BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2370, 11 August 1886, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of tho Mastorton Borough Council waß hold in the Council Chambers last, evening, present His Worship tho Mayor, and Councillors Perry, Horon, Chamberlain, Muir, Gapper, Williams, Mason, and Culleu. The minutos of last moetinq were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence was read from Mr H. A. Stratford R.M., ro Waipoua River protective works, authorising £IOO to be expended by the Council Mr W. Sellar, notifying that the Council was entitled to elect a Trustee on tho Hospital Board. Cr Heron was elected. Mr J. Pay ton, re floodine of his property, through floodgate erected by the Council, Mr Carey asking for an extension of time, to allow him to arrange with Mr Payton re damming creek back on his property, Messra Riohard Williams, William Parkos, and E, G, Williams, requesting to have their names added to the Burgess roll, Asreed to. Colonial Secretary, asking for returns. Ordered to be'supplied, WORK FOR GAS-COMMITTEE. The following were referred to the Gas Committee:—An application from John F. Robinson for situation aa manager for gas works. Application from Gas Engineer for three extra laborers, and material required in connection with ..works. AJettej; from A. and T. Burt, referring to the shipment, of; gas plant;. Circular from Wellington Tinware Company, re supplying gasfittings, &c. Tonders from the Brunnor Company and several coal firms, for the supply of coals, WAIPOUA PROTECTION, Hiß Worship said tho R.M., in stipulating a certain sum in connection with the above work had ovetstopped the authority. If the Council began the ..work they would be compelled to keep within the limit, otherwise they would be acting illegally. Cr Muir proposed the matter be held over until the Workß Committees report be road. Cr Willianiß, in seconding the motion, said that the Council had asked Mr Bremnor for a roporb of tho work roquirod, ho had supplied the plans and specifications and the work was ordorod to be done, and now, through some members of the Works Committee, the whole thing was ignored, and tho matter left entirely in Mr Adams' hands. Cr Mason said the work was left to tho Works Committee, with power to act. Thoy wore not confined to Mr Bremner's plans. Cr Horon thought the scheme was thrown out when the tenders won opened. The general feeling of tho Council was that as tho tonders wero above the estimate, and held in abeyance, that the scheme was hung up. His Worship did not look at it in that light, and if ho voted that way he did it in the dark, as he nevor intondod to do so. CrCullen said the matter waß only held over to arrange with Mr Adams, and to see if some other scheme could be arranged, with the results that new works have been proposed. Cr Mason's impression was that that the Council never intended to carry out the Engineer's report. Cr Perry was of the same opinion. Cr Gapper said that Mr Bremner had sent in Ma report and plans whon ho (Or Gapper) was abßent. , Tenders were called, which were all above the estimate,' and it was resolved they should stand oyer pendingthe R.M.'s decision. Since then members of tho Works Committee : had visited the river, and after" inspection were of opinion that if the old bed of the river was cleaned, the water- would flow down, and it would be less expensive than the other works proposed. - : Mr Bremner had informed him that he considered It a better plan to. open the.old bed than to build the groins, and Mr Stratford, R.M.-who has had considerable experience in river matters, spoke favorably of the plan, but cautioned the Oounoil how they went to work less they made themselvos liable for damages to property lower down thestream. Had the old channel been opened up as he (Mr Gapper) had advocated years ago, the damage to the property on the northern boundary would not have happened. His Worship was under the, impression until now that they were carrying out Mr Bremner's-plan, but from appearances

that had been thrown over and they were carrying out Cr Capper's. Cr'Gapper: I beg your pardon, sir. The matter is in the hands of the Council. You could not build one groin for the money now asked for this job. '" Or Mason would like it to -be understood by the Council that he,' aa a *orks committeeman, would take no responsibility for the scheme unless the engineer approved ot it, as he felt certain that if the enginoer knew that land could be obtained on the opposite side of the river ho would have reported differently. Cr Chamberlain said the engineer was asked to protect the bank on the borough side. If he had beon asked to report ou turning the river baek he would have acted differently. He was of opiuion that turning it back in the old courso was the bust plan. Cr Oullen moved that Cr Clapper's ; scheme bo carried out.

Or Williams objoeted to the motion as not being in order. A resolution had been passed, plans and report, received from the engineer, and tenders called. In the meantime an amateur engineer takes a look over the river, and then wants to force his plans on the Council and throw the County and Government .engineers' reports to the wind. His Worship said he should recommend that both plans be sent baek te Mr Breinner to report on. . Cr Gapper moved "That alternate plans for protecting the Borough from theWaipoua river,be submitted to Mr Bremnerand he be asked to report there-

