MUNICIPAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2544, 9 March 1887, Page 2

MUNICIPAL.

The ordinary meeting of the Masterton Borough Council was held last evening, (Tuesday), in the Council ChatDbera. Worship the Mayor (Mr M. Caselberg), I and Councillors Perry, E. E. Chamberlain, Gappcr,Papworlh,T.E. Chamberlain, Parsons, Hossey, Mnir, Mason, CuUon, and Carman. The minutes of tho pravioua meeting were read and confirmed. - "■'■ ' ' CBASixy. A letter read'fron; tho United District Charitable Aid Board, apply. ing for iJIO9 Qa 3d being the ninth of the board's expenses for the half jear; Ihe.Mayor stated, jh,at it wa>" quite evM M gpflppjl m its. share, although there was but • pne opinion that this-district should 'pot support outside poor. The only #y he could see wasior theOodncil to. pay the amount, arid/take joir\t action with i other bodies to get the. Act.amended, or withold' the payment ajjd see wjiat other bodies ?ould <jo ig' the : mattal. Cr Parsons nwy ea] that the amount he. no ( t paid : until the m,eet the : other{pcaj hgdies, ftave b,e,e.n com,-, municateij V'th,' ( lfl l iW <t\w\f ■P' b the Council not entitle. tq; pay go to'uok ; .... y> • ' ' . Cr Jje&sef in seconding the. motion,

) said he thought the Oourioil would be 1 in thejright by not paying it..: i The Town Clerk pointed 'but that l the payment would be illegal, m Masterton was not entitled to pay a ninth, i and that the overdraft would be beyond , tho limit if the amount worepaid.-.-, , • The : Mayor said it \vas better to keep i ■ within the-limits, and' not',bW- -tha law, even - if >% evaded of }.. .thft CJhftritable A<wbtirit£Bi]i. ' '; *--v a^ wasHtlen carried r unanimously.- •'' „. ' ... 3 ... , -• ■ frpp;MUpH Qi&Jj "■'■■. r - ■•* Letters .'were received -from Messrs j- W. Kibbiewhite,. W.Seliar oh ..behalf, of the Haaterton- Club and; St. 1 Matthew's Church, and the Kevi- j. N, • Buttle on'behalf of the tfjiy/an '. Church Trustees,. :'comp]aimnp||| ! th 6 ', amount of air;)hat ; through- \ their gas motors, and asking a rebate on ' their gas account. , Inferred to the Gas Committee. . Mr Petrie's tender for supplying Mauricoville lime at, 4s per sack was ' alao referred to tho Gas Committee. j . RENALL STREET. , On tbif matter coming. up for discussion, the Mayor said that from what ! . hei could! gather from one of the oldest v :residents in the-district (MrR. Dags), j 'the piece't)C;land under consideration was 'obtained' specialty for street widening purposes, and he road $ | lotter from Mr Dagg which stated that twenty seven years ago, soeing that 1 thei o was no through road to Queen streot from the Upper Plain, bo '■ applied to Mr Chew, who appeared to \ be willing to exchange; a Trust acre ' near, for the piece now used as a road, 5 and the adjoining half chain strip. A pablis:meeting was.held and Mr Chew's offer Accepted. The road was 3 laid off originally a chain wide, but } only half a chain was used, that being ' considered sufficient at the time, The Mayor said under the circumstances he 1 would mot be ; in favorof the Counoil | paying anything for,the property, as it ! was evident that thejand was originally J given for teet widening purpose, He advocated that tho Town Lands Trust, | being an elective should take a vole of their constituents.oll the subject. 5 Or Gapper moved thatcMr Dagg's '' lettei' be referred to tbo Town Lands ! Trust for their information wi'tHa'' request that they should look up tho ' records and see if [the letter could be', substantiated, if so they be asked to '} ) give the land tor the purpose it 'was in-i; 5 tended;.