MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1796, 24 September 1884, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A full meeting of the Council took place last night. Messrs Muir, Bacon, and Ganper, the newly-elected Councillors, . were duly sworn in and took tljeir seats.

TJie minute of t))e preyipus meeting were read and confirmed. '

Tho following correspondence was read;— From Mr W, Adams, calling upon the Council to erect their share of the boundary fence between the Borough Gravel Reserve on Section No. 58 Small Farm Block, and the writer's Section No, 59. It was resolved that the letter be referred to the Public Works Committee for immediate action,

From Mr G, Beetham with reference to the question of altering tho area of Boroughs, and stating that a Bill to consolidate the Municipal Corporations Bill would be'brought on this session, It- was resolved that as there was no intention of taking present.action on the alteration of boundary, that the letter be simply received.

FromT. C, D'Arcy, requesting tho Council to make other provision for the deposit of night soil, as it was to him ati intolerable nuisance, being within 200 yards of his residence, He had written to the contractor and Mr Montgomery, the land owner, but the nuisance remained unabated. The deposits offtimes took place as late as between 7 and 8 o'clock in the morning. Mr Montgomery had informed him the contractor objected to deposit the soil in the paddock near the Wajn-

gawa, where it was put last year, on account of its being too far to cart.

The Town Clerk was instructed to write to the contractor and see Mr Montgomery with a view to the nuisance complained of being abated. From the Public Works Department stating that an Engineer had been instructed to report upon the outbreak, of the. Waipoua at the Miki-Miki,.

From the Cemetery Trustees approving the plan submitted by the Council of a proposed morgue, and granting a site for the erection of the same.

The Mayor said the plans had been approved of some considerable time ago by the Cemetery Trustees, but they had failed to notify the Council of the same. The delay was to be regretted as these would now be some difficulty in obtaining assistance from the local bodies towards the cost of the building,

It was resolved—That the Town Clerk write to the local bodies interested and ask them to contribute a fair share towards the cost (£4O) of erecting a morgue in the cemetery. . wouics committee's heport, The Overseer reported:—" 1, Satisfactory progress of Chapel-street contract, 2. Recommending notice be ■given]). Donald to cut gorse feuce and remove then from South street, 3. Also that notice be given him to clean out his creeks at.Manaiaasthey are blocking the water on the road. 4, That about 6 chains of side drain in Villa street be cleaned oat. 5. That the creek crossing Gladstone road he cleaned, as the water is blocked on to the bridge, 6, That the ruts in Railway Read be raked in. f. Lincoln Road footpath and roadway had been repaired, and other roads where the late floods had been. 8. Queen street is now being repaired."

The recommendations were adopted. It was resolved to recommend, that Williams street be formed and metalled to abate the nuisance complained of to the Council, that tenders be called for Crayno street aud Kuripuui street and Columba road. This concluded tho business.

Or Heron, the Chairman of tho Works Committee, aaid that members of the committee were of opinion that if the Railway Bridge were lengthened and longer spans made the danger to tho town by an overflow of water from the Waipoua would be considerably lessened, thus doing away with tho necessity of the Council making protection works along the banks .of the river. If it was found that extensive works would be required, lie would suggest that the services of a competent engineer be obtained, as the work would be beyond the scope of the Works Committee. He moved the adoption of the report. Cr Gapper secouded pro forma, He considered the protection of the banks of the river at the junction .of Hope and Villa-streets of more importance than the Railway Bridge, as that the Government must protect for its own sake, He had spent a considerable time in going over tho river boundary above the railway, and had arrived at the conclusion the only successful manner of dealing with tho river so as effectually protect the town, would be to erect an embankment right up to the level of the highest part of the railway embankment and run it along tha Aktira road as far up as necessary. It was of no use. attempting to make any protective works along tho river, as from the state of the banks they would' only be throwing their money in the river, If the. railway bridge was raised another four or'five feet, as he understood-it would be, they would be able to protect the.town in the maimer suggested by him in continuing the embankment up the Akura to the full width of the road, at a cost of from £l5O to £2OO, As regarded the danger threatening the town at the junction of Hope and Villa-streets, unless something was speedily done the cottages, tho property of the Borough, would possibly at the next flood be washed away and the land destroyed. The Mayor said he had heard on good authority that the new railway bridge would consist of three spans of sixty feet each, and four or five feet higher than the present structure. Cr Muir thought the most dangerous place on the bank was that part by Mr Blinkborne's property. If the river broke through there it would most likely find apermanent channel through the town by way of the creek at Villa and Hope Streets, There certainly was a great danger, hut it was not so serious as that at Blinkborne's, at which point he considered something should be done to prevent an, outbreak, Or Johnsfcqn considered it would be the height of folly to undertake any simple work qf protection, it would only be money thrown away. Spending £2O or £3O over requirements of such magnitude only constituted dribbling waste, and if anything substantial was centemplated competent advice would be necessary. Cr Bacon agreed with the last speaker as to the injudiciousness of undertaking measures of a temporary kind. A complete job would prove the cheapest in the long run. He had in his own interest noticed the action of the river in the past for some time, and now was of opinion' that the best course to pursue to obviate the danger of future outbreaks would be to straighen the course between the two bridges;. Whilst admitting the chief danger to the hank of the river was at Blinkborne's he did not think the people of Hope-street should be overlooked, The property owners interested were of the same opinion as to straightening the course. Cr Perry thought it would be better to wait and see what was gqing tq be done by the railway people, then the Council would be in a better position to undertake any other steps that might be deemed advisable, That part of the report was adopted. The Mayor moved that the Master, ton Koad Board be asked to allow their Engineer to report upon the best means of protecting the town from the main street to the railway works. Cr Capper seconded the resolution which was carried unanimously. The following memorial to the Government was adopted : To the Hon, the Minister of Public Works. The memorial of the Masterton Borough Council showeth , First, that on the second of September 1884 heavy floods were experienced in this district and the town of Masterton was inundated by the Waipoua river, by which great damage was done to the railway works, tho streets the roads, and private property. Second, that in the opinion of your memorialists the cause of the greater portion of the damage done in the town was (1) The

