MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8130, 3 May 1906, Page 5

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

THE YEAR'S WORK. SPEECH BY THE MAYOR. At a speoial meeting of the Masterton Borough Council, held laat evening, the Mayor gave a resume of the year's work, and dealt on matters pertaining to the £25,000 loan. He stated that the whole of the loan bad been successfully placed with the T. and G. Mutual Life Insurance Company for a period of 21 years, at the rate of 4)-£ per ceut. per annum, without brokerage fees or commission. As soon as the first year of the period of the loan! was completed, and the second year entered into, continued the Mayor, it would be necessary to strike new rates, because the rates already struck would not be sufficient to carry out the maintenance work of the Borough. Many of the isolated parts of the Borough would have to be drained, and conneoted with gas and water and good footpaths provided. At least half the borough could not be drained into .the present septic tank, and the Oounoil would have to face the difficulty of removing the tank from its present site to a site near the Waingawa River, so as to allow of the whole of the Borough being drained. The cost of that work would be approximately £12,000, and the raising of that money was a question that the Council would have to consider. He referred to the erection of the abattoir, and considered that the Council had taken a wise step in erecting a building which would rneet the requirements of Masterton for a number of years io come. Despite the fact that the price of gas had been reduced the Gasworks Account still showed a credit balance. He considered that Mr Blackman, the Gas Manager, was a competent man in his duty. The fufclio Reading Room, said the Mayor, had been considerably enlarged aid renovated during the year. That improvement had been much appreciated by tbo public. Referring to the waterworks, Mr Renall stated that as there had been a shortage of water at the upper intake, and as a request had been received from the residents of Lansdowne to have the water laid on in that locality, the Council had.inspected the works. The pipes at the headworks had been repaired, and the intakes extended. A large additional supply of pure water had been obtained. • There was still a large waste of water at the headworks. The 120 acres near the waterworks had been obtained from the Government, as well "s the ten acres adjoining the Park. It had been nrordised that a olause would be inserted in the Public Works Amendment f ßill at the coming session which would enable the nineteen acres adjoining' the Park, and belonging to the School Commissioners, to be vested in the Borough Council. He believed that in the near future' closer settlement would be brought about in the iviasterton, district and he hoped that the censuß reoently taken would show a substantial increase in the population of the borough. Before he retired he wished to express bis thanks to the Council for their support in carrying out the work of the borough during the past year He also thanked the Borough Staff and the Press. Mr Renall then retired from the ohair, and, after the declaration had been read, he was duly installed as Mayor amid applause. The Councillors present congratulated the Mayor on bis work during the past year, and also on being returned unopposed as Mayor of Masterton. Their remarks were endorsed by Messrs A. \V. Hogg, M.H.R., and G. Heron, who were present. The Mayor thanked those present for their remarks, ana stated that his motto would always be "the advancement of Masterton."