-- ■■•■ v ' Cr Parsons seconded the mo.tion and' 8 said that past recordslomewhat, boro/ [ out Mr Dagg's letter and ho considered • Mr Chew got the .best pf the bargain. Cr Perry said, that: Mr^Kenall' ' claimed to have got the land for road> „ widening purposes. They were^vi-' dently-taking the wind?out'*f each J , others sails. , ;; V ■< j Cr Muir questioned, some portions (if Mr Daggs letter jit 1 ?i'B evident that the whole o'f the land [wis not intended for aa J it was let shortly after the-time.Btafed, 5 ' for building .purposed, "..'- ;r '. T ,ho' motion, was ..carried, Qn.Jho ..-; -voices. ~-' •';■• ... .•';• FIRE BRIGADE. ' ; The Fire Brigade Committees report J waff read,''which'contained the opinion of the Borough solicitor on : several matters in ■ connection with the : steam 1 fire engine, fire pluga, &o,;. It set forth : that the plant could beptrrchased by a special rate, struck overr spocial die--1 t'riot, with the three fifth? of 1 the" ratepayers concurred;' 1 tW'inta'resfc . and repayment to be made by a special 1 At »v" '" ''"..'■. :; .:>' ' •... Tho Mayor said thesoiicitorhadevi- » dently fought shy ofthe. : quesUon that was really wanted, which was, whether ' the Engine i'c, could bo bought and paid for out of the general revenue, by the Council paying prinoipa! and ininterest at the annual rate of £SO. ■< Cr Mason moved that the Auditor j General be written to, asking his opinion on the matter, and" what r view he " would take of the amount when'audit--1 ing the Borough accounts ..,■-</ ~' Or Papworth, in seconding the ( motion said that the solicitors opinion , was rather ambiguous and''did not- , supply anything more than was already knoivn, '.'''.''•,' t The motion was carried and the ' report adopted library, : ' \' Tho Library Committee's report • which did, not contain anything of ; note, beyond placing two,, extra gas meters in the Institute, wa» adopted..' wonKfl, ' The Works Committeea report was read which could not recommend the,' ( Council to erect tanks for filling the. water cart, owing to the near 'approach'' of the rainy season. It recommended that Mr Kenall flash the creek at stated timos, : so that the'dams and gates can be, lifted and, the work done effectually, and that! Mr Tankersley'a application for cutting timber off the roads in Donald's estate be referred to Cr Hesßey and $o Overseer) The report was adopted, ■ ■ ' jSAS, The Gas 'Committeo's report was read which recomraeHded'tiiat a force pump and hose bo fixed at the Gas Works. • A letter was; read ; from Mr ,J. 'R, George, stating that, the cement he' pti*. oninthreecoata, two rough and one ; fine, and that no foundation, :bo put in, ■for the. clay puddle'."' "■'•■'"'.'••• The Mayor pointed the Qm GorjitnitteeJiad thoiie|ht it advisable to obtain the >emco« of who. was acquajnte<l with cement'.fori, and had come to. the canclußioa-'thait Jfr asked to prepare tion? fpr i|ie,work... 'Mrßremner.after thopughly iqspepting and; aseecfyining. of Vecpnjxbntpe ta \\ $MWwm tfeftiinext d'r« season, that. it, prqb^blj" ; bft wcessary k rebuild ; t|ei.^aV Pwmg to 'it I>eing foundationj and;being in' a aiibsidinii condition. ■ ;; .^'.;,', ; ',,;.V* OrParßona mdyed report be adopted. ,^'''„■,;= ..''"■ Cr Perry seconded the bud Was, not awaft that Mr waa asked for a report, ''; "', .',•",',.}/_, Or, Mas,on, and th J ough,t.thera would. Wno mlmW? -M creek, the wet season wag 'approach ing,pd r thepreakhb^d,,ba, kept clean Cr Muir said they Had tbtee reports

to okoose from which differed from each other, one r'pcorntnended the work to be done immediately, another that it be allowed to stand so that it could silt ap, and now they were asked to carry on with an apparent subsiding tank. " He thought the Council had ' very littlo . bacpono if they were going, to be. led .". the- tank -wa? to. continue, subsiding, it , .tfoujd'eventually go out'of sight, butT.'.Jfyfo.been in existence for .ten. months, be di<},flpt think, there was much feat any lower. ■ , iV pointed out that it ■ 'Vtooii|jj necessary to pass aresolutipn -*' r ■to rescind h previous '."mtrtiioa re- • calling for tenders for repairing thc-tank, or give a. notice "!'