MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7985, 14 March 1906, Page 5

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

ORDINARY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the JWasterton Borough Council, held last evening, was presided over by the Mayor, the other membera; present being Ors J. H. Pauline;, J. Elliott, F. W. Temple, W. Morris, J. 0. Ewiugton, E. Feist, E/ McEwen, T. G. Hoar, and E. G. Eton. The General Manager of Railways wrote replying to the Council's lette regarding the rates on imported coal as compared with those on New Zealand coal. By direction of the Minister for Railways he informed the Council that for years past it bad been tho practice of '.he Railway Department to make a concession in favour of local produots wheie suoh products were at least equal to the imported article, and the colony as a whole had been very largely benefitted by that policy. Newcastie coal was charged at the classified rates for Class "N," and New Zealand anthracite coal, which was admitted to be superior to Newcastle coal, was charged Class "B." Aa the latter coal could readily .be obtained in large quantities throughout the colony, the Minister regretted that he could not see his way to make any alteration in the existing rates or to place foreign, coal on the same footing as the local product. The letter was received. In reply to the Town Clerk's letter enquiring as to bow the charge for upkeepingthe Borough valuation roll was arrived at, the ValuerGeneral replied that the cost of the upkeep of the roll' for the year had to be borne in* equal parts by the fiooal Bodies, the Land and Income Tax Department, and the Valuation Department, as per regulations under the Government Valu* ation of Land Acts, and under , these regulations the Valuer-General fixed the amounts to be paid. The letter was referred to the Finance Committee. The Master ton Football Club wrote applying for the use of the Park Oval for matches, and the adjoining plot for practice purposes, during the ensuing season. A farther application was made for the u«e of the Oval to play a match with the Wellington Old Boys Club on Easter Saturday. The applications were, referred to the Park Committee with power to act. An application from MrT. Hounslow to have the gas extended to bis premises in Chapel Street was referred to the Gas Committee.

The Masterton Muuicipal Fire Brigade was granted their last quarterly grant of £2l ss. On tbe motion of Cr Feist, seconded by Or Ewington, the Mayor and Town Clerk were deputed to interview owners of property in York Street with a view to obtaining from them 16ft Gin of land on each side of the street for the purpose of widening the street. A report is to be plaoed before the next meetiug. I The Engineer was instructed to I prepare plans and specifications for a stop bank at the Waipoua River, at the rear of the Park, and submit to the next meeting of the Oounoil, Or Elliott moved that the Engineer be instructed not to do any private professional work while in tbe servioe of tbe Council.

Gr Pauling seconded the motion, and thought that the. proposal was a step in the right direotio n., The Mayor stated that unless the Council were unanimous that the matter should be discussed at that meeting, it wotdd require a notice of motion before the, question oould be disoussed. As there was one "no" (Cr Hoar), on the proposal, "that the question be discussed now/'the matter was allowed to drop, and in order to reopen it a notioe of motion is required. Gr Ewingtan brought up the question of oloaer settlement in the Masterton. distriot by moving "that this Counoil urge the Government to acquire land in the vioinity of Masterton for the purposes of closer settlement." In doing so, be stated that other towns were petitioning the Government for the same purpose, and if Masterton wisbed to hold up "their end of the stick" they would have to move in the matter, and there was no doubt that the town would go ahead if the estates in the vicinity of Masterton were cut up. The properties around the town were well adapted for the purposes of closer settlement, and it behoved the Council to go (o work at once. Gr Eton, wjhile seconding the motion, realised the importance of the movement. The Mayor stated that the matter had been on his mind for some time past and it was a scheme that the local br.anoh of the Liberal and Labour Federation had in view. There would be a meeting of that body in a few days and then the matter would be fully discussed. Or Pauling stated that he was very pleased that the question had been brought up and it would be in the best interests of the town for the Council to take up the matter. The motion was carried unanimously. Cr Hoar's notice of motion "that the servioes of the Borough Ergineer be dispensed with in three 'months from date" then came on. The Mayor read the following Standing Order, which, be said had a direct bearing on the position:— "No Councillor shall speak to any motion or amendment, nor shall any motion or amendment be discussed or put to the vote of the Council or recorded ou the minutes until it has been seconded." The Major explained that under that Standing Order, Cr Hoar oould only formally move his motion, but he could not speak to it until it had been seconded. Or Hoar offered some to the introduction of that Standing Order, as, he stated, it had never been enforced in the Counoil previously. He thought he had a perfect right to explain his reasons for giving the notiaeof motion, and if it was thought that he was going to speak of the Engineer personally, it was a mistake. He, however, abided by the Mayor's ruling, and formally moved his motion. There was no seconder, and the meeting adjourned.- '