The Mayor in Reply..

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 12000, 18 October 1906, Page 7

The Mayor in Reply..

TO THE XDITOB. Sir,—" Ex-Councillor's" letter in your issue of yesterday contains such a farrego of misstatements concerning myself, that I feel bound to take some notice of it. In the first place, I was at the time of my election, and still am, a ratepayer of the borough. I cheerfully admit lam only a very small ratepayer, but I have yet to learn that a man's fitness for municipal honours depends on the amount of property he owns. In the next place, I did not " obtain off my own bat, without the Council's authority," the offer made by Mr. Craig. I knew nothing of it till I saw Mr. Craig's letter containing the offex*. What Ido take credit for is that [ insisted, on seeing Mr. Craig's lette v . tha* we should make inquiry as to whether an electric system was obtainable. It seems almost superfluous to contradict " Ex-Councillor's" statement that I moved that Mr. Chamberlain be requested to make an estimate for an electric service. Nevertheless, the fact is that the motion in question was moved by Cr. Purser ai d seconded by Cr. Green. , In fact, "ExCouncillor" seems unable to make corro.'t statements about anything. His references to the street and ga6 loan proposals are quite incorrect ; he even misquote* the fee paid for Mr. Battle's report. I suggest that " fix-Councillor" sign his name to his next letter. We could then form some idea as to what his own " business experience and training" have been. Also, we could tell whether he waa one of the gentlemen who are responsible for putting the borough finances in the condition they now are. Better still, let " Ex-Councillor" avail himself of tlie opportunity which now presents itself, and aerain offer his services as a Councillor to a discriminating public. — I am, etc. ' C. E. MACKAY.

There \ias a slight earthquake shock at about 6.30 this morning. The resident engineer of railways, Taihapc, in another column invites tenders for the erection of a two-stall engine shed and engine pits at Waiouru. A meeting of d^egates from the various Friendly Societies :n: n Wanganui was held in the Druids' Chambers last evening for the purpose of forming a Friendly Societies' Council in Wanganui. The delegates represented the Druids, Oddfellows, Foresters, Hechabites, and Sons and Daughters of Temperance The following officers were elected: — President, Bro. T. Price, senr. (Foresters); Vice-Presidents, Bros. G. Simpson (Sons and Daughters of Temperance), E. Liddle (Oddfellows), and W. Knuckey (Rechabites) ; secretary and treasurer, Bro. Alf. Willis (Druids). A young- man named Harry Walwyn was chaigcd at the Police Court this morning with stealing £45 9s 1 0d from Frank Michilek, at the Main Trunk railway works, on the 11th hist. The evidence of Michilek, a German, as interpreted by Mr Neverman, and that of Constable Pigeon, waa to the effect that accused after three days' work on the Main Trunk Works gambled his earnings away, and wishing; to come to town, took a purse containing vino £5 notes, and cash amounting to 9e lOd, from Michilek's waistcoat pocket. The police were communicated with, and Constable Pigeon left Raetihi and arrested accused, taking him to the Raetihi lock-up. Constable Pigeon made several searches for the lost money, and while visiting the accused in his cell, the latter being visibly affected at the time, elicited the fact that the notes were hidden underground in accused's tent, where they were afterwards iound by the constable. Accused plead«d guilty, and was committed to Wellington ?or sentence. Mr. W G. Riddell, S.M., this morning heard the charge brought by the police against' Jas. Nosworthy," herbalist,, of tho Avenue. The charge was that accused, on the 22nd September, supplied to one Charles Snow, an or thing, Knowing that the same was intended to procure a miscarriage, being contrary to the form of the statute. Mr. Fitzherbert conducted the case for ""the police, and Mr. Treadwell appeared on behalf of the accused. The S.M., before hearing the ■vidence. cleared the Court of all persons other than those directly interested in the case, and all witnesses were ordered out of Court. The facts of the case, as outlined by the prosecuting counsel, showed that Charle3 Snow, one of the local constables, under instructions from headquarters, went to accused's shop on the Ist September, attired in plain clothes, and made a statement to the effect that he had got a girl into trouble, and asked accused what he could do for him. A conversation took place, and Snow asked for a particular medicine, with which he was supplied, and was also told that if the medicine was not successful, he could get an instrument. On the 22nd September Snow returned to accused's, and stated that the medicine had not been successful, and was then supphVd with the instrument alleged iv the charge, and full instructions for its use. Evidence was g"iven for the prosecution ny Detective Siddells, Constable Snow, and Drs. Hatherly and Fenwick. Accused was committed for trial at f'e next sittings of the Supreme Court in* TVanganui.