MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1011, 1 March 1882, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of the Council was held last evening, Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Ors Gapper, Price, Perry, McCardle, Caselberg, Chamberlain, Vile, and Heron, The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the correspondence was read, Mr Russell's Application. Mr Russell, Borough Engineer, wrote applying for an ijjcreajie of-salary, on' the ground that the work took up all his time, aud more than the usual working hours. It waß considered that although the work might juat now be heavy it wag not likely to continue so, and it was decided to make no advance at present, Or Chamberlain expressing the opinion that at least a 12 month's trial should be given at the salary named if the Engineer was retained for that period. Cr Vile thought reports should be given in by the Engineer at each meeting shewing the works in progress in the Borough, Hobse-fosts. Messrs Chamberlain Bros, asked permission to ereot two horse-posts opposite their premises, whioh was granted, Mrs Hacker's Request. Mrs Hacker wrote requesting that her application for a continuation of Churchstreet be proceeded with at once. The letter also stated the writer noticed that all streets applied for met the same fate as hers (viz,, " laid on the shelf"), unless they happened to be or Victoriaistreet,—The matter having been deoided upon before was not again gone into. Mrs Compton'b Application. Mrs Compton asked for a remission of the rates of 1881, regretting she . had failed to take the proper course and appealed against the assessment, but relying on the Council dealing justly in the matter.

The Town Clerk explained that Mrs Compton's land had been over rated by a mistake of the valuators, and that the latter had admitted the error. Cr Oaselberg therefore moved that the excesß be remitted. Or Heron seconded, and the motion was oarrind, Mr S. Hodnslow's Application. Mr Hounalow wrote statins that owing to a pressure of his creditors he wished the Council to reduce amount kept in hand on hiß maintenance contract from £SO to 125; also asking that he be paid monthly instead of quarterly. Cr flapper moved that it be left over to the Works Committee, to report at next meeting, Cr Vila seoonded, Cr Heron said he thought the Council, having the matter before it, should Bettle it. at once. He objeoted lo reduce the amount to bat whether it be paid monthly or quarterly was another matter. Cr Gapper stated he thought with Cr Heron, had only moved his resolution ; i btain an expression of opinion on

the matter, _ The road work had not been carried out in that manner in which it should have been, and be opposed reducing the amount kept in hand.' • Cr Heron moved as an 'amendment— That the request be not granted, aa it is contrary to the provisions of the contract, Or Perry seconded. Or Vile thought it better ba referred to the Works Committee, as he did not think the contract was any good, and perhaps the best thing for the Borough would be to determine it. The amendment was then put and carried on a division by 5 to 4. Cr Vile stated that the Works Committee in the annual report should give special attention to the road maintenance contract, _ Doo Tax, Mr A. Mutrie, Junior, wrote, stating that as his dogs were employed solely for rabbit purposes the Council should remit the tax on them. Or McCardle said the Council had no power to deal with the matter, and pointed out that Mr Mutne did not have to pay rabbit tax, which recouped him for the Dog tax. CrCaselberg thought the case was a hard one, and if it could be dealt with by tha borough, it should he. Cr McCardle moved tlmt the Clerk reply that the Act allowed the Council no option in the matter. Cr Vile seconded and said it was a pity that the Borough should be compelled to tax dogs kept for killing rabbits, Cr Caselberg moved as an amendment that where dogs are kept for killing rabbits only, the Council remit the tax. Cr McCardle pointed out that the Act did not permit this course. Cr Chamberlain thought that the Inspector should be asked not to collect the tax from persons keeping rabbit dog 9. Or McOiirdle said that would bo evading the law. Cr Cuselberg said that if his amendment was against the law he would withdraw it, The Cl«rk pointed out that the Aot siiid all dogs should he registered, but gave no power to ihe Borough to remit the tax. Cr Caselberg withdrew his amendment and stated he would bring it forward as a notice ot motion. The resolution was then put and carried, Libiuhy Committee. •