. of.mbtion r'e'scmdin'g it, ... v ;,Tho. Oas: Committees report was ; adopted. v,/ Or Parsons moved That the previous ,V. resolution dealing, -with the gas tank, :;;£prescinded.""' :.;' '". ■;•■•■ ; «yiu:.' Cr Cuileh seconded; the motion. .' ,; :.-. As Or; Elkins was absent.tho Mayor, .'/•''jointed'otil: that the.motion could not ' !'-'Jw.,pat as it' inquired a unanimotts voto '. ,"vof the Council. , '." : ,. Or'.Parsons gave notice of iiuotion. '.;■ ft " yCf : Muir ■ 'Contended, that. no : .more ,V,>-,.time should'be wasted in dilly dallying. :'.T .'aboutj and' it- tho work wasto be done '■';■.'.:, •it'should'.beat once.. People would i: "haro no confidence in the gas supply, '■• and wdulil have to koep their kerosene '."' -lampsby the side of, thciv gas.biaekels' in.xaso of accident. Thero was plenty cif time to complete the work'before .the •' • -winter, "Hej'moved that Mr Bremner i-'be asked to draw up specifications ■!' as requestea at last meeting. ,■«..■■■ Cr T, E. Chamberlain in seconding '. pro foriiw, said that no doubt.Mr ',-..: Bremner had in mind the possibility ■': of the foundation washing away..... Cr Hessey said.,thafc the tank had ,- .been built twelve months, and there r was not much danger of it sinking , lower; Tjesides the water had been about four, feet high around {he outside of it, Or Papworth would place more .'reliance on Mr Bremner's report than the others as he was directly interested ' in the welfare of the town, and was • • able to find out for himself how it was really constructed. He thought that a multiplicity of reports led to acrimonious .. discussion. • Tho motion was then put and lost on division the ayes being Crs Muir, Hessey Gapper, and the Mayor. Investigation. ~.' , The Investigation. Committeo!s re-. :■:. port was read as follows : ' '. •' Master-ton, '2Bth February, 1887. ' '. Tho Committee aoiisider that a misunder- • ■ ■standing occured between Mr Smith and the • . Town Clerk; Mr .Smith. taking the Town ■ Work's opinion as an. authority for sending tho.Bcrews, &c, away. The Town Clerk said • he supposed the' Committee would not "' ■ object, Mr.. Smith taking that as consent, ■:;• :without further enquiry, and sent thorn away ' before it was brought before tho Committee. 'Mr'Smith, having committed an error, the Mayor was fully justified in referring to the question of such an error, but was somewhat . . inUmptrak irt doing m. The Committee aro r; ■ of opiriiori"that all partioa ware acting on good faith, and that all transactions wero '. earned;on openly, and without any intention to mislead, Tho evidence takon was of such i natriro that your Committee havo failed to bring homo any chargo in.entirety to any •■ •' pir'aon;coneornod. /-•■.'' . .. • '■.."','.■ . Thqs. JPaksons, Ghapian. "", Jlcasra Porry; Gapper,'Culleu, '. fapwortly and Parsons; ■' Gr Parsona, in moving its adoption aaid that Mr Smith engaged ,Mr ~- Petri© toconvoy the case, containing ijsthd lowering screw .to the Railway '/Station With instructions to call on ''. 7 On.'.-."the Town Clerk.for payment. When Mr-Petrio called for payment ■'.., the Town Clerk stopped them from being sent. The Committee on interrogating Mr Smith, came to the conclusion that the careless manner in which the whole business of the Gas Works had been carried out was more , to blame than anything, as Mr Smith had almost perfect liberty to do' as he , liked in his official capacity. Or Cullen seconded. . Cr .Mason' considered the wording was Unnecessarily severe, if an error of judgment had been committed on both sides,' He would move that the word "intemperate" bo cut out of the report, TJie Mayor pointed out that as he appointed the Committee he was himself to blamo if he had been "sat on" 'by thorn. He would like them to bear in mind that ho selected' a majority of those who were favorable to Mr Smith so that he could get jus-. ."' ( : tice for him. He might say that ho • '•only-acted upon information he re- '' ceiyecl from Cr Gapper and the Clerk, 'and''he did not consider that the '/languagehe made u&e of then was at > ■':" all intemperate, but excessively mild. He blamed Mr Brown in a measure for ..not. giving the Committee information he know about tho.stopping of the '• 'toOwS on the day of the Committee •meeting... .'"'