MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9123, 24 June 1908, Page 5

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

ORDINARY MEETING. The fortnightly meeting of thfl Masterton Borough Council was held last evening. There were present: The Mayor (Mr P. L. Hollings), and CrsJ. H. Pauling, J. Elliott, J. Hunter, A. Haughey, W. Morris, W. Pragnell, J. C. Ewington, J. Prentice and J. Yarr. The Committee appointed to inquire into the best means of leasing the Temperaive Boarding House in Lincoln road reported that they considered the best course to adopt was to submit the lease to public auction. The Council decided to adopt the Committee's report, and the Town Clerk was instructed to take the necessary steps to carry out the sale. The Mayor, when the Works Committee report was read, in moving its adoption, said he regretted that the Committee had decided not to set down a sum lor contingencies in the estimates. He said that even though last year .(he Council had set down £1,400 for contingencies they had found a difficulty in making ends m?et. He threw t'ie responsibility of the Committee's action entirely on them, ami tinid that he preferred a slightly increased rate to cheese-paring work, and perhaps absolute neglect of necessary works in cases. His Worship said he had the support of Cr Yarr at the mesting of the Committee in his endeavour to have a sum set apart for contingencies, and he regretted that such a provision had not been made. He Warned the Council that if the constable were overrun it would be the Committee's fault entirely. Cr Hunter disagreed with the Mayor's view of the position. He drew His Worship's attention to the fact that a good deal of the street loan money was superseding ordinary maintenance for the time being in many streets. He said that it was a question of whether the Council was to go on raising ai-d raising the rates for maintenance or practice a little more economising. He considered the streets were being thoroughly well catered fnr, and that the ratepayers had been generous to a degree. Cr Morris expressed sympathy with the views of Cr Hunter, though he recognised that the Mayor was perfectly entitled tj point out to the Council the fail result of the stip it had taken.

Cr Pauling said he was sorry that the Mayor had disclaimed responsibility in connection with the Committee's action. However, it was a fact that the very expenditure of the loan moneys meant that the maintenance work of the Borough was increasing in volume, and if Councillors only looked round the outskirts of the Borough they would be surprised to see the extent of the increased maintenance rendered necessary by newwork. The Mayor, in said that perhaps after all, a good effect might bo produced by the Committee's decision, in compelling the Council to keep within the limits of its rating powers. He trusted the optimistic ideas of the Committer would be realised. t The County Council wrote requesting that the Borough Council erect two new gas lamps at Lansdowne, one to replace a defective lamp, t'ne other a new lifrht, the. County to supply the posts and the cost for lighting to be at the rats, as usual, of £6 per year. • The Gas Committee had dsalt with this application, and had the' lamps erected, and after some discussion the action of the Comm ttes was approved. Mr R. J. Mclver wrote asking that tiie water mains be extended to his section in Jean street. The application was referred to the Works Committee, the Engineer being instructed to report oA the matter. Messrs Robinson and Hand-Newton, solicitors, wrote on behalf of Messrs Lyttle Bros, with reference to their claim for the widening of Smith street. The latter stated that, without prejudice, Messrs Lyttle Bros, were prepared to sell to the Borough the 16ft Gin of frontage required for the widening of the street at so much per foot, or for a fixed sum to be determined by arbitration. —The letter was referred to the Works Committee. The Secretary of the Wairarapa District Hospital Board wrote stating that a conference of the Mayors" and Chairmen of the several Boroughs, Counties and Town Boards in the district would be held on July Ist in the Masterton County offices to discuss the question of the proposed attaching to Wellington district of the Wairarapa Hospital District under the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Bill. —The Mayor was appointed the Council's delegate. A petition was lead from ratepayers and residents who were constant users of Chapel street footpath between the W.F.C.A. factory and Renall street, asking the Council to gravel the footpath, as its condition was now very floppy.—The matter was referred to the Works Committee. The Engineer was instructed to advertise particulars of the estimates for the year immediately. Cr Hunter moved that a legal opinion be obtained by the Council as to whpther the various loan accounts could be grouped under one account. The Mayor said that speaking as a member of the Council the Act was pretty clear to him that such could not be done. The motion was seconded, but was lost on the voices. WORKS AND FINANCE COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Works and Finance Committee was held on Tuesday. 16th inst. Present—Crs Pauling (in the chair), Elliott, Ewington, Haughey, Hunter, Morris, Pragqell, i Prentice. The Acting-Borough Treasurer submitted a statement of balances down to the 12th June, 1908, and laid his hank pass hooks upon the table. This statement showed an overdraft on District Fund Account of £6,(373 9s 7d, an overdraft on Loan Account of £Ol 3s lid, and that the outstanding rates at date thereof amounted to £B7O 4s sd. The Acting Town Clerk stated that informations were in course of preparation ir respect of the recoverable arrears with a view to enforcing payment. Cr Hunter moved, and Cr Elliott seconded, that four of the £25,000

