TOWN AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 March 1941, Page 7

TOWN AFFAIRS

MEETING OF BOROUGH COUNCIL DONKEY DERBY ON FRIDAY NIGHT. VIA KING & CHAPEL STREETS. The monthly meeting of the Masterton Borough Council was held last night. The Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, presided. There were also present Councillors W. White, A. D. Low, W. H. Judd, W. Kemp, G. D. Wilson, R. Russell, H. E. Gardner, A. T. Jackson, G. W. Moricc. and J. Ninnes. An apology for absence was received from Councillor Trevor Beetham. The St. John Ambulance Brigade was granted a continuance of facilities for holding classes in the Municipal Hall. The secretary of the Navy-Nursing Queen Committee asked for permission to hold a donkey derby of six donkeys from the Lansdowne School to the Municipal Hall and to hold e community sing in Hall Street on Friday night. Several councillors stated that it would not be advisable to have the donkeys in Queen Street on a Friday night. "I don't think they should have them in Queen Street at such a busy time,” said Mr Jordan. In reply to a question by a councillor he added that a function was to be held in the Town Hall which was probably the reason for the derby terminating in the centre of the town. Councillor Gardner: “They probably want people to follow the donkeys going to the hall.” It was agreed, on a motion moved by Councillor Russell and seconded by Councillor Ninnes that the derby’ should be diverted via King and Chapel streets. Permission to hold the community sing was granted. A letter was received from the Director of Housing in reply to an offer made by the council to sell sections adjacent to the gasworks. The Director advised that the Department was not requiring sections in Masterton at present, but asked for a minimum price to be placed on the sections. “The position must have altered since the Minister was here,” said Mr Jordan. “In plain English it means they haven’t got the material for housing construction.” The matter was left in the hands of the Gas Committee. A circular letter was received from the Chief Inspector of Explosives asking local authorities to discontinue the rental charge on any kerbside pumps serving tanks containing defence reserve petrol. It was decided to agree to the request provided that the public risk insurance was maintained by the proprietors of all kerbside pumps. It was reported that Wairarapa Transport Ltd. had taken the occupancy of a paddock facing Albert Street pending permament arrangements being made for accommodating their sheep and other lorries in an area between Lincoln Road and Perry Street. The Engineer, Mr C. R. Mabson, reported that street plans were in course of preparation which, when completed, would enable house numbering throughout the borough to be put into effect. Councillor Gardner suggested ' that the numbers should be placed on gate posts in preference to placing them on doors. Mr Jordan briefly outlined proceedings at the recent Municipal Conference and Mr G. T. O’Hara Smith (Town Clerk) gave a short account of the annual meeting of the New Zealand Institute of Town Clerks.

Mr Mabson reported that the new streets of the Nops Housing Black had now been completed. It was decided that a certificate be issued to the Department of Housing Construction that the following streets had been formed, metalled, channelled and paved to the standard required by the council, which accepted them as constructed: — Beetham. Bennington streets, McGregor and Masters crescents and Hosking Place. Following representations made by a deputation from the Masterton Free Kindergarten Committee it was decided to grant the committee permission to erect a building on the council’s reserve in Beetham Street, Government Housing block to establish a free kindergarten. Mesdames C. J. Williams and J. Roberston represented the committee at the meeting and stressed the need of a free kindergarten.