MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9676, 15 December 1909, Page 3

MASTERTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Masterton County Council was held yesterday. There were present,—Crs W. J. Welch (chairman), K. Beetham. J. Colquhoun, and J. Morris Leave of absence was granted to Cfa Toogood, Kebbell, Murray, and Foreman, Mr A. J. Patchett wrote asking why he had been charged a certain rate when others had been exempted. The County Clerk was instructed to write for further information in connection with the matter. Mr V. E. Donald wrote with reference to the overflow from the Lansdowne water supply, stating that he would be prepared to see that the ditch to carry the water was made, provided the Council conducted it across the road. The Public Works Department wrote asking the Council to consent to the road deviation at Mangaru. The request was agreed to without aceoeting any responsibility for formation. Messrs Gawith and Logan, forwarded ratepayers' consent to the Fernridge water loan, duly signed. The Finance Committee reported as follows:—General account, dr., £1,086 7s 7d; Local Bodies Loans account, cr., £1,059 13s; debit balance, £272 4s Id; receipts since November 10th totalled £391 19s yd. It was resolved that in reply to their letter on the subject the Mart inborough Town Board he informed that at the Local Bodies Conference which took place in connection with the Victoria Home for Incurables appeal, it was arranged that trje ex- , penses should be borne by the local bodies concerned in equal proportions and not on a pro rata basis, and the claims were therefore made accordingly; that a copy of the objection made by the Castlepoint bounty Council to the claim of this Council for a share of the cost of the maintenance of the Masterton-Waimata road for the year ended March 31st last, be forwarded to Crs Toogood and Beetham tor their information and instruction; that a copy of, Messrs Wise and Knight's letter offering Mr

S. McKay George's property at Alf red ton for sale to the Council be forwarded to Crs Murray and Kebbell. The report was adopted. Mr Laing-Meason, Engineer for the Opaki-Lansdowne water supply scheme, reported that he had inspected the woaks and found them to be in good condition, and working satisfactorily. All the races'at Opaki were in good order, and well charged with water, and the gauge weira were well and intelligently regulated. In respect to contract No. 2 at Lansrtowne, the contractors term of maintenance was still current and did not expire for a month from date. He thougt it advisable to take over the spare pipes and other material from the contractors according to the prices submitted by them., Mr E. J. Rose, chairman of the Upper Plain water supply managers, waited on the Council with reference to the alteration of the water race owing to the widening of the Upper Plain road. The widening of the road left the crossing in rather a dangerous position, and he thought that it might have been included in the work of extending the road. The chairman said that it was only a small matter, the attending gto which he thought was not the duty of the Council. The Council did not anticipate having to do anything to the water race when the road was widened. It was eventually decided that the matter be left in the hands of the Engineer to carry out the work on behalf of the managers*