MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1529, 7 November 1883, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of the Council was held at tlio Council Chambers last evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Ors Price, Caselberg, Heron, Hessey, Lowes, tapper, J, Williams and Perry. The minutes of,the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and correspondence read, - Messrs Chamberlain Bros, wrote acknowledging the receipt of a notice to clear out the creek running by their property, but pointing out that they only occupied to the bank of the creek, and that if they entered the creek for the purpose of clearing it out they would be trespassing on another person's property.. Mr E. Toomath wrote stating lie would pay the cost of filling in the holo on hi? property abutting on Queen-st. HALF-YEARLY STATEMENT. ' Tho clerk laid the half-yearly statement of accounts on •the table. BOR6UGH surveyor's ACCOUNT. Mr Godfrey Russell, late Borough surveyor, wrote, submitting to tho Council a matter in dispute between himself and Mr B, P. Perry as to the charges for inspection of two shops built under two contracts for the latter. . It appeared Mr Russell i claimed £4 10s for inspecting plans, chimneys, &c, of the three now shops erected for Mr Perry under two contracts an Queenstreet, and the removal of ono old ono to Perry-st, Mr Porry maintained that under the by-law Mr Russell was only entitled to £2 for ono inspection. Or Lowes was of opinion that if Mr Russell had had to mako two inspections lie would be entitled to tho two inspection fees, but certainly not to an additional charge for chimnoys in the same work. If Mr Russell only made one inspection it did not matter whether there were two contracts for the shops or only one. He would only be entitled to the fee for one inspection. Cr Heron moved that the matter stand over for a fortnight to enable Mr Russell to explain his charges. Cr Caselberg seconded. Cr Lowes moved a3 an ataendment that Mr Russell be informed that tho Council considered £2 10» the amount duo to him under the by-law. Cr Caselberg could not agree to this. It was dealing on an ex' parte statement. The Mayor: Do you second the resolution, Cr Caselberg 1 Cr Caselberg: Yes; I'll socoid it, pro forma. I think the matter should stand over till we ascertain whether Mr Russell has made two inspections, and earned the money lie claims. Cr Lowes in reply said he moved his amendment in the interests of the Council. They had had on more than one occasion to defer their duty because they did not understand either their by-law or the Act on the matter. In his opinion the by-law was perfectly clear on (his occasion.. Mr Russell had no power to charge for inspecting chimneys in a hew building, for inspecting which he was allowed £2. The scale for chimneys referred to cases where a person wished to erect an additional chimney in his residence, when a charge of 10s could bo made for inspecting it, To take time to consider such a simple matter would be an admission of weakness on the part of the Council which he would set his face against. The amendment was then put and carried by five to four. BOROUGH NEGLECT. Mr T. Parsons wrote complaining thatthrough tho negloct of tho Council's servants in leaving the entrance of tho gravel pit opon and tho wretched state of repair of tho fence of the pit his horses were frequently allowed to wander at large and get into the pound. Ho had recently to pay Gs to release two horses which had got out through the Council's neglect, He asked for this sum to-be refunded. Mr A. W, Renall also wrote ro the same state of affairs, and asking tho Council to do their duty and keep their fences in repair, The Mayor said tho matter was dealt with in the Works Committee report, WORKB COMMITTEE, The overseer submitted his usual report and jt was resolved that Short-street be repaired, and that the Works Committee interview Mr Eenall re gravel pit, The overseer reported that the overflow in Cole-street in wet weather was entirely due to storm water, and not to the overflow'of the oreok in Messrs Wrigley's and Bentloy's bash. The overseer also recommended that a |>ate be put up at the gravel pit in place of slip bars, as horses and catllejworo continually (jetting out on to the street. Tho Committee's report was adopted. Cr Gapper confirmed the statements re tho borough's fences, and moved that the 6s claimed by Mr Parsons be refunded. Cr Heron seconded—carriod. FINANCE COMMITTEE, The following accounts were passod for payment Wages die., £34 2s 9d; J. Payfcon & Co,, £ll4s 6d; E, Feist, 9s 9d. TENDERS, The tender of Mr A, Tinsley for five chains and thirty liaks of Nursery road for £l6 10s was accepted conditionally on the owners on the road paying tho third of the cost as promised by them. INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES, The Inspector wrote, stating that the Kuripuni Borough public drain had become choked with weeds and required clearing out. Ho added that the owners of land abutting on the drains declined to clear it out on tho ground that it was. Borough property, Cr Heron objected to the name given to the drain by the Inspector. The drain was made for the convenience of tho owners, and he moved that they have notice to clear it out. ■ Cr Gapper seconded. Cr Lowes said thero was no doubt the Borough could not do without the drain. Cr Perry: It is equally truo that the owners could not occupy their land without it. ' The motion was put and carried, CHIMNEYS, Tho Inspector of Nuisances reported that several chimneys had been on fire ofjate, eome of which, as vras adgfttod

by the sweep, had only befin Swept about five weeks previously, He wished to know whether he should-prosecute in Buch cases. It was resolved that the Inspector should prosecute in all cases under the by-law. WORKSOP STUMPS. Cr Gapper said he had expected to have heard something about the removal of the atump3 in this street, an ordered by the Council some time ago, but the work still remained to be done. The Mayor stated that the Works Committee had not forgotton the matter, They had thought that it would be best to wait for dry weather and burn the stumps out, which would be more economical method than grabbing them up during; the wet season. MR M'OAKTHY's VEBAHDAH. Cr Price rnoYod in pursuranco. to notice that permission bo granted to Mr McCarthy to erect a ver»ndah as far as his first window in Banniaterstreet. •Cr Williams seconded. ' Cr Caselberg moved that thfe matter bo referred to the Er&lnspectora—Ci? Gapper and Captain Muir of tho Tiro Brigade. Cr Heron seconded pro forma,' After a considerable, discussion similar to that which took place at tho former meeting the amendment wasr put and lost.—Ayes: Crs' Caselberg and Perry; Noes: Ors Hessey, Lowea, Williams,- Gapper, Prico, Hercti, and the Mayor. The motion for allowing the/crecti® of the verandah was then put and alsoV declared lost,-Ayes: 4, Crs- Prico,' v Hessey, Lowes, and Williams j Noevi 5, Crs Caselberg,Heron, Gapper, Perry, and the Mayor, Cr Gapper said that had Cr Price's motion been for rescinding the motion forbidding verandahs in half chains streets and then granting permission 'he would have voted for it, but they could not over ride their previous resolution. Cr Price asked for and obtained leave to withdraw his second notice of motion ro duties of Inspector of Nuisances, as he understood a by-law Committee would sit at an early date, and that could deal with this matter. NOTICE OP MOTION, Cr Caselberg: That a special meeting of tho held for the purpose of drafting a by-law for licensing chimney sweeps, and defining the duties of tho Inspector of Nuisances, Cr Lowes: That the motion adopting the Works Committe report re verandahs in half chain streets, bo rescinded, The Council then adjourned-.