MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2382, 25 August 1886, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly mooting of the Council was held last ovening in tho new Council Chamber at the Public Institute, all the mombers being present. Tho minutes of tho previous ordinary and special meetings were read and confirmed,

Correspondence.—From the Masterton Road Board, enclosing account for work done on tho boundary road; from A. and T. Burt, advising the forwarding, of the gas plant that was omitted; from J, Payton, stating the nuisance complained of had been abated by Mr Carey at a cost under £5; from the Town Clerk, Palmerston North, asking for a copy ot the Borough by-laws. BY-LAWS. It was resolved that & copy of tho bylaws ba forwarded to. the Borough of Palmerßton. * - .masterton road boakd. The account for tho Borough's share of tho work dono on the boundary road by the Masterton Road Board, amounting to £7l7s 3d, was referred to the Finance Committee. MICHAEL DIXON STMET. '• ' .Or Huron presented a petitidn from certain residents in Kucipuni praying that

the Council would, repair and put in 'a state fit. for. traffic the . road/known .as, Michael DixonStreet. The petition'was 'signed by about 26 residents. Mesdames Wood.;Bu.on, "Wilton, and-.tfumptoeys,' attended in« support of tKd potitiun,' arid. Mrs Wood, by perimssion.of the:Oolinoil; : addressed the meeting and explained the, state of the road and the difficulty they, were subjected to'in consequence of their inability to paßß along the road without great inconvenience from theaccumulation of mud and wat&r, wliich was about two feet deep. In addition to having to pay rates, their burdenß were increased through Doctors expenses caused by sicknesß arising from the state of the road. Mrs Wood concluded a very graphic description, of the locality by cordially inviting the Mayor and ' Councillors one and all to come up aud inspeot the same. : . The Mayor informed the deputation tliat the sympathy of the Conncil wsb with thorn. If the Council could legally expend money upon the road it would be done, no doubt, but lie pointed out the Aot did not admit of tho funds of ratepayers being expended on private roads.. The road in question was ono that came under'the-category of private streets. The Act provided that the Council could declare a private street a public one only on certain conditions, the most important of which was that the owners ana ocoupiers must first make the the street to the satisfaction of the Council before it could be declared a public road. : Mrs Wood stated that they had been given to understand that when they conveyed the land to the Council 'for the purpose of making tho road Olift wido, which they had done at the nominal price of a shilling, the road would be accepted and made, by the Council. : Cr Gapper explained that the road was conveyed to the Council to enable tho purchasers abutting on the road to get theii titles, which they could not have done without the soal; «f the Council. He told Mr Wood and Mr Kavanagh 3 oßt plainly that the Council would not take over the road as a Borough road Until it was formed and metalled. It was 'ho Trustees of the late Michael Dixon who must havo misrepresented to the occupiers of this road that the Council would bo compelled to make the road for them if they gave the land to maka it a chain wide. Cr Heron corroborated. the statement of-Gr Gapper as to informing the occupiers that the road would have to bo made by them.

The Mayor eaid "ib was evident the Gounoil could not have given the promise to make the road. Thoy had no power to mako it for them out of the. Borough funds. : : ■

In answer to the Mayor Cr Gapper said the road was about 40 chains in length, and the cost to make and metal it would be about £3los a chain. He had brought up the question some 4 or 5 years ago, but nad been outvoted. He had wanted the amount of rates that had been paid by the property owners there, .expended on that, road;. . The Mayor said he would be in favor of doing that now if legal. The toad was not recognised as such by the Actaud was no more than a ;paddock. Tho matter would be favorably considered by the Council. Cr Gapper moved that the question of legality of expending money on the road be referred to the Works Committee to be reported on at the next mooting of the Oounoil. The motion was carried. Tho deputation thanked tho Council and withdrew. GAS COMMITTEE KEFORT. Tho reports of tho Gaa Committee which were of a detail character were read and adopted. TIMBER FOR CtILVERTS. Cr Gapper reported that in accordance with instructions the overseer had inspected Cole-stroet, and the places whero culverts were wanted, Ho suggested that the timber required for the Council should be obtained now, and fcondors called for the supply of what they required for twelve months., He moved a resolution to that effect and Cr Chamberlaiu seconded. Tho motion was carried. THE BOROUGH PLAH. Cr Gapper moved that a sum of ton shillings be expendodin having a roller put upon the plan of the Borough to keep it in a better state of preservation. Or Cullen seconded the motion wliich was carriod.

INSURANCE, The Mayor said his attention had been drawn to the necessity of the furniture and effects of the Council being insured against fire. He moved that tho matter of insuring the furniture .be left to the Finance Committee. Carried. THE BOBOUOH OLOQK. The Mayor said he had taken upon himself a very important matter,, that was to present tho Borough witli a clock for the Council room. Many burgeßsuß and some Councillors thought the Council had already gone to too much expenßO in furnishing their meeting room (Cr Perry: Hear I hear.) He had, therefore, taken. upon himself to provide a clock for their use, which he trusted they would accept, Cr Gappor fooved that a hoarty vote of thanks be accorded His Worship the Mayor for tho handsome clock- ho had presented for the use of the Council. It was one of the'best clocks Messrs Littlejohn had. Or Perry seconded the motion, which was put by tho Town Clerk and carried unanimously, and the Council adjourned. -