MASTEKTOiY BOROUGH COUNCIL,

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2443, 3 November 1886, Page 2

MASTEKTOiY BOROUGH COUNCIL,

The usual meeting of the Council was held iii the Institute laslj evening. ' Present, His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Parsons, Perry, Chamberlain, Gapper, Mason, Elkins, Heron, Muir, and Cullen. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. • . . From nighteoil contractor, denying, alleged neglect in attending to his duties. From the Premier's office re elections Hospital and District Boards. . From the Masterfcon Road Board, enclosing a resolution, re metalling Lower Manaia Koad. ■ . From tho Masfcertoh Volunteer Fire Brigade, asking for refund of amount 39s spent for pumping at the recent', lira' in Worksop road, POUNDKEEPER. . Tho Poundkoepei's returns, shewed £llßs 6d for the past month. JUSTERTON ROAD BOAKD. The Mayor thought from reading the. letter of. t'hn Board they had a ground of complaint. ThoOouncil would not like to bo m the same position. Tho Board thought a 12ft road would be way enough.. Tho Town Clerk said that notice had been given of intention to make a road. There was apparently a misapprehension on tho part of Mr Dagg, who thought the matter had been referred to some years

_ The Chairman said thero was no intention to deal discourteously with the Board, ; The Clerk read the letter to the Board dated 6th Soptemoer. Tenders for metalling the road dosed on the day of meeting followed that on whioh the letter had been sent.

Cr Heron thought the Board could not gain any object by harping on the matter. The Mayor said he was sure the Council had no intention to act discourteously, but thought the Board should have been oonaulted, as it was a contributing body. Cr Gapper moved that iu tho opinion of tho Counoil the letter sent by tho Town Clerk was sufficient, The work had been on the schedule some years and tho Board had had plenty of time to consult the Council. The Board had one opinion, the Council another. The road would cost more iu the long run if only made 12ft wide. A twelve feet road was only a track on which two vehiclees could nob pass, and.would h dangerous to travellers. If anaocident happened he thought the Council would be liable to damages. This wa3 a boundary road, imd it would not be long beforo there would bo a great deal of traffic on it, It would be the main road to Gladstone,. He referred to the work done by the Board without consulting the Council. He thought the whole affair was a storm in a teapot. Cr Mason seconded the resolution.

The Mayor, although concurring with Or Gapper, still thought the Board should have had 6omo say in the matter kfon tenders were called. Ho asked Cr Gapper to add to his resolution that there was no discourtesy intended., If there was any guilt it was on the part of the Counoil. As a contributing body the Board should have been consulted,

Cr Parsons coinoided with the Mayor. The Mayor moved an amendment that the Board be again written to to the effect, that the Council had acted .without any intention of discourtesy, Cr Gapper thought that would be synonymous to the letter sent to the Board.

Cr Heron thought it was probably an oversight on the part of the Works Committee in not consulting the Board, Tho letter sent to the Board was read by the clerk, and tho Mayor said he would withdraw his amendment. The resolution was carried. No action was taken in the matter. Laws of New Zealand. The circular with reference to these was laid on the table. BURGESS ROLL. , The names of Messrs P. Dixon and W. Daiiey were ordered to be placed on the roll. LONG SERVICE CERTIFICATE, Tho circular on tho subject was referred to the captain of the Volunteer Brigado. SIOHTSOIL CONTRACTOR. Tho loiter from tho contractor was referred to tho Inspector of Nuisance. FINANCE COMMITTEE. Tho report of the Committee was read as follows : Accounts amounting to £l4 Is 9d were passed for payment. Bo Lang and Heron's application to surrender lease and have new ones with right of compensation, the Town Cletk reported having interviewed tho Borough solioitor, whose opinion was that the Council had no power under existing statutes to comply with the request, It was decided that the applicants bo informed thatat present there is no power to accede to the request; but they can ronow their application next year. Tho report was adopted. WORKS COMMITTEE, The report recommended that the application of Mr W. G. Board, on behalf' of Messrs T. C, Williams and T. Wagg for a right of way, be granted on condition that the applicants put a culvert in the water course when making the right of way. Re Bentley Bros, application to cart rubbish. This was reported to have lapsed, the applicants not being successful in securing the work for which they wanted the rubbish. Be Mr B. P. Perry's application it was resolved to recommend that it was not advisable at present to make Kirton-street, owing to the want of funds, but that the footpath be made on Mr Perry' paying the amount of the scale rat-j. It was resolved that 14 days' notice be given to E, McKenssie and Mrs Ockenden to trim the hedges in Cnlumba-road and Johnston-streot as they wero damaging tho road and were a sourco of danger to travellers, The Overseer's report was read, showing the work done during the past fortnight. The Overseor was instructed to charge Is per running fogt for culverts to approaches to footways, lb was resolved that tonders be called for borough cartage for twelve months. Tho wages account (£stsl6s sd) waß passed. . TJio report was adopted. FIRE BRIGADE COMMITTEE,

