MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 932, 23 November 1881, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual meeting was held last evening. Present—Crs Gapper (in the chair, in the absence of His Worship) Russell, Bentley, Price, Bish, McCardle, Perry, and Dixon. The minutes were read and confirmed, CORRESPONDENCE. Inwards- From C. J. Freeth, secretary to the Hospital, asking for grant-in-aid; from Cr Vile, apologising for absence; from Treasury, enclosing cheque for 1382 18s 9d, being a subsidy of 7s Gd in the £; from Gattscha & Parsons, asking leave to place a place a pipe under Queen and Chapel-streets, for the purpose of taking water to their brewery; from S. Hounslow, applying for balance on contract in Wrigley-street, also asking for GJ days' pay for R. Woodham. Outwards—To E. Bezar, returning the pound-book, and asking for returns; to Institute, replying ve license ; to Bentley Bros, and Bennington, accepting tenders. APPLICATIONS. The applications of Messrs Gattscha & Parsons and Mr S. Hounslow were granted, subject to the approval of the Works Committee, SUBSIDY. In answer to Cr McCardle, the Town Clerk stated that the Counties received 20s in the £. Cr McCardle thought the Government should have kept faith with tho Boroughs when it promised thorn the '2os iu tho £ for livo years, en vas's APOIOGV. Accepted on the motion of Cr Price. WORKS COMMITTEE, With reference to the Overseer's resignation, the Committeo recommended that his resignation be not accepted, and that the money due to him be retained till Mr Hutton explained as to certain tools of the Corporation which appeared to have been sold by auction. That applications be invited for the office of overseer. That plans aud specifications bo prepared for the completion of Cole-street, tho work having been authorised and the subscriptions paid. Tlmt notice be given to Mr Cole to fence his land iu Pony-street. That an advertisement be inserted iu the papers calling upon resideuts who required approaches over footpaths to construct them in accordance with plans at the Council Chambers, and that the Inspector of Nuisances be instructed to proceed against all persons using footpaths and failing to comply with the notice,

Plans and specifications for Chapelstreet were laid on the table by Cr Russell who promised to up plans of Bannister-street, on Wednesday. Cr Russell was also authorised to get out the quantities of timber for culverts in Albort-Btreet. [Hia Worship arrived and took hia seat apologising for his lateness.] OVERSEER. Cr Gapper moved that applications ho invited for the office at a salary of £2 2s per week, wet or dry, time not- to be confined to any particulnr hours. Or McCardle seconded, and said if a man could he gut who would take off a •ittle of the work from Cr Russell's shoulders, he would propose to give a little more. Cr Russell supported the proposal. Cr Bish said if lliey could get a fjnod man they could well afford to give more, and the inducement of a possible increase should be held out. Or Dixon supported Crßish's view, and thought they should offer 8s per day. The motion was then put and carried, RESIGNATION OF OVERSEER, The first recoommendation of the Works Committed report was adopted on the motion of Cr Price seconded by Cr Bentley. COLE-STREET. Cr Dixon moved tliat the street bo finished. In connection with this he suggested that in future in stumping contracts the Contractors should fill in the holes, as these were very dangerous when left open. Cr Bentloy seconded,-Carried, MR COIE'g FENCING.

Cr Gapper stated the Committee recommend this fencing to he done bs vehicles were driven over (he corner of the path and destroyed it.

Or McCardle was opposed lo aakins; Mr Cnle tn fence, as ha thought tho attempt Bhould be nadn tn keen the street a chain wide at the outlet at least, as that would He c'nnd for preventing spread of fire.?. Or Gappor said the land was Mr C"le's private property, and the Council had tried tn aoquiro it fur widenine all along tho street, hut had failed, ns the owners would not give it, Under the present circumstances tho piece nnfßncod was daneerous, and a r.nisance, and should either he fenced at once or permanently widened. Or Dixon said there had heen an offer from the Gentlemen's Club to give the land, provided the Council kerbed the path in front of the Club premises, This he considered a very favorable offer, and he had been, and was still, in favor of it. Cr Bish supported the previous action of the Council on this question. Cr Russell opposed Cr Dixon's view, supporting Cr'Bish. Cr Price moved that nart of the committee's report on the matter be adopted, Cr Bish seconded. Cr McOardle moved as An amendment —That the part of the works report referring to Mr Cole's fencing stand over till next meeting, so that another attempt could be made to obtain the land for the Borough; and that Cr Bish and the mover' be a committee for the purpose of ascertaining if this could be effected. Cr Price said he and the seconder were willing to withdraw their motion. Cr Gapper said: Put the motion, The motion was put. and voted for, when it was pointed out the amendment Bhould go first, The Mayor then put the amendment, which was carried by 5 to 4, APPROACHES OVER FOOTPATHS, Cr Fries mtityd, and Or Rnuill msoq.

