MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1656, 9 April 1884, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of the Council was last evening, -Present—His Worship the Mayor,,and Crs Heron, Hossey, Chamberlain,ft Williams, Perry, Price, Johnston, Caselberg, and Gapper. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed, and correspondence read,

A letter. was ; received from the Regwfcrar-.Geherai.asking for the usual annual returns.—The'Clerk was instructed to, attend to tlie request Mr Crayne wrote ashing permission to make a cart approach to his property in Villa street.—Permission was granted on condition 'that the work is done under the supervision of the Borough Overseer.. \ .„'■ NIGHTSOIL, ' Mr _ Wood •wrote accepting the Council's: terms, for carrying on the nightsoil contract of the borough, viz,, at a maximum fee of 9d per five gallon measure, such fee to be collected by contractor. His worship stated that in the last resolution on the subject, no period was mentioned.for. the.contract, nor were the conditions of the contract drafted, and ho now suggested that the matter should be referred to the Sanitary Committee to draw up a temporary agreement, till the bye-law on the subject was finally made. This suggestion was adopted. , NEW ZEALAND LAW.

Mr-Wilfred Badger, of Chrisfcchurch, wrote asking the Council to subscribe to the volume he had just compiled of tho whole law of New Zealand, price £2 2s, . The letter was ordered to lay on the table; ■' AID TO FIEE.BRIGADES,

The Committee appointed to consider the best means of co-operating with theDunedin City Council for tho purpose of obtaining an Acbcoffipelling assistance to Fire Brigades fromi Borough" Couhoils,''lnsurance Cos., and the Governnent,;reportea, that they could not recommend to the Council to urge any legislation in. the direction-indicatedas it .would mean ad increased general taxation if an annual'contribution-were made from the colonial revennetor'l the Fire Brigades of the colony- V The Committee was further of opinion that it was not expedient to com pel Insurances Cos. to support Fire Brigades as tho effect would- be ..to' ihorease the . fire premiums, The Committee however strongly recommended -that a clause be inserted in

the Municipal Corporations Aot enabling! Corporations to levy a small fire rate not 1 exceeding Id in theft |

His Worship stated the Committee had gone very carefully into the ; matter and the report was the result of their serious deliberations,

Or Heron said the Committee's recommendation would lead to the same species of injustice being perpetrated as would be tho case if the Government or Insurance companies were compelled to contribute, as persons who lived in. isolated places would have to pay taxes for the protection of those m crowded centres. : ; i

-His Worship replied that no doubt objections could be found to any scheme, but he would point out that even if the suggestion of the Committee became law, it would not necessarily follow that the Boroughs would in all cases levy the rates or that the uniform rate of Id would bo levied over the whole of a district. :,,i '

Or Perry held that the Insurance Companies were most benefited by fire brigades, and should be made to contribute.most to their support. "'" ' The Mayor pointed out that the Insurance Companies accepted the risk of total destruction whether the town had a brigade or not, and if they wore called upon to support a brigade out of the premiums obtained, they would raise the premiums accordingly; " The report was adopted. '.'' " RIVER POLLUTION. The Committee appointed to enquire into the above reported that they found the river polluted by the wool scouring works and that a nuisance existed, but that they found the river was in the jurisdiction of County East, and not under that of the Borough Council, and the complainants must therefore be referred to the County Council,. The Mayor stated that that the Committee found the nuisance was .not caused by the works which were on the banks of the stream,, but by the operations which took place on the actual river bed, and therefore was beyond the Council's control. If the County Council asked the Borough to assist in abating the nuisance the latter could cause the works on the Borough side of the river to be closed.

Ci-Gappei'in moving the adoption of the report said lie was one of the Committee who examined the works. He also examined the river and found a coating of slime was deposited on the bed of the river from the works right down to near the bathing sheds, that there was a scum created on the top of the water, and that the water itself was rendered dirty, but, as the report stated, they also found, the Borough Council could not deal'with the matter.

Cr Williams seconded, and corrol 0.-a----ted Or Gapper's statements. Or Castlberg said it seemed' to him that they were trying to throw the trouble ot dealing with a palpable nuisance off their own shoulders on to the County Council's shoulders. Cr Heron said tho scouring works were not injurious to public health, and the Council should be very careful in interfering. Tho works did no harm beyond preventing some persons bathing in the river. These he sympathised with; but the Council could not interfere. The report was adopted.

FINANCE. A special meeting of tho Finance Committee \m held at 7.30 p.m. on the 7th. Presont-Hia Worship the Mayor, and Crs Caselberg, Gapper and Perry. Tho following estimates were prepared for approval by tho Council: —Expenditure, including overdraft, £1513 2s 10dj rece'ipts, £2136 7s 4d, leaving a balance of £622 4s fid for works. The Committee resolved to recommend that a separate account be opened for ilia Library loan sinking fund, and that the Mayor and Cr Caselberg make the necessary arrangements with the Bank. .

