MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1070, 10 May 1882, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Thk usual meeting of the Council was hold last evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs Caselbeiw, Heron, Perry, Chamberlain, Yile, Gapner, Feist, and Price.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed and the correspondence read. Letters outwards were principally to Mr Renall's tenants, re the land given by Mr Eenall to the Council. Two written and one verbal reply was received to these—one from Mr Diederich, stating that he would allow the Council to take the land if it gave him a clean receipt for the next two years' rates; one from Mr Ewingtori, stating that if his rent were reduced he would give up the land. The clerk stated another tenant had informed him that he would not give up the land without a decrease in his rent. Or Gapper moved that the consideration of these replies be held over till next meeting so that answers minht be received from other tenants. Cr Price seconded.— Curried. MR KENAU'S GIFT. A letter was read from Mr Renall, slating that the Council could obiain the title of the land in Renall-street promised by him to the Borough as soon as it chose to instruct his solicitor, Mr Gawith, to take the necessary steps to place his laud under the Land Transfer Act.

Cr Vile moved and Cr Caselberg seconded, that steps be taken at once. Cr Capper moved as an amendmentThat the matter stand over, Mr Kenall had first told the Council he would give them land for footpaths, and then at the last moment told them that to obtain it they must deal with his tenants. If they gave compensation to one tenant they must tjive it to all. It would he better to take the land under the Public Works Act at once. The matter had better stand over till other tenants sent in their claims, so that the Council could sue in what position it stood.

Cr Caselberg said he regretted having seconded the resolution, as ho had not been aware of the nature of the gift. It appeared to him like a "gift horse"—you must not look very closely at it. The Council had better appoint a Committee to find out the real value of the gift, Cr Price seconded I he amendment,

Cr Vile said the Council had generally understood that it was to place Mr Renall's land under the Lund Transfer Act as consideration for the gift, The only question which had since cropped up was that of the leaseholders, and he believed the latter would ultimately give way and allow the Council to take the land. The sooner the Conncil acquired the title to it the better. If they took the steps suggested by Cr Gapper it would cost as much to bring the land under the Public Works Act,

Cr Heron supported Or Vile's views. Cr Gapper stated that Mr Ronall made no mention of tenant rights when he said ho would give the land. He (Or Gapper) considered they were paying lor tho land by bringing it under the Transfer Act, It was not likely that leaseholders would give up any rights without compensation. He would not himself,

Or Chamberlain thought if Mr Eenall had said lie would givo the land he should have made arrangements with his tenants himself, which lie could do better than the Council could, (Hear, heir.) , Cr Oaselberg said it appeared to him that Mr Eenall really offered the feo simple of the ground, and i't would be best tn accent it, if not too costly, The Clerk stated it would cost from .£2O to lo bring the land under tho Land Transfer Act.

The amendment, was then put and lost, the resolution being declared carried after division. 100-boiling. Mr Eenall applied to the Council to remove a large log which he stated had been improperly placed on his property inQueen street.

This application seemed to cause some amusement to Councillors, several of whom stated that the log in question had been on tho land before the old Local Board's time. A resolution was passed to ihe effect that if Mr Eenall could show the Council had placed the log on hi s ground they would be prepared "to remove it.

POSTS AND RAILS WANTED. Mr Eenall wrote to the Council, re. questing that certain fencing which had been taken down in Chapel-street, having been encroaching on the road, should be delivered to him as he originally erected ifci

Cr Gapper said Mr Reuall had sold the laud which the fence protected, andjmado some L6OO out of it. He could not see therefore how Mr Eenall now claimed the fencing material which had" really been on the Boroughs land, If the Works Committee could have found the owner of the land they would havo re-erected the fence in its proper place and charged him with the cost. The fencing was of no use to the Borough.

Cr Caselberg moved that Mr Renall be presented with the fencing if he he choose to cart it away. Cr Heron 'seconded.—Carried. WORKS COjrJUTTEE,

The Committee reported that the overseorhad been instructed to have a ditch dug in Johnston-street, at the junction of Makora road, as recommended in Inspector of Nuisance's report. The Committee resolved not to take any action re hedge in Johnston-street at present. The Oversser's report was read, The Engineer was instructed to put in a culvert between Bannister-street and Stable lane It was resolved that the attention of the Council be called to the formation of mad and footpath from Yates' corner to the' borough boundary; The Overseer was instructed to have the water-oress cleared out of Soutlntreet drain. It was resolved not to entertain Mr Howislow's application for £G. Tho report was adopted by the Council. OVERSEER'S. REPORT. Ihe Overseer reported that contractors hd been unable to do much on account Jfthe wet weather. Mr Gruschon L Tf" R J ery satisfactorily withihis contract in Nursory road ■ Thecrown»ofKin g . a tEoss.st ) Bent-hay-s, and Ghapel-st required filling ln , Bentley-st and Ros ß - B t required the tur dressed nff the sides, Akura-rd required T"? il? 8 M the Btones °">K and about. 10 chains in High-st required

