The Pahiatua Star. (Published Tuesdays and Fridays.) TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1886.

Pahiatua Star and Eketahuna Advertiser, Volume 1, Issue 27, 7 September 1886, Page 2

The Pahiatua Star. (Published Tuesdays and Fridays.) TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1886.

Titr Town Board battle has been fought and won, and by this time those wlm felt a little sore at their defeat w ill have recovered their usual composure. The member* elected cannot 1m strictly considered a representative body, but we should be very sorry to make this a complaint against the election : and a* the first meeting of the Banrd will be held this evening, we hope to soe each member eotne

prepared to do what shall be considered best in the interests of the whole district. The principal business to-night will be tho election of Chairman, and a* the success of the Board depends almost entirely upon the manner in which the business is conducted, very great care should be exercised in selecting the gentleman to fill that important office. A chairman should be firm as well as impartial, and should insist upon members acting up to the standing orders. If once they are allowed to drift into a slip shod style, it will be found difficult to bring them hack to the right track ; but firmness at the start will avoid much useless recrimination in the future. We trust that in the Town Board members will stand whilst addressing the chair. It looks more statesmanlike, and the Chairman is then in a position to know who has the “ floor of the house." However, the standing orders, when framed, should be clear enough on all these points ; but it is for the members to place in the chair the gentleman who will most successfully carry them out.

At the meeting of the Lund Board on Thursday last, Mr McCardlo brought under the notice of members the rej>eute<l absence of the present village steward, Mr Mackav ; and under these circumstances suggested the appointment of Mr Boyden in his stead. The Board agreed to recommend the appointment to Government. If there is a man in this district who is specially adapted for a position of this sort it is Mr Boyden. and we feel sure Mr MeCaidlu will be backod up by every man in the Pahiatua Village Settlement, and even the whole district, the selection he has made. As far as Mr Mackay is personally concerned we have nothing to say, but there were very many complaints from the settlers at the Settlement at his never being here when wanted. We do not blame Mr Mackay for this, as we believe he has other business to attend to besides the Pahiatua Settlement; but it ia becoming more and more apparent that a steward resident in the district would be a saving to Government as well as being most convenient to selectors. Questions relating to holdings, and affecting the prosecution of fulling, are daily cropping up, and, as it is at present, there is no one in the district to refer to. However, we sincerely trust that Mr Boyden will be appointed, and by this action Government will in some measure make amends for the great inconvenience the absence Mr Mackay has put settlers to.

This proposal to form a public company to take over the Templars' Hall ia meeting with a good deal of opposition, the more especially from some of the Good Templars themselves. The l«osition of affairs seem to be somewhat complicated, and it is necessary to hear both sides of the question before giving an opinion. It appears that some months ago the Templars agreed amongst themselves to build a hall, but lacked the funds; however, the difficulty was got over by several meuUirs of the lodge agreeing to find all the material for the building, on the understanding that bonds would be issued representing the value of the lisU. which were to be taken np by the members of the lodge. This seems to have been hailed with satisfaction, and the building was proceeded with at once. After everything was coin (deled. those who had pul money into it in the shape of material and labor looked to be recouped from the Lodge, but tsinds amounting to some £8 or A‘4 only were taken up. The building being upon leasehold land, nothing could lie obtained upon n tor gage ; ana as the guarantors, being husimws men, could not afford to wait an indefinite period for their money, the idea suggested itself of floating a company to take over the wholb concern. This is where some of the Good Templars step in and say that the trustees iiave no right to take the proparty from them, it having U-en hum tor a special purpose. They mainUiiu that no oppoLrunity has been given thorn of purchasing, and that having issued bonds, even only amounting to £8 or £4, the trustees cannot legally take the property from thorn. It is also asserted by the Templar* that tire valuation of the land upon which tbe building ktan l it too high. This i* the position . nod whether the disputed ownermil t.f s'u-> *i the members of the l.rdgi will ,-FM the flmt-nh c\f the' company we ate nut prepiirt d to s hv ; l iit in i*» it-> ao c&i.uot ace lital

they-Vll IfWtetfe'b/bulievinK themaefvea of a liability tht|r Mrpear to be Enable to meet. If thefaaairi are merged inton publiconinpufiy thev will still tfave • good meeting rf»o«i *1 my indeed to see the Good Templar bod\ wronged, but if the circumstances, a* we have gathered them, are correct. then it would certainly be Ix-tter for them to offer no opposition further than protecting anv ledge prope+ty i that may be in the building.