MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

Wairarapa Age, 23 February 1927, Page 3

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

MEETING OF BOROUGH COUNCIL. CRITICISM OF THE BAND. The monthly meeting of the. Masterton Borough Council was held last night, the Mayor (Mr. T. Jordon) presiding. There were also present: Councillors H. J. O’Leary. C. H. Anderson, C. B. McClymont, H. H. Daniell, H. M. Peacock, W. Kemp, W. H. S. Hjeaps, T. S. Jenkins, E. F. Barton and J. B. Rue. The band secretary reported that six practices were held during thq month. A falling-off in attendance was due to a shortage of employment in Masterton. In this respect, while the band was ready at any time to receive advice from members of the Council, it was the band’s opinion that in view of the difficulties it. had to labour under, the remarks made by some members of the Council did not tend lighten these difficulties. Cr. Daniell stated that the band was required to give only 12 public performances. The Council was paying £l6 10s per performance and was surely entitled to criticise; or, otherwise to reduce- the subsidy. A letter from rhe Automobile Association complaining of the careless habits of pedestrians on the motor highways was received and it was decided to call the attention of the police to the habit of people grouping and loitering at street .corners. It was. decided to advise the Chamber of Commerce that the council was unable to 1 undertake the complete numbering of houses in the borough at present. The W.F.C.A. applied for permission to erect a post in front of their garage for the purpose of attaching an airpipe. The request was refused as a matter of policy. It was decided to approve of the subdivision plan of the property in Lansdowne being sub-divided by Mr. Sydney Smith. Councillor Kemp recorded his vote against the proposal as being opposed to the policy of granting permission for the construction of “blind” streets.

The gas manager was authorised to purchase a nej rotary scrubber from an English firm at a cost of £441. The local primary schools were granted the exclusive use of the Dixon Street Baths on Tuesday next for the primary schools championship meeting.

An application for the hire of the Municipal Hall for roller skating this winter was refused.

The gas manager was instructed to replace the Ij-inch main in Bently Street with a 3i-inch main for 35 chains at a cost of £350. The gas accountant’s salary was increased by £5O per annum, as from March 1, 1927.

The Masterton County Council wrote offering to take over the maintenance of the Opaki Road from Third Street to the present boundary on the payment of £4OO. Consideration of the offer was deferred until it was known what subsidy the county could obtain on this part of road.

The Public Trustee advised that the sewerage loan of £4500 could be paid over as soon as the funds were available.

It was reported that no tenders had been received for the purchase and removal of the buildings at the old gasworks in Bannister Street.