••' Mr Brown, tho Town Clerk, stated - 'that he never gave Mr Smith instruc- .,. >f ..y.pris to send them, nor could'anythi.ng ~~h said be misconstrued into a'.per-••■;-mission to send thorn.. M>.Smith /' r made the eases pay tho i day before, h?showedhim'the telegram I fiQm, Messrs A. and T. Burt. ', • The. jMayov in justification of his previous remarks persisted, in- stating that Mr Smith's action'was an unwarrantable pieco of liberty in, sending away the .Borough property without '■permission, . ' ['.'■',/'■ ■. -Or' Mason moved as an amendment ■$))&) tho words "but was somewhat in. doing so,"; he struck '' out;' ;,.-.• 7@rHessey:in seconding the amendment said if the action qf the Mayor Was justifiable it C-Quld i\ot bomtemp),ra.te. They ahpulclajl speak out and. . ;' Cr* Papwortli. pointed out' on behalf of the, Committee, certain;, evidence , s&} induced : theni to bring] in 'their report. It Was not for the Committee .to. dictate what language the Mayor sjpilji use in the Council, hut,it-was ~ (or the Council tp regulate that at tlie. ~ Wm it Was madeV He dwelt upon the •jict that the Committee'were.not unanimousjn. their decision.,'' One 'fing in favor Of Mr SmitVwas.tliat they thought he. should have had, an opportunity ftf. defending himself before $$ matter came before the councillors. (The amendment : was carried t oix •'■' siXtp five... 'Ayes Mason, SJas'ey, % Chamberlain,tapper, Car.. ~.., manVandPapworthiNoes-Miiir,..Par. ..sonsj'C€en' f( Ei,Chamberfairii 'and '>saj, : ■■■■-''■•• ' ■

The report was then. adopted as amendment. SANITARY. A report was read from the Borough inspector,.calling attention that tho by-law's needed amendment to enable thorn to deal more effectually with the erection of the outbuildings of the New South Wales Bank, and also with respect to'sbine existing nuisances;' He also directed attention "to the hedges &0,, allowing to overgrow- -'the footpath.- . ... Cr Gapper thought these'- questions ■should be-dealt with by the sanitary .Committee'i ■' Cr Papworth moved that the/By--law Committee be requested to meet at once, and frame bye-laws to meet the special case before the Council. ■ Cr Parsons moved that the quostion bo submitted to the sanitary Committee with instructions to inspect the .premises ofthebank without delay'with the building referred to, Cr Papworth seconded. .. Cr, (Sapper Said'that the draiiiago of ,'tlio 'urinal 'on- the bank premises should be earned into watortight.cess pits it. should not.not be allowed to percolate tiiroughtheground. ■ Tlio motion was'carried; •".;.!... ...-. ■ T- • : ■', .■ SEWSTRF.ET;'••.'••' . '■•'■' -"',; •Mr E, Feist submitted' a plan "of . certain property he was about to cut dp ■into building sections,. a new .streethe proposed tplay. ollpneiphain • wide. •Thepropertywxts:;-:part:of section 4, :Masterton,;Small' 'block-,, on theDixoti Estatej in Worksop Hoad. CLERK AND COLLECTOR.- '. - The Council, at'. 10.1C went into Committee to consider the applications for the office of assistant clerk and collector. ■ ■ . • The question- of Sunday telegraphic communication was discussed briefly, but as no unanimous motion could bo taken on it, it was deferred, its a notice of motion is to be tabled on tjie. subject. At 10.30 the Council adjourned till Uo;thiß evening,- whon the VVaipoua question and tho appointment of assistant clerk and collector will be considered.