MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1748, 30 July 1884, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting ot the Council took place last night at the Cpuncil Chambers. Present—The Mayor and Crs Heron, Caselberg, Hessey, Price, Williams, Chamberlain, Gapper, and Johnston. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE, From the Secretary of the Kuripuni Hall Company stating he had been absent from Masterton some time, but on his return would attend to the matter of paying the license for the Hall.—Referred (o the Town Clerk. Prom the Secretary ot the Salvation Army stating that if they had brokenthe law by allowing the Rechabite Anniversary gathering to be held in the barracks they had done so unwittingly, and trusting the Council'would accept this explanation, as they had no desire to have their place of worship licensed for public entertainments. Cr Gapper moved: That the explanation of . the Salvation Army be accepted. He did not consider the annual re-union of Friendly and other Societies, and their friends and families necessitated a specially licensed building, The use of the building had' been granted for this purpose there: being no money consideration, Cr Price seconded. His Worship said the question of whether the building was used free of charge or not did not alter the Act, which required that any building used for public meeting or entertainment should be licensed. He thought a tea meeting or congregational gathering amongst themselves would not be a breach of the Act, The motion was put and carried, it being understood that it was not to be considered as a precedent, The Building Surveyor wrote drawing the attention of the Council to a breach of the by-laws, by the Catholic school having been built within a certain distance of other buildings, and covered with wood instead of iron, The Mayor thought the Surveyor in the execution of his duty ought to have pointed out this matter to the parties interested before the building was completed. Cr Johnston concurred in this. Cr Gapper read section 5 of the Borough by-laws, and pointed out that this clause ordained that a plan should be deposited i 4 days with the Council before any building could be commenced, and a notification sent to the Borough Surveyor. He considered this case had arisen out of the action of the Government in totally ignoring the by-laws when erecting the Courthouse. The public had evidently taken this as a precedent.. The Council could only write to the parties concerned and point out where the by-law had been infringed, and await their reply. He would move this. Cr Caselberg would ask the mover to amend his motion and call upon the parties to comply with the Act (agreed to.) It would not cause much extra expense, and a saving would be made in the insurance. He would second the motion as amended. Cr Price considered the contractors and architects, who were supposed to know the law, were to blame. The motion was put and carried. The secretary of Fits Brigade Finance Committee applied for payment of chimney fire fines, £25 10s, and the Council's grant of £6 cowards procuring new fire bell. The letter was handed to the clerk to attend to. Several letters were received re street lamps and Fire Brigade management, and referred to the special committees appointed to deal with these questions. The St. Matthew's Vestry wrote complaining of the stagnation of the stream running through the church acre caused by obstructions placed below. Cr Gapper moved, That a standing committee be appointed, consisting of Crs Hessey, Heron and the mover to take this and similar questions into consideration as they arise from time to time and report. Seconded by Cr Price and carried. The complaint of the foul creek was referred to the committee appointed. A petition from A. Cleghorn and other residents in Dixon street re the state of the road was referred to the public works committee. Mr Carman waited on the Council to ask that a portion of his rates might, be expended on forming and making part of the boundary road leading to his property. This road was under the joint control of the Council and Road Board, and he asked that they would unite in the work, ad he had paid rates for the last three years to each body," amounting to upwards of sixty pounds. Referred to works committee. Cr Heron, as Chairman of the Works Committee, said the work boing outside the schedule, would stand very little chance of being done unless subsidized by the inhabitants. Cr Caselberg moved and Cr Gapper seconded the adoption of the following report:—"The Fire Brigade Committee recommend the Council to enter into negotiation with the Brigade with a view to place it upon a proper municipal'footing in accordance with clause 273 of the Municipal Corporation Act, and that the same committee be empowered to conduct the aforesaid negotiations, The Mayor said it was quite competent to make any suggession to the committee as before anything was definitely settled the report would be again brought before the Council. : The report was adopted.

Or Price moved the adoption of the Street Lamp Committee's report—- " That permission be granted the Committee to call for fenders locally for street lamps and posts, ■ Or Gapper in seconding the resolu-, tion said good totara posts with lamps would last at least ten years, and by that time, gas or electricity would replace the kerosene. It waa better to get at home'what could be obtained foi£3 10s, than go .outside"and pay £4 10s. Prices and pattern could ■ be obtained and laid before'the Council The report was adopted. The. attention of .the Overssey was

directed to be drawn to the footpath, opposite the Institute. Or Johnston reported a number of sheep had been worried by dogs. The dogs had in some instances been tracked and destroyed, but the owners could not b& discovered in consequence of no collars, with registered numbers being on the dogs. He would ask if it was compulsory for registered dogs to be collared (The Clerk said it was) as an owner of dogs he knew it was objectionable to have collars constantly on dogs. He would also draw attention to the number of unregistered dbgs about, The Mayor said information should be given to the Dog Inspector. Or Gapper thought the Council could be held liable for damage if the law was allowed to be evaded. He saw there was great difficulty, but means of identification should be made to exist. The Mayor moved that the matter be referred to the Select Nuisance Committee, This was done, and the Council adjourned,