MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 521, 21 July 1880, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ah ordinary meeting of the above Council took place, yesterday evening, in } the Ohambeis. Present—His Worship the Mayor, *nd Grs Vila, MoOardle, Woodroofe, Gappar, Bish, Rqßßell, Renal), Perry. The njinutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. COBMBPONDENOK, Outwards-To J. loms, stating he had committed a breach of Municipal Corporations Act in allowing the upper room of his salerooms to be used as an assembly room, such room not being duly licensed, and that he was liable to a penalty of £2O, and if the offence was repeated proceedings would be at once takeu.—To G. W. Woodroofe, asking whether he was prepared to give Corporation 16ft 6in of his land fronting Perry-street, to enable the Council to widen the said street, or at what price and terms he would sell the same quantity,—To Henry. Bentley, with notice to remove, his. fence from off the Lincoln Road within 14 days from date. —To H. C. Hansen, giving game notice. —To George Beetham, requesting him to forward a copy of . the Rating Act, Fire Brigades Act and I)og Registration Act for the use of the Oouucil; and calling his attention to certain proposals in the hawkers' and pedlars' licenses, and asking if he would also forward a copy of that Act.—To G., Beetham, re overflow to Waipoua river, and requesting information as to whether Government would vote,a sum of money, outof which grants-in-aid could be made for repairing special damage to main lines of road, such as that caused by floods.-To MrKelleher, giving notice of intention of Council to open a road through town acre 120 within the space of two months.—To Thos, Jago re same.

Inwards—Prom West County Council,: enclosing resolution passed at last meeting re toll-gate at Waipoua Bridge.—From Maaterton Highway Board, asking on what terms Council would allow a toll to ; be established at that plaee.—From W, 6. Beard, stating he> could find no trace of Local Board cheque passing through, his hands.—From .Telegraph Department, giving the Council a tele-graph-pole fpr erection of lamp in Queen-street.—From Lewellyn Smith, District Surveyor, complaining of the state of the ditch near his house at Kuripuni, and' requesting Council to gravel approaches to .the same. —From James Wrigley, stating he 'would give his proportion of land for- widening Perry-st., providing ,he received the tame compensation as Mr Woodroofe,-From Mr Woodroofe, stating he would require to be paid the sum of £l6 for his portion of the land Required for widening Perry-st. TOLL-GATE AT WAIPOM KITO, I

: Or Vile was of opinion the Highway Board had the matter in their own hands under Public tforks Act of erecting a tollgate at Waipoua. Or Russell asked how long the tall-gate would be allowed to stand there, and was' informed until such time as the bridge was paid over.

Or Renall was of opinion the bridge would, in reality, be paid for by the Borough, as outside traffic would not be ef a large extent. He instanced thecase of the Hutt residents'in the matter of toll-gate established at one time there. He would rather give LlO out of his-own pocket than see a toll-gate established at the Waipoua, and it would be better if every .resident in the town gave & subscription to enable the bridge to be built. It would ultimately be paid for by residents iti the town. It would in reality be putting a tax upon Bacon & Wrigley and others living a short distance out of town, who would have to pay every time they went in and out. In his opinion it would be better to oall a public meeting and let the ratepayers discuss the matter, and if they were agreeable to it, establish it by all means.

Or Yile said he had been distinctly informed it was the intention of the Masterton Highway Board to' place a toll there, and it would, be better to do that' than have no bridge. ' Cr Woodroofe said the toll would be a lasting nuisance, and He considered the river was better aa it was than to have a toll erected. In his opinion it was a very harsh movement on the part of the Highway Board.. He iidmotthink it. .would cost a great deal to place, the road in a passable'state." " ' Or Gapper said it was. an unfortunate thing the'river' had' broken' out, but" no' doubt a toll-gate was necessary, fie did not think, however, that: the Highway Board should keep.the, whole of the tolls collected,;and he would therefore moveThat this Council concurs in the suggestiqniOfithe Masterton:Highwayßoard' as to the advisability oferecting atoll-gate

provided the . Highway Board hands over .to Council one third of the tolls collected. ; Or Biah seconded the resolution pro forma. 1 Or.McOnrdle said that if Council asked for one-third of tolls, the Highway Board would also : require them to expend * certain amount.of the said tolls on the road. He hoped, however, thit if a toll-gate was ereoted, it would not bi with the omiseht of the Council,

Or Russell said he would not give his consent to the erection of a toll-cate.on the bridge. It would be placing a. tax upon all -persons,.living outside; 0/ ' the town, and also residents in its'midst, and was once established, it would be very hard to get rid of it. He would jote against the resolution. Or Renall spoke very strongly against the resolution.. He would be very sorry to be the pmposer of such a resolution, ai lie iroffld not be" supporting Ihe interests of the ratepayiers, who had placed him in .. the Council. v Cr Gapper had heard all that had fallen from Councillors, and was still of the ■ same opinion. He knew that it would be a hardship on ratepayers, but he saw 110 other way of getting out of it. If they i were taxed by the ■it would - only ibe . right that Council should have a share of it to sperid-oa 'roads in' other' parts of the Borough. . ■ The resolution was put and negatived.Or Gapper moved, seconded by Or Russell—That' the. consideration of this . question stand oyer until next >' Carried.

