MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8515, 21 August 1907, Page 7

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

ORDINARY .MEETING. -The ordinary meeting of the Masterton Borough Council, last evening, was attended by the Mayor (Mr J. M. Coradine), and Crs J. H. Pauling, J. Elliott, F. W. Temple, A. Haughey, W. Morris, W. Pragnell, J. V C. Ewiagton, J. Prentice and J. Yarr. The Secretary of the Masterton Technical School -wrote stating that the Managers would be willing to the plumbers' examinations at their, own cost on the understanding expressed in .the Council's letter of July sth, viz., that the Council pay an annual subsidy of £25 in aid of the cost »af lighting and heating the school .class-rooms. Mr W. G. Beard Avrote on behalf of Mr J. Macara, stating that he was not prepared to reduce the rate of interest ("4 per .cent) to be paid by the Council on the money owing to Mr Macara for the Jand taken in connection with the -widening of Dixon Street. The Secretary of the Municipal Fire Brigade * wrote uijging the necessity for a new fire box and boiler for the "Jubilee"" -engine. The letter was referred to the Fire -'"Brigade Committee. Mr Chas. H. Payne wrote asking the Council to attend to .what he described as the impassable state of the footpath on the north side of Pine Street. The letter was referred to the Works Committee. Mr Hugh Jackson made a similar complaint respecting the street leading from Worksop Pvoad past his residence. The Council decided that itcould not do anything until f.he* whole street was opened up, after an amendment to spread some metal on the road had been lost. It was further decided to ask the Trust Lands Trustees to take steps to have the road opened through their property. A letter was received from Mr C. JJ. Savage (poundkeeper) asking for a refund of 18s, ah amount which he had lost on the sale of a horse in the pour.d. It was decide 1 to pay the amount. Mr John Smith wrote directing attention to the bad state of Cockburn Street at the rear cf his pre • mises. The matter was referred to <rf»the Worka Committee for consideration.

The Taratahi Water Race Committee^jfesdirecting the Council's attention to the fact that the water races on the abattoir site had not been cleaned out, and further that the noxious weeds growing within ten feet of the race had not been cut down. The Works Committee were instructed to attend to the matter. The Wairarapa South County Council wrote forwarding a copy of a resolution passed by that body objecting to the granting of timber cutting rights on the Forest Reserve on the western slope of the Tararua Ranges, and asking the Borough Council to support the objection. The Council decided to support the resolution of the South Wairarapa County. The Secretary of the St. Matthew s Church Vestry (Mr W. B. Chennells) wiote forwarding a cheque for the * amount due to the Council for asphalting a right-of-way at the back of Hamuli's Building, and asking the Council to endorse a deed in connection with the matter. The Council decided, after some discussion, to fix the seal of the Council to the deed. The Mayor and Cr Pauling were authorised to sign the deed.

A further letter was received from Mr J. Dawson, whose tender was accepted some months ago for the installation of an electric fire alarm service in Masterton, stating that there was still a misunderstanding concerning the specifications under which he tendered. The Council again decided to ask Mr Dawson to carry out his contract. The Council decided to accept the offer of Lands Trustees for a lease of the site for the public baths, and in addition to ask the Trustees for a right-of-way to the site from Queen Strest. Cr Pragnell reported that in connection with the widening of Villa Street he had seen Mr Fly, who was I Egreeable to give Bft 3n of his land | for the widening of the street pro-I vided the Council erected a picket

fence along the front of his section, j and did any gravelling that might be j required. The report was adopted. j Cr Temple asked that the Works Committee shoulJ take into consideration the matter of filling up the holes on the road in • Lincoln Road. The speaker also complained of the fact that several stones were beginning to come up above the road level in the newly-formed Cross Street after the stone crusher had been over it. , ,

QrJiiuling, in reply, said the were doing all they possibly could to improve the roads in the borough, but scarcity of funds would not allow of everything being done. He said it was the duty of the Engineer and the overseer to report to the Council anything that required 'loing to the roads. The Engineer said that his instruc- j tions were to take all the staff away from the works on the general account and push on with the loan work. J That had been done for the last two months. With regard to Cr Temple's complaint concerning |he stones in Cross Street the Engineer replied that this was caused by digging up a portion of the road to repair the water-pipes, which had been broken by the stone crusher. The Mayor and Cr Ewington were appointed a''committee to consider the tenders received for the shifting of a cottage in Hope Street. Cr Yarr moved in accordance with his notice of motion that the public convenience near the Post Office be removed. Cr Pragnell seconded the motion, which was lost after a discussion, only the mover and the seconder voting for the motion. It was resolved to hold a special meeting on Thursday evening, August 29th, to consider the estimates.