MUNICIPAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2900, 16 May 1888, Page 2

MUNICIPAL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting ol the Masterton Borough Council was held last evening, Present, His Worship the Mayor, Crs Mmr, Heron Macaw, Elkins, T. Chamberlain, Gapper, Cullen, and Perrv.

The minutes of the last meeting were rend and confirmed.

Outvard correspondence was read; also correspondence inwards, from: Cr D. Carman asking for leave of absence from his duties as a councillor during (lie four months which he will lie away on a visit to England;granted. Rev. Father McKenna,'asking that footpaths in Princes street be formed iis well as roadway and offering to pay half towards cost; referred to works committee. James Mucura asking for permission to fence in the corner of Dixon Street where it narrows, at his own cost so that the footpath may bo defined, and offering topny half expense of curbing thereat; permission granted, the works committee to carry out the requirements. charitable aid. The United District Charitable Aid Board's demand for fUI Is lOd subsidy was received, The Council expressed a disinclination to accede to the application and | decided to uphold t herecent Cotiference's action, a resolution being passed that ! the requisition be merely laid on the table.

The matter then dropped, the Town Clerk remarking that if payment were not made, the District Board could recover by appealing to tho property Tax Commission to levy a rate under the Act. THE MA3TERTON LIBRARY. An application was read from Mr J. Rutlierfurd, of Wairere, asking if country residents—say four Alfredton settlers—goulgl be allwed a parcel of

books for a/ more extended time than that allowed by the present rules. It wag decided on Or Muir's motion that provided not less than four subscribers were covered by the one application, that they receive four books eacli, or sixteen altogether, for the time of one month, and that tho books should be then returned direct to the Library. A suggestion was read from Mrs Caselberg advocating an exchange Of [books between the Masterfcon and Greytown Libraries. After discussion, it was decided to write to tho Greytown Library Committee and ascertain if they were favorable to a mutual loan, on what terms, and of what number of books,

It was agreed to erect a dividing fence between Mr Mason's residence and the Institute, that gentleman to contribute £5 2s, and the Council £2 ss, Brown and Rodgers' tender being accepted for the work. Accounts recommended for payment by the Library Committee were passed and their report adopted.

MAKORA FOOTBRIDGE IN DIXON-STBEET, The Works Committee's report was read, recommending the construction of a foot bridge over the ,Makora mill creek, in Dixoii-street.

Cr Gapper pointed out the danger of s,ucli a bridge in the case of small children crossing, as there were no houses in sight of it. Ho would, however, 'move to test the feeling of the Council, that the bridge be erected. The cost •would be about £3.

The Mayor bore out Cr Gapper's idea of the risk as far as children's safety was concerned. He did not believe in a temporary and dangerous structure, A permanent one might do; if this were not undertaken the thing had better be left alone. : .

Cr Muif seconded Or Gapper's motion. There could not be much

risk as the existence of Mr Perry's log across the creek which had been used until it was recently removed had teen unattended with accident. Cr, Macara said as regards the log bridge the Council would not in any case' have been responsible, as that primitive article was on private property. The motion to erect a footbridge was then put and carried by five votes to four. DIXON-STKEET. The Works Committee's recommendation that £2O be spent in extending the Dixon-street improvements to Smith-street was' considered, Cr Gapper moving that that sum be voted. Cr Heron seconded the grant of £2O for the purpose. Cr Gapper explained that residents of Dixon-street who had received earth and surplus road "stuff" had in return to contribute 80 yards of metal towards the execution of contemplated work, otherwise £3O would have been asked for instead of £2O. The motion was put and carried, tenders to be called for next Council meeting.

GEOEGE-SXIiEEI AND JUNCIIOti-STKEET. Or Carman asked why George-street and Junction-street had not been dealt witlrby the Works Committee. He considered those streets had been neglected. Cr Gapper replied that -the wet weather had prevented action in this respect. Mi' Rawson, who was engaged to do the surveying, had not

been able to see to those streets yet, but a report would bo brought up" at next Council meeting. The Works Committee's report was then adopted. SANIMY. The Committee's report was read, recommending tlmt the owners of certain properties should be notified that they would have to provide cesspools of stipulated construction and

size, viz., 4ft long x Bft wide and 2ft deep, and consisting- of nine inch brickwork, a face of cement, and curbing on the top edge, Cr Gapper explained that the cesspool question had been brought up as long as three years ago, but had not then been definitely dealt with, the only subsequent action taken up to the present time being the provision of a by-law bearing on the question, and giving the Council power to act in the manner now contemplated. The sanitary report was adopted, the Town Clerk to write and request

the property owners nominated by theInspector of Nuisances to provide cesu pools to abate the nuisances existing. FIBE BRIGADES, The Fire Brigade Committee recommended that the manual engine should not be granted to a third brigade, as requested by Messrs Thompson, Wickerson, and. other petitioners, but lliat tlioMunicipal Brigade be strengthened to work it instead. It was suggested that Captain Barker have power to extend the membership of the Brigade so that both the steam and manual engines could be worked, the Council's grant to be £25 per annum to the Brigade as a whole, irrespective of numerical strength, instead of being as at present a capitation allowance of 21s for each member up to twentyfive.

