The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1886. THE NEXT MUNICIPAL STEP.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 3421, 9 October 1886, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1886. THE NEXT MUNICIPAL STEP.

An exceptional degree of interest is now; being manifested in the administration of the affairs of this Borough, not alone in connection witli that short but highly interesting thoroughfare Imperial Renall atreiit, but on, if it were possible, more important questions such as the gas enterprise, A great many persona are now criticising in unfavorable terms, the somewhat expensive manner in which the town is being supplied with a gas plant, aud although the critics have no champion like Mr Renal! to give public expression to their discontent, the uncomfortable feeling that all is not ns it should lie is (spreading and engages the attention of the burgesses to a far, greater extent than even the fortunes' of the illustrious street. Our own opinion on the gas question is that while the works are incomplete they cannot he fairly judged, In a few weeks' time they will bo finished, and then if wo gel really good gas we shall bo more contented to have paid a stiff price for it. It, on tho other hand, wo got an indifferent article at a high price the public will be fully justified in condemning the administration of the Borough Couucil, At the present time no advantage can be obtained by intervening on this question, but the changes which the introduction of gas am likely to bring about in Masterton might with profit lie considered at the present juncture, Gas has virtually divided the town into an inner populous circle, which is fairly well defined by the recent pipe laying, and a larger outer circle, which is sparsely peopled and which takes more interest in wheat, oats, and potatoes, than it does in gas, Masterton, as far as its interests are concerned is already to all intents and purposes divided into a town and a country ward, and the time has now arrived when the division should be formally registered according to the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Ajt. We believe that the general opinion is that the town should be parcelled out into three wards, two of them to be urban districts, and to be surrounded by the , third, a suburban ward, If mora than three wards are thought to be necessary, instant action would have to bo taken, as the amended Act of last session will come almost immediately into operation, and under it only three wards are legalised ia small Boroughs. We believe, however, that three wards, each returning three Councillors, would work well enough, and if some discontented ratepayer will take the trouble to get hold of a few signatures, the long threatened sub-division will be accomplished. About 120 names are required to bring about the change, and this number could be very readily obtained in the present state of affaire. We think the introduction of gas is an opportune time for the division of the Borough. This division must inevitably occur sooner or later, and it would bo as well to decide it now while public attention is engaged on Borough matters. It is almost, we think, the duty of the Mayor and Council to advise the burgesses that if they desire more than three wards in tho town instant and immediate action is necessary to secure the chance.