MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7963, 14 February 1906, Page 6

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

ORDINARY MEETING. ____ The fortnightly meeting of the Masterton Borough Council was held last evening. Tbe Mayor presided, and there were also iu attendance— Ora MoEwen Feist, Ewiugton, Eton, Hoar, Temple, Elliott, Morris, and Pauling. The Chamber of Commerce wrote enquiring wnat had bean done hi the'matter oi! improving the northern approaoh to Masterton, since the question was eonie time ago referred to the Boioush and County • Engineers. The Town Clerk said that he had already replied to the effect that the matter wab bt ill in the hands of the Eugineers, and as yet uothiug had been done. The Mayor stated that it rested with tbe County pounr.il to forward tho matter, and "to see what was being done by that body he would wait upon them at their next meeting. In reply tc a letter from I he Council, the Chamber of Commerce advised that at their last meeting a resolution had beeu passed directing the iVJiuiatir of Railways' attention to the -maunor in winch country towns are handicapped by differential • tarifts, including imported coal. The letter went on to state thnt in view of the importance of the questions other country chambers were being asked to support the representations being made. A letter was received from the Lower Hutt Borough Council stating that the Council was about to inaugurate a system of sewerage drainage, incorporating the septic tank sysiera, which necessitated the site for the septic tank beiug obtained in the adjoining borough of Petone, and tbe Petone Borough Council, having -become aware of their intention, bad written a very strong letter of protest, and specially mentioned tbe Masterton Borough system, intimating that it had proved a failure. The letter concluded by a&kiDg the Council to ad.viae 89 to the manner in which the Masterton Borough tank was answerlag the purposes for which it was .designed. The Mayor stated that, Hi far as the Council was conearned, the tank had done everything that was claimed for it since tbe tank had been cleaned out. It was the Council's duty to contradict any statement that had gone abroad to the effect that the septic tank was a failure. It was decided to reply to the Lower Hutt Council to the effect that, so far as Masterton is conoerned, the tank was a success, and further to invite the Councillors of that borough to inspect the septic tank. A communication was received from the Wairarapa Employers' Association stating that the Holidays Committee bad deoided to recommend tbe Mayor to proclaim a halfholiday from noon on Wednesday, February 21st, the second day of the Show, and on Thursday, March Btb, Hospital Floral Fete day. The Mayor Btated that /there was no ob jeotion to this recommendation. Mrs A. 0. Morgan wrote stating that she was quite willing to allow the Council to acquire Bft 3in of her frontage for the widening of Villa Street on the conditions set forth in her letter to the Council at their last meeting, in lieu of the 6ft therein mentioned. The letter was referred to the Works Committee. The joint secretaries of the Hospital Floral Fete and Garden Part/ made application for the use of the Park On March Bth for tbe afternoon, and evening, with the right to charge for admission. The letter was referred to the Park Committee. A letter was received from H. Johnson, of Villa Street, strongly complaining of the manner in which cows were allowed to roam about that locality, and asking the Council to do their best to abate the nuisance. The Mayor stated tbht be, believed that the Ranger was attending satisfactorily- to his duties . at present. It was deoided to reply to the writer that as far as the Council was concerned everything wap being done satisfactorily in the matter mentioned. . The Chamber of Commeroe wrote drawing the Council's attention to the necessity of making provision for public conveniences in the town. Another lotter from the' same body requested tbe Council to consider the question of making provision for bicycle tracks in the principle streets, also the necessity of regulating the speed for motor cycles and motor cars, and licensing the drivers of the latter. It was reported that urinals were now op order. Concerning the cycle tracks, the Mayor was of opinion that when the loan money was expended on the streets there would be no need for any cycle track. The Town Clerk stated that until the borough had a population of 5,000 there could be no check on the speed of motor .cars or bioyoles, nor could the drivers be registered. A petition' was received from several owners of property abutting on Michael Street asking the Council to widen the street from its present width of 40 feet to 66 feet. They were willing to give the Council 13 feet of their land on each . ' side of tbe street line, prvided the Council would re-fence the sections, and make the footpaths, and. form the street. ,Tbe matter was referred to the Works Committee. H. R. Wood wrote asking the Council to temporarily transfer the auctioneer's iicenue held by him to J. B. Moodie. The Wellington School Commissioners wrote informing tho Council that complaints having been received from, the Commissioners' tenants of section 104, block 1, Otahoua, as to the Ouuncil having interfered with their accefs, and, also,, having cut up a portioh of the landby taking a traction engine over it, the Commissioner considered that full access should be given in the meantime)to the tenants at present occupying the Jand (which it is proDosed to vest In the Council as soon as the Decessary legislation was passed), and that if the Council proposed entering for any purposes upon the said land the consent, oi the tenants should be obtained.. Since the Commissioners'meeting, tbe letter stated that information had been received from Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.R., to the effect tha

the tenants had been provided with a key for the gate, which the Council bad placed across the road; also, that tbe traction eugiuc was used to remove a stump (deposited by a flood) which was injuring the river banks. The letter was referred back to the Park Committee. The reports of the Works, Abattoir and Park Committees, were adopted. Cr Temple moved, and Cr McEwen seconded, that the present arrangements with the Borough Solicitor be terminated at the end of the present fin uncial year, March 31st. The motion' was carried. Cr Feist moved, and Cr Eton seconded, that tbe various owners of property whose trees overlap the fences of their property, be given notice to trim tbe trees within 14 days. The motion was carried. It was decided to allow thb Press to be present at all meetings of the whole Council, as a Committee. Cr Morris gave notice to move, at the next meeting of the Council, that the Engineer's salary be raised by £SO. The mooting then adjourned.