_ Tho Mayor said, of course the Council understood the estimates wore mostly, merely approximate. The Council would have, if they chose to payoff the .£BOO odd overdraft, £G22 4s 6d to spend on works during the current year. Last year the overdraft was £IO4O. They were in better position, too, this year, in having more rates outstanding, viz., some £SOO. Ho was very sorry, though, that the amount was outstanding instead of to the credit of the borough account at the bank. If such a happy state of affairs could ba brought about, petitions for work would receive more favorablft attention that was at present possible. The report was adopted. ROUGH ON DEFAULTERS.

. Cr Johnston said he thought it very unfair that such an amount of rates should be outstanding, Many who were well able to pay did not dp so, and he would move that the names of all defaulters should be published in the public paper, and all of them sued without further delay. ■ ■•' •■' Cr Hessey seconded. He) : |ould.iiot see why the willing few''shbuld' : pay tho interest on an overdraft through the wilful neglect of others to pay their rates.

Or Heron, to save advertising, would move as an amendment, that instead of their names being published all defaulters should be sued forthwith. He quite endorsed Crs Johnston and and Hessey's remarks, The Mayor pointed out that a resolution to the effect of Cr Heron's amendment bad already been passed, and many had been sued accordingly. Or Caselberg seconded tho amendment. He thought defaulters were too thin skinned to take much notice of their names being published in the paper. The suing process should he a continuous opperation till all rates were collected. If this course had been adopted there would have been no reason for the present amendment. Cr Price agreed with Or Caselberg, aud hoped Cr Johnston would withdraw his motion.

Tho Mayor did not think the amendment was necessary as tho'former resolution covered the ground. The Clerk having been very busy with committee meetings and preparing estimates and balance sheet, had not had time to keep up a continuous litigation.

Cr Heron did not press the amendment, and both that and tho motion of Or Johnston were withdrawn, the Town Clerk undertaking to table at each meeting a list of those sued during tho previous fortnight,

BYEIIwS COMMITTEE. The By-laws Committee roported that having compared the by-laws kindly forwarded to the Council by Mr Coleman Mips with those in use by the Council the Oommitteo decided, to recommend the latter to be printed for.the use of Councillors. The Cominitte also resolved to recommend that the Couroil do not at present license slaughterhouses, but that notice be given to all butcherl'inthe town that if the nuisanoe complained of,- of slaughtering animals on their business .'premises bo repeated the Committee will deem it their duty to recommend the licensing of slaughter houses. The report of the.bylaws' Committee was adopted after some discussion an to the ro slaughtering for private use, such slaughtering being perinissable under certain restrictions. works' committee; The Committee gave the Overseor'a report as follows; The banks had been lowered and gp"ies filled in on River Road. A portion of the culver, 1 , in Queen-street near tho Railway Hotel had been opened and the sides replanked. The drains between South street and High sheet had been cleaned, and part of the Kurupuni Creek,: abutting on Cravno street. Tho ruts on Railway road had been raked in, and nine chains of tho same road had beoa Btumped and was now being metalled. The CommitteeVecommeu. ded: 1. That notice be given" to Mr D. Donald to clear the gorso- off South-street' 2. That the Overseer get the oreek on Mr Renall's property at the back of the Boyal Hotel Cleared out, Mr fienall having failed to cloar it after due notice. 3. That tho Overseer enlarge the .culvert-at-tho top of Cole-atreet. 4. That Mr Eaumber's claim ot £3los bo paid,

• The report was adopted. The Mayorsaid there was no doubt that the action re clearing out Mr Renall's creek might lead to an action at law, but he quite agreed with the report, '■ Cr -'dapper said most Councillors were aware of Mr Eenall's peculiar proclivities, and he would suggest that a plan and specification of the work to be done should be sent to Mr Kenall, Tlie Mayor said the Committee were not able to.say what was required done. They would first have to cleaiv out the stoppage to the flow of water, *' and then,if the nuisance was not abated, to discuss what further should be done. Cr Gapper explained that what was required was to connect the mouths of two drains, which would cause a full flow of the water from Mr Eenall's land and abate the nuisance.

Or Heron said he did not think there would be any great expense attached to the, work. Cr Gapper's theory of it was quite right. The report Ms-adopted. ' • Mr A. W. Eenall and several other ratepayers petitioned for Chapel-street south to bo motalled before the winter. The petitioners expressed the opinion that as the property in that neighborhood had becu paying rates for the last twenty years, it was very strange tho .road had never been properly made, Tho Mayor expressed surprise at Mr Keiiall thinking it strange this road had not been made dining the last 20 years, when it was remembered that he had been connected with tho various roadmaking bodies for so rainy years past. If SfrßenaH thought so itstrange, whydidnothewhen Mayor mako some exertion to get it made ] However, no doubt the work was needed, and ho suggested it be referred to the Works Committee for report, Cr Heron moved that 28 chains of Chapel-street and 5 chains of Kussellstreefc bo metalled, tenders to, be called at once.

