A Saturday Night's Chat.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXIX, Issue 9084, 6 July 1898, Page 4

A Saturday Night's Chat.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Kindly allow mo a small space in your paper to insert a chat with' an old friend (Mr B. Johnston) whom I met at the Corner on Saturday night. . ''' P: Well, Bill, how pre you? B: Oh, fairly well, Pat; how's yourself? I see things are pretty dull here at present? , P: Yes, they are dull; but I'm still holding on till things take a turn for the better, and I am satisfied that won't be long. We shall wake up some fine morning and find that a good patch has been struck during the night. .._■. B: Yes, Pafc, : that's all right, but you appear to have suoh a loc of incapable men to manage your local affairs now, that if allowed to continue, they will succeed in driving every well thinking man and his family out of the place. Instead of assisting the mining j industry they are. putting a spoke in its.wheel In fact, Pat, during toy absence .the last 4 or 5 years, I have jdosely followed the doings of your Borough Council, and have noted their cheese-paring policy, and think it is high time that the ratepayers of the district turn them all out from top to bottom.! „. . . . .. ... - P:.But Bill, to what do you parti" cularly \ refer that you would be inclined to make such a clean sweep, ,B: Well you must have noticed that they refused to contribute to the support |of the drainage of the, goldfield and the like was never known on the Thames before, Further you must havo noted that they converted traffio bridges; into foot 'bridges and then wanted the County ; Council to contribute' toi reconvert them' into traffic bridges,; although'the bridge referred to is nearly in the centre of the Borough." ''"'' ■'.':'..'.!.;• ' .' '.•>' P: Yes., I noticed these things, and the idea struck mo at the time that the. better plan would be for the Borough to out off that'portion of the riding at Tararu--Bay from the school to Eooky Point—and hand; it"over,to the County Qounoil, and let them fit the whole of the bridges for the ratepayers, '.•'■• ,B: ißut, Pat, that is not all., I always look upon these men as being placed in a position of trust by the ratepayers to enhance the ratepayers' interest'; and yet look at their action with regard to meat and milk inspection. This man who has done and is doing a ! great amount of good to the ratepayers as a wholo asked for an allowance ; of 58•per week, from the ' Borough Cjounoil M their meeting to assistiijkeepihghishorse, whiohis a necessity for him if he does his, wprk thoroughly; 1 'This paltry sum of £13| a year was refused, and yet by a very little.calculation it may be'seen that! Lsd per year from the 2000 ratepayers ' would coyer the.sum, and the members of thojcpmmittoe of milk and meat ; were sitting at' the table and .doclined to vote lon the subject—s'uoh'a strong, hearted, lot of committeemen they be. P: That's all right Bill,-but lam not a new chum. J know them all and they afe the laughing stock of the couptry at largo., But what can you expect when you begin to sample them. For instance there's thoTararu lawyer, Mcinai Smith, and Tom-a-Fly.'' If you put the!se three back to baok against a lamp ppst.and send.f or Fred to examine their headsj ho would declare that they wore cot capable of upholding an , opposition in the Council of Burke's establishment. '

B: 1 thought at the time the Boro' could not have expended 5s to bettor advantage, so far as the ratepayers getting value for their money was concerned. P: Nevor mind Bill,'we will put the hat round at the end of the month for the extra crown, and as you intend to settle down now for good, having as you say confidence in the future of the field, wo must make it .our business to get. a few level-headed arid sound business men to take an interest in the administration of local affairs and local funds. , So good-night Bill and I will meet you here next Saturday and have another chat on this and similar subjects. -I amj etc., Douau Boy. .