MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9136, 8 July 1908, Page 6

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING

The ordinary meeting of the Masterton Burough Council was held last evening. There were present the Mayor (Mr P. L, Hollirfgs), Crs J. H. Pauling, J. Elliott, J. Hunter, J. Yarr, J. Prentice, J.JC. Ewington, W. Pragnell, W. Morris, and A. Haughey. . An application was received from a number of residents in Pvenall Street asking that better street lighting be provided in that thoroughfare. —The application was referred to the Gas Committee with power to act. Mr D. Lett wrote asking that the Council take steps to place the sidewalk on Pownall Street, opposite his house, in better repair. He stated that the condition of the road was shocking. A discussion ensued as to the state of the thoroughfare generally. Cr Pragnell stated that the road was being used as a atock road, the footpaths generally being also used for all sorts of purposes driving vehicles, stock, etc., on. The Engineer was instructed to prepare a report on the matter. Permission was given to the Masterton South Brass Band to hold a sacred concert in the Masterton Town Hall on Sunday next. _ A letter from Mr A. R. Maltby in reference to an alleged overcharge by the poundkeeper was held over until an explanation was received from the n.nger. , Mr R. Brown waited upon the C.uncil, on behalf of the Masterton Fire Board, and asked the Council to transfer the £2OO raised under the £25,000 loan for the installation of a tire alarm system to the Board, for the purpose for which the money was raised, or in the alternative to authorise the Board to spend the money as contractors for the work. The Mayor stated that the Council was anxious to assist the Board in the matter, but the Borough Solicitor was of opinion, as he was himself, that there were legal difficulties m the way of the Council expending any further money for fire prevention purposes, in view of the creation of a Fire Board. After some discussion, it was resolved to obtain the opinion of the Municipal Association's Solicitor as to whether the Council could do as the Board asked. ' It was'decided to affix the seal of the Council to transfers of the leases of the Fire Brigade premises to the Fire Board. A letter was received from Mr W. G. Beard, solicitor, acting on behalf of Mr Petersen, lessee of the Temper • ance Boarding House, sold on Saturday by the Council to Mr Petersen, protesting against the Council's solicitor bidding against Mr Petersen at the sale of the lease, as such a procedure was opposed to the spirit of the lease apart from any illegalities. Mr Beard stated that his client had signed the renewed lease strictly under protest, and it was asked that the premium paid by Mr Petersen be returned. The matter was discussed at some length, the Mayor contending that the objection raised in Mr Beard's letter was pdrfectly just, and the Council had no right to exact a premium from Mr Petersen. It was eventually decided to waive the payment of the premium. Cr Elliott moved that the road work in Queen street at present unfinished bo completed with the broken metal lying at the Fernridge He stated that parts of Queen street had been barricaded for several weeks, and he understood work was at a standstill for want of broken nutal.

Cr Ewington seconded the motion, contending that the cost of breaking met.il at the Corporation yard was too heavy for the Council, and the yard should bo dosed down for the winter for stone-crushing. Crd Haughey and Pauling opposed the using of two different classes of metal on the road, as it would mean an uneven quality of surface. The motion was eventually withdrawn, the Engineer giving an assurance that the portion of road near the Waipoua river would be completed as early as possible.