MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1469, 29 August 1883, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

:Tee ÜBUal meeting.of the Council wbb •held }m, evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Price, Heron, Lowes, Caßelberg, Gapper, Chamberlain, Ferry, and Ohinohen, An apology was received and accepted for uon-uttuudanoe from Or Feist, who was suffering from a »evere cold;-":' ",■■■•.' The minutes of the previous meeting, were read and confirmed, and correspondence r*ad. '■'■"- ; . FIRE M/traS. ; Captain Muir, M.V.O.J wrotu complaining of the inefficient state of the sluicegates on the creek in Church and Hall-Btreeti, and pointing out that in the event of a firC the efforls of the brigade would be frustrated by the negleot of the Counoil, It was resolved that the present sluice gates bo taken up and new ones constructed and inserted in the creek under the direction of Ors Gapper and- Heron. ....,; THB OOUBTHOUSE QUESTION. A lengthy communication was received from the of Justioe, pointing out that though- tenders were culled in the borough no action was taked priur to the commencement of the building to call the Colonial Architect's attention to the building regulations, The letter also gavo several reasoua why the buildiug woald not endanger others in the event of a lire and stated that it would bo painted with Asbestos paint, and quick-growing trees would be planted in the ground around it. The letter eouclnded by pointing out that the Crown was not Effected by any law unless specially mentioned therein, Considerable '< g)iasa,tisfaction was expressed by the Counoil at the treatment bestowed upon it by the Government in this^matter, but it was decided to let the subject drop after the Clerk had replied to to the present letter, stating that the contractor had informed the Mayor that lie had enclosed a copy of the by-law re buildings with his tender.

■.;..••• PETITION RE NUISANCE. A iiumei'uualy signed memorial wai presented to the Council from residents in Chspel-at jßouth, and Kurupuni, concerning » public nuisnuco which they alleged was caused through a creek beiiig blocked up and thereby causiug the water to spread and lie stagnant on adjoining lands, which in warm weather gave off'» very' offensive odour, and was, in the opinion 'of the petitioners, injurious to the publio health. They therefore asked the Uimiicil to take immediate action in the matter'under the Public Health and Municipal Corporations-Aoi. The Clerk reported that notice had been given in January last 10 Messrs Perry and Eenall, the owners of the land to abate the nuisance, but the Council did not follow the matter up It was resolved that the medical officer's opinion be askod as to the alleged nuisance, and that a copy of the petitiou be handed to him, and that immediately on his reporting that the matter wis a nuisauce, the Clerk to issue fresh notices to the owners.

Cr Perry explained that he had received the notice in January, but it was useless tn clear out liis .portion till the person below him did his.; He had spent £3O or £4O on it already,

FOUND FKES, Tho pouud-keepsr reported the roceipt of £8 is iu fees.for the past month. . CATTLE HAULS, A lutter war read from the Publie Workt Department slating that the complaint of the Council ro the cattle baulk on Lincoln road would be iuquirod into. WORKS COMMITTB& The Works Committee's report recommended that the Ovonoor be instructed to repair High-street footpath, wlioro required.' That Makora-street be raked, and the ruts filled in. That permission bo niton to Mr Board to erect a fence m Chapel-street, provided the same is done to the satisfaction of the Overaeor. That, the Council purchase section 46, Buutley'e Estate, for a gravel pit. Some discussion took place on the proposal to purchase the section on Bentley's estate for a gravel pit, but the Council was unanimously in favor of tho proposition.

The Committee's report was adopted as read.' '.. . Gr Gapper rose tu move that the naotion in Bentloy's estate be purchased, He stated: that hi> h&d long had his eye on the seotion, and that it was through him that the Counoil.now hud the offer uf purchasing it fur the sum named, viz., ±•SO, Or Caiolberg seconded,— Curried, NUISANCE. The Inspector of Nuisances reported that a - nuisance was' caused on Mr E, Tourhuth'a land in Queen-Btroet through stagnant surface water, Notice was ordered to bo given to Mr Tuuiaath to abate the eamo forthwith,