• • UPPER MAIN FOOTPATH. The recommendation of the Committee be called for the' work was

TENDEKS, -Only one tender was received for work * in Perry street, vi?!.. Benlley Brep". lit L3O, '' which was accepted. ' MR BEZAH'S CLAIM. Mr Bezar attended and asked that the Council should reconsider his application for compensation, &c, He stated he had been mulcted in a fine of £5 for doing what the late Mayor (Mr Renall) bad authoriscd him to do, and had had also teen charged one month's rent of the Pound, for a period during which he had been prevented from usinj; it. He now aakeil the Council to refund him the £5 and pay him for the month they had not allowed him in the account. The Mayor stated the Council had already adopted the report of a committee appointed to inquire into the matter, and did not think they could entertain Mr Bezar's present application. \ After some diacuesion and explanation '. from the Town Clerk and the Cr Gapper moved-That the extra ' month's allowance claimed by Mr Bezar, viz., 30s, be paid him in settlement of all demands.

Cr Price seconded, pro torma, but spoke against the motion as the Committee had already gone fully into the matter. The motion was lost on the voices, but on a division was declared carried. Noes -Crs Price, Heron, and Perry. Ayes— Crs Casolberg, Gapper, Feist, Yile, and Chamberlain. GAS QUESTION. The adjourned debate on the above was then brought on. A petition signed by 72 ratepayers and householders was laid on the table, asking the Council to submit tho proposal to the ratepayers. The resolution under discussion was that by Cr Caselberg, "That a vote of thanks'be accorded the Gas Committee for their able report, but the Borough, while offering every facility to a company do not take the matter up." Cr Vile moved as an amendment, " That all words after • able report' be struck out."—Lost for want of a seconder.

Cr Price moved " That the prayer of the petition be granted." Bis opinion waß that though in favor of gas the ratepayers would beagainst the Boroneh undertaking the work.

Cr Caselherg seconded pro forma. Cr Gappßr said it was simply a question of wayß and means. If the Council took notion in the matter then would be the time to bring it before the ratepayers. If the Council as holders of the purse strings could not see its way clear, it should not notice outside pressure. Cr Vile asked that the original resolution bo put; it was quite evident that the Council except uno were all ou the same side, and it was certain they would take no notice of the voice of the ratepayers. The resolution was then put and carried, Cr Vito voting against. Cr Price then moved his amendment as a resolution, adding that the Mayor be requested to give effect to the petition. Cr Vile seconded,

Cr Gapper hoped the mover had a lot of gentlemen whom he could bring up to lay the matter before the people if the resolution were carried. As to the desirability of gasworks being started, the Council and ratepayers'were one, but he opposed the Borough taking up the work, Cr Yile. You would be prepared to vote against it if all the ratepayers' were in favor? Cr Gapper: Hear I Hear I Cr Vile: Then we do not represent the ratepayers, but ourselves. •The motion was put and lost, the petition being thrown out. INSTITUTK LOAN. Cr Chselberg explained that the reason why the recent pull for the above had not been successful was because burgesses were under the impression that a majority of votes only was required, but by an alteration in the Act a fixed proportion was necessary, which had not been reached, Under these circumstances he moved that a fresh poll be taken on Saturday, 24th June. Ratepayers had nothing to consider in this matter, the money had already been raised and exponded, the interest was guaranteed; all they had to do was to take the trouble to vote.

Cr Feist seconded. Carried. Cr Perry voting against,

MUDS THROUGH TKOST LANDS. A debato took place on the above. Cr Rapper moving, "That tho Borough take stops to obtain a legal title to all the lauds thus taken, and so save all future trouble and litigation.

Or Tile said the land was given for roa.li by the resolution of the Trustees, and that possession was all that was necessary.

Cr Price said he had always thought the trust was a useless, superfluous body, and its present action confirmed him in that opinion. Tho sooner its functions were vested in (he Borough the bettor. Cr Heron: That is easier said than done 1

Or Oaselberg said it might be better, if they could acquire tho title at small cost, to do so. He was sorry to hear that one of tho trust had suggested fencing off uomo of the roads, but was glad it was Mr Haro who suggested such a course, as his ideas | were those of about 40 years ago, and not i likely to carry great weight. Cr Feist seconded the motion, to save possible future trouble. His ideas of tho trust differed from Cr Price's. That body was constituted for a special object, entirely difforont from the Council. After some further discussion the Town Clerk read Ihe Act empowering the Trust to alienate land for roads, but only to the extent of 33 feet. The roads taken were 66 feet.

The motion was then put and carried,