MUNICIPAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2888, 2 May 1888, Page 2

MUNICIPAL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of , the Masterton Borough Council was held last evening, Present, His Worship the Mayor, Cra Muir, Heron, Gapper, Carman, Cullen, Hessey, Parsons, B. Chamberlain, and Perry. The minutes of the last meeting ■were read and confirmed. , Outward correspondence was read; also correspondence inwards from: North County Council, requesting payment of £l4 12s 7d for "engineering services; letter referred to Finance Committee. L, H., Stock, London, with price list of boolo; referred to Library Committee. B. P. Perry, asking to be allowed the use of a piece of spare land by the gasworks; referred to Gasworks Committee. T. G. Mason offering to pay half cost of a high fence between his house and the Masterton Institute; referred to Library Committee, with power to erect fence if they thought fit. Westport Coal Company, advising that fire-clay dampers might be expected daily. Same, saying that short weight ofcoal must: be loss in transit,, and advising claiming on railway department ; referred to Gas Committee. Masterton Park Trust, applying for grant of £3O due for year ended 31st. March last, and requesting that quarterly payments be promised in future; referred to Finance Committee. FOOTPATH IN CURTIS-STREET. | Mr B. P. Perry mote asking for the i provision of a footpath in Curtis-street ■ between his house and Worksop road, i Or Gapper remarked that the work • could be done if Mr Perry expressed a willingness to pay half cost. The > work was not altogether an mexpen- ' 'sive one, as grading would have to be i done to secure a proper fall for tho ; water tables. Cr Cnllen tliouglit the best way was j to do the work by public tender, and I not, as Cr Gapper had proposed, by the Works Committee, f Cr Gapper moved, and it was j' carried, that Mr Perry be informed of I the cost, and that he be told upon his , agreeing to bear half of it the work n would be undertaken.

CULVERT IN CHAMBERLAIN-STREET. Mr E. J. Chapman applied for the provision of a culvert at the corner of West Bush road and Chamberlainstreet, and offered to cover it with gravel. Or Hessey supported granting the request. Cr Gapper said that the ward was out of funds. Cr Hessey rejoined that the ward would never have any funds. It had been robbed to support other wards, and now it was left out in the cold, His Worship: Well, it liacl better go in for a divorce. Cr Gapper moved that the earthenware pipes in stock be put down at the spot alluded to. Cr (Men seconded the motion, and accused Cr Hessey of telling untruths in his assertions of.as to poverty of the West ward, and the causes therefor. Cr Hessey rejoined that Cr (Julleu didn't know what he was talking about. Cr Capper's motion was then put and carried. REMOVAL OF GRAVEL FROM WAIPOUA RIVER BED.

The County Council wrote warning the Borough Council against allowing their contractors to remove gravel from the Waipoua river-bed, unless the former were indemnified. His Worship considered that the river was vested in the County Council only as an irrigating and drainage channel, and that it had no power to interfere in the present instance. The Act could be looked up, but this would probably be found correct. Cr Gapper asserted that the County Engineer had previously given verbal authority for gravel to be removed from the Waipoua.

The Town Clerk remarked that the contract with Messrs Barley and Prangnell allowed them to get gravel from the Waipoua. It was suggested that the County's action was the outcome of a complaint by Mrs Ewington, Cr Chamberlain moved, and it iyas

