MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1900, 28 January 1885, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Council was held last night. Present—The Mayor and Crs Gapper, Williams, Muir, Bacon, Hessey, Perry, and Chamberlain. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

Correspondence was read from the Auckland Town Clerk re the Statutes, 1884, Btating the Act interfered with the fines and penalties paid to the Borough Council and diverted these funds to the Government; from Wairarapa East County re sheeting the Waipoua bridge and agreeing to the same subject to the approval of Mr Bremner. The poundkeeper's report was read. An application was received from residonts'in Bannister street asking that the footpath may be constructed and offering to contribute to the same on the new basis.

Cr Gapper moved and Cr .Williams seconded—That the application of the petitioners be referred to the Works Committee with power to do tho^vork. — Carried.

The Mayor said with regard to the poundkeeper's report it him that it would be a decided loss to continue the present arrangement. He did not know 1 -whether .they might be 'congratulated upon having fewer cattle impounded as it meant an increased loss to the Borough, The returns' this month were only 17, which had cost the Borough over £4.

With regard to the sheeting of the Waipoua boundary bridge the Mayor asked if it would not be better to allow the work to be done by the County and let the Borough Council pay half cost unless they thought the County would go into a more expensive job, If bO he would suggest that some one should move that the matter be referred back to the Works Committee to arrange with the County. Cr Hessey said it would- be a pity to put off tho. work longer than possible as it was urgent.

Cr Bacon said the work was urgent, and the bridge was in a scandalous state. He moved that the timber be at once ordered, and the work proceeded with as soon as a definite reply could be got from the County Council. Cr Gapper seconded. The Mayor said he was rather in a fog about the bridge. Mr Renall had informed him that they had the power to repair the bridge and recover half costs from the County. The Town Clerk had informed him that the proportion tho County would have to pay if the bridgo was vested in the Borough Council, would be much larger than the Borough share it being charged on the basis of their rates.

Or Hessy thought Mr Bremner ought to be consulted before the timber was orderecj, Cr Bacon objected tp any delay as the traffic might be interfered with before action was taken.

Cr Wil'iams thought if the Works Committee did not interview Mr Bremner some one of the Council should do so before ordering the timber. The Mayor moved as an amendment that the matter be referred to tho Works Committee with instructions to them to see Mr Bremner and proceed with the work at once.

Or Gapper said the Works Committee wore obstructive in this matter, thinking he had to bring his engine over .tho bridge but it was. not for himself ho was working, He had permission to go through Mr Bacon's yard and ho did not want the bridge repaired at all for his own use, but he saw a danger of the Borough being mulcted in damages should any accident arise from the neglect of this work, Cr Mujr seconded the amendment. Cr Bacon pointed out that the Works Committee were too busy to attend to the work, it being harvest time, and th Council ought to undertake the work themselves. The Mayor said the Works Committee was the executive body of the Council and should not be slighted. The amendment was put and carried, Cr Gapper objecting that the matter had been referred to them bofore without effect. The Town Clerk was instructed to call a special meeting of the Works Commit-, toe within three days to take the'work in hand.

The report of the Works Committee was read as follows:—The overseer had finished stumping the addition to Ronallstreet and taken out the logs from the creek preparatory to lengthening the culverts, and was now engaged cutting the timber for Nob, 1 and 2 culverts. It was resolved that the labor staff be discharged for one month. The wages sheet was examined and signed. Cr Perry moved the adoption of the report, and Cr Heaaey seconded. Or Muir asked why the Works Committee recommended the staff should be discharged at this the most suitable time of the year, for repairs. Cr Perry said the carts were mostly engaged at this time of the year harvesting, and the Borough would not suffer by the lapse of service.

CrGapper thought this a new feature. He understood that Renall-street was to be done during these fine sunny days, as the job was a disagreeable one in cold weather. There was also work to be done in Bannister-street, and gutters to clean out all over the district.

The Mayor asked if the men were discharged in their own interests, Cr Perry did not Bee that the question had anything to do with the Council, Cr Bacon said he did not see why these men should have a month's holiday at this time of the year. The overseer could do little or nothing by himself, and there was great inconvenience to the •travelling public on account of .the works in hand not being completed.' 'Harvest hands were'plentiful without men leaving their constant job to make a few extra shillings, •• Or Muir moved an an amendment that

that the latter clause, recommending the men be discharged, be struck out. Cr Bacon seconded the amendment.

Cr Hessey said although he seconded the motion he did not tlunk tho men Bhould'bo discharged while there was so much work in hand •■■

The amendment was put and carried, and tile-remainder of the report was adopted.

