CABLE NEWS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2853, 21 March 1888, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

* Fearful Railway Accident, New York, March 18. A terrible railway accident occurred at Black Shear, A passenger train was crossing a trestle bridge, when the structure collapsed, precipitating the train into thegulch beneath. Twenty-five of the passengers were killed outright, and thirty-five seriously injured, Affairs in Ireland. Dublin, March 18. A serious faction fight occurred at Longford, County Longford, on Saturday. In repressing the fight the police were compelled to fire into the mob with -buckshot, and three persons were seriously injured. CRICKET; ;—« In the match Wellington v Napier yesterday, Wellington going in first made 223 runs. The principal scorers were Nicholls, 10; Gore, 15; Collins, 48; Dryden, 23; Boddington 47 (not out); and Moorhouse, 49. Hawkes. Bay then went to the wickets, and scored a total of only 66, and therefore had to follow on, and up i'to stumps being drawn last night, had made 48 runs for the loss of three wickets.

Wellington, Wednesday. The Cricket Match was resumed to' day. The following are the scores oi Napier's second innings : First three wickets .„' ... 4f Stubbs, c Heenau, b Gore... ... 11 Buck,b Hewatt, ... i Patterson, st Moorhouse, b Gore... 22 White, not out 1[ Harkins, st Moorhouse, b Gore ... 5 Percy, st Moorhouse, b Gore ... '4 Martin, not out 1 Extras I Total for eight wickets...lll

MUNICIPAL. The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Masterton Borough Council was held last night in the Council Chambers, Present:—His Worship the Mayor, A. W. Renall (in the chair), and Crs J. Macara, J. Muir, T. Chamberlain, G. Heron, B. E, Gapper, D. Carman, W. (Men and W. Perry. The previous meeting's minutes were read and confirmed. Correspondence outwards was read, also correspondence inwards from: Property Tax Department advising remittance through Treasury of £l4O 12s 6d, subsidy. GLADSTONE EOAD DKAIN. From George M. Boss regarding the overflow of a creek' running through his property, Gladstone road, Mania, and the necessity of having it cleaned out. The Works Overseer,who was present, explained that the water was obstructed owing to a blockage on Mr Judd's property. Cr Carman said the road was in a regular bog through the faulty watercourse. It was decided to write to Mr Judd, and ask him to remove the obstructions in his portion of the stream, GENERAL. From United District Charitable Aids Board applying for subsidy of £SO. The application was acceded to. A letter was read from the new Gasworks foreman, reporting upon the state of the works when taken over by him.

The Works Committee's report was read and its recommendations discussed seriatim. DIXON-STItEET IMPROVEMENTS. Plans and specifications were produced which had been prepared in view of a contract being let for the proposed work. The Mayor pointed out what he considered deficiencies in tha plans and specifications.

' Cr Heron suggested that perhaps His Worship would prepare an improvement upon them if the matter were held over till next meeting. Cr Cullen agreed with the Mayor as regarded the want of a cross-section on the plan. It was resolved that £SO be allocated for the Dixon-street repairs. The question of the Ward being in credit was raised, b,ut was met by Cr Macaw's assurance that it was about

the only one that was on the right side. The £SO was then voted in accordance with the resolution. Or Macara moved, and it was carried, that tenders should be called, j. and be laid before the next meeting of ,40 the Council. The sum of £lO was, by resolution, appropriated for putting in the culvert in Dixon-street behind the Presbyterian manse. WAIFOUA BRIDGE. In alluding to the requirement of £lO for re-sheathing tho Waipoua Bridge, Or Gapper said that the bridge really required a thorough overhaul, and that the ironwork, the planking, the sheathing, and the hand-rails all needed attention. In the meantime, only temporary repairs were asked for, and it was suggested that as regarded. . the more extended work, the County Engineer should be asked to report, and prepare specifications during the next few months. The Mayor said that it was very inadvisable to interfere with the planking of an old bridge, unless absolutely necessary, as the structure was likely to be damaged in doing so. It was quite possible that when the sheathing was removed, the planking might be found all right. << ■ ' -1 The sum of £lO was granted for m temporary repairs. • THE NGAUMATAWA ROAD. The subject of the removal of the fences obstructing this road, and preventing culverts being laid, and'the road being placed in a state of repair, was discussed. The Mayor pointed out that the road was a private one, where it went through Or Perry's and his land, and ' no one had any right there but Cr Perry and himself. Or Chamberlain questioned this statement. The road had not been bought and paid for by either Mr Kenall or Mr Perry, and when they purchased the land, the road was reserved.

The Mayor explained that this was not the case. That portion of the road now under discussion was private property, his and Mr Perry's. For his part, he was willing to convey the right-of-way he possessed to the Council.