railway bridge recently constructed over the Waipoun river was not nearly long enough was tod low, and the spans'too short. (2) The high railway embankment on the North East side of the river prevented tho escape o! the rater ovor the low flat ground where it has gone previous floods.

The water was thus dammed baok until it flowed over the embankment on the town side of the river and. thence into the town. The action of the bridge and fascine work in cnuneotion with the embankment threw the water over the bank below the bridge whence it also was foned into the town doing great danage, The water continued to.rise in the town until the railway bridge was carried away when it had more room to escape and the danger then passed away, Your memorialists beg that immediate action may be taken to remedy the evils complained of, by such an alteration' in the railway works as maypmvide ample nom for the river to pass through in time of floods, • '

The Inspector of Nuisances' report dealt with two or three isolated cases where a deficiency of closet accommodation existed, and also as to creek clearing. He asked for instructions from the Council as to the steps to be taken by him when parties neglected to act upon his notices. Cr Gapper moved the adoption of the report. He considered the Inspector should not briug such cases before the Council, but should act upon the powers vested in him.

The Mayor said he had referred to that at the last Council meeting, but the Inspector would prefer to have the power in writing from the Council. The report was adopted. It was resolved that notices be sent oufc'at once iu accordance with the requirements of the report. The Committee of Public Works were instructed to give their attention to the complaints of stagnant water in Cricket and other streets, and remove the same.

The Town Clerk reported .that no reply had been received from Messrs Cole and Wrigley, the executors of the lute M. Dixon, on the subject of the private road through Section No. 20,. Small Farm Block, Chapel-street. The sanitary condition of the Borough as reported upon by the Medical Officer was referred to, but no resolutions resulted.

Crs Williams, Perry, and Gapper, were appainted to sign cheques on behalf of the Council.

Cr Gapper, Muiiy Perry, and the Mayor, were ■ appointed a Finance Committee,

The Works Committee not having been interfered with by the change of councillors, it was resolved that they remain as at present constituted. It was resolved that in future the Works Committee should meet at half-past seven, and the Finance Committee at eight o'clock on the Monday evening preceding the night of Council meeting. INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS. The Mayor said there was no report in from the Inspector of Buildings in reference to the complaint laid before him by the Clerk •of a breach of the by-laws having been committed by tho use of au inferior guage of iron in covering an addition to a building in Queen-street. If they were to have an Inspector they should have one who would pay-some attention to the duties of the office. On a., previous occasion they had received a report of a.breach of the by-kws, but it was not until the damage was done, and thai the Council had to compromise themselves, and in this present case no report had been sent in. He thought the Town Clerk should bo instructed to write to the Inspector thereon,

Cr Bacon thought that was one way of shelving a difficulty, It was publicly known that No. 24 guage iron was required by the Act. The fact of its being already on was not a suficient reason for the Council overlooking the use of an inferior iron in the building under discussion', A further breach of the building regulations was committed by the erection of a chimney which was of an increased size on the second storey. He had also learned from outside that the plans had not been submitted to the Council.

