspecting the work without his sauction, or on what grounds the Council thought fit to receive such report. He was appointed engineer for that riding, and he claimed that consideration which might be expected from any body of honorable men. He failed to understand the Council so far forgetting itself as to accept such a report from an unauthorised person, and he certainly declined to report on or officially recognise it. Unofficially he pointed out that the foreman displayed " the grossest ignorance of his self-appointed duties," and any local body, which could seriously accept it must be extremely lax in its method of dealing with the ratepayers' money and contractors' interests. As certain charges had been made against him (the writer) by members of the Council, which reflected on him personally, and the Council had apparently accepted such statements without making an impartial enquiry, he must ask the Council to retract any action it had takeu prejudicial to him, or to send a competent person on its behalf and he would appoint one on his to enquire and report, otherwise he must take steps to protect himself from aspersions cast on him by ignorant and prejudiced persons. He understood Mr McHannigan was appointed working foreman of the Parihaka Riding, and he should have felt called upon to draw the Council's attention to his apparent want of attention to the work he was engaged to do, if it were not for the fact of his being employed as aide de camp to one of the members 4 of the riding, who, he presumed, had a better right to notify the Council, especially as he (the member) was so zealous in rounding up the previous foreman for asserted similar non-attentioa to duty. The Chairman said the engineer and foreman were two distinct officials. The foreman was not in any way the engineer's subordinate. The letter was, he thought, written under a misapprehension, as the report had been sent to Mr O'Brien merely for his report, and the Council did not accept it in any way.

Mr McGloin characterised the letter as insulting, and stated that it should be treated wkh the contempt which it richly deserved. Mr O'Brien seemed to write as one would speak to so many schoolboys. The Chairman: I would like you to make your language as mild as possible, Mr McGloin. Mr McGloin : Perhaps I might be a little milder. But I would venture to think that you, as chairman, never had the like of the letter before you in the past. Mr Peters said Mr O'Brien evidently seemed to be under a misapprehension, otherwise he would suggest that some of the statements be withdrawn.

Mr McGloin moved, That the letter lie on the table.

Mr Okey suggested that the clerk write to the engineer, stating the facts, and asking him to withdraw certain statements made in his letter.

This suggestion was finally agreed upon.

After the luncheon adjournment, Mr Eoy, solicitor, was present at the Council's request in reference to the Council's position with Mr O'Brien. The matter was discussed in committee, but no resolution passed. On resuming, a deputation consisting of Messrs O'Donnell, Collins and o'Sullivan, contractors, waited on the Council. Mr Collins acted as spokesman. He stated that the contractors had lost a good deal of time in connection with the Eltham Boad contract, and when they spoke to Mr O'Brien, he seemed to be very much annoyed that he (the speaker) should have interviewed the Council. He also said that he had nothing to do with the contract, as the matter had been taken out of his hands.

Mr O'Brien, who was present, Said he had not control of the contract. It had been taken out of his hands. The Chairman stated that the Council was not aware that control had been taken out of the engineer's hands.

Mr McGloin asked if he did not tell the spreader not to take any notice of the members of the riding, and that he was " boss." Mr O'Brien said he did not tell them to ignore the representatives of the riding.

Mr McGloin remarked that the engineer's statements seemed to be at variance.

Mr Peters said he would like to know definitely whether Mr O'Brien had given up control of the contract. Mr O'Brien : That is the position, Mr Chairman.

Mr Peters : And you gave it up of your own free will ?

Mr O'Brien : No. The Council took it out of my hands. Mr Peters : I deny it.

The Chairman : You haven't made it clear Mr O'Brien. In what way was the contract taken out of your hands ?

Mr O'Brien : Through varying the contracts without referring to me, and through the members of the riding taking charge. The subject then dropped.—News.