BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3727, 4 February 1891, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

'The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Masterton Borough Council was held last evening. Present— Crs Eenall (in the chair), Hessey, Eton, Gapper. E. Chamberlain, Cullen, T. Chamberlain, Perry and Dixon.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. His Worship the Mayor apologised for non-attendance. Correspondence,

From Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.E,, stating that ho had presented the petition re charitable aid before the House.

From the Wairarapa North County Council, stating that the time of the Engineer was fully occupied, and he would be unible to prepare plans and specifications for returning the water to the mill lead.—The Chairman stated that he had spoken to Mr Bremner, and he had offered to give an estimate of the cost of the work to tho~ Council.—Cr T. Chamberlain moved that Mr Murdock McKenzie be asked to furnish plans and specifications and an estimate of the cost of returning the water to the mill stream. -Cr E. Chamberlain seconded.—Carried.

From the Vestry of St. M atthew's Parish, requesting that the floodgates on the Borough stream be lifted systematically at intervals, as a quantity of silt and rubbish was backed on to the church property.— On the motion of Cr Hsssey the matter was relegated to the Works Committee, with power to act. Works Committee. The reports of two special meetings of the Works Committee were read and confirmed. Gas and Library Committees. The Gas and Library Committee reports were also read and confirmed. Ordinary. The Town Clerk was authorised to pay insurances on the library and the building. Cr Cullen stated that the parish ioners of St. Matthew's Church had offered to pay the half cost of asphalting the footpath in Church and Queen-streets provided the Council constructed the crossings. This he would ask should be done. Cr Gapper asked if it would not be better for the request to be put iii writing. The Chairman : How is it this request has not come through the Secretary (Mr Sellar), like the question of water ? Cr Cullen stated that the work was being done by private subscriptions outside the Churchwardens. Four leading members of the Church, including himself, had taken the matter in hand,

The Chairman thought the matter should be pui in a more practical form.

Cr Cullen offeied to give a guarantee tnat the asphalt would be laid down.

Cr Perry stated that if they asphalted these crossings many applications for similar concessions would be made.

On the motion of Cr Gapper it was decided to procure estimates for the asphalting of the footpaths referred to, and lay before the next meeting. Cr Dixon called the attention of the Council to the fact that the work of asphalting the railway station platform had been promised. It was now time the same was done. He would move that the Commissioners be informed that the Council is now prepared to do the work. Cr E r on stated that the Council was not in a position to do the work. They had not sufficient asphalt. Cr Gapper seconded the motion pro forma, but stated that Cr Dixon must be under a misapprehension. The Works Committee had before concluded that they had not the material to undertake the wcrk, After some discussion Cr Dixon withdrew his motion, and it was decided that inquiries be made about the matter before next meeting.

The Chairmau drew attention to the " abominable hobnobblings " in fiont of the premises of Mr Caselberg and others. He thought a wooden crossing might be substituted for the

stone. Or Dixon endorsed the remarks of the Chairman, and said he had preyipusly brought the matter before the Coiinci}. The Town Clerk was instructed to write to Mr Caselbarg, asking if he *vould pay half the cost of asphalting

the crossing in front of his premises, and in event of his declining the Council do half the work. Cr Cullen referred to the fact that traction engines were continually passing through the streets of the Borough to the danger of the public. He. thought owners of engines should hoist flags or blow a whistle as danger signals. He would move that a bylaw be framed on the subject. Cr Hessey: You want a boy to run in front of the engines, (laughter). j Cr Cullen : Yes, they do it in the I cities, John.

Cr Eton : I must draw the attention of the chair to the exceptional familiarity of Councillors. Cr Cullen thought he was referring to Gr Hessey in terms of endearment, (laughter.)

Cr Chamberlain : The matteris not yet seconded. Cr Cullen : You had better second it, John, The Chairman seconded the motiou which was carried, and the Clerk was instructed to write to the authorities in Canterbury, asking what steps were taken in that part in the matter. Several notices of motion standing in the name of His Worship the Mayor were ordered to stand over till next meeting, Cr Hessey moved, in accordance with notice given, that West Bush road be stumped, formed, and metalled. The work was urgently required, and he thought tha state of the finances of the Borough justified it

Cr Eton asked that the putting of the motion be held over till next meeting to permit him to inspect the road.

Or Gapper seconded the resolution. Crs Perry and Cullen thought there were other streets in the centre of the Borough which had a first claim on the Council.

After some discussion Cr Hessey asked permission to amend his resolution so that the matter be deferred and plans and specifications be called for the work, with estimates of the cost.

The amended resolution was put and carried, and it was decided that Mr Rawson be employed to prepare plans and specifications. The meeting then adjourned.