EKETAHUNA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3102, 27 January 1909, Page 3

EKETAHUNA.

(From Our Own Cor responded). j A special meeting or un; Hoiouuh j Council was held on Mor/rty evening to fix the half-holiday lor cne year. A petition was lodged signed by 26 business people praying; that the Council would fix the day for Thursday. Councillors expressed the opinion that Saturday wa-> the better day, but on the face of the petition Thursday was appointed as the Jay. On the resolution being carried one Councillor courteously called his brother Councillors "a cowardly lot," which remark was withdrawn after two pointed requests by the Mayor. The fortnightly meeting of the Eketahuna Borough Council was held on Monday. There were present, the Mayor, Crs. Mead, Baillie, Knight, Haswell, Carter and Wise. A letter was received from the nightwatchman, stating that the subscribers had fallen from 31 to 25, and he would be compelled to resign if better arrangements were not made. —The Mayor and Crs strongly remarked on the action of certain business people who petitioned the Council to appoint a nightwatchman, agreeing to pay Is por week, and when he was appointed and doing good work, some of them withdrew. His Worship was appointed to interview the nightwatchman on the sub- , ject. Mr Pithie tendered for the extention of the drain in John Street.— The matter was left in the hands of the Chairman of the Works Committee with power to act. Mr F. J. Tonkin and Messrs Page and Page (on behalf of Dr Chad wick), wrote objecting to the surface water in Haswell Street being turned on to their properties. —After an explanation by the Mayor, that the water was turned into the natural course, the letters were received. Hon. A. W. Hogg wrote thanking the Council for congratulations on his appointment to the Ministry. An appeal and subscription list forwarded by the Mayor of Petone, on behalf of the unemployed in England, was ordered to lay on the table. The Masterton Agricultural and Pastoral Association wrote asking the Council to proclaim Wednesdny, February 17th, a public holiday.—No action was taken in the mattter. Cr Wise moved that one square chain of the Borough Reserve in Stanley Street be set aside for a J Pound, on tne condition previously approved (that the County Council erect the pound, the Borough to pay J 10 per cent, per annum on cost). Mr R. J. McLean, County Clerk, waited on the Council to point out that, although the County Council were rated for the street improvements in Jones Estate, no work had been done in front of their section. He had been told by "the man in the street" that it was to be done when the Bengston Street improvements were made. What would, he asked, be the position if the Bengston Street loan was not carried. — His Worship gave Mr McLean his assurance that steps would be taken to relieve tha Council. As soon the Engineer was available he would be asked to explain why that piece of road was not completed. Mr Peterson waited on the Council to request that the Council should pay the balance due to him on his j ' contract in Jones Estate, ks the time 1 of his maintenance had expired and i he had the Engineer's certificate for ! completion.—lt wa9 resolved to pay I the contractor £2OO, and to retain . j £39 pending the Engineer's report re j , the piece of road in Bengston Street, i j Cr Wise reported that the rate- I j payers in Bengston Street were in- ! different about the loan, and not j sufficient ratepayers had signed the ' petition to carry the proposal, j Cr Haswell objected to a resolution of last meeting as informal appointj ing the Mayor Clerk of the Works jto the power-house. His Worship I pointed out that the resolution was ! quite in order, and that with such a ! plain building it was unnecessary to | a clerk of the works. He | would be very pleased to be relieved. Cr Haswell should have attended the I meeting.