MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 908, 26 October 1881, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

SPECIAL MEETING. The special meeting wiled to consider the amendment of the by-laws for charge for construction of footpaths held last evening at the Council Chamber. Present—His Worship the May >r, andCrs Dixon, Bish, Vile, Price, Gapper, and Perry. After careful discussion the following hy-luw was agreed to, on the motion of Or Gapper, seconded hy Cr Vile 1. On the fonipilhs of all streets formed andmetalled.—<

a. If such.street is 1 oliain wide, or for 9 feet footpaths, 20j per chain. b. If such street is J chain wide, or foi 8 feet footpaths, 17s 6J per chain, c. If such street is J chain wide, or ■ for 7 feet footpaths, 15s per chain 2. For kerliing, in addition to the nhovo chaive, 30s per chain. Provided always til it where it is deemed necessary in any exceptional case, the Council may make such reductions in or additions to the above charges as it sees lit.

ORDINARY MEETING. Same Councillors present; also Crs Bentley, Russell, and Price, The minutes were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE,. Inwards—Prom H. H. ffollers, Seo. Pastoral Society, asking the Council to proclaim the day of the Show a general holiday, the Government having agreed tn close all politic nffiuea on that day.— Mr R. McKenzie, re gravel pit, stating that the land was his, and that he had no intention to break any agreement entered into by his mother, but considered th.it as iho latter had to pay 10 per cent., the Council should pay the same, and upon that understanding he would carry out the agreement. With regard to widening Dixon-street and Colnmba road, he would give the Council the land if they would leinove the fences.-From Mi's Ewington, re impounding her cows, and quoting the Impounding Act to show that she had been charged too m ch.—From the Treasury, stating J8 lis had been paid to the Borough account, in respect of feos, fines, &c,, for hreaches of by-laws,—From County West C mncil, siatini; tlie amount claimed by the Borouijli had been paid in with costs, the Government having decided not to vest the control of the Waipuua bridge in the County Council, Outwards—To the Overseer, instructing him to give notice to all persons who require approaches across footpaths,—To G, Russell, Borough Surveyor, instructing him to see the bylaws re hearths, carried out by Mr Cnckburn.—'To S. Hounslow, re non-completion of contract in Perryat,—To ilie sub-committee ol School, statins; their request could nut be cornplied with.-To B, P. Perry, re land in Perry-st.— To 11. McKenzie, re nun-com-pletion of his contract in Queeu-st.—' To. Catt, anil others, asking if they would contribute towards widening the street, ami fompaths on Upper Plain road.-To G. Uidsbury, asking for a copy of staiutes of 1881.—To Mrs Pinclier, re fencing in Victoria-street. EXTENSION OF TIME. Mr S, Hounslow was granted three weeks extension of time for the completion of Peny sireei, the Council being rather rel.ictaut in ihe matter. MRS EWIXQTOX's MJTIMt, The Mayor stated the caje had been before the Court, and no proof of illegal iiii|JOU"iling had been shown, and the case was dismissal. The 3s was the correct fee. Willi regard to I lie charge of inn, oiiienug the impounded cattle iu the pounU book ihere was a line piovided for, and ilio ciiai- t ;o could no brought into the ii.ll. CoU.I.

Or Ua|)i>ur moral I hat a uomniitlue conaisi iiis; of Cm Vile, Pui ry, and tlie mover ne a emniniuee to imjuirti into Mis Etfiug on'.s siatoniiiiiis, as it was a serious ullage against the poiiiidkeeper, Ci Vile supported the resolution, as Mr Bi'Zir luil no rulit lo iuijwuiid cattle from outside the Borough, as in this case, and charge t-liein according to the Uorougn rate-<. LI is Worship pointed out that the cattle having been brought into the Borough and impounded in their pound, the Borough rates I'ould be charged. Or U i ( r[icr slated it was not ooutempaiedby ihe I'ou ni C'Uiiinitiee that Mr JJezo' wiiiim pi ill. i(I en'ile fioin outside the Bormijjh. Mr Bazir was taking ad\autage of an oversight. He thought lie shouid be pixhib.ted from iiiipuuuding frmn outside the Borough. The Mai or punned out that when Mr Bezar tendered he calculated upon all lisli that caino to his net. Tliumouon was then put and carried. APPLICATION FOE LICENSE. The Secretary of the Institute applied for a license fur the upper room of the building for the use of sm.ill social gathei* iugs, &c. Tins was referred to the Borough Surveyor. MR 11. M'KENZIE'S LETTER. His Worship left the matter to the Council, first stating that he had no interest in whatever arrangement they might make with Mrs McKenzie. Or Dixi.n moved that the balance of the purchase money, with 10 per cent, added, bo paid on a conveyance free of all oneumhraiice. With regard to the offer of land for widening Dixou-stroet and Columba Road the offer was accepted with thanks, and the Clerk instructed to obtain a plan of the lam), and take the necessary steps to obtain a title to it on the motion of Or Gapper, seconded by Or Perry, PASTORAL SHOW. The request of the Secretary of the P,ißi oral Society for proclaiming the 3rd November a public holiday was acceded to. PRIVATE TENDER, A tender for lilling-in half carriage-way and footpath at Kurupuni was recoivod. Or Vile moved that the sum of £'B be spent iu filling in and forming footpaths near the Kuripuni stream, the Works Committee to have the work done. Seconded by Or Russell and earriod. OVERSEER'S REPORT.

