MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 650, 22 December 1880, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Masterton Borough Council was held last evening..

Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Bentley, Gapper, Gray, Russell, Perry, McOardle, and Bish.

His Worship, in taking his seat, desired to say a few words. His object as Mayor would be to allow eveiy Councillor the greatest latitude in the matter of speech, He was not inclined to lay down any rigid rule. Nearly all questions that came before the Council were money matters. In most deliberative bodies, such matters were taken into consideration in Committee, .where it was usual to allow members to speak as frequently as they chose. He would doJ the same, provided that they did not monopolise too much time. It was quite in order for the Chairman also to move a resolution or to speak to it; but he had no right to speak after the mover of a resolution had replied. He had a copy of rules and regulations recently compiled by Mr Coleman Phillips, which he had intended to bring with him. He advocated the adoption of the modes of procedure used, in |the House of Representatives. In conclusion, he expressed .a hope that kindly, feeling wouid be manifested at all their meetings. —(Applause). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE, To Messrs J. Joseph & Co., Hamilton Wolters, Wyllie, Lowes, Greaves, J. lorns, J. H. Wallace, and F. B. 'Wood, with respect te outstanding rates. To Messrs Booth,'"Corpe, Donald, and McGregor Bros,, asking for a quotation for timber.. To Mr McKillop, asking him to remove the gate at the end of Dixonstreet, or to allow the public free access thereto. Inwards.—From C. McKillop, statins; that the gate was never fastened. From McGregor Bros., quoting price of timber. From Mr Corpe, quoting price of same. The Mayor said it was understood that the timber (red pine' for the bridge) was to be left in the hands'of the Works Committee, but there was no objection to the Council discussing it,

WORKS COlifflTIEE REPORT.'. The Committee reported that it had been decided to sheath the Waipoua Bridge with rimu. • Or McCardle wished to know whether the timber used'would be all heart, Or Gapper stated that the Engineer of the.Masterton Highway Board wished the Board's portion.of tho bridge to be replanked withßx4timber. The speaker was afraid that' tho way in which the Council proposed-to 'do' the work would be unsatisfactory. ; Or Russell scouted any deference beingpaid to any outside assistance. The cost of the plan recommended by the Highway Board would be four or five times that of their own. It would cost £l5O to replauk the bridge. They proposed to Bb.eath.the bridgo, which would cost £3O, and last two, or two and a-half, years, and then it could'be re-sheathed, They possessed all necessary skill themselves for all work they had to do. -.-

. .Or McCardle called attention ■ to.- the fact that' the Highway- Board had to" pay half the'cost, but that if the Council did not do the work in a proper manner it might be that.the Council wbuldbe compelled to do it again in an efficient manner. He suggested a conference between tlie Works Committee arid the Highway Board,- with a-view to as far us, possible satisfying'both .'parties. He had some doubts as to the efficiency of .the sheathing'proposedi .;■He had. some doubt as 'to Or Ross.el's experience in bridge building, .and would, Wish to.see• some deference paid to the of others;;.-!' . ;.'.Tl)'o'Mayor said that tii6.;mattor -was a serious one.- ..Thesheathing would be laid diagonally; ..ao that: each good' plank would assist.to support theweight, He had no doubt of the success of 'the plan ■himself. Supposing 'that- the • planking gave way, the sheathing : could ; be taken lip- and used for other purposes;.so !that if the plab were a/failure theycould not lose-much by it. ■'."";'."""'' .• • . Or Russell proposed the plan recommended by the Works '.'Committee "be adopted. ....,..';. Or.McCardle was. iuformed that the bridge was planked some years ago, Or Russell, again spoke to show the errors committed by engineers, Cr Gapper moved that tenders be called for replanking the bridge, He had an engine c'omingout whichjwouldweigh eight tons, and when it passed over the proposed sheathing would crush iti. He was not aware that any.member" of the Council was recocjuiged as its engineer, and if one member assumed that he was one he was out of his place. He had found by experience that rimu, between wind and water, perished, and the bridge would be a treacherous one. The Mayor railed against the so-called engineers,- who had beggared the country, both in building bridges and grading roads, He challenged settlers to show any bungling,in any bridge or culvert which the speaker had made. Or McCardle seconded the resolution of Or Gapper, though he would rather have seen a conference with the Highway Board proposed. He believed Cr Renall's eloquence would the,Board's engineer. He would, however, instead of seconding the resolution, propose that the Works Committee confer with the Board's engineer.;. Or Gapper withdrew his resolution in favor of Cr McOardlo's proposal,' which he seconded. ',/■"• -.■■•

; Or Russell could name engineers who knew no more of engineering "than a big girl in pattens. ;He objected to any extraneous body outside, ■=lt was no discredit to his talent as an-engineer,-- because he got nothing for it, ■ " : He. opposed the resolution. . -,'-: ;.'•. ;-r •;;'•" .-. The Mayor suggested that the Board's.

