MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 243, 20 August 1879, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Council was held in the Council Chambers last night. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Bish, Renall, Rusbbll, Gray, Gapper, Feist, Vile, andMcCardle. and Woodruffe. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. Outwards—To Mr Donald Donald, re fencing across a road; to Mr Morison re nightsoil contract.

Inwards-From Clerk of Wairarapa West County Council, enclosing copies of motions passed at their late meeting re Charitable aid, CHARITABLE AID. The Mayor explained at some length the proposal of the West County Council to deal with the matter. His own opinion was that it was the duty of each Council, Borough or County to assist in the matter, He thought for the present the hospital committee would be the best medium through which to give effect to the resolution, He would move—

" That this Council approves the proposal of Wairarapa West County Council legarding charitable aid, and this Council will be prepared to pay towards any institution for the distribution of such aid any reasonable amount in the same proportion as that which is given to hospitals. This Council also suggests that the Hospital Committee be requested to undertake this duty for the present, and that a separate account be kept by them of all subscriptions and aid received for the purpose." Or McCardle seconded. Cr Woodroffe did not like to see the Council taking on themselves more than they could bear.

The Mayor pointed out that it was the duty of every Borough to dispense their own charitable aid : up to this time they had been making roads out of funds placed in their hands for charitable purposes.

The question was then put and carried. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The following accounts were recommended for payment : Darley & Knight, L2 ss; J. 0. Ingram, for impounding dogs, etc., 12 4s; E. Quick, repairs to dog pound L 3 12; McGregor. Bros., L2 3s; Town Hall lessees, LI Is; wages and contingencies, L3O lis 4d; Payton & Co., L2 ss. The Committee also advised that legal proceeding should be taken forthwith againi defaulting ratepayers. Present overdraft LVB9 Is Bd. Cr Feist moved that the Town Clerk take legal proceedings against all defaulting ratepayers after giving fourteen days' notice by advertisement to that effect, Cr McCardle seconded the motion. On the motion of Cr Gapper, the words " such notice to be final," was added to the motion,

Cr Woodroofe thought they were taking the bull by the horns, and were inclined to be arbitrary, as a good many of the properties in Masterton were considerably overrated. He hoped the Council would not vote for it.

Cr Gapper could not agree with the last speaker, The public expected them to make roads, and if they could not get in the rates they could not make roadß. The motion was put and carried. Cr Gapper said the Council last mcetinr had directed the Clerk to write to Mr Donald and remove the fence, and that Mr Donald had not treated the Council with common courtesy, not having replied to the letter.

Mr J. E. Thompson attended to explain the position of the fence, and pointed out the road where it was blocked. Cr tapper moved that the Overseer bo instructed to remove the fence forthwith. Cr McCardle seconded the motion.

Vile moved as an amendment, that Mr Donald be again written to, and given seven days' notice to remove the fence, otherwise legal proceedings would be taken to enforce its removal.

Or Bisk seconded the amendment, which was carriec 1 . NICHTSOIL COMMITTEE REPORT. The Nightsoil Committee reported they had investigated Mr Morrison's complaint, and as a result had instructed the contractor to deposit nightsoil in a paddock near the creek on Section 9; had also advised Mr Morrison to erect a gate at entrance of the paddock to prevent complaints of the contractor leaving the slipbars down; and recommended that the Council, in conjunction with the Highway Board, put a small box culvert in the road whore the creek crosses, which would have the effect of making the road passable,

The Mayor explained that the Committee had had a conversation with the contractors, who complained that it wan through the want of a culvert, the road not being passable for a horse and cart. The Commmittee recommended that the Highway Board be communicated with in reference to putting in a box drain, and Asking them to pay half the cost. Or Eussell moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Cr Gapper. inspector's report. The Inspector nf Nuisances reported that eleven of the ratepayers had not complied with the regulations of the Borough with regard to the nightsoil arrangements. He also applied that the nightsoil contractor he instructed to close the lid of night cart when travelling from house to house; also reported that on the night of the 15th August the contractor had not deposited the nightsoil on the Manaia, but on Mr Krupkin's farm at Akura, alleging ai his reason for doing so that the road is in such a bad state that he could not get to Mr Morrison's land with a heavy load. Cr Russell moved that the persons whose names appeared in the report be written to and requested to abate the nuisance within seven days. Seconded by Cr Vile and carried.

The Inspector was instructed to request the contractor to close the lid of the night cart when passing through the streets. The Mayor proposed that a committee consisting of Councillors Bish, Renall, Gapper and Gray be appointed to take the matter of the agreement between Mr W. Morison into consideration and bring up for signature. WORKS COMMITTEE EEPORT, The overseer, Mr Hutton, reported that Messrs Tinsley and Lancely's contract was completed; that Mr (Men's contract for 10 chains of footpath was not quite completed ; and that Mr Cullen was pushing on his contract for a bridge over Makora stream; that owing to the bad state of thi

weather, the Committee had deemed' il advisable to allow Messrs WatsioiUani Wilton's contract to stand over until fta weather; and that an extra horse and car had been employed in repairing the road Copper mored that 30s bo paid t< Mr (Men for extras on the footpath con tract.

Cr Renall thought they should pay M Cullen the amount as ikjivasajust deb andtheworkhadbeenfoneinawork manlike manner. f ■ The motion was carried. , _ Or. Vile drew the attention of the Coun cil to the state of Queen-street, advisini that it should be scraped. Cr McCardl hoped it would be done at once, especially the parts leading down Queen and Ban nister streets,

Cr Russell said that the roads requt ing to be metalled in other parts 0 f th the Borough should be done first, asivj,, more urgent, % Referred to Works Committee, \H power to act.

The Mayor then drew the attentions the Council to the matter of valuators, Cr McCardle-asked whether they coulc call tenders for it, Instancing Christ church as a case in point, having receivet a tender as low as £7O for that larei city. 8

The Mayor thought it was a bad plan i they might get a cheap but incompetei man.

Cr Russell moved that applications 1 invited for the office of valuator, at salary of £35. Applications to be receivi at next meeting. Seconded by CrWoodroofe. Cr Bish moved as an amendment th two valuators be appointed at L2O eac Applications to be sent in by next met ing.

Seconded by Or Renall and and carried with one dissentient.

Cr Russell drew attention to the office of auditor, asking if it had not become vacant through the deed of assignment of one of the present auditors, ' Considerable discussion took place oa the question, when Cr Yile moved that the Town Clerk be instructed to write to the trustee in the estate relative to the assignment, and that the matter be left over until an answer was obtained.

Seconded by Cr Renall. ( Cr Vile moved, seconded by Cr Russell that the name of Mr Boddington, of the Bank of New Zealand be added to the Library Committee, subject to the approval of that body. Carried. The Council then adjourned.