THIS IS THE GAME.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 257, 7 February 1889, Page 2

THIS IS THE GAME.

[to the editob.] “ Thrice Is he armed whose cause is just,” (Baro of Avon.) “And four times ho who gets bls blow In fust.” CTOSH BILLWOS.) And so it is, “An Outside Contractor" waltzes into print and says, what ? Let us see. After a rigmarole as to Harbor Board elections, he confesses to have “ gained an insight behind the scenes,” If he has done so, he deserves credit for an astuteness which' apparently few of the old Board possessed. But I am much afraid his " insight ” is about equal to that of the young man just entering a theatrical green room for the first time. But, dropping the limile, I purpose going into facts and for the benefit of the “ Outside Contractor ” will give him some. I feel justified in doing this, because it is a matter in which all ratepayers are concerned. In the first instance there was no advertised tender for the contract which Mr McLeod now holds. Secondly all the appliances for carrying out the contract have been supplied by the Harbor Board and consequently at the ratepayers' expense; thirdly that McLeod is now drawing money for a so called contract, which was purely a matter of private arrangement. That Mr McLeod has been put to much trouble and expense, I deny, but that be is, by this private arrangement, able to give a fair day’s wages and pay twenty shillings in the pound I frankly admit. The veriest bankrupt in Gisborne could do the earns with like opportunities. The introduced bunkum as to “ contemptible meanness” surely recoils on ths writer's own head, when he insinuates that outside influences have been brought to bear upon the new members elected to the Board. McLeod certainly should say, ” save me from my friends,” if one of them writes for him in this manner “ The specifications for work of this description can be made out in such a way that it will make a difference of hundreds of pounds to the favored'individual." I think after this last quoted sentence little more need be said. Let your correspondent affix his name to his next effusion and I shall follow suit. In the meantime,—l am, etc., Qoalmaooung.