BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2148, 18 November 1885, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Masterton Borough Council was held last evening. Present—Crs Gapper (in the chair), Mason, Heron, Hessey, Muir, Chamberlain, and Perry. . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The Town Clerk explained that His Worship the Mayor was not ablo to-be present, having had to go to Wellington to attend a meeting of the Hospital and

Charitable Aid Board. ■' Presbyterian Chdroh. An application was received from MrE. Feist, asking for permission to build .the walls of an addition to the Presbyterian Church of wood.

Oil the nifftion of Or Perry, seconded by Cr Heron, the application was granted. Cr Perry said he saw nothing in the specifications that could be objected to, Cr Heron gave notice to move that the by-law providing for building regulations be rescinded. Water Cart. Mr J. Thompson wroto, stating that he was prepared to start a water cart. He had subscriptions equal to about £2 -per week promised him, and if the Council would give an equal amount, he should.at once purchase the necessary cart. He would guarantee to water Queen-street twice a day from Messrs Wiekerson & Wagland's to Mr Jago's, Cr Mason moved, That the offer be accepted, the contractor to be subject to ' the order of an officer of the Council. He thought the money would be well spent. Cr Hessey seconded the motion pro forma. He as a small farmer did not see why he should pay for watering Queenstreet. The resolution was lost. MICHAEL DIXON'S ESTATE, Mr A, R, Bunny wrote stating that all the land-owners interested in the street leading through Michael Dixoij's estate had now agreed to transfer the land required. He asked that the plans of the street might be approved of, The matter was left in the hands of the Town Clerk, with,the understanding that the street be a private street only, • THE GRAVEL DISPUTE. A resolution was received from the Wairarapa East County Council warning the Borough Council not to damage proBarhy by removing gravel from the bed of le'WaipQU.] rjyer at the end of Colomb'a road. ' The Chairman stated that tho matter had been satisfactorily arranged, . FIRE BRIGADE, A notification was received to the effect that Mi' Peacock had been elected Captain of the Fire Brigade, and requesting that he'might be appointed a Fire liispecjt.or. ' Or Heron moved that % request Ije granted, The Chairman doubted whether they required Captain Peacock as a lire liispector. They had Mr Muir as an Inspect tor, and they had overy confidence in him. Cr Muir thought that it was neoessary that the Captain of the Brigade should be a Firo Inspector. > Tl)e Chairman asked whether Cr Muir meant "to say fef the Captain should be appointed, whether heps competent or not

Or Muir said he took it that the members of the Brigade considered Captain Peacock competent. The Chairman suggested that the matter siloed fallowed to stand over. ' Cr Heron slioijid'lilto to know .what was to be said- against Oaptaii) Peag'bck. He had heard nothing. . (Hear hear,) Or Perry said they could easily remove the new Inspector if they did not approve of him. .

The Chairman had nothing at all to say against Captain Peacock, but only wanted them to exercise care, as the appointment of a Fire lijsjje&tov 3 a most important one,.' The motion was seconded by Or Muir, and carried. holiday, Letters were received from tho Secretaries of the Siastorton'Agricultural Association, and the Masterta/Horticultural Society, requesting that Wednesday,.'the 25th inat., be proclaimed a public holiday. The Chairman moved, and 'Or Chamberseconded, thajfc'the a'cceede,d to] Carried. 1 ' WATER SUPPLY.^ Mr It, 5, Sipith, Engineer, reported on the water supply,. statftp that lie wanted more time before bringing up $ definite report, and that he should also have to take levels. The Chairman stated that the cost of the surveys proposed to be made would reach about £lO, Cr Muir moved, and Or Perry seconded, thai thVEljigjnper be authorised to expend a siim not exceeding |IQ. f&rriei}, JfIOHTSOIL DSPQT, A petition was presented by Mr T, W. Shute, and signed by. a number of residents. in South Masterton, protesting against the proposal to establish a nightsoil depot in that neighborhood. Cr Heron said lie had inspected the spot, and considered the the depot would bea nuisance: "'fle'moved thattjjo resolution oh the 'subject' the ! last meeting of the Council be 'rescinded, •' Seconded by the Chairman, ' Cr Perry said tliey ha(J no aiitliority to show that the clep.ot woulcf pp a npisance. It was easy enough to get a number of signature tp any petitiop. The Chairman saiij they hat} Qr heron's opinion, and that was worth something, " The motion was then put and carried. " WORKS GQMMIOTE, The Works Committee brought up the usual report, which was adopted. FURZE. The Inspector of Nuisances reported that the furze in Johnston Street and C.olomba Roac} becoming a nuisance. The' Chairman moved and Cr 1 Heron ■seconded, that notice be given to the landowprii interested to remove the furze, Carried, LIBRARY, Mr D, S. Papworth attended as a dfii putation from the Library Committee, asking the Council to assist in oarrylng out repairs to the roof of the Library, and to paint the building. He explained that Mr AY. G. Beard should also have been present, but that he had been called away on urgent business. He said tlje Committee considered that the' w'qrk' \va§ $n extraordinary one, and they wanted some assistance, not being in a position to defray the whole of the cost, Mr Papworth then withdrew, The Chairman said there was no doubt that the building was greatly in need of repairs, • Cr Heron said they collected a library rate of one penny, and if they voted ii)ors, that pney would be expended illegally'; Cr Mason said the least they c.qult} do was to give the Committee some assistance. IF the expenditure was liot illegal, he should move that an archlterit be employed to report.on the building. Cr Perry seconded the. motion pro fopna. The Committee should have'given them an estjnjate of the cost. The CMrman said that it would be throwing money away to have the' building examined,: ■ • • 1 Cr Hessey thought the Committee should have foreseen what would be

required wlien they sent Home the last large order for books. - Or Hert>n thought that if the Council had the direct "management of the Library, they would see' their Ways and means better, The motion was lost.

. The Chairman said they would have to do something. He considered that, the expenditure on the Library was nm excessive, and should be reduced, Cr Perry considered that the first thing for a Library was to have the building in proper order.

Or Muir said there was not a doubt but the expenses of the Institute were far too large. The main income, was from the penny rate, The Committee shirked maiking any reductions. The proper thing that should have been done, and ought still to be .done, was for the Council to take the Library on its . own shoulders. He did not speak disparagingly of the present Committee, for it was r.o worse than its predecessors. Cr Heron moved, and Cr Hessey seconded, that the Library Committee be informed that the Council cannot do anythiiig beyond providing the penny rate, but that a sum not exceeding £2O be offered to-assist in ■ carrying out the repairs, provided the amount be stopped out of the year's rates. -Carried.

NIGHTSOIt DEPOT. The Chairman moved that Crs Heron, Perry, and the mover be a Committee to deal with the matter.

Seconded'by Cr Hessey and carried,

WATER SDPPIY. A notice of motion had been given by the Mayor,' that a public meeting bo called to consider the question of a high pressure water supply, and Cr Muir moved that the motion be allowed to stand over till next meeting. He- thought they should first have tho full report of the Engineer. Cr Perry saw no harm in adjourning it; in fact he would be better pleased -if it were adjourned altogether. (Laughter.) He §econde<l the piqtipij, Carried, Tho Couiicil then a^jQurned.