MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8991, 28 November 1907, Page 5

MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Master? ton County Council was hbld, yesterday morning, there being presenters C. E. Cockburn-Hood, W. J. Welch, J. Morris, H. 0. Toogood, J. Colquhoun, C. Kebbell, R. F. Beetham, and A. Murray. On the motion of Cr CockburnHood, seconded by Cr Murray, Cr Welch was elected chairman for the ensuing year. The chairman returned thanks for his elec ion. The whole council were, appointed a works and finance committee; three to form a quorum. Crs Beetham, Colquhoun and Welch were, appointed to represent the Council on the Wairarapa District Hospital Board; Cr Morris and Mr R. T. Holmes and Mrs Cairns on the North Wairarapa Benevolent Society, and Cr Welch at the -election of a representative to the Wellington and Wairarapa United District Charitable Aid Board. - . ORDINARY MEETING. The Council met subsequently for the transaction of ordinary business, Cr Welch presiding. 4 A notice was received from the Stock Inspector (Mr D. Elliott) requiring the council to clear the broom from the beds of the Waingawa and Ruamahanga rivers in accordance with section 18 of "The Noxious Weeds Act." The clerk said that he gathered from an opinion of Mr T. F. Martin, counsel to the New Zealand Counties' Association, that the Council could not legally be compelled to clear noxious weeds in river beds unless such noxious weeds were impeding the flow of water. He recommended the council to forward a copy of the opinion to the Stock Inspector. This recommendation was adopted. The Pahiatua County Council wrote asking whether the Masterton Council would be prepared to contribute the cost of opening a road in the Pahiatua county to the property of Mr R. Collins, who is a ratepayer of the Masterton county. The request was granted, and the matter of how muih should be spent on the work was left in the hands of the representative of the riding. It was decided to grant the request ot the Eketahuna County-Council for free passes for their overseer, and roadmen through- the Tawataia tollgat6' . A petition was received from sixteen settlers of Whareama requesting the council to take the necessary steps to have the Langdale cemetery reserve vested under the control of the council. - The petitioners considered that the time had arrived when a cemetery should be opened in the district. The council decided to write to the Colonial Secretary asking him to . take steps to have the cemetery opened, and Messrs H. Morrison, T. Cripps, and G. Fellingham appointed trustees. The Pahiatua County Council wrote approving of the proposed motor-car by-laws adopted by the Masterton Council. The engineer was instructed to call I tenders for metalling the AlfredtonWeber road as snon as the ratepayers' consent to the £I,OOO loan for the work is fully signed. The engineer was also instructed to invite tenders for metalling the East Coast road as soon as the £I,OOO grant is available. It was resolved to appoint Mr James Thrupp ranger for the Alfredton riding. The Council decided to take steps to legalise the Wangaehu deviation and close the old road.