TOWN AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 August 1942, Page 2

TOWN AFFAIRS

MEETING OF BOROUGH COUNCIL — i REHABILITATION COMMITTEE. REQUEST FOR NOMINEE. The monthly meeting of the Masterton Borough Council was held last night, the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, presiding. A request was received from. Mr J. Robertson, M.P., for the council to nominate a representative, with a. deputy, on the local Rehabilitation Committee. The matter was held over until next Tuesday night. The council expressed its appreciation and the thanks of the community to Mr Newnham, Chiei: Engineer, Public Works Department, for assistance generously and gladly given by him and his officers following on the recent earthquake. The council decided that it could not see its way clear to make a rebate of the hall charges in connection with a dance promoted by a Territorial battalion in honour of people in Masterton who had entertained the men. It was agreed that the question of limiting cemetery memorials should be further considered by the Cemetery Committee when, further information came to hand. On account of earthquake damage, it was decided to remove the roof of the band rotunda in the Park. A new handrail with chain mesh netting would be erected at a later date. Councillor W. Kemp spoke of the necessity, later on, of erecting another roof to the rotunda. The Park Committee reported that there was no suitable site in the Park for a climatological station. It considered that the cost of erecting an enclosure should not be borne by the council, particularly at the present time. In reply to the council's invitation to amalgamate with the Masterton Abattoir District, the Town Clerk, Carterton, stated that the proposal was not practicable at the present time. In response to an approach made to the council by the land purchase officer of the Public Works Department, it was decided that the latter be offered an acre of gasworks land with a frontage of five chains abutting the railway line, with a depth of two chains, for the sum of £250, the council to give a right of access from Pownall Street. Mr R. G. Russell’s request to terminate his monthly lease of 12 acres of gasworks land on both sides of the railway was accepted as from September 30, the re-letting of the area being left in the hands of the chairman. It was decided to offer C. and A. Odlin £9OO for the house property No, 75, Bannister Street, for a clear title and possession upon completion of the transaction. Cr, R. Russell said the council was establishing .a precedent in purchasing an old house for a gas employee. He would like to see the council build new houses . for its employees rather than pay £9OO for an old house. Cr. A. D. Low, chairman of the Gas Committee, stating that he was rather surprised at Cr. Russell’s protest, said for a long time the gas manager had pointed out the necessity of having a gas employee living adjacent to the Bannister Street holder. The valuation of the valuer, £9OO, had been accepted The Librarian reported that there were now practically no library subscribers in arrear with their subscriptions and the increase in membership had been maintained. The engineer reported that the hedge on the eastern side of the railway ilne neat’ the Cornwall Street crossing had been cut t»wn to a reasonable height. The Director of Housing Construction acknowledged receipt of a comprehensive schedule of vacant allotments in the borough that would materially assist the Department in its selection of suitable sites for State rental houses. The schedule gave particulars! of 220 vacant sections scattered throughout the borough, already subdivided, roaded and serviced for building. The selection of these areas, it was pointed out, would eliminate the necessity and the expense attendant upon subdivision, reading and servicing of undivided areas.

The Wairarapa Electric Power Board advised that it was withdrawing its offer previously made for a reduction in the charge for lamps previously lit by mercury vapour. The Mayor said he was hopeful that something more would be said about street lighting before long. The offer of Messrs Fagan Motors Ltd. of a corner of their property, measuring eight feet to both Dixon and Bannister streets, to improve street visibility, was accepted with thanks.