The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 1882.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1035, 29 March 1882, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 1882.

A. most emphatic expression of opinion on the question of dividing the Borough into Wards was elicited last night from the raemlwrs of the Masterton •Borough Council, by a communication from Mr Renall on the subject; The letter was accompanied by a plan—fearfully and wonderfully drawn—of the proposed divisions. This extraordinary production was inspected by each Councillor, and each expressed his inability to understand what it meant,'but when, after a great deal of puzzling, the proposed wards'were'fully understood, the Council was unanimously opposed to them, and after debating whether the "plan" should be returned to the maker as unintelligible, it was resolved tlifit in tjie opinioii of tho Council it was not desirable; to divide the Borough into Wards 1 at present, ; This may be taken to fairly represent public feeling upon the matter, /All parts of the Borough were practically represented last evening. There were presentCr Chamberlain from, Upper Plain district, Cr Heron| from Lower. Hasterton, Cr •'jtfcCKrille from soufch-eastsubuvbs/and Cfe Vile froiA v the ! extremity, as' well as members who reside in the centre. These are practical men who I

represent the feelings and interests of practical men, They see clearly, as we have been informed, most of the residents of the lower or south-western portion of the Borough also see, that to separate the outskirts, where so much work is required to bo done, from the centre, where everything is in fair order, and repairs only are needed, would be a suicidal act—would be practically annihilating all hope of obtaining good roads and footpaths where they are becoming mosturgentlyneeded. The reason of this is plain to everyone. The rates collected in each ward would bo expended within its limits, so that the sparsely populated wards would be in poverty with the interest on their share of the borough overdraft to meet, while the populous centre, where the bulk of the general ratts are now gathered would soon become wealthy, and the money which is now devotfid to tho requirements of the whole Borough would be expended in works which could be very wull done without, We contend that the centre should not be placed in a position of wealth, while the people in the suburbs, from whom their prosperity is chiefly derived, are weighed down with heavy rates, bad roads, and the hopelessness of attempting any work of sufficient magnitude to be of lasting good, In the course of a few years, when works which are necessary in every portion of tnc Borough have been performed, and only small improvements and repairs are needed as the place grows, it might be found both convenient and desirable to divide the Borough, but at present it is neither, and we venture to assert that no plan of division which may be submitted at the present time will be agreed to by the burgesses of Masterton.