EKETAHUNA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3288, 21 August 1889, Page 2

EKETAHUNA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) At the meeting of the Eoad Board on Monday last, Mr Bright drew attention to the disgraceful state of the Eketahuna pound. Several gentlemen present spoke strongly on the subject. From what I could gather, there is neither feed box nor rack in the pound, which has been built in a swamp. Cattle placed in it are up to their bellies in the sludge, j It is impossible for them to lay down, as, if they did, they would very likely get smothered. I hear that one beast had beeu standing in that iness for fourteen days, the feed being thrown in to it. The poundkeeper seems to be quite helpless in the mate, He had written to the County Council on tho subject, but the Council stated tliej had no funds to gravel the pound. Tho constablo has decided that for the future he will take proceedings under the Cruelty to Animak Act if tho pound is not altered, It was eventually decided by the Board to make strong representations to the County Council with a view to getting the pound improved. Borough Council The • ordinary fortnightly meeting of tho Masterton Borough Council was held on Tuesday night. Present—The Mayor, Crs Perry, Cullen, Eton, Gapper, Heron, Chamberlain, Dixon, Hessey, and Fitton. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CUUItCU CONCERTS. Mr :6. (Joker wrote, drawing the attention of the Council to a concert recently held at the Presbyterian Church, and inquiring whether the building was licensed as a place of; publio entertainment.

Cr Eton said he understood that the entertainment alluded to had only been for school children.

The Mayor asked. whether a charge had been made at the door, and was informed that an entry fee of Is had been demanded.

The Town Clerk stated that lie had written to Wellington for infoiv mation on the subject, and ascertained that ill buildings thero that were used for entertainments of a similar charaoter were licensed, Ho had drawn the attention of the Church authorities to the state of the law, but up to that time no reply had been received,

Ihe Mayor said ho was certainly surprised to hear this, and moved that a formal notice be sent to all the Church trustees in Masterton.

Tho motion was seconded by Cr Gapper. .

Cr Chamberlain though that it would not be advisable to ohargo a licensing fee, He believed the entertainment in question had been given in aid of tho funds of the Sunday School Library. The motion was agreed to, RIVER imUTION.

The Clerk of the Wairarapa North County Council wrote, asking that tho Inspector of Nuisances might be instructed to report on the alleged pollution of tho Waipoua river. Ct Heron said no nuisance had been particularised, and he would therefore move that tho letter bo ordered to be laid on the table.

The Mayor understood that the nuisance complained of was caused by the refuse from flax being thrown or washed into the river. If that were so, they should not altogether discontinue it. The Town Clerk read a letter from Mr J, Williams, seoretary of the Wairarapa Angler's Association calling attention to the destruction of fish by the flax refuse washed into the rivers. Tho motion was adopted, VERANDAH, • The application of Messrs J, Graham & Co for permission to orect a verandah on two sides of their premises in Queen and Bannisterstreets, was considered at some length and the report of tho Works Conu mittee, recommending that permission bo given to erect a verandah in Queen street only, was adopted. GAS COMMITTEE. Upon the Gas Committee's report (already published) being brought up, a discussion took placo upon the gas question, Cr Fitton remarking that there was a mistake in the figures supplied by the manager, as the increase during the first sixteen days of the month had not been -1000 ft, but 17,000. Tho report was adopted. THE DIIILL SHED. The Committee appointed to inspect the Drill Shed to asoortain whether it was a-fit building to be licensed for publio entertainments, reported adversely to a license being granted, and were supported in this view by the report of the Inspector of buildings. The report was adopted. NUISANCW. Tho Inspector of Nuisances presented an interim report, informing the Council that ho had not yet finished the inspection of premises, and stating that so far he had not found any very serious nuisances.

Mr E. Kibblewhite wrote drawing attention to the existence of a pool of water opposite iris premises in Bannister street, which he believed was caused by a leak in the pipe leading to the gas tank. From a discussion it appeared that the pipes referred to had not been jointed, having been only laid end to end,

Ct Fitton moved that tbc gas manager be instructed to lift the flood gate in Bannister-street whenever the tank is full,

Seconded by Or Dixon and carried,

LIBHARY committee; The report of the Library Committee (already published), was read and adopted. It was resolved that the Committee ascertain the cost of roofing the private part of the Institute building with iron, and report at next meeting. BUILDING REGULATION'S. _ Tho Surveyor wrote drawing attention to several instances in which the regulations had not been complied with. Tho Mayor said that in most cases where buildings were put up, the first thing they knew of it was that the buildiug was there. Thesis ought to be submitted before asp building was started,

It was resolved that fourteen days notice to comply with the regulations be given in each iustance. CrJfittou moved, and Cr Dixon seconded, that notice be sent to Messrs l'etrie and Hockley that if they did not comply with the regulation within seven days, proceedings will bo taken against .them without further notice.—Carried.