le The Committee appointed to enquir 1. into the public library reported that th st building had been erected at a cost c r > of which sum L4OO was raised b--8 subscription and grants, and the balnnc was advanced by the bank on the persons security of Messrs J. Bennett, E. Feist F. W, Hales, J. Yile, D. MeGregor, F G, Moore, and Rev J. F. Teakle, I public meeting wus held in Dec, 1878 when it was resolved to bring the Insti tute under the Publio Libraries Act, am the following trustees were appointed Messrs E, Feist, F. W. Hales, F. G. Moor and C. A. Vallance. In January, 1879, C Renall waited upon the Library Com i mitteeas a deputation from the Council r taking over the Institute, the result o which was the appointment of Messrs J Bennet, E. Feist, J, Vile, F. W. Hales D. McGregor, J. F. Teaklo and 11. G J Williams as a martini: committee, will e power to deal with all monies accruint e therefrom as they think fit. The Library r Committee instructed their secretary t< l'- write to the Town Lands Trustees for s P conveyance of town acre 104 for the pur pose of a Public Library, and to cause: ' lease to be afterwards eijecqted from tht j. Library Trustees to the Borough Counci ,j. according to the Public Libraries Act, . 1869. The conveyance was executed bj the Town Lands Trustees to the Institute Trustees, but there was no lease executed it to the Council, The Committee woulf' . suggest that the arrangements made were _ contrary to the meaning of clauses 8 and 9 of the Act, as the conveyance should f. have been executed to tho corporation oi j Masterton, and tho property became _ actually vested jn the Council directly the _ Act was brought into operation by the vote of the ratepayers. The Committee j recommended ; 1, That the Council take over the Institute mi condition that the Library Trustees relinquish their trust in ( favor of the Council. 2, That the pre- , sent liability on the Institute be taken ( over by the Council, and the guarantors ' relieved, and for this purpose the sum of j L4OO be raised—say from a Building Society for a term of 14 jenrs, the money ! to be raised upon the seourity of the . Library rates 3. Tlwt the Town Lands Trustee be respectfully requested to vote the sum of m 'iiey per annum necessiryto ( make the payment of principal and in interest. The Committee belief th;it if lliw report he adopted it will have the j eftect of putting the Institute upon a pro- ) per and sound financial footing, and the i real purpose for which the Institute was , constituted will be fulfilled. The Committee would point out that the Town : Lands Trustees have hitherto contributed ■ ICO per annum to the Library, whereas under these proposals it would only amount to Lsl 4s annually, being a savi ing to them and enabling the Council to i devote the whole.of the Library rates and revenue to library purposes, 3y converting the present debt 09 recommended it. will require but a small sum more than i has been annually paid for interest to pay off both principal and interest, ' On 1 examining the balance sheet for the past year the Committee were surprised to i find the revenue from subscriptions so small, and are of opinion that a more energetic canvass would result in a much larger sum being received from this source. Thoy are also of opinion that there is nothing in the Libraries Ad to prevent the Council allowing tho ratepayers to nominate the Library Committee, submitting the names for approval and appointment by the Council, the right of veto being retained in the hands of the Council, and the Committee recommend this course for the future, with the_provisio that the Mayor be ex-officio ohairman, and the ohairman of the Town' Lands Trustees be ex-officio member for tho Library Pompiittea, 1 Or Caselberg disclaimed any wish or Intention to act in any way discourteously, towards tho committeo as had been said, He thought the time had come when the Borough should take the Institute over, not as a reproach to, the committee, but' place it upon a better basis, Cr McCardle said tho committee were willing to meet thii Council's views, but they thought the Council should have consulted them in the matter, as valuable suggestion could have been made. The committee, however, did not feel any slight bad been put uppn thein! LeThe Mayor said he had better the vtter received from the committee, oon'eying a resolution passed that day, That the committee expresses its regret that the Council in re-organizing the Institute did not give it an opportunity of expressing its opinion on the various points which had been considered by it. The interest taken by it in the welfare of the Institute, and its knowledge, of its affairs would, in the opinion of the committee, have'been of service to the Council in making fundamental changes," Cr McCardle thought the committee might be asked to join with tlifi Council in carrying out the change. ; - ; , Cr Price stated they had the ohairman and secretary present at their investigation, and the committee might yet be asked to assist in the matter. ' V Or _ McCardle -pointed out, that the chairman (Mr Feist) had not been present, Cr Caselberg said they all thought Mr Boddington was ebiimuß,

