MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1563, 19 December 1883, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of the Council was was held lost evening. Presont—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Caselberg, Chamberlain, Heron Hessey, Lowes, Perry, J. Williams, Gapper, and Price.

The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed, and correspondence read. NIUHTEOIL CONTRACT. Mr G. M. Wood wrote giving notice of his intention to terminate his contract for removing the above. His reasons were Ist that he. was only employed by a few people; 2nd the difficulty in getting his money after doing his work ; 3rd the bad state of the road to tho depot compelled him to employ two horses when only one should bo required, this entailing more expense than ho could afford.

The Mayor said the contract had been fairly carried out in tho past, and he thought a by-law should be made, placing the nightsoil contractor on a hotter footing, He suggested that tho Standing Committeo should take tho matter in hand.

Cr Casolberg moved that tho matter bo referred to tho Standing Committee to report at nbxt meeting. The Town Clerk in the meantime to obtain information from other boroughs. Cr Chamberlain seconded.

Cr Heron was of opinion that this would be the best course to adopt. Ho had no doubt Mr Wood would consent to carry on the contract a little beyond the expiry of his term if the Council had not made its regulations by that timo. Under the new regulations Mr Wood would be an eligible tenderer, and would perhaps be able to make a more satisfactory thing of the contract under fresh terms, The motion was carried.

TJIE CATTLE STOPS. Mr W. 0. Buchanan, M.H.R,, wrote stating the Undersecretary for Public Works had called his attention to some correspondence between tho Council and the Department ro certain cattle-stops in Lincoln road. As Mr Bcetham was absent ho (Mr Buchanan) would be very glad to act in the interests of tho Borough in the matter, if tho Council would supply him with particulars.

It was resclvod that Mr Buchanan's offer be accepted with thanks, and all information forwarded to him.

POUND COMMITTEE. The Committee reported having examined the poundkeeper and those who complained of his conduct. Nothing fresh appeared in tho report, oxcept that tho poundkeeper stated ho had never read any conditions of sale, as the Act did not require this to be done, The Committee resolved to report (1) That the evdeince showed the sale was conducted in a most unsatisfactory manner; (2) With respect to the notice and its mysterious disappearance the evidence points directly to Mr Leahy, both in the preparation and removal of the notice; (3) The Committee cannot but say that tbe ovidence shows unnecessary haste in the conduct of the sale, especially as several parties were hurrying up to tho sale at tbe same time; (I) The Committee recommend that in future conditions of sale be read at'all pound sales, such conditions to bo prepared for the approval of the Council. After considerable discussion tho report was adopted, and as the Council were strongly of opinion that collusion had existed between the poundkeeper and Constable Leahy, it was resolved that tbe former be dismissed and the whole ovidence forwarded to the Minister'of Justice, as it was necessary to bring home tbe bojus notioe and tho forgery of the poundkeeper's name to the guilty party, in order to protect the Council against probable action on tho part of the owci* of the horse. The Mayor was authorised to arrange for a temporary poundkeeper, till applications wero received for the office,

VILU-STBEET. The following tenders were opened for .23 chains of the above street:— J. Baumber, U 2s 6d per chain, (accepted) j A. Tinsely, £i 5s por chainj (declined). HORaVE WANTED. Cr Lowes said it was quite time the town had some place for the reception of dead bodies when necessity arose, It was not nccossary for him to dwell on the importance of this matter, It was frequently forced upon thennotice, He moved that a committee consisting of Ore Perry, Gapper,

Caselberg, and the mover be appointed to briDg up a report on the matter at next meeting. CORONERi The Town Olerk was instructed to write to the Minister of Justice reminding him that Dr Hosking had been named as coroner for the Masterton district by the Council, but he had not yet been officially appointed. Tho Council then adjourned. The annual statutory meeting was held at noon to-day. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Heron, Hessey, Price, Lowes, Gapper, Chamberlain, J. Williams, and Caselberg, The minutes of the previous regular meeting were read and confirmed. GRAVEL PIT, Cr Gapper moved that the Town Trust be applied to for a portion of the' 48 acre reserve on tho Upper Plain road as a gravel pit. He suggested wi area of two acres, Cr Chamberlain seconded,—Carried,

The Mayor said tho next business was the installation of Cr Lowes as the incoming Mayor. He desired to return his sincere thanks to tho Councillors for their cordial co-opera-tion during tho two years he had filled the chair. When he first took office he felt a great amount of diffidence at accepting tho responsibility, but he had promised to do his level best, and ho had carried out thai pledge as well as he was able. (Hear I hear!) No doubt little differences ot opinion had cropped up during his term of office, but ho trusted his successor would meet with the same treatment as he had experienced. He had much pleasure in calling upon Cr Lowes to make the usual declaration.

Or Lowes, having signed the usual declaration and taken bis scat, said he trusted they did cot expect a speech from him on that occasion, as he was physically unequal to it, He re-echoed the sentiments of the retiring Mayor, and trusted they would work harmoniously together for the good of the whole Borough. He would take a further opportunity to speak on the prospects of the Borough on a future occasion. (Applause,) The Council then adjourned.

At the invitation of the newly installed Mayor the Councillors adjourned to the Club Hotel, where a light refection had been prepared. The health of the retiring Mayor was proposed by his successor, and drunk in champagne bumpers, Mr Bish, iu responding, said he had been in the Council for five years, and though now retiring from it he would continuo to take a deep interest in its proceedings and in the welfare of the Borough. He had much pleasure in now proposing the health of the new Mayor.

The Mayor, iu responding, thanked them cordially for the manner in which his health had been received. He believed all the Councillors wished he would succeed in discharging the duties of the offico, and he •would do all in his power to merit their confidence, He felt sure that solong as he preserved the dignity of the offico and treated Councillors with that consideration their conduct would merit, the work of the Council would goon efficiently and harmoniously. He proposed the health of Councillors, conpledwith the name ofCrCaselberg. Cr Oaselberg replied: He said the confidence the public had in Mr Lowes was shown in the fact that he was unanimously elected to the position of Mayor without the least opposition. He felt sure the choice would prove a right one, and neither the C uueil nor the public would regret it. From his past experience iu many oapacities he would be able to lead the Council, which would, under his guidance, go on improving. ?Ie fell bound to express a word of praise to tho late Mayor, who had conducted the business of the Council with good feeling and dignity. As for his own (Or Caselberg's) conduct, he had always bowed to the decision of the chair, notwithstanding ithad been said afterbeing defeated by Mr Bish for the Mayoralty, that when he entered the Council he could "make it hot for Bish." (Laughter.) If the new Mayor only discharged tho duties of the office as well as tho retiring one, the Council would have, cause to bo satisfied. (Hear! hear!) Tho Retiring Mayor then proposed the health of the Town Clerk in very complimentary terms. As Mayor he had derived a very great amount of assistance from Mr Brown, who was an officer thoroughly up in his duties, and who was invaluable to the Council. (Hear! hear), The prtes was duly honored and a pleasant hour terminated.