The Mayor said if their inspector of buildings was not doing his duty the Council should take action in the matter, but so long as they had an inspector they should not override his authority. The plans had been before the Council and something asked as to the use of wood instead of iron and permission was not granted. - • ,

Cr Bacon would also request that if the inspeotor was written to the contractor should also ho advised so as to prevent injurious delay to his work. The Mayor said it would be going out of the proper course to take steps in the dark, and they should first have their inspector's report to act on. The Clerk was instructed to write accordingly. Mr Billington waited upon the Council and complained of a paragraph in the paper purporting to be the report of what Cr Capper had said at a meeting of the Council, and denying tho truth of (he remarks used in reference to the state of his dwelling that the place was dirty and filthy, and that it was from there that diptheria bad spread to the public school. Mr Billington said the statement was utterly false and he wanted it proved. Cr Gapper explained that it was only a discussion on the report of the inspector of nuisances. He had only stated what was commonly talked of outside the Council, It had been reported to him that there was diptheria in Mr Billington's family, and that it was taken from there to the school.

Mr Billinglon denied this, and said the diptberia bad been communicated to his family from the school, Cr Johnston said whoever originated the report was wrong. Diptheria had been in Masterton six weeks before it broke out in Mr Billington's family, and there were cases from the public school before. The Mayor said the Inspector had reported the premises as totally unlit in their then state for habitation. He was sorry Mr Billington's feelings wero hurt, but it was compulsory to take notice of such a report. He would advise him to try and put the place in such order as would satisfy the Inspector of Nuisances. They only sought the good of the public as a whole. Mr Billington said Cr Gapper was darkening further his already dark

cloud. After some further- sugj tions he withdrew.

The Town Clerk said no communication had been received from the Fire Brigade re the fire inspector, Cr Gapper moved, " That a committee consisting of the Mayor and Crs Hessey and the mover be appointed to wait on the County Council at its next meeting, to urge upon them the necessity of immediate steps being takerVy, for the construction of a bridge ncroaa '' the Waipoua river adjoining the present County bridge." Cr Gapper said for the last three weeks there had been no-bridge across the Waipoua chasm, and according, to the newspapers' report; the money available under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act was only iIOO. This was only about an eighth of the money required. Ho thought the County Council was laving on" its oars or asleep. Complaints had been made to him and lie thought his duty to his fellow townsmen should use his best endeavor-lffo geb the road made passable for traffic. They would soon have the wool and grain season upon them, and the expense of carting- would be double if no bridge was erected. The County should be asked if they were willing to hand tho bridge over to the Council on fail 1 and equitable terms. On the security of tolls the money could be raised, arid as soon as the amount was paid off the tolls could be abolished. He was prepared to undertake the work himself, under the supervision of the County Engineer, provided he had the tolls as a security until he was recouped his outlay, The Bank of Australasia was quite willing to advance to him or any other Councillor, on the security of the tolls, the necessary money to build the bridge.; Cr Hessey seconded the resolution and endorsed the remarks of Cr Gapper that only half the load ; could be brought through the river thateould be carried over a bridge, and he tor ono would willingly pay lialf.a-cwvrjb cross the bridge with a team thanfTo cross the river.

Or Heron agreed with the first part of the proposition, but with the latter —wv It was too much power to place in the bauds of any three members however equitable the arrangemenfc. The County Council would meet next Saturday for the purpose of dealing with the Waipoua, Cr Capper; Make it the wholo Council if vou like.

Cr Heron: No, no. We can discuss that after the County meets. The Mayor said he did not think Hie County would act on the latter part of the resolution. It would be" throwing up the sponge" with a vengeance. Their death knell might be tolling, but that would be driving the hist nail in their coffin, He thought Cr Clapper's only idea was 10 show them that the work could be done even if they had no money. He could not think Cr Gapper meant this Council to undertake the construction. .Sfc^ Cr Gapper: Yes-at once! The Mayor said in answor to Cr & Chamberlain it was within the province of the County Council to place a toll on ' the County bridge or ferry within any '•■ distance of the Borough'but' hot on the roadway.. They had:.also power ; to hand the work over to a private individual with the tolls under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act 1 '_ Cr Bacon moved, "That'all the words after County bridges be struck out," Cr Heron seconded■ the amendment. . He objected to such an authority being • relegated to a committee. The motion as amended was carried. The Mayor gave notice that at the next meeting he would move, That in the matter of chimney fires, persons allowing their chimneys to lattgJire should be permitted to pay a finJßos , into the Town Clerk's officering ■" which after 24 hours' notice the usual ' A action would be taken to bring the ■ matter before a Magistrate.' This concluded the business.