Improvement Schedules be closed, leaving the whole of the loan mowey in one account, and that the necessary transfers be made lo the account that is already open. On the motion being put it was declared to be carried. The Acting-Town Clerk calling attention to section 92 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1900, the Chairman moved, and Cr Pragnell seconded, that the foregoing resolution being against the Act be rescind* ed. This was carried unanimously. The Acting-Town Clerk and Borough Engineer reported inter alia: --Agreeably to the instructions of the Borough Council the £IOO depos t of Mr Caselberg for the sewering oi Casel street has 1. ejn placed to Deposit Account for such work. In consideration of the Deposit the Boiough Council undertook to put in water mains and this work has been charged to the Waterworks Account. I understand from some members of the Borough, Council that it was the intention of the Council to ;harge the cost in the water mains to this Deposit Account. If that be so. I desire the Committee to me instructions to transfer the amount l'rom the Deposit Account to the water-works revenue. The woikof macadamising Q'.jeen street north is i approaching completion. With the exception of tarring and sanding the whole of the contemplated works of kerbing and channelling in Lincoln road have been completed, • «nd tar paving has been effected along the whole of the south side froip the intersection of Chapel street to the railway crossing. The whole of the tar paving has been completed on the north side between the intersection Queen and Villa streets, and there now only remains the tar pavirg between Villa street and Mr Daniell's factory. This will be carried out as opportunity offers. I estimate when this work has been carried to ultimate completion that the cost will work out seme £2OO below the estimated cost. If it proves to be so Ihi saving so effected will enable the Borough Council to give some other .street in the Borough ihe benefit. On the motion of Cr Morris, sec-' onded by Cr Elliott, it was resolved that Mr Caselberg's £IOO , lie returned frcm the Drainage Account to Waterworks Account, Cr Ewington dissenting, The report w.'.s adopted. * Cr Ewington moved, and Cr Haughey eecoi.ded, that it be a recommendation *o, the Council that Pine street and Lincoln road l<a laid down with broken metal. That the Engineer supply the Council with tie quantity of broken metal required' to complete the loan schedule in Pine street and Lincoln road, and the co. t of the work. The motion was carried.

A Reuter telegram was sub-' mitted, dated 13th June:—"Temple recommends purchasing £IOO gts fitting's, will you kindly sanction."Referred to Gas Committee with power to act. (The Gas Commit'ee later authorised Mr Temple to purchase the fitting ). Re . the'tar shed fire claim.—The Acting-Town Clerk reported that the North British Insurance Companyproposed to settle the claim of £ls by letting the work to Mr C. E. Daniel 1, who was prepared to make good the damage for £l2, and thtt the Company proposed to make good th'j damage done by letting the work io Mr Da'niell sut ject to thS same being carried out to the satisfaction of the Corporation! On the motiofi of Cr Pausing, it was resolved that .the Town Clerk make arrangements to have the matter settled. The Acting-Town Clerk (submitted the following tenders for raising the stop hank by the Waipoua river:— Gadsby and Bartlett, £7y 10s and £l4 10s; Wilkie Dowling, £99 and £8; Johnston, Stalker and Spackman, £BO and £6. The tender of Gadsby and Bartlett was accepted. ) At the adjourned meeting on Friday evening there were present the I Mayor and Councillors Elliott, Ewington, Hunter, Morris, Pragnell, Prentice and Yarr. A report of the Select Committee, consisting of Councillors Elliott, Ewington, Hurt r, Pauling and Pragne'll, dated the 19th June, in the following terms was submitted and received:—''We recommend Works Committee not to include a sum for contingencies." On the motion of Cr Ewington, seconded by Cr Hunter, it was resolved that the report of the sub-com-mittee be adopted. Cr Ewington moved, and Cr Pragnell seconded, that the Works Committee recommend the Council to strike out the whole amount for contingencies. This was carried, the Mayor and Cr Yarr voting against. The draft of the estimated expenditure of the Masterton Burough Council General Rate Account, for a period down to 31st March, 1909, was further considered, and on the motiqn of Cr Morris, seconded by Cr Hunter, it was resolved to adopt the estimates as altered, and that the Common Seal of the Borough Council be affixed thereto. The Mayor and Cr Yarr voting against. The reports were adopted by the Council.