Tho Mayor ruled that this .motion was out of order, nnd after some further discussion tho petition was referred to the Works Committee on the casting vote of the Mayor. The report ond balance-sheet of the Library Committee was read as follows ;

LIBRARY COMMITTEE, The committoo bog to submit the following report of the proceeding for the past twelve months :-The monthly meetings of committeo have been fairly attended It meotinga lwvo beea convonod and tho attendance ef the various members has been as follows;-W T.Grundy 12, W. R app 10) W. G, Beard 8, D. McGregor 8, W. M Eaathope 8, E. Feist 7, A. E. S. Carr 7, W H. Bcetham 5, Bev L. M. laitt 2, A. Bish 2 The subscribers to tho library for tho year' numbered 83, the receipts from subscnptons amounted to £26 7s 9d, being about the same as the previous twelvemonths, lire books m the library as per return sup. plied to the Government aro as follows •- Fiction 1093, History 38, Travels and Voyages 59, Biography 42, Science C 7, essays 117, poetry and tho drama 30, total 1436 volumes, The experimeut of ordering works from England has been tried by the committee, and the result Iras been eminently satisfactory. The publio'reading roam hag beea well attended during the yoar, and it is still being opened on Sunday aftornoons, Tho commiltjo is of opinion that this boon i 3 appreciated by tho frequenters. lu.consequence of the quorum of the committee being fixed at five three meetings have lapsed, the committoe respectfully recommend the Borousrh Council to reduce tho number to three. Tho balance sheet attached, which is audited, will be found to comparo favorably with previous years. W. G. Beard, m i l A,,,". Rinnan pro (em. Masterton, Bth April, 1884. Siatobht op Beceipts and ExrmDirimß of Mastkbton Institute for Year ■Ended 31st March, 1881.

Or Oasclberg asked why tlio Mayor Lad not sat as ox-officio Chairman of tlio Committee, and also why tlio Chairman of tlio Town Lands Trust had not sat as an ex-oQ\cio member of it?

Tlio Mayor stated that only, three meetings had been hold since ho beeomo Mayor and at one of these he liad been a little late, and the business was dono before ho arrived.

Cr Caselberg thought tho Mayor's presence at tho meetings would popularise the Institute and keep its ailaira under the control of the Council.

Cr Heron moved that tho quorum bo reduced to threo as requested. That number could manage tho affairs just as well as a larger one, Cr Gapper seconded.

Cr Caselberg said the attendance of Committeemen had bcon very unsatisfactory and it seemed very strange that only three could attend, Ho thought five quito little enough for a quorum. Cr Gapper did not see what cause Cr Caselberg had for complaint, Tho Institute had been well managed and general satisfaction with it was expressed. Ho thought tho quorum should l)e reduced as asked for,

Cr Perry thought they had better reduce the Committee.

. Cr Price would vote against reducing the quorum, He pointed out that the annual election would take place soon, and that no doubt a fresh Committee who could attend to tho duties they undertook would bo nominated.

The Mayor thought it would be unwiso to reduce the quorum. If the public were dissatisfied, no doubt as Or Price. suggested, n change would be made in the Committee.

The motion was put and lost and tho Council adjourned,

RECKim To Balance Bank of Australasio £ 8 D ; 31st March, 1883 ., 5 15 mr Donations 2 1 V Subscriptions 26' & 110 13 xW^ Kent of Rooms 11 3 0 Rent of Lands 7 6 0 Sale of Books ,, ,, 110 o Government Grant ,. ., SO 0 o £21415 0 EXPENDITOBE. £ 8 D By Salaries .. „ ,, 58 6 7 23 0 1 G 2 C Repairs and Alterations ., .10 3 6 Treo planting 115 0 Auditors'Fe03 .. 2 2 0 Printing, Advertising, and Stationery ., ,, 4 4 6 0 7 2 Sundries .. ,. ., 3 15 11 Tnsuranco .. ,, ,, 17 10 0 Papers and Magazinos ,, 39 9 7 34 17 5 • 7 1,6 £214 1^1. 'YW.G.BKUI Chairman. ' W, Sbh&av n ; „' Sec. andTreas; ' Compared with Books and Yonohera and : found correct, • . Biohaed Bkown. ) , G. S. W. Damtolb. Auditors," Maaterton, 8th April, 1881,