MvEapp waited upon the Council in reference to the northern end of Dixon: street being made a receptacle for rubbish and filth for some time past, and the miasma arising therefrom being detrimental to the health of the inhabitants. • He had consulted the medical officers of the town, and they had recommended him to ask the Council to provide a place for the reception of refuse. He had had sickness in his family, which he attributed to the noxious gases arising from the river bed where refuse was deposited. His Worship said there was a report upon the matter from .the Inspector of Nuisances, and the Council would give the question consideration. Mr Ka»p thanked tho Council and withdrew,

The Inspector of Nuisances report was then read, drawing attention to the nuisance already complained of by Mr Rapp, and recommending the Council to provide a place for the reception of rubbish, Cr Bacon confirmed the report of the Inspector as to the dangerous nuisance. Cr Capper moved that the Council as a whole go into Committee and deal with the question. Cr Hessey seconded. . Cr Perry said this would open up.th.e question of draining, he really was at aloss to know what could be done -in the matter.. ■■ ;...■ :■

The motion was carried and the Council went into Committee.

The Mayor moved that a Committee be appointed consisting of Ors Bacon, Williams, and Muir, to deal with the matter and bring up a report at the next meeting.—Carried. • . .

Or Bacon moved that the attention of the Inspector of Nuisances be drawn to the by-laws of the Borough relating to the removal of garbage and that he be authorised to take steps to abate the present nuisance forthwith.—Carried.

The business passed in Committeo was confirmed.

Tho Finance Committee's report was read as follows and adopted : Accounts amounting to £6610 3d were examined and rocomuiondedforpaymont. The overdraft was reported at £793 0s 2d. The Endowment Committee's report was read as follows it-The Committee report having held two meeting's at which the applications and plans from.tho Surveyor General were considered and the report of the old Committee, which has been republished in the "Daily" of this date, (1) The Committee in consideration of the fact of the Council having to pay rates to two local bodies on <he Mangaone endowment, and that none of the other landowner contribute to the prospo3ed work, cannot recommend the Counoil to agree to contribute the £74 asked for by Mr Marchant. (2) That before the consent of the Council be given to the proposed road deviations they should be supplied with information as to the effect such deviations will have upon their severed portions of the reserve. (3) That the report of the former Committee who' visited the endowment, being useless for any practical purpose, the Council be recommended to appointment a Committee to inspect the reserve with a view to placing it in the market. Or Gapper moved the adoption of tho report and stated the committee wore of opinion that the report of the committee who went up was useless. They agreed something should be done with the property but they could not recommend what until it had been explored and properly reported on. The- Government proposed to deviate tho road and they required data before they could recommend anything to the Council. They had been paying rates ou the property for some time and they ought now to be getting somo return from it. The motion was carried, Cr Perry moved that the committee who had made the report should be appointed to go up at their own expense. The Mayor said no doubt thoso members—Crs Gapper, Bacon, Hessey, and Johnston—would be good men, but they could npt be expepted to gp up at their own expense.

Cr Bacon moved that Mr Petersen should be appointed to inspect and report upon the block and be paid for his services. He was in the Government employ, and could be paid at the Government rate.

Crs Gapper and Perry having spoken on tho question, the Mayor said he thought the appointment might Bfcand over for discussion till the next meeting of the Council. The recoramondation was carried on the motum of Or Gapper.

OAS ' ■■ - The Mayor said Councillors wereal} aware that a publio meeting had been held to discuss the gas question.' The following resolution was passed by 35 votes to .11;—" That tho Council take stops to take a vote of the people upon' the question of raising a loan to provide gas for the town." It- was now the duty of the Council tq take that report into consideration, He read the lection of the Act bearing on the proposal. Cr Bacon moved that effect be given to the resolution passed at the public meeting. He would not detain them long but would draw their attention to a balance sheet of the town of Ashburfcon Gas Company, which has a population similar to Maaterkm. He read estimates showing that under oertain ciroumstaricos a return to the Borough would be made equal to £7OO a year.

Other Councillors having spoken it was resolved that a poll be taken of thq ratepayers upon the question of raising a loan of £IO,OOO for the purpose of establishing gas works in the Borough. Or Perry seconded the resolution, to give the ratepayers the opportunity of expressing their wishes. -• "• The motion was carried only Cr Hessey dissenting. TENDERS. The following tenders were opened for 42£ chains road making, Columba road :*- Accepted: T,P. Girdwood, £105; Declined : F. W, Parker, £125 7h 6d; J. R. Rasmnssen & Co,, £123 ss; P. Carr, £120; A,Tmsley,£l2s; Stevens and Reid, £11617s fid ;0. Matthews, £133. Sergt, McCardlo waited upon the Council in respect to storing explosives, The question was left over until the next meeting of Council.

Mr Bacon moved in ■accordanco with notice that the street through T, Wrigley's property be named Miriam-street. Cr Williams seconded.—Carried. The Council then adjourned.