An Explanation.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 538, 29 November 1890, Page 3

An Explanation.

[to the editor. J Sir,—l notice that at a meeting of the Borough Council last Tuesday, the Mayor referred to a remark made by me at the public meeting held to consider the footbridge and ita “ bearings,” and what the Council had done, or should do, with the rates collected by that body from WhatauJ»ko residents. I am aorry the Mayor should have been put to the trouble' of looking up what amount had been already spent on the structure, and also the amount of rates collected annually. The information, perhaps ought to have been famished by me. However, the figures have been made public, and shows that my remark was somewhat unjust to the Borough Council. X certainly was under the imjtyession that a larger sum than €0 16a lOd a vesr Borrugh rates was paid by owners of .he strip of frontage on the Nor’h side of the river, ex'ending from its junction with the Waimata to the town boundary, a distance of about two miles. This impression was derived no doubt, from my own experience as a Borough ratepayer. The Knrongh rates paid py me on a small piece of leasehold, haring a frontage of only 33 feet jo Gladstone Hoad, is £2; with' this in mind at the public meeting referred to, I hastily Jumped to an erroneous conclusion, which J feel sure will be readily excused by our respected Mayor, On the other hand, the fact remains that .he Borough Council took the bridge off the hands of those who promoted its cmStructicn, and have carefully guarded it during the brief "span” of its existence, and, Ibelieve, it is universally acknowledg d that when Kings (and why not Councillors ?) < accept "white elephants ’’ they are equally bound, "by (honor and etiquette,” to take every Care Of them.— X am. Ao., J. SMbttr.