MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2228, 24 February 1886, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The regular fortnightly meeting of the Council was held last night. Present— The Mayor, and CrsMuir, Heron, Mason, Gapper, Williams and Perry. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. NEW COUNCIUOK. Mr William Cullen made the usual ,declaration and took his seat as Councillor. Cr Cullen addressing the Mayor and Councillors said he did not know whether it was usual to address the meeting on

first taking a seat at the Council table, but he would Jiks to say a few words if permitted. The Mayor said It was not the usual course to make a speech, Or Cullcn said it was far from his wish to make a speech. He had been spoken of in flattoring (?) terms in the papers as a hawker.

The Mayor said he was there as a Councillor, and he (the Mayor) would see that overy.right and privilege was extended to hirri; He would be treated ' with courtesy, jind the .same would be expected from him by tlio Couikil, , Whatever had ;been said ibout him outside was no business'of the Council.

i Of Jfjuljflt then resumed his seat, The correspondence was then dealt with. EXTENSION 0? TIME.

Mr Bentley wrote asking for an extension of time, in which to fence the gas works section so as to allow the timber to become seasoned, Or Heron moved that it be referred to the Gas Committee with power to act. Cr Gapper seconded. Cr Perry thought it a very poor excuse to say the timber required seasoning. The Clew read the notice sent them on February 9th to complete contract. The motion was carried.

SIEAM FIRE ENGINE, Mr J. Macara wrote to the Council offering to purchase a steam fire engine at a cost not exceeding £7OO, the terms to be £25 down and the balanee in three years, bearing interest at the rate of £8 per cent per annum,

The Mayor said he was under the impression the rate qf was to be 7 por cent, lie thoupht they were aebariefi from paying a higher rate by the Act, In the present disorganised state of the Fire Brignde he thought some steps ought to be taken by the Council, It would bo a pity tq lose ai\ advantageous offer.

Op Hqron pointed o,ut that Up Co,unci! could let a contract fo,r any exceeding £2O except by tender, unc\ov a penalty. The Qlevk that tho in the A?t referred to contracts for works,

The Mayor said it would ho a pity for it to fall through, He might point to Invercargill where they only employ fifteen firemen, and here, with a plentiful water supply from the creeks, thoy would not need more than soven or eight men. In Invercargill the men were paid 36s a year each, being at the rate of 3s for 12 drills, and two shillings an hour at fires, whilst the engine keeper got £IOO a year. Cr Cullen said there were other expenses to be considered. They would require a building for the engine. Tho watgl' ppply also was pot sufficient unless they aatilf wolla.' '

Tho Mayor informed the last speaker that they had tried wells in Invercargill, and they did not answor. Or Cullen thought the formation of Invercargill and Mastorton quite different. He did not think a well sunk to a proper depth in Mastorton cuuld be pumped dry by any engine in existence.

Cr Wyliams moved that the offer of Mr Macara be accepted, provided the rate of interest be reduced to 7 per cent. $o said thpy had hac] somp painful perien'ceii at jires in t|p ]3,orflug]j, apd tlip inadequacy pf the maniial engines to cope with then). They hac) a goad supply of Wat.er for a steiim engine, and the oxpense would ho saved at probably the first five, Now they had got the Gasworks thoy would require a foreman there, who would understand machinery, and ho might look after the: engine along with Ins other work, and there would bo no occasion to employ a special man for the Fire Brigade at £IOO a year, They might even erect a building for the engine near tho Gasworks. It would be a misfortune to the town to miss such a favorable opportunity of obtaining the engine. There was another thing he would ljlra |q pu't, ' Several topsj ivhprq njgh pressure water had been'iutrod\iced recently, were probably in possession of Sjtea'm jire Engines, which they no longer thji floungil injght get one at from £HOO tp £4OO. |fe jiaq recently seen one ip Napier that would just ?uit, and could probably be got cheap.

Or Ciillen said they would expuQt big tilings from an engine that would coat thorn £6O a year interest. He was fully alive to the importance of obtaining one, but ho would advocate some other system of water supply in addition to the Creeks.