A letter was read from Mr Dalrymple complaining that the buckets which he had given for hanging up at the Star buildings and Pollings, were kept in the Brigade Station, It was resolved that the Committee could not recommend placing the buckets in the manner indicated by Mr Dalryraple. An account for £2l6a for pumping at the late fire was passed. The clerk was iustruoted to see Mr .Sellar with a view to obtaining a refund of the payments to pumpers from the Insurance Companies. Re Mr Shand's

offer with reference to a steam fire engine, It was resolved that as the purchase of an engine would entail a permanent charge ou the borough funds in, addition to annual payment of interest and principal, which the present state of the Borough funds would not warrant, and in View of the probable eavly division of the Borough into wards, your Oommitteo recommend, Ist, that the proposed purchase be not made, 2nd that upon the division of the wards a poll be taken in the centre wards upon the proposal to raise a separate special loan for tho purpose of providing a steam fire engine. Or Mason asked if the buckets were to be given back to Mr Dalrymple. . Or Heron said the conditions were that they should be kept full of water at the corners of streets. The oomiuittee thought larrikins might take advantage of thorn and they therefore thought it inadvisable to place the buckets .there. The report was adopted. Tiie application from the Volunteer Fire Brigado was granted on tho motion of Or Heron, seconded by His Worship "the. Mayor after a good deal of discussion. CrGapper moved, That, the names of the pumpers bo'submitted to : the Town Olerk, and'that they bo paid in tho same irianuer as the pumpers at the Municipal engine.

,Cr Heron seconded. • Or Muir pointed but that Mr Fitton paid the amounts, ■'■ Tho resolution was carried. ■.CAS. COMMITTEE. The Engineer's report was read, tf explained that the alterations to plan 1 would be comparatively trifling, and gave an account of the work which had been dono. It also gavo a list of the deficiencies in tho plant whioh had been received. It was resolved that notice be given to. A, and T. Burt of the deficienoe's, &c, thus far, informing them that the Council wilj look-to them for a refund of tho expense incurred in rectifying those mistakes, and any others that may occur, lie tenders for fixing meters, it was resolved that the tender be returned, and fresh ones invited, 'as soon as the Engineer has amended the specifications,. The Town Clerk reported having interviewed Mr Luckio (Government Insurance .Coinmisfioner), who would consider a formal application re tho debentures, and consult tho Minister on the matter. It was resolved that a formal letter be sent the Government Insurance Department giving particulars of tho loan and security and offering £2500 at 93, That tho Committee be authorised to soil £2500 worth of debentures in place of the £2OOO previously authorised. Re Spiers & .Ob's claim the engineer denied that there had been any misrepresentation to the contractors, and stated that the claim for springing the mains was an improper one, and that labor had aotually been saved the contractors.. IVo agreement had been mode for any extra-charges. It was resolved to recommend that the claim of Spiers &Oo be not entertained, The wages accounts amduntin? to £4518s 4d were passed for payment, se.veral other accounts for. supplies, &o„ being also passed,

In moving the adoption of tho report the Mayor said the engineer showed that the faults in the gas platit were not attributable to him, He thought they had a goodclaim against'A. and T. Burt for any deficiencies in the plant. The Town Clerk had interviewed tho Government Insurance Department with reference to lending money for gas purposes. . Cr Mason asked if the Counoil had a copy of the order sent to Messrs A. and T. Burt. If not, he would liko to know definitely.when it could be suppliod to to the Council.

