MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2137, 4 November 1885, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The regular fortnightly meeting of the Council was held lasfc'night, present Crs Gapper (Chairman), Bacon, Muir, Heron, Mason, Chamberlain, Perry, and Hessey. The minutes of tho previous meeting were read and confirmed. A request was made by letter from Mr \V. Carey to make a culvert across Albert Street, to the creek 011 Section 111, to drive a water wheel.

Or Heron moved, and Cr Bacon seconded, That the application be referred to the Works Committee, with power to accede to the request. Carried.' _ Mr Henry Bentley applied for permission to erect swing gates in Villa Street at the bush end.

Or Bacon moved, and Cr Mason seconded, That the matter be referred to the Works Committee.

The Chairman said there would be no objection, provided the ratepayers beyond did not object, there was no outlet to the Street, it terminating on the creek boundary of the Bishops Resorve. The motion was carried.

Mr W. Lowes wrote in reference to Short Street, and the necessity of pushing on with its formation. The Chairman said he did not see the necessity of proceeding with the road immediately, provided it be done by the end of March next. He did not think finances would justify them in asking the Works Committee to take it in hand at once, they would need to get in some more rates,

The Town Clerk said in answer to a question that there were two more works on the schedule before Short-street. The matter was referred to the Works Committee to report on at the next meeting of the Council.

A letter was read from the Secretary of the Institute enclosing a resolution passed by that Committee, that the Council be requested to assist in defraying the cost of painting and repairing tlus Institute, and stating that a deputation would wait upon the Council in support of the same, The letter was held over fqr the attendance of the deputation, Mr P. Carr wrote to the Council requesting a refund of £5 7s, the law costs of a prosecution which had been made by Miss Jeans for trespass, He had strictly followed out the instructions of councillors in getting metal from the spot 011 which he went, and for which he was prosecuted, Cr Heron moved that the letter be referred to the WorksCommitteeto report on at the next meeting of the Council, Seconded by Cr Chamberlain and carried.

Mr Carr, who was present, wished to know whether he was at liberty to still take the gravel from tho same place. . The Chairman said the case in Court had gone against the prosecutor, and the question being one of title, it could not be dealt with in the R.M. Court.

Or Muir held that they had 110 power to grant such permission. _ Or Heron said tho County Council had giveii theni permission to take gravej from the Waipoua at a certain place, and as long as that was done they could do no harm,

Mr Carr wanted to know if the Council would stand to him in the event of his getting prosecuted again. Cr Hessey said the County Council would not object to the metal being taken from there, but they could not uphold the right of anyone to take it against the right of any private individual. The Chairman moved, and Cr 'Heron seconded, " That the matter be referred to the Works Committee, to attend to tomorrow."—Carried.

The Treasurer read the balance sheet of the Borough for the past half year with the Auditor's report thereon. , FINANCE COMMITTEE, ' Accounts amounting to £SB 0a 7(1 were recommended for payment. It was resolved to recommend the Council to allow the Town Clerk an assistant rate collector for two months. That the gas account be charged a proportion of the clerical expenses, That so much of the balance of the gas account as is not required for present liabilities be deposited at interest for 3 months.

The report was adopted. WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT.

The Overseer reported that (J) Bentley Bros, has finished Villa street ' contract satisfactory. (2) That P. Oarr had finished the formation and part of the gravelling Worksop Road and recommended progress payment to be paid. (3) That a yard to deposit timber yas required by the IjVojks Opmmijitee. (4) That'a culvert be put in 14 feet long in No. 2 stream in Dixon street to open a track for driving cattle. It was resolved that five chains of side drain be qleared in South street.

That' the Gas Committee be applied to for part of the gas sito for a timber yard. That the culvert reconnnonded be put in in Dixon-st,

The wages sheets amounting to £ll3s lid were passed for payment, . Ore Heron and Perry were appointed a deputation to wait upon the Presbyterian Church Trustees to ascertain if Ross-st can be widened.'

Referring to the question of using a part of the gas site for a timber yard, Or Bacon said if they had bought more land for the gas works than they required,

they should sell it, or let the Works Committeo purchaso a soction for storing their material, ' • ■'

Cr Heron said ultimately all the ground would be required for gas purposes, and they only wanted the use of it until it was required.

Cr Muir thought it was not fair the gas rate fund should be burdened with the cost of a yard for the Works Committee; the general rate should be' taxed with its fair pioporfcion. Cr Mason whilst having no- objection to the Works Committee having the use of land until wanted for the gas wdrks, thought it should only be let to them under control of their Engineer. - After some further discussion the Works Committee's report was adopted. The Fire Brigades Committee's report was read.