THE CLOACA MAXIMA. Cr Gapper moved that the Works Committee bo instructed to draw up a report upon the best means of abating the nuisance caused by tho creek betweon Chapel street and the eastern side of Queon street. Ho thought the Committee might wait upon the Town Lands Trustees, who are owners of the property, and consult them on tho subject. Cr Eton seconded the motion. Tho Mayor pointed out that Council had brought the water down' that stream, and, that being the case, it appeared to him that it was the duty of the Council to deal with it.

Cr Gapper hardly thought that the Council lmd created the stream, as a considerable quantity of water always came down in winter. He thought that the Council, the Town Lands Trustees, and the lessee should carry out the necessary works together. •' J* Tlio Major thought the question was not 0110 for the Works Committee but for the Council. He would, however, offer no objection to do what Cr Gapper suggested. Or Hessey said if the laud were his ho would .only ho too glad to coperate to havo the section levelled. The motion was carried. drainage. Cr Gapper moved that the Works Committee bo instructed to report on the drainage of Chapel street, thence into Perry street, and thence into Queen street. /1 The motion was seconded byCr\» Dixon and carried. \

KIMS BHIGADE HOURS. Cr Dixon drew attention to tho apparently very late hours kept at the Municipal Firo Brigade Station by some of the members. They were burning wood and gas at the expensa of the Council, He thought they might look into the matter a little. Crs (Japper and Fitton, as well as • the Mayor, thought the members of the Brigade were doing a very useful apfr. thing by being at the station as v much as possible, and the matter was then allowed to drop.

QUEEN STREET FLUMINO, The Mayor movod that the sum of 40s be voted to recoup Mr Hooper the money he had to expend in completing a section of the fluming in Queen-street, Cr Cullen seconded the motion. Cr Heron thought it was somewhat cool on the part of the Mayor to come and ask thorn for money to pay for work which he himself had over anJ$A over again promised to do at his expense. Tho flnmmg that did exist was disgracefully leaky throughout.

The Mayor did not think the fluming was leaky, Ho thought that a great injustice had been done Mr Hooper, because ho had not only to pay this, hut the Council had also out off tho water and saddled him as well as other ratepayers with heavior ratos of insurance.

The resolution was put and lost on. the voices. The Mayor explained that Mr Nicholson had offered to put down ® fluming in front of his premises in Queen-street. By extending the fluming toMr Nicholson's they would get a good placo by malting use of an offer mado by Mr T. C, 'Williams to lill the water cart there in summer. He moved that tho sum of £1 bo voted for tho work.

Cr Cullen seconded tho motion. 'lhe rosqhition was put and a,.division taken as follows Ayes, 3W The Mayor, and Crs Eton ainr Cullen, Noes, 7.—Crs Cliamborlain, Fitton, Hessey, Dixon, Heron, Gapper and Perry.- . The resolution was therefore lost. This concluded the businoss, and tho Council adjourned.

An Unhappy PlightThe following characteristic letter : from an Auckland member has been received by an Anokland resident i " Business in the House is in an unhappy plight. Tho country is requiring tho most tender political J care, many of its inhabitants dis- * tressed ; while their representatives 1 are squabbling and beating the air over matters that ought to cause little trouble between parties willing to meet each other in a sincere effort to bring about a reasonabla compromise. To speak plainly I feel as if this session is a huge and costly farce. by the good wo aro likely to do,W honoraria and tho cost of assembling us would do the taxpayers more service if spent in the erection of muchneeded school buildings. Our House is curiously mixed. Perhaps because of my ignorance of Parliamentary tactics, or that I have expected too much from myself and fellow members, I am disappointed with' my political experiences. Platform'and busting pledges have become receding echoes wlnlo we present the spectacle of a political blend, incapable of doing such work as the best of our peoplo know to be necessary, and yet we are not bad enough to make them denounce our shortcomings as they t ought. While the people of New Zealand are content to form a Parliament having such an incoherent mixture of political sentiment, political action will necessarily be vague and utterly wanting in the power to break through tho rigid barriers with which the governing traditions of Wellington have guarded tbemsekfcs against inconvenient reforms. Diifflg the past week a wonderful talking power has been evolved from our city brothers. I do not mean to suggest in the slightest degree a Pentecostal touch affecting their hearts when I say that men usually silent, have become as those filled with new wine. Some of the speecbos have been good, but in the main the quality of our spouting diarrhoea- has been mixed (minus the gold and silver) as the material composing the image that troubled the dreaming Nebuchadnezzar."