Mr Hut ton reported that Mr Stevenson, the contractor for Hisih-street, was proceediui! very sati«factnrily. Mr Hounslow whs proceeding very satisfactorily with his contract in' Wrigley-street, also Bentley Bros., in Church-street. The Mayor stated the Overseer should see that tliH metal was properly taken out of the pits in a manner which would not block them up, and should also see that contractors did their w irk properly, and not complain to the Council as to the quality of the metal. INSPECTOR OP NUISANCES. Mr Ingram reported that Mr Oockburn hud omitted to erect water-oliiaeta to his new building? in Queen-street, and was therefore liable to a penalty of L2O. Or dapper moved that the Inspector of Nuisances be'instructed give notice to the occupants of shops t> have the sanitary Arrangements oarried on.

ADJOURNED DEBATE. On th« resumption of the debate oh Cr Gapper's motiou re Chapel-street, Cr Dixon moved that it be again adjourned for three months. Cr Price seconded. Cr Gapptr protested against the further adjournment of the matter, and pointed out that not only would it open up the street for cattle, &0., but would drain " both Cole-street and 1 Chapel-street, as well. He thought the Coonoil should also take into consideratioXthe fact that a very large building was being placed at the corner of Cole-street, and as the land was giver, on the understanding that the street would be formed he thought something should be done at , once. Or Russell supported Cr Gapper. _ > Cr Dixon pointed out the claim of Bannister-st., and others. The question of adjournment was then put, and on division lost on the casting vote of the Mayor. Cr Gapper moved that the Works Committee get out plans and specifications, and place them before the Council that day month, Cr Russell seconded, Cr McCardle protested against plans being drawn up before the Works Committeo reported, The Council would be taking a leap in the dark, The Mayor said Cr -McCardle might be in the dark on the matter, as he had not been present lately to hear the debate on it.

Cr Bish opposed the work on the ground of other works already in hand and passed for execution, Bannisterstreet for example, which he was ashamed to say had not yet been done. Cr Vile agreed with Cr Bish with regard to Bannister-street, but thought as the works in hand did not amount 1 to a great deal, the work in Chapel-street might be done. Cr McCardle said there was a street in lorns' Estate which badly required attention. His Worship recalled the Counoil to the business before it, and the motion was put and carried. BANNISTER-STREET. The Council were uuanimous as to the necessity for doing the work required in this street, and an interesting discussion took place as to whether a foot pipe would carry all the water which run through the present culvert across the street, so that the present wooden structure might be replaced with pipes. No decision was arrived at oil this point, the matter remaining in the hands of the Works Committee. BOROUGH SURVEYOR. The Town Clerk', was instructed to ascertain whether Mr G. Ilussell would accept re-appointment. LEAVE Of AIISENCE, The Town Clerk was granted leave of absenco for two days. TENDERS, The following tenders were opened for work in Albert and Trustee streets W. Phillips, i' 69 15s (accepted); Bentley Bros., I' 83; Stevenson and Lennex, M 153 (informal). Surety to be found for the due performance of contract.

Cr Russell pointed out that through the contractors being compelled to find sureties, they only had three tenders iiui for the work, ■ Cr Vile approved of the surety being! enforced, as it would check reckless' tendering. In many instances contractors had taken contracts and were unable to complete tliein, or if they did, to pay their own way or the wages of their men, and consequently business people in the long run paid the piper, Cr McCatdle opposed the sureties as creating a gentlemanly contractor who would make his profits out of tli9 poor working man. The latter had generally carried out their contracts fairly, and the 25 per cent the Council always held in hand was suflicient security. Cr Beutley pointed out the failures of contracts in Short-street, Queen-street, Perry street, Cole-street, and other streots which had been taken too cheaply. Cr Price supported the surety system. Cr Gapper thought they should relax the condition in this case, as it lmd not been mentioned in the advertisement.

