ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE DEBT COLLECTING YARN.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3960, 7 February 1882, Page 2

ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE DEBT COLLECTING YARN.

T 0 Tir X EI)T T 0 li. Silt, — You have been led into publishing a statement of the treatment represented to have been received by a tradesman at Waitara on going" to sec a party who owed an account, winch is nothing less than a tissue of falsehoods. The " tradesman" did request the settlement of a small account, and, in reply, regret was expressed to him that the money was not immediately at hand, but that it would be paid in ft short time, probably in a few days ; and reasons that would have weighed with any person nninfluerccd were given why the money had not already been paid. The "tradesman" very excitedly (it had been very warm all day) commenced and continued a course of abuse and threats. Ho was asked more than once to desist his abuse or leave ; but this request only met with more abuse. A small furze stick was used to attempt to drive his horse — which appeared to have the more instinct of the two — in the direction of the road; but even this was of no avail for some time. At last he started off, using his own whip on his horse, but he mistook the road, and did not notice the wire fence that pulled him up, it being slightly dusk, and, the heat of the day too appeared to have operated on him. lie was assisted to clear his horse, and shown out through two slip-panels on to the road without any interference with either him or his horse. The story about the hat is equally unfounded — his hat fell off. It was picked up and held out to him. He refused to take it, and it was pvit back where it fell. The next morning the " tradesman" went outpf his way, without solicitation, to "explain matters" in extenuation of his conduct. His explanation was that he was in a " bit of a fix," that he had been ennVi>\y ur5 »ff to collect accounts on the previous^ warm day, and was not very successful, and that amongst several others indebted to him was a wellknown settler whose acceptance he held for eighty odd pounds had lately been dishonored, and this had driven him further into the "bit of a fix," aud, under such circumstances, some allowances should be made for his excited condition. — I üm, &c, The Party Slandered by Youb correspondent. Nominations of candidates for the several Licensing Districts have to be sent in by noon to-morrow. The three-masted schooner Ellerton arrived last evening from Wellington with 575 casks of cement consigned to the Harbour Board. She will sail again this evening for Greymouth in ballast. Mr. James Day, late of the White Hart Hotel, has taken over the Masonic Hotel, whore he will bo able to carry on a more extensive business. Mr. Day notifies that there will be an ordinary ever^y day at 1 o'clock. The schooner Asteroid, in which two gentlemen are making a pleasure trip round the world, is now at Dunedin. As one of ', the passengers is Mr. A. Deacon (brother of Mr. 0. Deacon), we should not be surprised at the schooner visiting New Plymonth. A correspondent forwards us a copy of the Wanr/anu'i Chronicle containing an article from a "special correspondent" on the Harbour Works. He writes that "as this is an expression of opinion from one who is not a resident here, and who has no interest for laying the flattering unction on us, it will, I think, be interesting and satisfactory to know that outsiders who visit the works are surprised and satisfied with the progress made, and the stability of the work." Bradshaw's Guide for February has reached ns, and contains as usual a large amount of information of interest to the travelling public, besides not a little useful matter to those of a more stay-at-home tendency. We notice that the Taranaki directory has been corrected, and that, the Town of Waitara makes an appearance for the first time within its pages. The omission of the coaches that are running in the Taranaki Provincial District is a mistake, for the information would be of great value to travellers who may wish to travel overland to Wellington from New Plymouth. A nice question has arisen in AVellington in connection with the recent conviction of the Hon. (J. J. Phnmzyn for plural voting at the Tliorndou election. Mr. Pliarazyn is Chairman of the Wellington Education Board, but clause 10 of the Corrupt Practices Act enacts that any person convicted of a corrupt practice shall not be capable during a period of five years from the date of his conviction of holding any public or judicial office within the meaning of this Act, aud if he holds any such oflice the office shall lie vacated. Yet, Mr. Phnrazyn presided and voted at the meetings of the Education Board. It is also said that everything done by the Board under Mr. Phara/.yn's chairmanship is invalid.J