PIOUS BANK DIRECTORS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 129, 8 April 1879, Page 2

PIOUS BANK DIRECTORS.

The Scotch papers (says the Pall Mall Gazette) are beginning to be very communicative respecting the personal career, character, and claims to notice of the six or seven gentlemen who, as directors and officers of the City of Glasgow Bank, seem to have contrived to divide' among themselves and their friends, and otherwise to squander, very nearly seven millions of money; and it is very edifying and instructive to find that these gentlemen were mostly distinguished for the exemplary nature of their walk and conversation. One of the moat distinguished of the group, on account both .of his high moral .example and the extent to which he helped himself and his friends to the bank's cash, was Mr Lewis Potter, a native of Scotland, and himself and relatives long connected with the City of Glasgow Bank. This, gentleman, we are told, "liaslived sumptuously on a beautiful estate near Edinburgh, and has taken an active part in all movements affecting the moral and religious welfare of the district, and was warmly attached on jtlie Free Church." Indeed, so warmly was lie attached to that institution that, five years ago he built the Burnbank Free Church." and became responsible for the greater portion of the cost of the fabric, and in consequence of this liberality has enjoyed great fame for pious zeal and benevolence. A slight drawback, however, has come to light by the failure since it now appears that the cost of the Burnbank edifice did not come out of Mr Lewis Potter's own pocket; and it is considered to be very doubtful whether in consequence of Mr Lewis Potter's ingenious manipulation of the transaction, the shareholders of the tank will be able to establish any lien over this ecclesiastical asset. So that Mr Lewis Potter furnishes one more to the very long roll of instances in which, as swift says, " There was a man.who of his great bounty, built a church at the expense of the country." But upon the special test of sufficiency and rectitude, to which the Scottish nation attaches the highest value—namely, the observance of the Sabbath-Mr Lewis Potter is described as giving forth a testimony most consistent and emphatic. During all the years when, according to tile inspector's report, lie actively assisted in falsifying the accounts, in making away with the cash reserve, and in deceiving theahareholders arid the public, he steadily refused to take in or read Monday's newspapers, because they were printed on the first day of the week. Of Mr William Taylor, also, another director of the City of Glasgow Bank, it is remarked that he occupied a prominent position as prsident of the Young Men's Christian Association, and as a representative on several occasions of St. Enoch's Church in the General Assembly. It is lamentable to have to add that, notwithstaneing the eminence of these two gentleman in all the pious virtues, they went on steadily year after year falsifying the accounts, and ruining the shareholders.