His Worship seconded the motion, ' Cr Cullon thought it was like Cr Gapper's cheek to ask Mr Bremner'to report upoii the plan. Cr Gapper said he wont over the. rivor at the reaueafc of Mr Bromnor not by his own desire. Cr Muir considered the Council wore only wasting the money. Thoy had uo intention of carrying out the work, They were wasting more money than would complete the work.. He judged the Oounoil by its actions not by its words'. '•"'.' The motion was carried with one dissentant (Or Muir), A CREEK NUISANCE. Cr Gapper moved"' That Mr Carey be notified that unless this "nuisanee coinplained of be abated, the Council will lift the sluice gate at the Albert-street crossing." He said the property of Mr Payton was flooded through the water' being dammed back by.Mr Carey's turnery works, This Hot only caused an injury to the property, but was a source of danger to the children when playing in the paddock through which tho crook ran. Or Muir, in seconding the resolution said the Council had no alternative, if Mr Payton demanded to have the nuisance abated they must do it, His Worship said it was a pity to interfore with an industry, ospeoi&lly when it was of such an important matter to the paity concerned. It almost meant ruin to Mr Carey to take away the wator supply from the works. The Clerk said the Engineer had reported that the levels wore tho same at the turueiy works and the place whore the flooding is complained of. Mr Caroy was trying to arrange to lift the flood Hate so many hours a day to prevent the continual flooding. He could work the power with a foot less of water. The Mayor moved as an amendment, " That Mr Carey's request be acceded to, vit., ta allow the matter to stand over to give him time to make arrangements with Mr Payton." Cr Perry seconded tho amendment. Cr Muir pointed out that the amendment would not affect the' position of affairs, The amendment was carried on division. PETITIONS. . . Cr Williams presented-a petition from the residents and ratepayers of Cole Street, requesting that tho water tables in that street be cleared out. This evoked considerable discission on the drainage of that street, and tho potition was eventually passed over to the Works Committee. • Cr Perry prosouted a potition from tho agents of property, residents and ratepayers of River lload requesting about five chains of .road to be-made,'so that it be rendered .passable for traffic. Reforted to Works Committee. ' COMMITTEE MPORTS. The Finance Committee's report was adoptod.. ... The Library Committeo's report, recommending some necessary alterations j ■to library i and;' Clerk's" roomy" waa\ adopted.''' V •■' !-. The Gas Committee's report, recommending that- 20s per 1,000 feet be charged for gas consumed with a rebate of 25 per cent, and reporting that a subcommittee had been appointed to arrange for Btreet lamps, was adopted. [ WORKS COMMUTE. Tho Works Committee report was road as follows: The overseer reported that M. O'Brian had completed the formation of West Bush Eoad and throo and a half chains of metalling. The weathor had compelled j him to suspend operation's at present, Ropairs to Short street are completed., Footpath repairs have boon made and Queen streot remetallod in places. Repairs to Lincoln road and Hall street were recommended.. It was resolved that the footpath in Ross street be mads on condition that the Presbyterian Church pay 25s towards the coßt. That culverts be \ put in tho following crossings: Church' street, Upper Plain road, junction of Railway and Trustee streets, and Cole street. That plans and specifications be prepared for Gladstone road. That notice bo given to occupiers to cut down the gorse on the Upper Plain road, also in Dixon street. _ Cr'Horon called attention to the metalling of Queon-Btreet, it had boeft decided that no part should be wholly metalled but only be patched on account of -laying the gas main and servico pipes, which' would break the road up again. Or Mason Baid he had drawn the overseer's attention, to the mattor and was informed that ho (the Ovorsoer) was doing the work on his own responsibility. Or Muir said tho Works Committee must be cognisant of the work being done, and by their silence had given consent. , Cr Gapper reported that tho Overseer was instructed to repair Queen-atreot, but owing to the state of,the road, and the time before the main was laid in that part of the Boroucfh, they, had thought it best to wholly metal from tho Waipoua Bridge to Church-Street. The clause relating to Ross-street was after a lively discussion amended to read "T, hat the usual price be ohanged for gravelling the footpath viz 10s per chain." .The report was adopted as amended. .NEW COUNOII OBAMBERB, On the recommendation of Mr John King it was decided to strip the cettago roof of shingles and cover it with felt and iron, • The Clerk was instructed to give tho usual public notification of the removal of the Borongh offices. The Committee was requested to get the necessary fittings in the Library and Council room at the price named by Mr Jago, viz., £9loa. The following tenders were dpeaed and dealt with in Committee:—For the creation of workshop, pipe-rack,' &0., Accepted, M. Hoar, L3B; declined, J.

Walker, L 4416 5;, J. Dawson, t&j-; W. Alexander, L 49.105. r-Jr-i*

•vnsiWMTisnos.'^yr CrMuirpropose^ be instructed .to'communicate : -wth tho Regi«trar-(|fe'oeral,with a."view of getting the borough included in the list of towns published in the statistical returns of the Colony. In doing so he thought it woukt be a good guide lof theCouneil as to the health of the Borough', and would give information that was not generally known by tho burgesses. Cr Mason seconded the proposition which was carried after a short discussion. The meeting^ adjourtiedV