WANGANUI JOTTINGS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1389, 15 March 1912, Page 3

WANGANUI JOTTINGS.

BOROUGH COUNCIL MATTERS. (Hy Telcgraph.-Special Correspondent.) Wannanui, March H. A poll will I>e taken in a fortnight's time of certain Wanganui East residents on (he proposal that their area should be cut off from the suburban borough and reincorporated with Wanganui County. The bi-al Territorials returned to town to-dny alter a very successful training camp at Weston. The. U'nngamii Borough Council has de. cided to take no action in regard to the Christchurch City Council's rcrjuost for co-operation to secure an amendment, of the .Municipal Corporations Act providing that councillors be elected for a term of three years instead of tivo. Councillor A. S. Burgess has been granted tivo months' leave from his municipal duties as he is making n business trip to America. Councillor A. Robinson sneceods him as chairman of the Gas Committee. Although the engineer trouble has temporarily dropped out of sight, the Wanganui Borough Council still continues to have plenty of trouble on its hands, and judging by the lively discussions at' last meeting there seems io be a. disposition on the part of some councillors to "stir things up." Jn connection with the coal supply for the gasworks, tenders were called recently, and by some means the prices quoted were published in the press. Thereupon, it is stated, another firm made on offer at a lower price, and the Gas Committee, without reference, to the council, instructed the gas mnri'ger to accept it. At the council meeting some sarcastic remarks wcro made about commercial morality as practised by the council, and though it was claimed that it was •committed in the matter, the majority decided to cancel the arrangement and call for fresh tenders. "The honour of the council" was said to be involved in a matter brought up by one councillor, who said a certain member of the council had been receiving orders on wages from council I employees. ' A motion for a return giving particulars of such orders was rejected, but it was resolved that in future no such orders bo honoured unless sanctioned bv the Finance Committee. The ex-M:ivo'r (Mr. C. E. Maekay), in a letter to the nross on the subject, states that in the nraclieo of his profession'as solicitor he lias had to secure sonic of these orders on behalf of clients, and also to secure small sums advanced by himself, lie doilies, however, that he used any undue influence or obtained a billet for any man for the purpose suggested, and that so far as his own interests were concerned he was out of .pocket. The council has decidedto take a poll of ratepayers on a proposal to borrow Jt-5,000 for the purpose of buildiiis a new Opera House and municipal buildings. Heavy rain setting in -at midday completely'spoiled the Beautifying Societies' pymleii fete to-day. Several hundred peonlo turned up at the time of the onening, however, but'were informed that the fete was postponed till Saturday. As an indication of the interest taken by the public in Hie society and its objects, as much as .£2OO worth,'of shilling tickets had been sold up till last night. A fire broke out last night in the manure department of the Patea Freezing Works, but was soon got under, tho damage being limited to about .£SO.