THE NORTHERN APPROACH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3091, 13 January 1909, Page 5

THE NORTHERN APPROACH.

AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE,

PRELIMINARY AGREEMENT BETWEEN BOROUGH AND COUNTY COUNCILS. EQUAL BURDEN OF COST OF IMPROVEMENT. On Monday evening an important advance was made in respect of the improvement of the northern approach, when a conference of representatives of the .Masterton Borough and County Councils was held in the County offices, and agreements regarding various points arrived at. The conference was attended by Crs VV. J. Welch, County Chairman (who occupied ttie chair), D. W. Forman, J. Miller, J. Morris, H. 0. Toogood and R. F. Beet ham (County Councillors), and Crs J. H. Pauling, J. Prentice and J. Hunter (Borough. Councillors), and the Town Clerk (Mr W. T. Mansfield). Cr Hunter apologised for the unavoidable absence of the Mayor (Mr P. L. Hollings) and Cr J. C. Ewington, and wished the meeting to be postponed, as he knew that the Mayor was particularly desirous of being present. Cr Prentice wished the meeting to recommend the formulation of a scheme of improvement by the respective engineers of the County and Borough. The Chairman stated that the County Council was unlikely to move in the matter until some definite understanding had been agreed upon as to the share of the cost of the work to be borne by each of the local bodies concerned. He moved, "That in the opinion of this conference, the cost of improving the northern approach to Masterton, when undertaken, be borne in equal proportions by the County of Masterton and the Borough of Masterton, and an agreement under seal to that effect be entered into." Cr Pauling seconded the motion, which was carried. The question of formulating a scheme of improvement was then discussed. ' The Chairman said that if the Masterton Borough Council ratified the resoltion of the conference, the County Council would direct its enKineerty prepare s jsehem? Q i improvement, submit the samA tQ the Borough Engineer, and furnish an estimate of the cost. Cr Toogood moved tha* it was the opinion of the conference, that in the event of any scheme of improvement not; being proceeded with, the cost of all the preliminary expenses incurred to date of abandonment, be borne equally by the two Councils. This was seconded by Cr Hunter and carried. At the meeting of the County Council yesterday afternoon the report of the conference was adopted.