engineer should be asked for his opinion .. in writing. - r. ~,r V- -' ;! *.Gr MoOardle, in reply, thought.that■* :-.$ conference waß better than a written,.. opinion'; if only to give an inexperienced eneineer the benefit of Or BuflßellVadjice. He was sorr>that Or Russell should deny ; •Mrßremrier the privilege..".':'. Or Bish was'in favor of the conference, as he desired to see this matter;settled •..

amicably, '- •-■■••■ >■'"-> V-~-^ : ~<i : Or Rehall moved.'as^an.amendment- .:: That the recommendationi of Committee be. •, '" Or' McOardle; moved vthe resolution ~„• standing in his name the Board, and trusted the OouncU *« support him in this direction. ! " ' : ' Both resolution and amendment ; were .then put to the Oounoil and negatived on • the voices. •-•'■ i,-. ,r Cr McOardle then moved-That the ■ Works!Committe confer with the Highway, j ■..;■ Engineer, with a view fo agreeing, aa to -., the way it should be done, .if possible. : £ The Mayor thought that perhaps the )y. Board would not interfere in the matter , at all. '■ ■■■■ ■•'..■- •■'.■'■ '■.- .. Or Graywould support this motion, if \. the Committee.had power to act. ' Or McOardle held that the Committee had already power to act. ~ t . Cr Gapper had been in a the Works Committee on Had there been, a full meeting, the result would have been different. - ~r Or McCardle's resolution was then put and negatived; by the casting vote of the Chairman, Cr Gapper moved that tenders be invited ' for planking the bridge with'B byi plank-

rog. :....:..' The Mayor thought this proposition to be out of order.

Cr McOardle hoped the question would be decided by the Council. The Mayor hoped the Council would negative the resolution, as it took the matter out of the hands of the Works Commiitee. Cr Bish suggested that they should go on with the next business. Cr Gapper moved that the Works Com-, mittee take no action without the sanction of the Council. The matter then dropped. . INSPECTOR OP NUISANCES' REPORT.,, Masterton, Dec. 21,1880. His Worship the Mayor and Borough . Councillors,— ;, I beg to inform you that in Hall-street, on section 72, opposite the Town Hall, since the construction of the footpath the fence has not been' re-erected j the consequence is that it is dangerous for passengers on dark nights. People passing along this path at night are liable to take false steps, and drop over into the creek, which may do them some bodily harm, • I would also mention that the creek running through this section.. requires cleaning, as it is so blocked with watercress and other rubbish that the, water has not its free, course. I believe Mr Andrew Cockburn, is the owner of: this secdon; .;•;.■.'• ■_■-.-. '•'.■■■■<.;■.:;. I also beg to state 'that at the western entrance of the Waipbua Bridge there is a very dangerous place—a precipice of about 14ft,.' all .open to the> road.- Although this dangerous place ;has :.been there many years, and no. accident has occurred, yet I think; a fence should be erected there for the Bafety:of the public '"■lam,.'&c r r '-■ :sm■■/■'.\ }■ r

J. o..lngram, 7 Inspector of Nuisances, OVEBSEEeV EEPOET.. v.

I submit to you-the following reporl; on the works in progress in the of Masterton:— ; " -v ;

Railway read.—Messrs Hopkins and Dundee have completed their contract for forming 25 chains of road and metalling 17 chains of same to the satisfaction of , the Works Committee, the work being ■passed for payment.; .■..'. J: ','"' Victoria-street.—Mr Hounslow has * commenced his contract for forming and *' metalling 18 chains of Victoria-street, and( is proceeding .with it satisfactorily at •present. ■■■.:'■ ■'•,','■ Street Maintenance.—Mr Hounslow has commenced giving the UpperJPlain road a new coat of metal.- This is a step in the right direction, [and if not done.now it will be impossible to do it'when the bad weather sets in.. He/has also cleaned out the water channels from the Post-office to Mi' Bell's shop in on both sides, •- ... ~

George Huiion, Overseer. •■ OTOE IN HAIX-ST. It waß resolved, on the motion of Cr Bish-That notice to fence be given toMr Oockburn, and that theother part of• the report be referred to the-Works'Com-mittee. • • VHiA'SIREET. ■ .'• Three tenders, were received for metalling in Villa-street; the lowest, Bentley Bros,*, at £l2 ss, was accepted, . The Mayor was appointed a member of the Finance Committee. .. .^. : , " Or Gapper was also appointed to it, and authorised to sign cheques. The CounciUhen adjourned. ' •

The antagonism of the Orangemen ; in Ireland towards the • supporters of ■ the Land League increases. We (Timaru Herald) are informed that - Mr P. Russell's .celebrated Lincoln ram " Champion was shorn yesterday al Otip.ua r ' and yielded 311bs of cleaiij'skirted wool,' ■, exactly 368 days' growth. We'are boutid to say this has seldom, if ever, been-sur-passed by any Lincoln sheep' on'either", side of the Lino, ... ...