Pursuant to notice, Cr Price moved that the Council take iuto consideration the lighting of the town with gas. He did not think it necessary to take up the time of the Council ty a lonjj speech ou the matter, as just about a year ago a couiinitte& made a very full report, and showed conclusively tho thing would pay. He would again lay the papers prepared by that committee, on the lablo, •and Bimply move hiß motion. _.. ' : The Mayor aeconded ; Or Price's motion. In his, Opinion the tnauufacture offjai could it the present time be profitably undertaken 'in VMaitertmi.,-. The only question was whether tho Council should undertake the work. In auy case he thought the Council uiij(ht submit the matter to the burgeßseß, aud even if they went against it, no harm would be done. Cr Perry, waa ~of opiuSotit: that while those in' the' main street might be in favor of gas, those in the outskirts certainly would oppose it. Cr Heron would vote against the inotiou, because he knew it would be uieless to aßk the consent of the ratepayers. ■ • ; .Cr'Oaielberg regretted he could not support Cr;Price on this occasion; .Be could' hot eoa how town and country 'bargOßsea could be brought to ha'rmouiie in the matter, The great /mistake that had been made was .that the Borough was far too large, andJoere was not therefore a auffieieui community of interest between -nil parts of it. H» alio thought a private 'oompSpy should take tbo risk pf starting such-air affair work*// Ha .WAaiof opinion, moreo'veri'that «aß,flßjalightih(? medium,'wu'doomed, Electric liwht was the light of the fature, and it wuuld be absurd therefore, to build a gas works which, would in a few yean he absolete, Or Lowei was decidedly in favor of Or Price's motion, nor had he heard any argument brought-agaiußt it, The advancement of the town; should be their first concern, and the argument that people living off .the main road would object to ga« ought not to weigh with them, is people not consuming the gas would not have to pay for iti—(Heart Hear!)—lf a committee (which lie hoped would be appoiuted) could show data to prove at 15s per 1000, sufficient consumers could he guaranteed to ntake the thing pay. He did not think people would to •work ajjaiust- their own interests.as to prevent an- improvement and ' a•, convenience to the town simply beoause all eould not directly participate in the benefit). Gas would supply a eon-

vehience that the Borough, had lung enough been without The gross; footpaths, on a dark winter's night were really not safe, He therefore urged the Cuunoil to lake up ihe question of lighting the town, with ipirit and energy. They could not take a step of this kind without ' benefititijf the. whole Borough, and improving the value.of property in all „. partf-orjll/- Whatirould be mote likely.. ; •.t» attract poßulatiou to: the - town. than 7 oon?enionoes of'this kind? and it wm • high tiirjrftrt Ma'stertoii'is the most ~ favorably titmfad inland towu in the ' •'; North Island shook off its apathy, and took up itt proper position. He trusted , the matter would be laid before a public meeting in iboh a lair aid full manner aB would coavincd the burgesses they/ ■ would do wrong to vote against it. CrGapper laid the Council on a former occasion had had too mush sensb to put ' the matter before the ratepayers. The Borough was too large, and what would benefit tbo centre would not advantage the mburbs. (Or Lowea: Quoryl) It would not be fair to press the'matter, as a rate would have to be. levied over the the whole Borough to provide inlereit if the affair did not pay. If a rate could be struok ovpr the area benefited, it would be ' h differeiit matter, but he would not vote ;; ' for any work to benefit the few, at the- ''" expenjeofthe majority. The motion was then, put and lost, Ayes-His Worship the Mayor, and Ore Lowes and Price. Noes-Crs Caselberi?, ,-. Heron; Gapper, Ohamberlain.lVirry.'arM Chinohen. ' " -^L' ; . ~,;EUQTRIC light. ' ;'.'', -^ rose to move aooord- •' . ing tb.notice |'That- the Counoil go into,'a fiommittee of'. ; the: iwhola-to ' ' consider the question of lighting the '' town by electricity v " Ho expected to meet the same fate-as Or Price, ut he was ot opiuioß that both gas and eleoiric light were premature. Ho had been rather negleotful with bis motion as he had not ' read up the question. However be would move that the Counoil go into committee to consider the question of electric light .. The motion waij put and lost without' ■ debate. Or Caaelberg gave uotico of motion " That ; at its next meeting the Council consider the boat nieani of lighting the town." The Counoil then adjourned.