MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2210, 10 March 1886, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The regular fortnightly meeting of tho Council was held last night. Present— The Mayor, and Crs Cullen, Muir, Heron, Mason, Gapper, Hessey and Williams. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed. DISTRICT AID, A letter was read from, the Secretary of the North Wairarapa Benevolent •Society asking the Council to contribute the aum of £25 to avoid a rate levy. From' Wairarapa East County covering i a resolution to the effect that tho County would contribute the sum of £SO as asked by the North Wairarapa Benevolent Society. .. i[ • With regard to the letter from tho Secretary of the North Wairarapa Benevolent Society, the Chairman said to avoid a rate it.was deemed better to keep the Society going as it was in former years. The necessary sum of £IOO had been more than' subsidised W enable the Society to be constituted a" separate Board, and )f tl)e Jopal bodies contributed as proposed, a rafe would' hot have to be' levied. . Tho East County had agreed to give the sum of £SO, and he would move tbat the request of the Secretary of the Benevolent Society be granted. ■ Cr Heron seconded, ;•>'■

The Mayor said the United Board could still levya rate upon them for the poor of Wellington, But he did not think they would have the'bad taste to do so in the face of thep present'action. . Cr Mason said if it wero not for the actual coat of collecting a poor rate, he would be in favoif of the Wt'tbm ppoaed" by the United Board, as alike .(Hear, hear),' - ' ' :•" :i '''' '■ :''■ ''• - ;■■' The motion was put and carried.

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Robertson & Co. were received, and the Clerk was instructed to again write and urge the firm of Robertson to expidite the work. : : .v. A letter from Mr Blackadder re gas-pipe cutting was referred to the WoAb Com'mitte'e. GETTING BEADY FOE THE LIOENSE, iAn application was made by Mr H, Phillips for permission to construct a cellar on Cricket-street. Cr Mason moved, and Or Cnllen seconded, That permission be granted, provided it be done in accordance with the Borough Engineer's regulations. .' Cr Heron said great care should be taken before permsssipn was,, given to make use of' thei footpath, 'as it would cause an obstruction.

Cr Gapper said if it was interfering with the footpath he would move that plans and specifications be submitted to the Council. It was a Bource of danger to have trapdoors on'a footpath, and .a pre-' cedent should not be created. Cr Mason asked to amend his resolution to read that tho matter be referred to the Works Committee with power to act. Cr Cullen said concrete walls were to be made, and he understood substantial doors were proposed to be put down, and he thought it was only interfering with a man's trade, and splitting straws to refer it to tho Works Committeo. Cr Heron: No. Cr Cullen : It is. CrHesseysaid there was nothing to show that the footpath was wanted to be used. It was certain that when the footpaths were used for cellars ail obstruction was caused.-; ' '!■■■...' Cr Williams proposed as an amendment that the ietter.be■ referred .back to ' Mr Phillips'for further particulars.- <■■ • Cr Heron seconded ' ftofoma, but thought time would be loat if the resolution Stobdi •;.■: ,'y •„ Cr Williams withdrew his amendmont. Cr Muir could see no harm in the proposed trap doors if they wero made Bub-, stantial. • '. Or Cullen declined to second the motion as amended by Cr Mason. Cr Gapper moved, as an amendment, That Mr Phillips be asked to furnish plans and specification to the Borough Council, Cr Cullen seconded tho amendment which was carried. PUBLIC HOLIDAY. The Socretary of the Masterton-Opaki Jockey Club wrote asking the Mayor to proclaim St. Patrick's Day a public holiday on account of the local races. Cr Mason proposed, and Cr Culleu seconded, That the request be acceded to. Cr Heron did not see that St. Patrick's Day was any better than St George's or St. Andrews.

The Mayor said ho could not promise to keep' liis premises closed altogether, but lie might arrange for somo of his hands to go to the races. The motion was put and carried on a division. _ Messrs A. W*. Cave and H, G. Williams applied to have their names, put on the Burgess Roll.-Acceded to. STREET IMPROVEMENT. A petition'from certain ratepayers was read asking that the road at the lower end of Church Street might he improved by putting a culvert in the blind creek running through, and the road filled up. Cr Heron, said tho overseer had been instructed to attend to that street shortly. Tho matter was referred to the Works Committee,

FIRE BRIGADE COMMITTEE. It was resolved that the Council be recommended to accept Mr Macara's offer for a btenni Fire Engine, subject to a reduction being made in the annual interest to 7 per cent. That the Town Clerk obtain information as to the bust description of a Steam Fire Engine, That the Council cannot be recommended to procure new uniforms for the Brigade at present. STEAM FIRE ENGINE The Mayor said a question of legality had been brought up, and he would be in favor of taking the borough solicitor's opinion upon the question before completing the agreement for tho purchase of afire engine. If they had no power to bind their successors to complete the purchase at the end of three years, they would be personally liable. Cr Cullen said before they discussed the matter ho thought it would be bettor to put the question whether the report be adopted fle did not believe it would.

