MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3163, 14 April 1909, Page 6

MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

FINANCE COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Finance Committee of the Masterton County Council was held yesterday morning. •There were present: —Cis. W. J. Welch (chairman), Foreman and Miller. In the absence of the chairman of the Finance Committee (Cr Eebbell), the County chairman was appointed to preside. The minutes *<of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Tne Treasurer reported:—Bank General Fund Account to March 31st, 1909, dr., £145 Os sd; Local Bodies Loans Account, cr., £1,243 15s 6d; credit balance, £1,254 9s sd; receipts since March 9th, £7,161 3s 9d. The chairman moved, and Cr Foreman seconded—"That it be a recommendation to the Council to approve of the refund of £1 10s 5d to Mr A. C. Major in respect of rates and contributions to water supply fur the two years ended March 31st, 1908, in accordance with the terms of his letter," which was carried. On the motion of the "chairman, second by Cr Miller, it was decided "That this Committee recommends the Council to advis« the Department of Roads that the Council m t.if. art a to expend the balance, (£4l 17s?, £1 for £1) of the £3OO grant for the <)paki district. MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Council was held in the afternoon. There ■were present-Crs W. J. Welch {chairman), J. Morris, C. C. Kebbell, J. Milier, D. W. Foreman, J. Colquhoun. Leave of absence wa-j granted to Crs Beetbam and Murray. {§ ■ Mr C. E. Gill wrote asking the Council to expend his tnirds and rates in improving the approach to Boustead's bridge. It was reported that the matter had already been s decided to be done, and the letter was referred to the representatives of the riding to take action. » Mr H. W. Lee, of Weraiti, wrote Asking the Council for assistance to metal the road to his section. Cr Morris moved, and Cr Miller seconded, that, assistance be given, subject to the approval of the Engineer, which was carried. • The Chief Engineer of Roads wrote asking if the Council proposed to expend the Pori road grant balance of £ls. , On the motion of Cr Kebbell, it was decided to inform the Engineer that the Council intended to spend Che grant. A. E. Clarke, Kopuaranga, wrote stating that as he was the puccessful tenderer for Jackson's road he was willing to undertake the maintenance of the Masterton portion of the same road for a period of twelve months. On the motron of Cr Foreman, seconded by the chairman, it was decided that the Council could not see its way to let the road by contract. The Receiver of Land Revenue advised the remittance of £BB 9s "Ud, hypothecated thirds. The Valuer-General wrote drawing attention to the provisions of the Counties Act, 1908, section 117, in connection with the striking oi rates.

The Secretary to the Treasury wrote stating that the Council's application for a further loan of £l4O for metalling Wangaehu riding, and £3OO for metalling and bridge building on the East Coast road had been , provisionally approved. The Valuer-General wrote notifying the Council that the Te Whiti and Wainuioru rolls could be left open for inspection until 16th inst. The Wellington and Wairarapa Charitable Aid Board forwarded the -amount of .the Council's contribution to the Board for 1909—1910, the total being £362 16s in quarterly instalments of £9O 14s. Mr Josef Taucher wrote stating that he was prepared to sell for £6O a piece of land for the purpose of making a road connection between Kuripuni and Cockburn streets. It was reported that the matter bad been reported to the Borough Council, for their opinion on the price asked. The County Clerk submitted a letter containing the provisions of "The Local Authorities Superannuation Act, 1908," which was passed last session for "the"] purposa of enabling any local authority to establish a fund for the benefit of persons in the service of any local authority.

A Committee, consisting of Crs Toogood, Kebbell, Miller and the chairman, were appointed to go into the matter. Mr G. Laing-Meason waited on the Council and reported that the contracts in connection with the OpakiLansdowne water supply scheme were progressing satisfactorily. Regarding site for pumping station on Mr J. L. Murray's property at Lansdowne, the Engineer, stated that the chairman and himself had interviewed Mr Murray in the matter, and had come to a satisfactory arrangement, which,was much cheaper for the Council, and would suit them just as well, without inconveniencing Mr Murray.