The report was taken seriatim,

Ist, That the Council take over the assets of the Fire Brigade and pay their liabilities.—The clause was adopted. 2nd. That'it is desirable to obtain a steam fire-engine for the use of the Borough, and that an active canvass of the town be made towards contributing to its cost.

Or Hessey moved its adoption. Cr Heron was willing to second it, provided that the cost did not come out of the ■general revenue, but that some special arrangement be made to procure funds. Cr Muir said the cost would bo about £SOO. If a water supply was likely to be brought in within two years it would be better to do without it until then. A steam engine was as far behind a water supply as it was in advance of a manual engine. He considered it would be much better policy to go in for a water supply at a much earlier date. Water supply and drainage were urgently needed. Cr Bacon supported Cr Muir in his remarks, He should vote against the motion, because he considered the subscription list should first be taken round, The principal business men should certainly pay two thirds of the cost. He would move that the consideration of the clause be deferred until the Engineer's report re waterworks be brought in. Cr Muir in seconding the motion said he had always supported the proposals to obtain a steam fire-engine, .because he understood a high-pressure water supply would cost £20,000, but a'S it was now stated that it would only cost some £7OOO he thought it better to at onco get the water supply, as he considered the ratepayers would willingly sanction such a loan. -

The amendment was carried. The next clause dealt with the formation of a Fire Brigade. Cr Heron moved that Crs Perry and Muir undertake the formation of a new Brigade. Cr Perry seconded pro forma. Cr Muir' objected to again become a member of the Fire Brigade if that was what was meant by tlie proposition, The report was meagre; it gave them no knowledge as to the terms upon which it was proposed the new Brigade should be organised. The Clerk said the Brigade would be on the same footing as now. Cr Heron said even if Cr Muir did not take an active part in it, the Council would be grateful if he would organize a Brigade. The Chairman said as the present Brigade positively disbanded to-morrow night, it was absolutely necessary to tako immediate action, He thought if thsso two Councillors would agree to that they could meet the Brigade, ascertain their views, and report at a special meeting, and in the meantime to ask them to continue their present duties until it was settled.

Cr Bacon thought that Crs Muir and Perry should have some power to be able to promise the men pay during their service at firesi

Cr Muir said if the committee were appointed with no power tn offer terms, and say what new gear they would obtain, they would simply throw up their billets at once, He thought the committee who had drawn up the report should invite applications from persons willing to join a new brigade, and to state what terms they would give, Crs Perry and Muir declined to act on tlie committee without definite instructions from the Council to lay before the Brigado. The Chairman said they were at a deadlock, and must refer the matter back to the committee for further report. Cr Hessey said he was on the committee, and knowing nothing about the working of fire brigades, thought it folly to be on the committee.

Or Mason said it was purely a question of £ s d, and having 110 money they could recommend nothing better. Cr Perry said he was not awrae that any of the Brigade wanted payment, all. they wanted was to be provided with appliances; Cr Bacon moved That Cr Muir be authorised to meet the Brigade, guarantee them an annual grant of £SO and a donation of £25 to put their plant in order. The motion found no seconder The Chairman moved That the Committeobe empowered to organisea Brigade, and Cr Muir's name be substituted for Cr Hessy. ' Or Bacon seconded,

Or Muir was willing to act on the Committee but would like to know what was intended by the Council for them to offer the Brigade. The motion was carried.

The Committee, re widening Bannister street, reported having waited on Messrs Macara and Elkins, and they would not promise to do anything unless the Council would give some pledgo that the Queen street end ot the street should be widened. The report was adopted. TENDERS. A division was taken before tenders were opened, on tho question of going into committee. Ayes, Crs Muir, Heron, Hessey, Mason, Chamberlain, and Qapper; Noes, Crs Perry and Bacon. The following tenders were dealt with: Formation and metalling, Renall-street, 39—40 chains—Bentley Bros, L 235 ; H, Stevens, L 219; J. Vile, L 239 10s; H. Burgess, L 203 8s 6d; T. P. Girdivood, L 195 10s, accepted ; P. Carr, L 250. Borough cartage—J; Anderson, lis; H, and G, Bentley, 10a fid; R, Mckenzie, lis; G, M, Wood and Kavanagh, 10s, accepted; H. Munro, 10s fid ; W.Pranpnell and Co., 10a fid; H. Jones, 10s. Nightsoil contract, G.M.'Wood, accepted.. Tlie meeting then adjourned.