MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8106, 28 March 1906, Page 5

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

ORDINARY MEETING

The ordinary meeting of the Masterton Borough Council was held last evening. There were present: » The Mayor (Mr J. A. Renall), Crs E. McEweu, E. Feist, J. C. Ewiugton, W. Morris, T. G. Hoar, J. Elliott, J. H. Pauling and E. G. Eton. An apology for absence was received from Cr F. W. Temple. A letter was reoeived from the Department of Agriculture, drawing attention to the fact that sweetbriar was spreading on Borough lands on the Waipoua River, and asking the Council to take steps to have it cleared. The Engineer was instructed to carry out the work. J. Carpenter wrote drawing the Council's attention to the absence of an adequate outlet for the storm water whioh accumulates near his property in Dixon Street. The uause of the trouble lay at the corner of Dixon and Smith Streets. When heavy rain fell a "lake" was formed, and the water rose right up over the footpath to his boundary fence, thus creating considerable inoonvenienoe. He asked the Council to have the matter reotifled. ' Cr MoEwen stated that during the last heavy rains the whole' road in front of Mr Carpenter's was flooded. The letter was referred to the Works Committee, and in the meantime the Council would visit the locality, and the Engineer was instructed to prepare levels in order to ascertain how the difficulty might be overcome. Applications from 0. Pragnell and H. R. Wood to have the gas extended along Cornwall and Renall Streets, respectively, were referred to the Works Committee. Mr D. Finlayson waited on the Council and asked permission to be allowed to build a lean-to, 10ft x sft, in iron, to his premises in Street. The Engineer stated that the bylaw provided that suoh additions must be made in brick. On the motion of the Mayor seconded by Cr Feist, the application was referred to the Works Committee. i Plans were submitted by Messrs Seaton and Sladden in connection with the proposed road extension from Pownall Street to Villa Street, connecting with the Railway Station; also, plans of the extension from Pownall Street to Cole's Estate boundary. The plans were referred to the Works Committee. The reports of the Works and Library Committees were adopted. Cr Feist reported that several members of the Boroagh Council, ,Fire Brigade and Municipal Baud,

bad held u conference with a view to providing more suitable aoooiiimodaiion for the Fire Brigade and Band. The question of selecting the Druid's Hall for suoh a purpose was discussed and it was found that that building would be unsuitable, and not worth the money that would be required to ba spent on it. He understood the Masterton Rifle Volunteers wished to purchase thb building, and/ he moved that the building be sold to that body for removal, and at the same price as that for which it was bought from the Masterton Implement Company. The Mayor seconded the motion, and said that the motion opened up a large question, for if the building were removed, the question of erecting a new and suitable building would have to be discussed. Or Ewington remarked, with a

smile, that the mover and the seconder of the motion must have something: "up their sleeve," for it was only a few weeks ago that the Mayor and Or Feißt recommended the purchase of the building, and now they wished to sell it again. The matter was further discussed, several Councillors being of the opinion that the present building was not in keeping with the value of the land on which it stood, i The motion was carried.

The Engineer was instructed to have gas heaters erected in the Public Reading Room.