MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5008, 24 April 1895, Page 3

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL

. ORDINARY MEETING. jPThe regular fortnightly meeting oi the above Council was held at 7 o'clock last eyening. Present—His Worship tlio Mayor, and Crs Hornblow, Hcssoy, Hughes, Yates, Wagg, Chamberlain, and Feist,

MINUTES. The minutes of the Inst meeting were read and confirmed. OABTANK. It was decided to pay the amount due to Messrs Norbury k Trevor as soon as a certificate with regard to the gas tank is received from Mr Forde, VAirOßi BBIDOE. The Clerk to the Wairaraim North Comity Council wrote stating the result of the Watpoun Bridge Conference. On the motion of the Mayor the action of the conference was confirmed. BUBGKBS LIST. Geo. K.Bond wrote asking that his name be placed on the Burgess Eoll for a East Ward.-Granted. SIGNBOARD, eniy Darling wrote asking pehuisto erect a signboard over his premises h Queen-street, The request was granted subject to the approval of the Works Committee. KIEIOH STEEET. C. P. Gawith wrote on behalf of the Trustees in the estate of the late Mr B. P. Perry with reference to the state of Kirton-street, and asking if something could be done before the winter. The Jotter was referred to the Works Committco for a report. COAI, The Secretary of the liailway Department wrote stating that the Minister was unable to grant the Couucil's application for a reduction of the freight on coal. BUILDING EMULATIONS, A request from Mr Woodrooffc, to be allowedto erect a verandah in frontof hisjjrcmises iu Hall-street was referred t'OL Borough Surveyor. APOLOGIES, Apologies were received and accepted from Crs Mutrie and Cullen for absence from the meeting. HIE LATE FLOOD. J. L. Murray wrote requesting that the footpath in front of his residence in Church-street, be repaired, it having been washed away by the late Hood. The Mayor said he had already in. structed the Overseer on the matter. BEPOKT. The report of the Gas and Library Committee was read and adopted. EIVEE FBOTECTIVE WORKS.

The resolution carried at a public meeting, " that the Borough Council he asked to tnke steps to protect its roads from the Waipoua encroachment," was read. The Mayor said ho would just like to point out, that at the same meeting, a resolution had been passed, "that a Biver Board be formed." Mr Daniell was present, and as he moved the resolution, he might like to address the Council,

_ Ik Daniell said it was true a resolutioßfid been passed, " that a Committco on the advisability of forming a lltvcr Board," but not "that a Biver Board be formed." He took it that the Borough Council was directly interested in protecting its streets. If certain willow protective works had received proper attention, the road in Bent-ley-street and Villa-street would, he considered, not have been damaged. Many private property holders, interested in Bentley Street and Villa Street were Tilling to contribute towards protective works which he had estimated could be eniried out for about £6O, but it was theopinion of many that the Council was the proper body to initiate the work, The public Park was also in danger, and he thought, as a public body, tho Council should take action. He had no direct interest, butas a ratepayer approachel the Council in a general my, as it was not right for anyone to sit by and see his neighbours uined without making some effort to hplo them.

1 he Mayor invited d : scussion. The CounrJlwa! prepared to render a helping Mud he had no doubt, InTJeply to Cr Hcssey, Mr Daniell said he could not say the exact amount promised towards the protective works suggested,

Gr Hoiablon- ag.'eed with Mr Daniell and instanced the cnmple of the loss sustained at Greybwn through liver encroachment, as a warning toMastcrlon. It was high time something was done. Twelve months ago lie had brought the matter up, mH had then been sni'W at, and was told the river had only taken a few feet away. But they found it had now taken acres, The Municipal Corporations Act, as he took it, gave them a perfect right to spend money in protecting the town from river encroachment. He thought it was only right that the Council should take the matter up. He was opposed to another body being set up, on the ground of expense. The Mayor said the clause of the Act quoted by Cr Hornblow only refeii'cd to "obstructions."