dod, that the portioh of the Works Committee report re above be adopted. Gr Bish said it was shameful people were not more careful to protect the newly- ■ formed footpaths, Borses and cattle were allowed to trample them ont of shape and dray-wheel marks could often be seen on the paths. He, for one, would summons the first person he caught spoiling the paths. [An almost interminable discussion tooK place on the by-laws with reference to this matter.] Cr- Gapper finally moved an' amendment seconded by Cr Perry, that that portion of the report of the works committee under discussion be expunged, as it seemed useless to try to save their paths. Carried. 1 BANNISTER AND CHAPEL STREET*. Cr Gapper moved, That called for the work in the above Btreets?fffl be opened next Tuesday. Cr Russell seconded. After a long discussion motion carried. Cr Gapper remarked that he thought the best thing that could be done was for Cr Bussell and himself to resign and one take the engineership and the other be overseer, as they had to do all the work.

CR. RflSSKli's WORI. The Mayor said that the time had arrived that eome action should be taken to give Cr Russell Bome sort of compensation. He (the Mayor) had mooted the matter at a public meeting where it had been well received. If Cr Russell accepted it there would he a vacancy in the Council, so that if Cr Bish did not get in as Mayor, there would be a seat still for him (Mr RenalH to drop into. (Laughter).

BOROUGH SURVEYOR'S REPORT. The Borough Surveyor reported Mr Andrew Cockburn had not altered the hearths in his new buildings according to notice. That Mr Rapp's house in course in course of erection in Dixon-street was not in accordance with the building regulations ; also reported on chimney to be erected in Mr £. P. Perry's new shop and asking instructions re the same, An immense amount of conversational discussion took plaoe on this report, not one of the matters contained in it being dealt with by the Council, The first portion re Mr Cookburn's hearths was allowed to stand over because Mr Cockburn was out of the district. The second was dropped as Mr Bapp had promised to comply with the by-law before occupying his house, and the third was passed over because there was not a by-law dealing with a chimney of the kind to be erected in Mr Perry's shop, Mr Perry apparently being iu the happy position of simply suiting himself. INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES. The Inspector reported a grating was necessary in the creek crossing Bammter and Dixon-streets, near the stables, to prevent accumulation of rubbish. The Inspector was instructed to employ a man to clear out the culvert. BUILDING COMMITTEE. This Committee reported having fully examined the boundaries of No 1 Building District, and Minn so many difficulties in the way of making any alteration, recommended a special meeting of the Council to consider tho matter. Cr Bentley moved that tho report be adopted.

Gr Gapper seconded pro forma He thought that as the Council's time had been frequently taken up with the subject the Committee, having been appointed to come to some definite plan, should have come to some sort of conclusion in the matter. Or Biah said he had been disinclined to act on the Committee at first, and when he came to luok through the by-laws he found that in altering one law it upset another, and he thought it could be better considered by tlio whole Council The whole question had boen brought up ut the instance of one man simply to Bave him from a paltry expense. Cri Dixon, Busaell and Price spoke to the same effect.

Cr McCardle was quite satisfied with the by-laws hb they at present stood. The question was then put and the motion was lost, the report being thrown out. POUND COMMITTEE. Cr Gapper read a letter which lifcd been handed in from Mrs Ewington re her complaint against the poundkeeper and ranger. He (Cr Gapper) had been away from the district a few days and had not been able to meet his fellow Committeemen on the matter, but he would do to ai soon as possible and brinu up a report. A further extension of time was therefore allowed, HOSPITAL APPLICATION. The application was granted, tho aum of 5 per cent, on the subsidy to be given. BOROUGH SURVEYOR, Two applications for the übove office were opened. The caudidates wore balloted for, and Mr France was declared elected. ItABBIT CIRCULARS. A circular (which we publish elsewhere) was read, the Mayor pointing out that the Boroughs were exempt; but it was suggested that their land in the Maneaone Block was not exempt from Ilia Inspector. Mil jas. e Thompson's kerbino, Cr Russell reported that Mr Thompson had decided to withdraw his application for kerbing. The matter was therefore allowed to drop. THE BOROOGH COTTAGES. The Clerk reported that no application had been received for them. [ THE SURETY PLAN. Tho Mayor moved his motion to rescind a formor resolution compelling th» finding of sureties by contractors. He thought the 25 per cent, kept back was always enough security, and he was.of opinion it would be best to revert to their old plan. The County he saw was becoming of the opinion that sureties were not necessary for small contracts. Cr Russell seconded the resolution, i which he strongly supported, Ors Bentley and Price opposed it, and . Crs McCardle and Bish supported it, and, on the motion being put, it was carried— Ayes 6; Noes 3. The surety system being now therefore abolished so far as it was fixed by the previous resolution Cr Price intimated, his intention of again bringing the matter before the Council, and Cr Bish that he intended to give notice that sureties be required for contracts . over JIOO. The Council then adjourned at about half-past ten.