MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8990, 27 November 1907, Page 6

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

ORDINARY MEETING

The Mayor (Mr J. M. Coradine) presided at the ordinary meeting of the Masterton Borough Council last evening. There were also presenters J. H. Pauling. J. Elliott, F. W. Temple, A. Haughey, W. Morris, J. C. Ewington, J. Prentice and J. Yarr. It was resolved'to hold a special meeting of the council on Thursday, December sth, to meet Mr J. A. Gilruth, Chief Government Veterinarian, who is anxious to discuss with the council the question of the drainage of the abattoir. A notice, was received from the Sanitary Inspector requiring the council to connect the corporation stables in Church Street and the firebrigade custodian's cottage with the drainage system. It was decided to connect the cottage with the system, and the works committee were instructed to report upon the sdvisableness of either shifting the stables to the corporation yards in Hope Street or building new stables on the latter site. Crs W. Morris and J. C. Ewington and Mrs R. Kean were re-appointed as representatives of the council on the North Wairarapa Benevolent Society for the ensuing year. It was resolved to accept an invitation to be present at the presentation of the citizens' testimonial to Mr R. Brown, towr. clerk, on Thursday evening. An application by Mr P. Gordon, for a water supply to his residence in South Road, was granted on the usual conditions.

Ths acting-engineer reported that he estimated the cost of extending th? water to Jeans' Estate, as applied for by Mr W. S. Lett, at £<7. The revenue that would be derived from this extension would be £6 15s per annum. The matter was referred to the engineer and chairman of the works committee to report upon. A letter was received from the Chamber of Commerce asking at what time it would be convenient for the committee already appointed by. the Council to consider the northern approach question to meet a committee from the chamber. It was resolved to ask the secretary of the Chamber of Commerce to convene a meeting of the two committees at any suitable time.

A communication was received from Mr G. Norman resigning his position as driver of the Jubilee fire engine from December 7th. The Fire Brigade Committee of the Council \va3 given pnwer to act in the appointment of a successor. An application from Mr A. J. Giddings for permission to erect a septic tank on his property in Renall Street was granted subject to the usual conditions. Mr J. Rose wrote asking the Council to extend the kerbing for a further half chain to the end of his property in Renall Street. It was decided to carry out the work provided there is sufficient money le ?t on the loan schedule for it. The council resolved to relieve Messrs Morris and Sons of their lease of one of the paddocks at the abattoir, and. the acting-town clerk was instructed to enquire into the legal position of the leases held by butchers at the abattoir. Cr Yarr moved that the rate of pay of casual labourers on the borough staff be raised from Is to Is lJd an hour. A petition from the men to this effect had. he said, been presented to the works committee, but for some reason no recommendation had been made. Cr Ewington seconded the motion. He said the cost of living had largely increased in Masterton during recent years, and wages were being advanced all round. Cr Pauling said the woiks committee felt that the question was too big for the committee to deal with. It should be taken up by the whole council. Cr Temple said the principle of the motion —to make the minimum rate of pay for borough employees 9s per day—was wrong. There were certainly some men who were worth 9s per day, and they should get it, hut there were others who were only ' worth 7s per day. After further discussion, an amendment moved by Cr Temple and seconded by Cr Haughey, that the matter should be referred to the ! acting-engineer and the chairman of the works committee (Cr Pauling), was carried. Cr Prentice mentioned the desirability of engaging Mr W. Miller to look after the intakes at the head of the water works, and the matter was referred to the acting-engineer and Cr Pauling, with power ot act. Cr Morris moved:—"That the finance be instructed to enquire into and report fully upon the, way in which the special rates for" Bannister Street and the drainage loans, and the water rates, have been charged this year, with a view