WESTLAND.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 542, 14 August 1869, Page 2

WESTLAND.

THE COUNTY TREASURER'S DEFALCATIONS. The County Council has been adjourned for a fortnight, in consequence of the great irregularities which have been discovered in the keeping of the accounts, and in order to give time for a re-adjustment of the system. In asking for the adjournmet in the Council, on Monday last, the Chairman said that great irregularities had been discovered in the County accounts, and, the consequence was, he begged the indulgence of the Council in bringing forward the estimates. At the same time, he asked a vote of £-1000 to pay salaries and contracts duo. He also asked that the Council would adjourn for a fortnight, in order to give time to allow any irregularity to be ascertained, and that the Council should be placed in the fullest possession of it. Mr Reeves seconded the Chairman's suggestion. The motion was then put and carried. The W. O. Times says :—The " irregularities " spoken of by the County Chairman have turned out to be something more. From " information received," the police were yesterday engaged watching the movements of Mr Wintei*, the Comity Treasurer. Ho was seen by Detective Browne and Constable Elliot in the morning, but was missed for a short time. As the Martha and Lavina was proceeding down the river, a boat was observed leaving the beach below the flagstaff. Detective Brown was at once communicated with, and he immediately took a boat and went in pursuit. The scene was an exciting one, for the boat containing Mr Winter had a considerable start, and the absconder had reached the schooner before Browne came up with her. The " pile up " of the tug, however, enabled the detective to come up with his man, who was brought to the Transit Shed and kept there until ihe crowd, which had behaved in a very indecorous manner, had dispersed. Mr Winter then went in the company of Mr Inspector Broham to the Camp, where the charge was entered, and ho was released on bail. Ho will be brought before the Resident _ Magistrate this (Wednesday) morning.