Cr Muir pointed out that a very large increase of men would result in additional expense to the Borough in uniforms, spanners, &c, Twenty-five or thirty men ought to be sufficient, if a horse were provided for the haulage of the steam engine. Under what was proposed there would be between the two brigades about seventy lpen at a fire, and they would be in each other's way. "CrGapper asked if the £25 would be the Council's entire annual contribution to the Fire Brigade, or whether uniforms and spanners would have to be found as well.

Cr (Jullen explained that only sufficient men to work the engines would be enrolled. It was thought sometiling between thirty and forty would do. .

The Mayor remarked that if anything beyond the £25 were required, the requisition would have to come before the Council, and they need not then grant it unless it was justifiable expenditure. Tlie Committee's recommendation as above was granted. The Committee's request that screened coal, be, provided for the " Jubilee" was also accorded assent. The sum o£ asked to be alio-

ted for alterations to the engine shed, an inclined floor etc,, so that one engine can be got out without having first to remove the other, and in order that the engine can be easily run down the slope. Or Gapper considered the work unnecessary, as the engines and hose reel could be placed so as to be manipulated as wished without alteration. Or Oullen defended the Committee's contemplated alteration, andtlie necessity for it.

Or Muir agreed with Or Gapper, but he thought an iuclined floor with a decline to the front would be an advantage. The question was referred back to the Fire Brigade Committee for reenquiry and further report. . The next point discussad was the appointment of a third Fire Inspector.

* Cr Cullen said that the recent five, and the ill-advised destruction of property which had occurred there, had led the Committee to make this recommendation, ' There was at present, practically only one inspector, as the Captain of the Brigade who was the seCond, was always too busy when a. fire occurred to act in that capacity. . Cr Muir considered a third Inspector unnecessary. The Captain should certainly talce an active part as a Fire Inspector and Bhould control outside work such as the removal of fences or buildings as preventitive steps, and the second Inspector should look after inside work such as the careful salvage of stock.

Cr Perry was of opinion that the Captain would be too busy, and that a third Inspector was. necessary. Or Gapper, as a present Fire Inspector, stated that an extra Inspector was not required. As a matter-of-fact, two were not required; the Captain alone was quite sufficient. Two mightbe necessary in case illness incapacated one.

It was then decided on a division of the Council that a third Inspector should be appointed. The subject of the institution of a body of Fire Police or Salvage Corps under the. Fire Inspectors was next considered.

Cr Cullen move'd that applications be invited from gentlemen willing to accept office as Fire Police. The resolution was seconded and carried.

Cr Gapper gave notice that he would move at next Council meeting that Cr Muir be appointed the third Fire Inspector. Cr Cullen mentioned that it was his intention to subsequently move that Mr Perry be appointed. The matter was then left over until next meeting. judd.'s road. Cr Gapper moved, and it was carried, that the Town Clerk should write to the Messrs Judd Bros, and request that they forthwith arrange for" Judd's road" to be thrown open, and handed over to the Council without delay. TENDERS.

Tenders for the Prince's-street improvements chains) were opened as under :-G. Blane and Co., 13 10s per chain (accepted); David Lamerson (Carterton), £3 10s per chain; Adams and Kavanah £24 for lotchains: Henry Stevens, £5 per chain or £27 10s for lot; W. Prangnell, £5 7s Gd per chain; 11 J. Chapman, i 39 15s 8d _ for lot; |Bentley Bros., £7 per chain. It was decided on resolution that Messrs G. Blane and Co.'s tender should be accepted. _ Tenders were next opened for the timber supply for the ensuing twelve twelve months.

Messrs Brown and Rodgers tendered to supply all heart of totara, first class,and second class respectively, at lis, 9s, and Gs per 100 feet; Messrs Williams and Barker offered the same qualities respectively at 12s, 10s, and Bs. The tender of Messrs Brown and Rodgers was accepted, Tenders were then opened for the Borough lamplighting; John- Rose, £2 per month or £24 a year; E. Minifie, £2 2s 6d a month; C. Broadbent, jun., lis per week. Rose's tender was accepted. (Since the Council meeting, an explanation by Broadbent has led to the notification of acceptance of Rore's tender being withheld meanwhile. Broadbent states that his tender of lis per week was only for working weeks, which average three in the month, and that it would not include payment during the moonlight nights. This difference makes his tender the lowest. The Council will reconsider the question.) THE WATER SCHEME. The Mayor moved that the sum of £3O be expended in, introducing a supply of water to the streets of the Borough for lire preventive purposes. Cr Cullen seconded the resolution and quoted popular opinion as being in favor of a water service.

After discussion, the Mayor's motion was put and lost, the only votes for it being his own and Crs (Men's and Muir's.

The meeting then adjourned,