in The Mayor said if tho Council adopted it the report then would bo the time to ask 0- the help of the committee. He thought the resolution rather premature, - Cr Gapper moved that the report be is adopted in its entirety. l> Cr McCardle seconded. Cr Yila thought it rather objectionable o to accept in its entirety, He'would like it to see it carried out if it could be, but the ?• property was invested in Trustees by Act d of Parliament, and would require another Act to make the transfer. He did not •» think they could go to a Building Sooiety for the money as the Counoil could not 1- borrow at a higher rate than 7 per cp n t. 0 Cr Caselberg thought the e borrowing very Blight, as money Rffild now be obtained at a low rate. The Trustees of the Institute could apply to 1 the Supreme Court and the Judge could r relieve them of their trust without an Act t of Parliament. His resolution was made , simply to relieve the committee of their > debt, and place the institution on a better 1 basis, and he contended they had the ' power to do so, The Trustees would be 1 only too glad to divest themselves of the trust, an J certainly would not fight the < Borough over the affair. Cr Vile had no objection in the matter, but merely mentioned the possible diffi- ' cullies so that they might be discUsßed. 1 The amendment was then. put and, carried; the report being adopted in its ' entirety. 1 Cr Gapper moved that a joint committee of the Counoil and the Institute con- ; fer with tho Library Trustees as to the ■ best manner .of effecting the changes, the same members of the Council who acted i upon the former committee to act upon this, Cr Caselberg seconded, and the motion waj carried. % Corporation Cottage Committee, The Committee reported having inspected the cottages, and recommend! 1. That four cottages numbered 1, 7,8, and 9, be sold by public action for removal, 2. That ihe remaining five cottages he offered by auction in one or more lots for lease fer 14 years, the leasees to put in tenantable repair, and the leases to contaiu the usual covenants. 8. The Committee be authorised to carry out the aforesaid recommendations. The report was adopted on the motion of Cr McCardle, seconded by Cr Perry. Works Committee, The Committee, recommended that the application of Mr Phillips for extra work alleged to have been done in Trustee-st,, he not entertained. The Mayor was authorised to see Mr Fannin with reference to re-gravelling Cole-st, footpath. The overseer was instructed to attend to filling in the hole in street leading from Bannister to Williams-sts, The Mayor reported having Seen Mrßenall reßenallst,, gravel pit, and got his consent to the contractor for the pipe laying to take out metal on condition of the bank being first sloped down as formerly stipulated. The overseer was instructed to 611 in about three loads of gravel near Wesleyan Church, The Engineer was intruded to , inspect creeks in High-street, and report as to cost of a connecting ditch and filling in one culvert. The overseer was instructed to make the approach from a Orayne-st., to Chapel.st., 'south less dan- ' gerouß. Tenders were ordered to be called for forming and metalling Shortst., and also part of Colomba-road and Kurupuni-st. The offer of Mr Sheen tq take metal at 2s Gd per chain wbb accap. ted, LlO wAB ordered {o be paid on account to contractor for pipe laying The report was adopted on the motion of Or Gapper, seconded by Cr Vile. overseer's report The Overseer reported that Phillips had finished metalling Albert-st,, and was progressing favorably with Trustee-st. That Tinsley, York and Sparksman were proceeding satisfactorily with Chapel and Cole-sts,, contraots. That Parker was getting on well with the pipe laying. That it would be useless attempting to do anything to Nursery-road until the bush now lying there was burnt off, which would be in about a fortnight That he had re. quested permission from Mr J. Wrigley to cut a small drain on his property in Chapel-st., but had no reply yet, That Cole-st,, footpath was not yet repaired, That approaches had not yet been made in Bannister-st., by Messrs Dixon and Neill and Cockery. That Hounslow was going on satisfactorily with the a:i eet-maiD« tenance contract, Finance CoMMiiiEE, Wages and contingencies ... 811 0 R. H. Chinchen, stationery ... 2 4 Q Smith and Hogg ,„ ,„ 34 0 J. Paytoo &C 0.,„ ~, 5 2 10 Benevolent Society 2 0 0 Bowry and King 7 5 1 Caselberg & Co. 16 7 Bacon &Co 13 1 G. Russell 3 q q Freeth (licensini;) ... 018 9 Overdraft—lss3 18s 2d. Liabilities- £ g D Contracts let ~, 200 (j Q Hounslow ... ~, 7Q p q Contingent liabilities 200 0 0