carried, that his Worship the Mayor, and the Town Clerk wait upon tho Comity Council and if it is found that that body possesses the power it asserts, the Borough Council shall indemnify it against any costs awarded by a Court of law if damage results from the gravel being taken, DIXON-ST. AND SSIITII-SI, A memorial from residents in Dixon street and Smith-street was" read, praying for the continuation of the Dixon-street improvement works to the portion of road between Worksop road and Smith-street aid at the intersectiojis, Cr Gapper said the formations and repairs were needed although there were not funds to do them. The cost would be about £56. He moved that the work be gone on with as far as the finances would allow, and Ihat plans and specifications be prepared for the alterations between Worksop road and Herbert road including tho intersections. The motion was not however carried, the matter after further discussion being referred to the Works and Finance Committee, the Mayor and Cr dapper to in the meantime inspect the locality. THE GASWORKS, The Gas Committee's report was read'and adopted, the payment of £3 bonus to Mr Jas. Eeardon, for acting as Gasworks Manager being approved. TIIE PRICE OF GAS, Cr Cullen thought a further reduction of 2s 6d a thpusfl-nd feet for gas would induce a greater consumption. As a gas rate was being paid by consumers, he considered that they should get gas at the lowest possible price. Cr Muir was of opinion that the price |it present was reasonable for an inland town. Here it was 12s 6d, and at Ohristoliurch it came to ?s 7d liett. The Mayor aud Cr Cullen remarked upon gas at 12s Gd being dearer than ketone, the discussion terminated without dejlntte action. FINANCE fNP V/o£ls, The joint Finance and Works Com* mittee's report was read. The Town Clerk said that after receipt find expenditure and all Aliarges had beei* apportioned the oalpces were North Ward, (credit) £6 ' i -

Is; East, (credit) £24145; West, (debit) £4B 4d; South, (credit) £Bl 18s Id,

Considerable discussion ensued upon the state of the balances, and several Councillors advocated a return to the original system by the abolition of the wards, His Worship remarked that Masterton was rated at p low a rate as almost any borough in New Zealand. He noticed that a 2s. 9d in the £ rate had been proposed at New Plymouth, and that eventually one of Is 9d had been struck. The report of the Committee was then adopted, further- action being deferred. FIRE BRIGADE MATTERS... The Town Clerk stated that the Fire Brigades Committee meeting had lapsed, and that therefore no Fire Brigade business was formally before the Council. THE SANITARY CONDITION.

The Inspector of Nuisances' report was read. It complained of the bad sanitary arrangements at many private houses, and recommended that certain persons should have notice' that proper cess-pits would have to be provided. The report was referred to the Sanitary Committee to deal with. MATERIAL FOB FOOOPATHS.' Cr Gapper referred to the difficulty of procuring suitable material for footpaths, and mentioned that the contractors for Dixon Street had struck a patch of first-class fine gravelsuitable for the purpose, -in the Waipoua. Ho recommended tliat 200 loads be got out, and stored for winter use, as then the rise in the river prevented its being procured. A motion to this effect was put and carried. THE SCHOOL OF DESIGN. Mr Grundy waited on the Council regarding the free use' of the upstairs committee room for the School of Design. If sole use, as desired, could not be obtained, the school would have to be content with partial occupation. It was resolved to leave the matter as it at present stood, the School of Design simply paying for gas and firewood, and being required to relinquish the room on occasions when it was necessary to hold Committee meetings in it.

SLAUGHTERING LICENSES. It was resolved that licenses should be granted upon the Inspector of Nuisances giving a clean certificate, lie being appointed Inspector of slaughterhouses for that purpose. LAMPLIGIITING. Only one tender was received for cleaning and lighting the Borough lamps for the year, that of Mr H. S. Marsh at £3 per lunar month. A motion accepting this tender was put and lost and it was decided to call for fresh tenders. PRINCES STREET. Cr Heron introduced his motion that £2O be expended in forming and metalling Princess Street. The Ward was in funds, and as winter was coming on this short street might well be improved. The motion was carried and the Work Committee were instructed to obtain plans and specifications aud call for tenders. JUNCTION-STREET AND GEORGE-STREET. Cr Cullen brought forward his motion 11 that the'sum of £6O be voted for the formation aud metalling of about four and a half chains in Junc-tion-street, and ten chains in Georgestreet, and that the Works Committee be instructed to prepare plans and specifications, aud to call for tenders at once, which shall close on the 15th May." He considered that although the ward was not iu funds its next year's rates could be anticipated for this very necessary work. Cr Parsons expressed himself in favor of the expenditure. The road was very bad. The Mayor remembered the place as a pretty hole. He got stuck there with a hundred of flour. Cr Cullen's motion was then put and carried. This terminated the business and the meeting.