MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9022, 8 January 1908, Page 6

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

ORDINARY MEETING,

The Masterton Borough Council held its first meeting since the holidays last, evening, there being present:—The Mayor (Mr J. M. Coradine), Crs. J Elliott, F. W. Temple, A. Haughey, J. C. Ewington, J. Yarr, W. Morris.and J. H. Pauling. Apologies for absence were received from Crs J. Prentice.and W. Pragnell. A ietter from the Wairarapa Amateur Swimming Club, asking the Council to extend the hours during which bathing is allowed in the Park Lake was referred to the Park Committee. Messrs Beale and Parton wrote asking for a three-inch water service to a residence in Essex street. The Mayor said he did not think the application should be granted, as it would establish a precedent. The application was refused. Mr Jas. Kavanagh wrote complaining that the Council had not yet erected a six-foot boarded fence in front of his residence in Michael street, which they promised to do in return for his giving a portion of his Jand for the widening of the street. Cr Pauling said Mr Kavanagh was in error. The Council had taken the land Mr Kavanagh had given, and had done what they had promised to do. They had not made any promise to erect a high boarded fence. The letter was referred to the Works Committee to enquire into the position. Letters were received from Messrs P. Gordon and J. W. Whittaker, o? rgjuth road, objecting to water meters being placed on their premises, as there was nothing in their agreements with the Council that provided for the installation of meters to gauge their water supply. It was decided to inform the writers that the meters were Deing fixed pursuant to resolution. The secretary of the Municipal Brass Band wrote applying for an increase in the annual grant to £25, and urging that the grant paid to them now (£10) was smaller than was made .in a great number of other towns in New Zealand where.fewer concerts were given by the bands than in Masterton. The letter added that the Band were, prepared to allow the Council to decide upon the number of days in the year on which, and the portions of the borough in which, municipal concerts would be given by the Band. Cr Temple viewed with favour the idea of municipal concerts, but he did not see how the grant could be increased at present, as the estimates for the year had already been made up. The Council decided to allow the application to stand <3ver until the end of the present financial year. A petition was received from residents in Cornwall street asking for the extension of the drainage to that street as far as the balance of the loan money in hand —about £ll4 would permit. ■ " | A deputation, consisting of Messrs E. G. Eton, G. Hyde, A. J. Parton and Buttrey, waited on the Cbuncil and pointed out that the street was very thickly populated, and the absence of drainage was a source of great inconvenience to the residents. After a short but sympathetic discussion, it was resolved to proceed with the work as far as funds would allow. An amendment by Cr Haughey that the application be referred to the Works Committee lapsed for the want of a seconder. The Engineer was instructed to attend to the grass - grown condition of Sussex street, to which attention was drawn in a letter from Mr J. Caselberg. . A letter from the Wairarapa Cricket Association asking for permission to make a charge at the Park gates on the occasion of the cricket match Wairarapa v. West Coast, on January 22nd and 24th, was referred to the Park Committee. . The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., wrote asking the Council that while Perry street was being asphalted the operations might be extended to the small strip of Chapel street in front of their offices. It was resolved to accede to the request provided the applicants paid half the cost of the work. A letter was received from the Vestry of S. Matthew's Church, intimating that the water supply to the organ engine had failed on several occasions, and the fault seemed to lay in the pipes 'in fie road, as a plumber had examined the pipe inside the Church fence and had pronounced it free from obstruction. The matter was referred to the Works Committee. It was decided to hold a special meeting prior to the next ordinary meeting to deal with formalities connected with the raising of the £12,000 gas loan, and the appointment of a day d iring the year for the observance of the weekly half-holiday. The Mayor was appointed to represent the Council at the meeting of delegates' from the various local bodies for the election of a representative on the Wellington Harbour Board. i. It was decided to place the baths under the control of the Works Committee, who were instructed to frame regulations for their control, draw up a scale of charges, and invite applications for the position of custodian. Letters from Misses L. Whitcombe and M. Holmwood for permission to give lessons in swimming in the baths were referred to the Works Committee.