Grey town Borough Council

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2013, 5 January 1887, Page 2

Grey town Borough Council

Tliis Council met at tlie Couuoil Chambers on Monday night. Present—Hurt Udy, sen., (lie Mayor, in the chair, and Councillors Varnham, Cotter, Viaxton. Trotter, Fabian, Smith, Cameron, and H. Udy, jnn. The clerk read the correspondence.

The correspondence inwards included a circular from the Premier’s Office, relative to the election of one representative for the District Hospital Board. Also from Public Works [Office, re Crown Lands, north ef Greytown. Mr Sheet's report was read re cost of making a road to the proposed bridge between Matarawa and Greytown, and the estimate was £228 15s to do the work throughout. He (Mr Skeet) informed the Council in his report that it would be cheaper to take the laud by conveyance from the private owners than to take it under the Public Works Act.

Cr Cotter moved that the report stand over to some future meeting for discussion.

Cr Varnham seconded. He observed that the information would be useful at some future time. Matarawa, he understood, intended to contribute one half of the expend!* turo.

Cr Udy, jun., said the Matarawa people expected to have to contribute two-thirds of the money required. It would be about £lO for them to raise annually.

Cc Cotter said he believed that the Mata* rawa people intend shortly to hold a meeting for the purpose of taking the matter into consideration, and be did not see how the Council could take any steps until after that meeting, Cr Varnham wished it to be uuderstoed that be was not opposing the project. The motion was carried. Street Lighting. The Lighting Committee’s report, respecting additional lighting was received. The committee reported that a lamp was required at Wyett’s bridge, another opposite Mrs Hastwell’s; that the one near Mr F. H. Wood’s private house be shifted near Dr Spratt's, and new burners be supplied where the old ones were defective.

Or Maxton said he approved of the committee’s report so far as the lamp as Mrs Hastwell'fi was concerned, and also the shifting of the lamp lu near Dr Spratt’s, but be did not approve of a lamp near Wyett’s bridge ; be did not think n lamp was required at this point. Cr Fabian thought that the lamp at Wyett's bridge was very desirable, even if they did not erect one at Mrs Hustwell’s. Perhaps if they shifted the one from its present position near Mr Wood's house to near Dr SprattV. it would answer the purpose with the one at Wyett's bridge without the second now one, but he would like to see the committee'll report adopted in its entirety, The bridge at Wyett’s coiner was dangerous on daik nights and parties had a difficulty in . 'earing cleat of that structure when driving, Cr ViirnUnu said tho Council should ." herd their linage and the question wa.o were they Uistiiiei; in erecting a lamp at Wyett's bridge just to accommodate a few pedestrians or horsemen.

I he Mayr said he approved of a lamp at Wyett’s luidge, and ho would vote lot it. Cr Cameron said he was up there ou Fii'jday, ami ha considered that Wyett's bridge should be abolished. Cv Cotter would point out for the benefit of Cr Cameron that the Kivor Board would strongly object to the removal of the bridge. Cr Maxton moved as an amendment that ihe committee's report be adopted, excepting that part referring to the lamp at Wyett's bridge, which should be expunged, Seconded by Ci Trotter, amendment wae Msi, and the Lighting Committee'll report was adopted on the Voices. Works' CoM.'iimm. The Works Committee reported that they had nothing to report about. Finance CoruaryiJi; ' The Finance report vru read and adopted.

Before the adoption of the Finance 'Jommittee’s report a smart passage of arms occurred between Crs Cotter, Vatnham, and the Mayor, , ~ The Mayor said that the Council should know what the Works Committee were doing. Cr Cotter said it was quite unprecedented . r the Council to pry into the Works Committee's operations ;‘il the Council could not confide in the Works Committee, the Committee should resign, and the Council form a committee of the whole.

Cr Varuham quite disapproved of the Works Committee’s proceedings being inter* lered with by the Council, and the discussion waxed rather warm.

Cr Maxton said he thought the Mayor’s remarks rather premature. The Mayor said if he had made any remarks derogrtory to his office he would retract.

Cr Maxton said he thought it much better, and it would be more respectful to the Council, if the Mayor was standing up when addressing the Council. The Mayor said he knew when ho was in his place in that respect ; he had been Mayor before, and also chairman of meetings for many years. Cr Varnham said as the Mayor was just then new to the position the Council should overlook any little errors and make allowance for them. Hanubr’s Report. The Banger’s report was read, and, on the proposition of Cr Cotter, seconded by Cr Fabian, adopted. Dou Fees. Cr Maxton proposed that the dog fees be 5s for each year, cattle dogs Is, and that Mr D. Cameron, een., be appointed registrar at a commission of ten per cent. Cr Cotter ssid he would second Cr Maxton’s proposition, provided that he included rabbit dogs in the exemption from the 5e fee doge kept eolely for the purpose ol catching rabbits ; not the yelping cure he found about the town ; bnt dogs owned by bona fide settlers who have to keep them to destroy rabbits. Cr H. Ody, jun„ thought the arrangement should be confined to persons bolding abont 40 acres or more.

Cr Maxton would have much pleasure in including rabbit doge, but wished to know where to draw the line.

Ct Cameron said persons in the town should show that they obtained their living by keeping rabbit and cattle dogs. It was resolved to insert a notice in the Standard in accordance with the resolution of 1883, giving the ranger discretionary powers in the matter. Jackson's Road. Cr Cotter suggested tkat the Overseer be requested to rake stones off Jackson's Road. Cr Cotter seconded. Agreed to. Subsided Fence. Cr Cotter proposed, and Cr Maxtuu seconded, that the owner of the property between the Foresters’ Anns and the un» occupied blacksmith's shop, be requested to erect a proper fence- Carried. No. 1 Line. The Mayor said persons were destroying the track on No 1 Line, by taking sand from the right of way. Cr Cotter said the road was outside the Borough. Much discussion ensued, and the matter lapsed. Weeds. Cr Maxton proposed, and Cr Cotter seconded, that the Overseer he instructed to ■ ear the weeds and other growth from the uu street. Cr Cameron proposed, as an amendment, that owners of property be requested to clear the weeds in front of their property. Seconded by Cr Fabiau, pro forma. Tne amendment was lost. The original motion was declared carried.

On the motion of Cr Varubam. seconded by Cr Maxton, his Worship the Mayor was appointed a member of the Works Committee.

Mb Sheet's Retort; In accordance with your instructions 1 have examined the site of the proposed bridge (Matarawa) and the line of road to connect it with the Kuratiwhiti Road. The approach to the bridge on the Greytown end is close to the division fence between sections 33 add 34, and the distance up to the present road is 3,700 links. By taking the road on the boundary of the section a fence will be saved. For about 20 chains the ground is low and easily flooded, but the soil is principally shingle, and therefore very favourable for road making. At the end of this stretch is a wide creek or waste water channel. The creek if bridged will only require a double span platform bridge—with 50 feet of waterway, and will cost Ll6O. I would recommend a sorway which can be properly built for aboat L4O, and will not be carried away by the floods. I estimate the cost of this road as under ; Forming and metalling 37 chains at 35s .. .. .. L 64 15 0 Extra work at creek .. .. L4O 0 0 Forming and metalling Kuratiwhiti Road, including hole at end of Matarawa road .. Ll2 0 0 Purchase of 3 acres .. .. L 75 0 0 Fencing 37 chains .. .. L 37 0 0 Total L 238 15 0 The Council then adjoarned.