The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, MAY 9.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 293, 9 May 1879, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, MAY 9.

Wβ extract the following from a Wairarapa journal. -Of course it has no reference -whatever to Akaroa or to any state of affairs which could possibly, occur here. ' As will be seen, the criticism is intended: for the Bp,rough ; Coun-; oil of Mastertori.' Councillors in Akaroa: know better than to interfere personally, with works in progress,".or* to" set;up their individual opinions on technical matters against that of a professional man :— ... "Themeeting of theMastertori Borough Gouncil which wns held this week was a very characteristic. ohe. : .'. The discussions which took pi ace ! were—--first, aS to the payment of : a bonus; ion' a contract promised by twp. Councillors ;/second, a' discussion on. culvert , .construction ; :•■ ■ in* wlifch one Councillor took' the affirmative and another-the negative -j third, an argument: whether/a" road! laid off bj a Councillor! w.asjiiot inepessarily superior to one constructed by an engineer ;; .fourth, a debate wh'eilier the. action of :a ■ Councillor■ 'hi 'extending a contract should be' Confirmed. '•■■The public will gather from this- that our Councillors like to be-in dtrecfc i; cttmrnunication with the' Contractors. --Bhat a'ClounciUotf is I : nothing unless he ; oan say , : ■ < John, , 'do - thisj oi' l?wott'fc pay-youufdrfchingj'-'or, 'GeorgeVif :! y6ti;do your woifk^wlell'/and : tninti :wlra-fi ; ' I ; have ;t6ldv»"-ydu i; fabo^t ; >■ -you^'shall - i»e ; 'paid extr?:; • / the: done!.' Specifications T .are ; .as . Bothin|f \\v purßprpugh cbntricts. 1 . .A.ll.'.'tn/af .contractors 'aYe .expected'to'dp |is y to give personal satisfaction "to as many Comi- ; cillors 1 as • may display' an 1 -'Interesi \ in ; tfieir'Work.- The public will also gather ( that ithe-CounciLChamber , 'is : a4orfc of > Mutual. Improvemeat Society—rhot ex- . ,a<Jtly a Young Men's Mutual Improve-.: . ment. Society—in which engineering questions of a technical character are settled by vote. It has.for some time, been ■• agreed -among Councillors that professional engineers are exp'en;.pi.7je/an.jd useless articles. CouQciHors have that sublime faith in theinsefves that they can either move a mountain - or ; criick a nut, and do not hesitate to. construct either a road; or > bridge. Councillors are.willing.to do the work for nothing, and in this respect-they have a decided advantage over the engineers, who will not, so foolish are they, accept work at the same rate. Councillors have' another advantage over the profession, they can pass their own work whether it be well or ill done. But if engineers did the work badly the passing of it would not, perhaps, altogether follow as a matter of course. It is a good thing too, for Councillors to be able to indulge in their various hobbies at the public expense. It has been truly observed that it is essential to find some people something to do to keep them out of mischief, for as the poet remarked— ' Satan finds some levels still for idle hands to.take. , , . ; , |t : , ( ,; |:| ,. t Therefore can we wonder that the Council has resolved not to employ professional assistance excepting in cases • of: emergency. This restless activity on the part of Councillors is extremely gratifying. There are members of. the Council ■who are ready to perform any inspectorial or inquisitorial duty, .the only - matter'for regret; being that ;the financial business of the Borough gets a little neglected ; .that < sanitary arrangements are all sixes and sevens; that it is all behind with buildings nnd p.ther •necessary regulations ; that nuisances of all kinds remain unabated ; that the administration of the generally is weak ;and inefficient. -Still Qoijncilkn-Sjcan't . ,'4o everything,; and i indeed; the: wtfnder is • that they do as much as fcliey- ! .are aiiingl : We only see one way of adjusting mat l ters, and. that we recommend it 6 I the serious. attention-"of the public. Seiicg _ Councillors practice as engineers,-sur-veyors, architects, machinists, and • what not, we would suggest that the other work of the Council, for which they cannot find time, such as making and

jarrying out necessary • by-laws dealing ;vith financial questions, and the general tl business which is usually conducted at c meetings, should be relegated to 3 jjhe professional residents of- Masterton r jg-tfeompensation for qf a? r y SKMs\of getting all the Bo|ough/busi|;; j^ ' somehow.' " $-\ < ■s . t,v! m\ Pi}