I ... . £IOB3 18 2 It Is recommended that in view of the heavy liabilities instructions be given to the Town Clerk to sue forthwith for rates outstanding, The-report was adopted, on the motion of Cr Gapper, seconded by Or Chamber- , lain , Inspector of Nuisances. , The Inspector reported that tho furze crowing near the gates of the railway station being on the corner acted as a blind to the road, flnd was a dangerous nuiaanoe j also that the wires on one sidd of the bridge near Chamberlain Bros, shop were broken, and made that side of the bridge dangaro.ua to children, It was resolypd, on the motion of Or Gapper-That the Minister of Publio Works be requested to have the hedge removed, and that Cr Heron, as one of the Works Committee, ba authorises to ;have the wires of the bridgo repaired! ' Annual Works Report, t Or Gapper moved—That the Engineer, ■ in oompanywith the-Overseer, be in' " siructed to make the annual inspection of all the roads in the Borough, and to report thereon at the next, meeting-of this Council. Ist—AU roads under the maintenance oontraots. 2nd—All roads requiring attention outside this district, 3rd— All new roads and'streets required at soon aa funds are available, ; Cr Vile seconded,- Carried, Institute, , v Or Caaelberg moved that .a confmitte# consisting of his Worship" {he Mayor and Cra MoCardle, Price, Gapper, and the mover npon the Town Trustees with reference to the annual grant to the Institute, to ask that it be continued. Or McOardle seconded, He 'had no doubt the Trustees would meet them liberally 111 the matter, ' The motion was put and carried, Building Regulations, ; The., Mayor brought on his,motion re the building regulations being altered to allow the Council discretion to relax their elauses in peculiar cases. Cr Gapper moved/that ;the ; motion be embodied in the other items* to be con" sidered at'a special meeting to be called for the purpose of amending the by-laws Cr Vile seconded.—Oarried. . No Couhoiuom Nied Apply. Cr Caselberg brought forward his not job v • mo V" ® J!L e !?.!?! r S.- of - the, .Council being debarred from accepting any office under the Borough until theyiad ceased 0; 6 C*

Momde. Tlio Mayor moved, accdi'Jii.y ut imticc, that n Morgue is desirable for Masterton. Cr Prico seconded, VjSr McCardle thought different denomiujfe»B would join in the cost of building. Ci Gupper said ho opposed a Morgue, but thought that if a mortuary chapel •wero erected in tlio Cemelery, to which he had no dnubt nil Protestants would subscribe, it would bo sufficient. Ho said " Protestants" because lie knew Catholics would not subscribe In it, from former experience. Cr Caselberg said, as 0110 who was not a Protestautaha thought a Morgue would be best, rfs affrson of any denomination • could be taken to it, The only recommendation they would requite was lli.it he must be dead. It was very undesirable to bring pp denominationalism at their discussions, The question was simply was a Morgue necessary, and if so, what would bo the cost. Cr McCardla did not think Cr Gapper meant to exclude any, The movement was not one for tlio Council to take up, and was premature. Or Heron agreed with Cr McCardle, The Mayor pointed out that the expense would not bo great, as they could utilize one of the borough cottages and remove it for the purpose. He contended recent for a morgue. Cr Vile moved that the Counoil remove one of the cottages to the Cemetery to be used for a dead house. Cr Gapper held the cottages themselves wero not dead enough for the purpose, in fact they were all alive, (laughter), He did liot' tlnuk (he Council wero treating the subject with that decency and seriousness thatthe subject should command. In addition lo its being unsuitable, the cottage would cost as much to remove as would build a nice little mortuary chapel. Cr \ile thought Cr Gapper was inconsistent, as he said the cottages were not good enough for the dead yet he recommended their sale to the living. Cr Gapper: They can make pigstyes of thein. Cr ViJe regretted to hear Cr Gapper depreciating the Borough property in that manner. After some further diseussionCrAleCardle moved as an amendment that the morgue be erected but that the counties and hospital should bo asked to contribute to the cosl Ho held it was more a county matter matter than a borough affair as all the cases for a tuorgiio camo from outside the borough boundaries, The Mayor added the latter portion of . Cr McCardle's resolution to his motion put it to the Council, ■ Cr McCardle who was not quite satisfied MLwith the way in which the motion was voted against it and the question H|BThe Mayor expressed the opinion that Hp had [not been conducted "on this subject as it should have been. It was a serious matter but it had been treated with,lightness and its appearance in print would not be creditable to the Council. The Council then adjourned,