' Or'Renall said it was only, fair to give the outside public a chance of disousaiag the matter. After discussion the application of Mr L. Smith was referred to the Works Committee, with power |q WIDENING PEBRY : HMtt. " ; Or Vile moved, seconded by Or McOardle—That Consideration of this question be deferred until replies are received from other partus owning land in the street.—Carried. x TINAKCE 1 OOMMITUI. '; The Finance Committee recommended that the following accounts be passed for payment;— ■ £ .8. D. Returning Officer, ( election".'/.'' 9'llT 6 R. H. Ohinohen,'stationery ... 1 0 9 J, Payton & Co., advertising... 0 16 6 Bowry & King, pegs, etc. ... 0 1711 Briggs & Co., charity ... ... 0 2li Wages ... ... ~, ~.16 16 6 Cartage .... : ~,; c ... 17 0 0 Stonebreakin'g ' l.j ...• 10 0 0 R, Burrett 1 4 0 And that the sum of £ls be paid to the Park Trustees on account of the grant. Overdraft, £276 5s 8d

The accounts were passed as recommended by Committee. 'I ■ •• ,• j ■ BOROUGH SraVBYOK S JtIPOET. To His Worship the Mayor-i Sir,—We hare the honor to report that we have inapepted the 1 upper room or thi Institute 'for -which |a license has been applied .for, and-Jre'recbra-mend,; that the. following be made before a license,m granted to it I—l,--That folding'dooSj .to open outwards, be put ,ii\ th« r; , ; &pp«r room, immediately facing the'lamling in th'e : ' r, recess' between the chimney and the wall.. 2. That the'outer doora leading to • street be enlarged and made .to glide or fold, instead of opening inward as they' • do now." We also recommend' that it is advisable that the staircase be altered by widening it from the entrance to the first landing; and that we are of opinion that.. the top landing could bf much'improved and some of the waste spacmtilised. Jambs Ruskh,; . R. Brown,'

■ Considerable tqbk, 'place on the subject, Or Rubsoll making a lengthy explanation. ' Cr MoOardle was of opinion that it was not the duty of either Or Russell or'the Borough Surveyor to say -what they thought should be done,' but'whether or not the building was suitable to be licensed.

Or Vile was of opinion the report waa perfectly correct and that Or Russell and the Borough Surveyor had not exceeded the duties imposed on the Surveyor by the Act. •.. . Or Gapper said that last.time the report was brought up,, it. was the,opinion of Councillors that the surveyor had not brought up a report to meet the purpose reduired. V

The Borough : Surveyor made a statement tq the effect that in' his opinion the building was not»suitable one for assemblies Ac. He had, himself, noticed a mark on the mantelpiece if a candle had been allowed to burn down, and in his opinion there was great danger in a panic taking place of lose pf life|occurring, Or Russell proposed that tlje report is read be adopted, seconded by Or Renall. Or McOardle moved as an amendment, seconded by Or Bish-" That i license be granted if folding doors are erected." Or Russell said he had, in conjunction with the Borough Surveyor, made a report in the interests of' ratepayers of the Borough, and had not consulted the Library Committee or any one else in the matter. He did hot think that much weight should be attached to remarks made by Or McOardle, as he was a'nonprofessional man, and could not be expected to know as much of the matter as a person jn the business for forty yean would. ' " " ' ■

Or Renall said they were taking on themselves too .much in taking the'<matter out of the luryeyorV hands, who had conducted the matter in.a very honorable ahd conscientious manner. " ; -

Or Woodroofe would support the amend' ment, ■; . • ;

Cr Russell .would decidedly object to hii professional report being altered by any Councillor.

Or'Renall said the Act'was very plain, and that the . surveyor .would have to give & "written certificate as tot-its eligibility, .and'..they should not take the matter out of his hands. Or McCardle paid he moyeXtlje Amendment without pergonal feeling against Or Russell or .the. surveyor, Mr Brown. In his opinion, if doors were made tu fold it would meet the case thoroughly. He thought the matter had been taken out of I the hands of the surveyor by appointing a " Councillor to go with him and .' report on the building,

The llayor paid the discussion had assumed a greater proportion than he had expected. The building was supported by rates and in the interests of ratepayers every precaution should be taken for their safety. He would put the amendment first, the result being'that it was lost, four voting for and five against. ; The resolution was then put. and carried. ~.. J

Cr Renall then moved', seconded by Or Woodroofe—That a copy of the report be sent to the Library'Committee,'and ask for a conference between 'them and the ':' Borough surveyor.—Carried. ■ • Some further discussion ensued on the' subject-of giving a ; subsidy of lilO'to'the'' Library Committed \t;p ,enable them to Wake the imii^vipmratt'iMnfauDMl 'in 'tlie. report, Or Vile upholding this to be necessaryj 1 while others: were 1 of opinioil l the matter should be deferred; The question was therefore deferred until the Library Committee had. held' ayconferenpe wit* the surveyor! 1 y'7 ,'Y's (Toltmtinwd>) r ,ut t VtisflVir'i .' w