MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9608, 30 September 1909, Page 5

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING.

The ordinary meeting ofth^Mas- \ terton Boiough Council was held last \ evening. There were present:—-The Mayor (Mr P. L. Hillings), and ' Ob W. Morris, J. Prentice. R. Rigg, J. C. Ewington, W. Pragnell, F. W. Temple, T. G. Hoar, .las. Elliott and J. H. Pauling. The Borough Engineer submitted 'a lengthy report on the excessive I amount of liquid that was entering the septic tank at the sewage dis- \ posal works which was due to the j admission of sub-soil water into the I sewers. In Cole street extension he had located some of the pointd where it was Hvident a large body of the sub-soil water entered, and sinking, had patched and closed the holes. He thought it advisable to make an effort to continue to work the sewer until it could be replaced. Notwithstanding the strain on the installaJ tion the town's sewage was able to be treated without causing any nuisance. The lower portion of the farm had been prepared and was now in crop with tares, which he proposed to cut green for the feeding of the ' Borough's horses, and any surplus I would be disposed of. I The report was, adopted. I Mr J. W. Blackman, Gas Engineer I for the Borough, wrote asking for permission to practice privately, or that In view of a refusal he receive an increase in salary. The Mayor said it was just as well the matter had been brought up fur a thjrough discussion, as the question had been raised whether their Gas Engineer should practice privately. As there appeared to be some misunderstanding about it he would like to see the matter settled either one way or the other definitely. ' Cr Elliott said that some time back Mr Blackman asked for permission to suptrintend the Levin works, which was granted, "he Borough had not suffered in any way by Mr Blackman undertaking the work. The Gas Committee had con sidered it rather an honour that their Engineer's services should he sought ' for outside of Masterton. He moved that the permission asked be granted subject to the supervision of the Gas i Committee. Cr Ewington seconded the mo- ' tion. 1 Cr Morris strenuously opposed the motion. He thought the Council could very well afford to pay £oo or £75 more a year to Mr Blackman, ! more especially as the new works 1 would require every attention. II Cr Pauling said that if they raised /the salary by £IOO it was not too much. The question was whether 1 they should grant an increase to 1 the Engineer or allow him to practice, i Cr Rigg supported the motion, ' which he thought was only fair. Cr Pragnell thought that the En- - gineer should be allowed to continue I any other work outside he had un- j : dertaken, but beyond this the speaker would not give his support. t Cr Prent'ce was of opinion that the c matter was one that should be discussed in committee. i Cr Hoar moved that an increase i of £SO a :>ear be granted the En- - gineer. and he be allowed to praco tise privately as well. t After further discussion Mr Blacki man's request as to taking private practice subject to the supervision e of the Gas Committee was granted, o Cr Morris asked that a culvert be placed opposite Mr Kavanagh's d property.—lt was decided that the matter be left to the Engineer. Cr Morris also asked why Mr '' Blane's house in Donald street had t " not been connected with the water a supply, as he understood the work a had baen sanctioned. The matter was left in the hands of the Engineer il to attend to.