WANGANUI JOTTINGS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1400, 28 March 1912, Page 3

WANGANUI JOTTINGS.

tßy Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.)

Wanganui, March 27;

The Education Uoa.nl litis accepted a tender of ,03129 for the erection of new offices in the Avenue.

The building trade is very brisk here at present, a- largo number of ..business and private premises being in the course of erection.

Considerable speculation is being indulged in as to the ideality of the person who inspired the Public Works Department to the beiicf expressed in a recent letter to the Borough Council that the work 011 the net.' traffic bridge was not being done satisfactorily. All inspection by the Government Ingii'.eev rcconlly completely satisfied him that all matters were as (hey should be and the first progress payment of ,£11!U lias already been made by the Department.

Long discussions were the order at last night's mcsting of the licrouuh Council which sat till a late hour. The chief item of importance was the borough engineer's reply to charges made against him by the ex-Mayor. Mr. Mackay, and the Council':. Committee. Consideration, l-...wev;r, was hold over till a special m-eat-ing next week, to enable councillor? to familiars? themselves with its contents. The engineer gives a lengtiiy and most exhaustive reply to the charges, quoting chapter and verse. Practically, he stal-.s, 11ml in a verv clear ana definite manner, that his actions have been under instruction and it is a very generally-expressed opinion lli-tt he has given his critics something they will heve great d'-jliculty in effectively reuiying i 1. The Borough Council has again lengthily iii-'cu.-scd the mailer ei' tender* for c0.'.l for the gas works, tlio borough solicitor advising that the c. .unci. v.a.- not bound to go on with the tender previously accepted which wa.s put in after Ihe others had been made public. The council, however, rescinded the resolution calling fresh tenders anil dedded to adhere to tho one previously accepted. It is staled that interesting developments are "likely to ensue, including a charge against tine councillor of having violated the Municipal Corporations Act 111 having voted 011 the matter in spile of the fact that he has an alleged pecuniary interest in it.

To a deputation from tho Tramway Virion which protested against the appointment of -a ticket inspector from outside the staff, thus barring the latter's way to promotion, th- 1 }!ercugh Council lias replied that in view of the --pjeial circumstances of the case it would adhere to its decision, but whenever passible all promotions would he made from within the stall.