Or Muir moved an amendment that the matter be referred to the Fire Brigade Pj)|j)mjtt§o to report upon atnext meeting, He'tljpfighj; at} 'siigjn.3 could be flbjajncjj at a cost riot exceeding £§OQ, but a'step fire ejigino alQiio would be insufliciont'' to ippeji the qf the town. They would haye to foaye pp ipn!si in ioji. They required si pnglne or a water supply. There was no probability of getting tj>e latter at present, and In the meantime a steam fire engine might save a lot of property. Ho had no doubt the cost would bo greater than now, and they would not be able to do with lesß men.' It was a good idea that the engine be looked after by the man in charge of the but he thought the distanc? frpjii tjio towii tftp gfpi)t. " Cr Mason,'' ip seconding the motion, said he thought the Oorpitten could get information tliat would enable t'ljein to procure an engine frqni some other town at i), tl)ird jess prloe tVjan imparting one, Cr Perry wanted to know how haw they wore going to pay for it, Perhaps, like tho man who gavo a bill for his debt, they would consider they had paid it. After some further discussion, Cr Muir's amendmont waß put and carried on a division. Ayes; Crs Muir, Heron, Mason, Cullen, Gapper, and Perry. Noes: The Mayor and Cr Williams.

Jfgjjf PfffflMW, An .application from the pe I^igade for uflifpfma' v/as resi^i'• 1 ■ ' The Mayor said he had liepn informed by the Town Olerk that the Captain of the Fire Brigade had resigned, and at the brigade meeting to-morrow, a new one would be elected.

It was resolved that tho mattor be referred to tho Firo Brigade Committee. NEW ROADS, Messrs J. and G. Judd wrote to the Council stating that they would give a more suitable road through their property if the Borough would be willing to exchange for the ono laid off on tho plans, Referred to the Works Committee. BUKGESS ItOLl,

Applications were made by Messrs F. D. pejljng anii'T. fo have their names inserted : qn the fflirei&j Poll.—Granted. " ' ' BQAI) BLOCKED. Certain ratepayers in Vivian-street, Mtinaia, wrote to the Council asking that fenpes which now blocked up their street might be orderpd to be remove^, APIiUM, The Mayor informed the Counoll that the manager of the Bahk of New Zealand, Masterfcon, had received a telegram instructing Him, on account of the Treasury, to place the sum of £2Bl 5s to the credit of the Borough Fund account, This was the long-expected Bubßidy. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Town Clerk was instructed, in view of the quantity of material that would have to be delivered by. rail, to apply to the railway authorities to open a ledger with the Council. It was refolded that tenders he called for the

cartage of the gas plant. The Hegistrar having repotted that very few dogs had been registered, it was resolved to recommend the Councd to instruct the assistant registrar to prosecute anyone possessing non-registered dogs. Accounts amounting to £3015s 2d were passed for payment.

Cr Muir in moving its adoption said he was glad to find the Town Clerk was taking steps to get in the old rates by summonsing defaulters, The report was adopted, WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPOKT,

The Overseer reported that Tangney & Cos contract, Donald estate, would be completed to-morrow (Tuesday) and would commence metalling the following day if the weather permitted. He had examined Nursery road in accordance with instructions and found that about 5 chains of metalling was all that was required. He had grubbed and stumped Dixon street from Worksop road to the mill-stream and was at present engaged with the men in lowering the north end of the footpath in Renall street. It was resolved that the staff be employed to form and metal about four chains of Nursery road. ■ The time sheets were examined and passed for payment. The report was adopted,

The Council went into committee to open tenders for forming and metalling Short-street. The result ijfiU not be made known until the tendop is signed. It was resolved to hold over the tenders for the lease ol the aeotion in Donald's estate for a fortnight,as the proposal of Messrs Judd to exchange land for a road would probably affect it,

Tho Mayor said no notice appeared to. have been taken of his resignation from the District Aid Bord. The Board met to-morfQw and their district would bo Mr Beetham being also away. He understood there to important business to transact, aud it was. porhaps unfortunate,

committees. The following were added ;~To the (Jas-Committee, Or Mason; to the Finance Committee, Cr Williams; to the Fire Brigade Committee, Cr Perry. The meeting then adjourned.