Cr Hoinblow said that was thclroitble, An "obstruction" had been caused turojjfie the water on the southern banWHe would nwe that the Council speny £6O on protecting its roads. By neglecting the matter they were endangering the town and depreciating the valuo of property. They had now an overdraft of £960, but if the river came through the town it would soon swell the overdraft to several thousand pounds, The Major said he would like to point out that the publicmcctingpassing tie resolution was a yery small one, Cr Hcssey said tUc clause quoted by Cr Hornblow did not bear on themattcr at all. He understood some breastwork was ncccssaiy and not the removal of an obstruction. Apart from this he believed the matter would bo better dealt with by a River Board, as, if such a body were set up, it would have special powers, The Mayor thought that the Council could do nothing legally, By going on to private propeiiy they would be trespassers, Sketch plans of the damage done, prepared by Mr Daniell, were handed round.

Cr Homb W said perhaps the Council would consider what it could contribute towards tho work suggested by Mr said his s\ apathies were t -nitH the deputation, but ho was not quite clear that the Council was the , proper body to take up the matter. He! . would_ like to see delegates from the Council appointed to meet the committer sot up at the public meeting, to consider what would be a fair thing for the Council to contiilmto. It was nn

open question whether or not the Council would be liable if any person was '» injured by thedamago hike Council's roads. He should.% to see Cr Horn, blow's motion amended in tho direction he suggested. The Mayor though they should wait till they saw what the Committee repoiied with regard to the foiaution of ajiivor Board.

Cr Chamberlain thought they should " wait awhile and if the Hivcr Board was not formed he should be in fayour of recommending ha'f tho cost of the work

proposed. Cr Hughes aaid the places pointed out were only at one point. There were other places requiring protection and he was or opinion a Ei7er Board was the proper body to deal with the matter. - The Mayor agreed with Cr Hughes,; A Eiver Board would not, ho thought, I bo eipensirc. (jKJornblow said be was afi'aid that it<fpa case of" hope deferred makcth theleait sad." A Eiijor Board would have to be foimed some day, but he thought that something should be done ii immediately and before another flood came. He would be prepared to amend hii resolution as suggested by 'Jr Feist

and threfore'moved that Crs Feist, Chamborlain, Wagg, tho Mayor and the mover be a committee to interview the property-holders, and ascortain what they arc prepared to contribute towards the works suggested by Mr Daniell. Cr Hcssey thought it would be better to vote £3O at once. This would simplify matters. Cr Feist seconded Cr Hornblow's motion, which was carried. The matter then dropped. STBEET LIGHTING. Cr Hornblow said some time ago tho advisability of putting up a lamp at the corner of iioss and Diion-streets had been pointed out. The mains wore now laid to the corner of Dixon-street, aud he would move that the matter he referred to the Works Committee. Cr Hcssey said he thought the question of street-widening would come in here. Tho Mayor said tho Works Committee would see to that, The motion was carried, TIIE SIBEETB, Cr Wagg drew attention to a drop of about six feet at the end of Hope-street caused by the lato flood. Tho Mayor said the matter should receive attention. Cr Homblow drew attention to the state of Bannister-street and Chapelstreet. The Mayor pointed out that the late had weather had inteifered with the repairs. BEBIGNATION. Cr Hughes said he wished to tender his resignation as a Borough Councillor. He, in doing so, wished to thank the Mayor and his fellow Councillors, for their courtesy to himself when almost a perfect stranger. Some people might have thought it presumptuous in Ids seeking election, but ho had been persuaded to stand within twenty minutes of the closing of nominations, Since election he had endeavoured to do his duty to the Borough, He might say he was not leaving Masterton because he had not done well—because he had in fact, done remarkably well while in Masterton, and after a considerable experience iuotherNew Zealand towns,notably Hastings and Oamarn, he had come !to the conclusion that Masterton was one of the soundest and healthiest business places in the Colony He always spoke of a place as he found it, and for many reasons regretted his early departure. The Mayor spoke in very complimentary terms of Cr Hughes' services while a member of the Council. On the motion of Cr Feist the Council then adjourned.