, The Mayor said tho invoices wero really not complete, as the' plant was arriving in different ships. Or Mason thought it an extraordinary position to be in—not to havo a copy of the order of what they wero to be supplied with, •• .

Or Heron Baid the engineer had explained the various matters complained' of to the satisfaction of the Committee. The Mayor said the engineer had produced part of tho plans and specifications at the meeting of tho Committee that afternoon, and had tho sriginal of the order in his possession, . Cr Grappar thought tho affair was very unsatisfactory. He said the engineer knew no more than the Council, whether tho plant was correct or not. Information wasasKed for from the' e.npineer, but ho had not supplied it, lie was not at all satisfied with the way things were going on, The engineer's statement that 'the alterations would only cost 10s was a fallacy, They were told they would have gas by Now Year, but anyone who knew anything about ?as must bo aware that a cool fire had to bo put in tho retort for two months before coal was put in. Where was the Engineer's stock book? They wore simply being played with. The statements of tho were not worth a snap of his fingers. Cr Mason moved' that a copy of the order sent to A. and T. Burt be furnished by the engineor within twenty-four hours, The Mayor said the plans, &c., belonged to the engineor, but the Council was entitled to a copy. He thought 24 hours too short and too peremptory. He suggested they should bo furnished by next Council meeting. Cr Mason altered his resolution to seven days. Cr Gapper seconded, provided Or Mason added the words " also stock book." Cr Mason was willing to do this. Cr (Men thought tho plans belonged to the Borough, • Cr Heron said several councillors were trying to rido the high horse with the engineer. He had explained one deficiency, and no doubtoould do so with reference to the others.

Cr Muir thought that throwing obstacles in the way of the engineer was doing more harm than good, He thought the engineer had explained tho matter satisfactorily, and that noadvantage would bo gained by meddling with him. The Mayor thought the' action of certain Councillors was not conducive to the wolfaro of tho works, The Engineer had shown that he was not to blame. If the works cost only £SO or £6O more than they anticipated ho thought they would be lucky. If they thought the Gas Committee were incompetent, they should elect a fresh one. If the Engineer Batis-1 fled the Committee the Council should not hamper him. If Cr Gapper thought the Engineer incompetent he ehould move a resolution to dismiss him, otherwise ho should allow him to go on with the work,

Cr Gappor denied having questioned tho competency of the Edgincer. Cr Mason explained ho merely wished the Council to be furnished with a copy of the order as an ordinary business precaution. It had been asked for several times, The resoldtion was carried. INSPECTOR OF NUISANCE'S REPORT. The report of the Inspector was read. The report was ordered to lay on the tablo, • Presentation. Under ordinary business the Mayor said he would explain why he presented the. lamp which they had seen lighted that evening. The.-Library Committer had applied for a lamp, but the Council could not see its way to grant one. Instead of giving it to the Institute he would' present it to the Council oh behalf of the burgesses. He intended it as a, memento of his connection with the Council, and as a memento of the cordial associations

with the officars of the Council and also the Council. He hoped it would be con* ducive to their welfare by' leading theui from darkness into light. Cr Cullen moved a vote ofthanka'fot the gift, which Or Heron had much' pleasure in seconding. The vote was put by the Town Clerk and carried unanimously. DAMAGE TO STREETS. Cr Heron moved that an estimate be made of the damage done to streets by laying gas mains, with a view to charging it to the gas accounts. Or Gappor seconded. Carried. FIRE BRIGADE LADDERS.

Cr Gapper asked, as Five Inspector, by whose authority the ladders had been removed from their places. They had been away for several days togotber. Ho thought tho ladders should be at the disposal of. both brigades, but they should not.be lent on.any pretext except on occasions of emergenoy. He moved thatthe oustodian got the' ladders back !and have them painted. Carried. . .heroes of New Zealand. It was resolved to obtain a copy of "Heroes of- New Zealand" for the library. HALF YEARLY ACCOUNTS, The half yearly accounts were ordered to stand over to next meeting. - The Council then adjourned.