The Mayor moved that tho report be adopted as regards the Fire Engine, provided the Solicitor reported favorably upon tho legality of the act, Cr Muir seconded, The motion waa carried on a division. The remainder of the report waa then adopted as read, WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT. The report was taken seriatim. The oyerneer's report was adopted as rejti The proposal of Messrs Judd to exchange certain lands for road purposes was considered, and Cr Heron moved that that clause of the report be adopted, and the Works bo ompowored to deal with it.—Carried. The clause re the exchange of the' gravel pit section was adopted, and it was, resolved the obstructions in Vivian street' be removed within 28 davs. BARBED FENCES. ' The Borough Surveyor, Mr J. Russell, reported against the barbed wire on certain fences in Chapel Btreet.—Referred to the Works Committee. LAVENDBR CREEK. Mr J. 0. Ingram, Inspector of Nuisances, reported upon tho town creek, Messrs Elkins, Hollowav, Thompson, and the Union Club had drains runnihg info the creek, and he had given notice to them';to abate the nuisance. Or Gappor said he would move that tho Inspector havo a standing order to tako necessary action in regard to nuisances. He thought the R.M. should settle what were nuisances. The Council had poohpoohed many of the Inspector's reports, The Mayor said the Inspector had the power to prosecute, instead of bringing the matter before the Council. Ho might state there was a leading article in the Daiiy, stating they wero amenable for certain sickness that was in the town now. He could not go so far as that. They had always done their best hi the interest of the health and cleanliness of the town. The question of drainage was a very largo one to Wing before the Council. They could compel the by-laws to be carried out' as they now' existed, and the only thing the Council could do was to support'their officers, and see that the laws were promptly acted on, It was' all very well to make an article for the paper, and when there was a'qry of 'siobiess to blamo tho Council.' He could only say if any one could do better let .them come and do so.

Or Muir said he had no cognisance of the Inspector of Nuisances, bringing in any report that waspoohpoohed. If there were any cases that should be brought before the Magistrate, he should .do so, and not wait for advice from the Council. Tho Mayor said somo time ago their Inspector used to send in voluminous reports'upon watercress, <k, and'fliey had a rajpfejebating society on whole.' The, "present was a tangible Bufr ject, the pollution of the creejt;' apd trip Inspector should' take such steps as wore necessary to ibajbe the nnjasncei' • : . • ' ar'(Mtar^ty^,W^U^

pointed out that there- was nothing before the meeting, and he resumed his seat. ~ The subjeot„was then dropped. .LIBRARY COMMITTEE. Or v. Muir .moved that, the Com mittee for the management the Institute for the ensuing, year consist of the Mayor, and Crs Williams, Chamberlain, Mason, and the mpvor. The Mayor seconded pro forma, but said he would like to < see the outside interests of the town represented on the Committee. He would also like to see Crs Heron and' Capper acting. The latter had complained of the management, and knew what was wanted. • Cr Gapper said he, had not complained of the present management, but only of those in the first place who had spent £4OO more than was authorised on a larpe building, which they had now no funds to carry on. The motion was carried, Cr Capper's name being substituted for that of Cr Chamberlain. THEOABWORKS.' The Mayor said it had been suggested that ,they should lay the foundation stone of the new gasworks with someceremony, as it was an important epoch. Cr Gapper said he could not fall in with the idea for a ceremony in connection with a gasworks, He could quite understand it if if had been a town hall.

Cr Heron did not agree with Cr Gapper. A gasworks was quite as important as a town hall, He would move that the Mayor lay the foundation stone officially. Or Cullen seconded the matter pro forma. Ho wanted to. know who was going to find the stone and pay for tho spread, the contractor or the Council. Cr Mason thought it would be better to let the matter stand over until the building was finished. They could admire the stone then.

The Mayor said he was not ambitious to lay the stone, and would rather see some littlo ceremony when it was finished,

_ The motion was put, The Mayor gave his casting vote against the motion, which was therefore lost.

The Mayor said tho Gas Engineer had made a veiy good suggestion—that they should get some concession made on the carriage. of their plant, coal, otc. It would be well to boar it in mind.

Cr Gapper moved that the question be referred to tho Gas Committee,—Carried. The ineetiu? then adjourned.