The Mayor pointed out that they passed a resolution at a former meeting, making it compulsory to find sureties, and that could not be departed from now.

BOROUGH COTTAGES. No tenders were received for leasing these, the Mayor designating them a " white elephant."

WORKS COMMITTEE. Or Bentley complained that the Works Committee could not be got together to puss work when it was finished, and also that the Overseor reported that the contractors for Oliurch-street were progressing satisfactorily and it would soon be completed, whereas it w is already finished, and only waiting to be passed, He could not understand the Overseer. BUILDING REGULATIONS. Or Dixon reported on behalf of the Committee, that they had been unable to bring up their report ut this mating, but would have it prepared by the next Council night, WORKS AUTHORISED. The Works Cnmmilto were authorised to have approaches made to the kerb at the corners of Church and Queen-streets; also repairs to footpath opposite Cock* burn's Block, on the motion of Cr Gapper seconded by Or Russell, MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS ASSOCIATION, The Mayor brought forward his notice of motion ro forming the above. Ha stated the idea had emanated from the Town Olerk, and was a very good one, from which if carried out great benefits to the Boroughs would accrue, He was rather doubtful, however, whether the , Boroughs would take the matter the necessary interest, Cr McCardle was in favor of the scheme. The reason other similar attempts had failed was because the matter had been entrusted to the wrong parties to carry out. Cr Vile hardly saw that the Municipal Corporations Act required amendment; but if the Town Olerk could point out any defects in it he would he' propared to vote iu favor of the seheme.

The Town Clerk, by permission, pointed out that there were many things required amending, and that Acts (or the purpose were being introduced every year, but &b the Boroughs were not consulted as to the amendments, they were rarely satisfactory. Only Boroughs themselves knew their own requirement, and they only could surest the amendments necessary to make the Act Ihorougly workable. He quoted from an Australian paper to show that Boroughs there were forming themselves into Aaaooiatinua for their mutual benefit, and pointed out that only thil session an amendment Act had been introduced in Wellington which had been so pulled to pieces that nothing apparently was lei t of it, as it did not appear anions; the statutes. He submitted that a great many amendments could be made with advantage.

After some further discussion, Cr Vile suggesting they could make amendments in the Act through their representatives without joining an Association, the Clerk, on ■ the suggestion of Or ;McCardle, was instated to sis, vhili in town, iif the

< Wellington Council would briii" the aoheme forward, as coming from that city it would have more weight, Or Gapper mentioned as one required amendment that defaulting ratepayers could be placed on the burireas list on paying up arrears, as at present many were disfranchised without knowing it, and were very strong in their complaints when they found they could 111! remedy the lnattor by paying up. SlIOltT-STHEET. "VThe specifications were agreed to be sigfied, and tenders authorised to be called for the completion of this street. llOl'E-STREE.'C Cr Bontley moved that the the footpath •Jn this street be raked, and hate 3 inches "of lino gravel spread over it. He thought this would satisfy the people in the looality. Cr Ruasoll secondod. Cr Gapper said the reason tho large stones were found upon the surface af the street was that horses were rounded up into it for tho pnrposo of beintt canaht. and by galloping about it they knocked the street all to pieces. He still looked upon the specimen stone and letter as an insult, tho letter, to put it mildly, did not contain the truth, Ho would say again that when ho passed that street there was not a stone tho size of an orangb there He spoke more strongly upon this mutter from the fact that one of the Councillors supported the action of the person who sent the letter. If any person came lo the Council with a plain unvarnished tale he would do his best to see justice done. Cr Price supported tho motion, not hocause it would satisfy the people there, but because, after the admission that the work had been improperly pnsjed, it was their duo, and was required. AYitli regard to Cr Gapper's remarks about a Councillor supporting the writer of the letter re the street, he did not think it necessary to take any notice of them. Cr Gapper: Does Cr Price wish to politely give me the lie? (Cries of No no,) Let anyone go to Victoria-street, and they will find stones tliero now as large .is in Hope-street, and we have never complained. After one or two further remarks, the Mayor again explaining how tho work was passed, the work was agreed to, and the Council adjourned.