MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2911, 30 May 1888, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Council was held on Tuesday, May 29th. Present—The Mayor and Crs Perry, Cullen, Gapper, Heron, Parsons, Messey, Elkius, Macara and' Muir. The minntes of the previous meeting's were confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE, From W. Prangnell asking to be placed on the Burgess Roll, in place of Mr Westin. Carried, Mrs Sarah Carter applying to be placed on the roll. Granted. From Mrs Carter applying to have hedge clippings removed from the front of her property on the Columbia road. Resolved that notice be given to Mr R, McKenzie to remove the clippings complained of, From the_ Secretary of the Tauoru Library asking for donations of books. Referred to tho Library Committee,

THE TOTALIiUTOIt,

From the Christchurch City Council covering a petition to the House of Representatives for the abolition of the totalisator and asking the co-oper-ation of the Council in obtaining signatures,

Or Perry was not up in horse racing but he believed in freetrade. Cr Macara said the abolition of the totalisator would only do away with a small evil to make way for a much larger one. After some further discussion the Mayor moved that a petition be prepared and left open for the signatures of the inhabitants of the Borough. Or- Heron seconded and a division was_ taken. Noes: Crs Macara, Elkins, Muir, Parsons, Perry; : Crs Hessey, Heron, Gapper, Cullen and the Mayor, The Mayor gave his casting vote in favor of the motion and declared it carried. NEW BUILDING. From W, W. Holford, with plan and specification of a proposed building for Mr E. Hare, in Queen-street. Cr Gapper suggested that a standing committee should be appointed to receive all plans and specifications in conjunction with the surveyor. Cr Perry moved that the proposal be referred to the Borough surveyor for his report, and the matter stand over until the next meeting. Cr Gapper seconded the motion, which was carried. Cr Gapper moved, and Cr Heron seconded, that the architect be notified that the plan submitted by him had not been passed by the Council. —Carried. footpaths. Mr Feist wrote on behalf of the Presbyterian Church, asking if the Council would consent to make a footpath in Ross Street, it the applicants paid half cost, Agreed to, and reierred to the Works Committee, with power to act. THE NEW KINK. Mr Jas. Bentley wrote asking % the patronage of the Council at the opening of the Elite Skating Rink, and stating that roller skates would be placed at the disposal of the Councillors on the occasion. The request was agreed to. DIVERTING A STREAM. Mr C. A, Pownall, solicitor, wrote on behalf of Mr G. Allen, complaining of the diviationof the water of the creek running through his property in Miriam Street, thereby causing a nuisance by the accumulation of mud, (fee., and also stating that his medical adviser had warned him not to continue to live there, on account of the danger to the health of himself and family. Cr Gapper said that the only dam that had been made by the Council was that used for the purpose of filling the water tank at the gas works. That lmd been done away with a long time. Cr Cullen moved that the letter be referred to the Sanitary Committee. Carried.

The report of the Gas Committee was read and adopted. The report of the Finance Committee was read.

The Mayor said the Committee suggested that the cost of maintaining the Pound should be brought within its own income, and not be made a charge upon the rates. A motion to that effect was carried.

The clause recommending that a rate of Is in the £ he struck was adopted.

Cr Gapper moved that the receipts of the Pound be divided between the Poundkeeper and the Hanger. Cr Hessey said that was only " dodging the law." The Mayor said there was no doubt that such a manner of dealing with the Pound fees, although perhaps not illegal, was sailing very close to the wind. He moved that Crs Gapper, Perry, and the mover be a committee to consider the matter, and report to the next meeting of the Council. Cr Macara seconded the motion, which was carried.

The report of the Committee dealing with the estimates was confirmed.

It was resolved that a special meet-' ing of the Council be held on the 12th June for the purpose'of striking a several rate of Is in the I, and one penny in the J> for Library rates. The Works Committee's report was read, and (with the exception of tho timber ordered, which was referred back to the Committee for further information) was adopted.

The report of the Fire Brigade Com mittee was read as follows

Captaiii Barker attended, and explained the inconvemenc of the present building for getting the Jubilee in and out, and asked that the step might be lowered'to facilitate egress and ingress. It was resolved that the Council be recommended to have the step lowered as required. The captain stated that the Brigade felt aggrieved at the statement of Cr Gapper that some of the members spoke to liiui against the alterations proposed at the last meeting, and at the Brigade meeting all the members denied having so spoken. A plan showing the proposed alterations and additions to the station was exhibited.

The following recommendation was carried That the Committee be authorized to wait upon the parties interested in the lease of the land on which the Five Brigade Station stands

.with a view to getting a re-lease of the land, and a new lease from the Town Lands Trustees, under the compensation regulations. This concluded the business. On the motion of Or Heron the sum of 60s was voted to the Committee to expend m improving the approach to the engine shed, and to lower the doorsill, so as to obtain a better grade for running out the engine. The report by Captain Barker of the attendances of firemen at drill, practices and-fires was read.

It was resolved that the sum of Bs, due to the members of the Brigade, be passed for payment.

FIRE UNDERWRITERS ASSOCIATION.

A letter was read from Mr Lyons, Secretary of the Underwriter's Association, in which it was stated that unless the steam fire engine could be brought into operation at fives in less space of time than it took at present, the Association would havo to consider the expediency of raising the fire rate in the Borough of Masterton. A suggestion was also made that a gas jet should always be kept burning under the engine boiler, so that the water should continually be at half boiling point. After considerable discussion, it was resolved that the Mayor and Town Cleric be authorised to draw .up a reply to the Association, to the effect that as the Council was already expending at the rate of about £2lO a year in maintaining a Fire Brigade and appliances for extinguishing fires in the Borough unaided, they could not go to any greater outlay. They would, however, be willing to carry out the suggestion of the Association, provided they would grant the Brigade a sum annually to cover the cost. CONTKACTS. The following tenders were dealt with for 8 chains road work in Dixon and Smith-streets—W. Prangnell L2 13s per chain (accepted), declined; Keefe & Co L2 17s Gd; Adams & Co., LB;S. Bartlett L 8 Is Id; J. Kelliher L 3 12s Gd; J. Gardner L 3 17s 9d ; 11. Stevens L3lßs lOd.

For 18 chains road work in Georgestreet and Junction street—H. Stevens £3 7s 3d per chain (accepted); declined Keefe &CoL3 7s 9d; Blaine & Co L 3 10s; Adams and KavanaghfS lis Id; J. Kelliher L 4 5s 6d; W. Prangnell Li 17s Gd; J. Gardner &Co Lslos; G. Bentley & Co L 4 12, informal.

It was resolved that a half chain of extra road work in Dixon-street be included in the contract.

Permission was given the Town Clerk to procure a cupboard for his office.

On the motion of Cr Parsons the remainder of the business was held over until the next regular meeting of Council and the meeting adjourned at 10.20 p.m.