It was decided that the Town Clerk should communicate with Messrs *r Eenall and Perry regarding the transfer of their interest in the road to the Council, with a view of its being proclaimed a public road. FINANCE REPORT. The Finance Committee's report was read. In it the Treasurer reported, that the gas loan interest, £225, would be due on Ist April, and that the special rate notices to meet the amount were now going out. Also that first instalment of subsidy, £lB5, would be received in a day or two. He suggested that a temporary overdraft should be arranged on the gas loan account, pending the sale of debentures, of which three more should be disposed of. Cr Gapper remarked upon the fact that the subsidy now being received from the Government would, instead of going to the general fund, all have to go towards paying interest on the , gas loan. -m Sundry accounts, including wages to the amount of £2B 13s Bd, were then passed for payment, and the report as read was adopted. GENERAL. A report was read from the Works Overseer on the subject of weeding the Queen-street side channels just above Denison House, and also regarding the culvert in the Nursery Eoad. It was resolved to cut down the weeds, and apply hot tar, as an eradicating experiment. The Works Committee were given power to put in a culvert at Nursery Eoad, as recommended by the Overseer. STATE OF RENALL-STREET. The Mayor called attention to the bad state of Renall-street, and to the fact that the traffic to the saleyards was causing the metal to be driven on to the footpath. He did not wish any resolution on the subject, but would simply direct the notice of the Works Committee to it.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS. 'M. The Mayor then introduced his motion:—

".That the resolution of this Council, appointing the meetings of tho Works Committee one evening only previous to the meetings of the Council be rescinded, and that the Council recommend the Works Committee so to arrange their meetings that their report may be. furnished to each Councillor two clear days, at least, previous to the meeting of the Council," Cr Oullen seconded the motion, Or Heron saw no necessity for the alteration. Other Committees, with more important functions, met immediately before the Council meeting. Cr Perry also saw no reason for any change. The Mayor pointed out how inconvenient it was for the Works Committee's recommendations to ho brought up hurriedly and require to be dealt with, before the Councillors generally had time to know or consider them. The public, too, shodd-Wr know what the committee's represen- ' tations were, before everything was settled, If any important motion were brought up in this hasty >wy f he would simply haye to refrain from, putting it, and defer action.

Cr Gapper:—Your Worship is going beyond the mark altogether. The subjects of the report are originally considered by the Council, then in detail by the Committee, and now your Worship seem to need a third consideration of the matter. Cr Chamberlain pointed out that the County Council, to which reference had been made by His Worship only had its Works Committee's meeting on the morning of the general meeting. Cr Muir expressed an opinion in favor of all the Committees meeting earlier, so that Councillors could know what was coming on. J&. Cr Gapper then left the room having another engagement. .CrMacara thought that if the day of meeting of one committee, was altered, the time of all should be changed, , The Mayor then put ,his motion

which was carried, ho and Cra Macara, Muir, Carman, and Cullen voting for it, and Cra Chamberlain, Heron and Perry voting against it. ADJOURNMENT V THE WATEK SCHEME. _ Or PtMy here moved that the Council shoiSbtimi adjourned. Tho Mayor pointed out that his notice of motion regarding tho water supply would thus be disregarded. He did not know that they could not consider the adjournment motion, but he certainly thought that the water question was a serious-one, so much so, that he would recommend councillors to even get a legal opinion on their liability, as they wore wilfully neglecting to provide that which was necessary for the safety of the town. He in perfect good faith would ask them, for their own sakes, to see a lawyer. He therefore, seeing the urgency of the matter, hoped they would not avoid it by adjourning. He would ask Cr Perry if he was determined to have his motion put for adjournment. Upon Cr Perry replying in the affinitive, the motion was put and les&wvthe voices. The Mayor then made some remarks advocating the spending of the £lO he applied for to put the waterworks supply in order, as the Municipal Act required. The expenditure was neejyat the flood-gate, near the might state candidly that his object in bringing the matter up, was to place those Councillors who opposed the water scheme, plainly before the public, so that in the event of a serious casualty resulting, it would be known who was to blame, and they could be made to suffer for their great neglect. Cr Cullen seconded the Mayor's motion. Cr Heron remarked upon the Mayor's vagaries in connection with the scheme: how one day he was going to take it up to the Occidental Hotel, another day only as far as the Post Office, and so forth. Cr Chamberlain spoke in the same strain. Cr Macara said he would rather the £lO was raised by subscription. The Mayor: Yes, but if you get doing the work without tho Council's aujtority, you will pull up in the JgHe Court. Cr Cullen spoke in favor of expending put the flood-gate race right. Cr Muir thought it was highly necessary that continuous water should be brought down. He, however, objected to any theatening or bullying on the part of His Worship, in the endeavor to secure his object. Previously the ratepayers were held out to frighten the Councillors; now it was the fear of damages in the event of fire. The Mayor, also, had never rendered proper plans and specifications.

The Mayor: I claim the right when lam spending my own money and not yours, to do what is necessary without sumitting plans. I certainly think I should be at liberty to do what is required in the best and cheapest way. You have been putting all sorts of objections in my way, and your action is not at all popular with the ratepayers. You will find that out later on, for they will know through tke s press you have opposed me. Ifytoliad let me alone the water TOiJJJhave been permanently down months ago. (His Worship here went into lengthy explanations and representations). Cr Muir suggested referring the matter to the Works Committee to report upon the advisability of the scheme, and the spending of money on it. He would move an amendment to this effect.

The Mayor; I cannot accept an amendment of that sort on a proposal to vote a sura of money. You are only at liberty to say whether you will vote the money or not. Cr Muir: Well, if you decline to put it I shall not vote, and shall leave the room.

The Mayor still retusing to put the amendment, Or Muir left the Chamber, quickly followed by all the other Councillors, the meeting abruptly terminated, and neither the original motion nor the proposed amendment were disposed of.