MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 438, 14 April 1880, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the above took ..place last eveniug. at 7.30 p.m. '''■■■' Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crß Bish, Renall, Woodroofe, .'Gapper, Perry, Gray, arid Vile. "''- MINUTES. The minutes of the previous ordinary, and special meetings were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. Outwards: To-Masterton Fire Brigade, re grant in aid—To Minister Public Works re unemployed men.—To the Chairmau Royal Commission on Local Industries, enclosing suggestions made by Counoil at ■their special meeting. ~- . Inwards: From Treasury, stating that 'the sum of Bs had been paid during the moj)th of■ Feb'iuiry, for.fees,;fines, &c. , to Borough aocount;—From ; G.'' S. W; -Dalrymple, asking- for payment of £? 175.. —From Mr C.. J.-.Fi , eeth;'in reference to same,—From J. C. Ingram, stating he. would be able. to resume his duties' on'. Monday next.r-From Registrar-Geueral, enclosing form's,—From Rev.. J. F, Teakle,- resigning 'his seat on Library ..Committee. •,•••''■

Mr Dalrymple, in his account reudered jo the.Council, asked for paymentof;' the sum of 155,-doctor's bill through injuries received by falling over unprotected part of fuotpath in Queen-sfc, and for fees (L2 2s),awai'ded in tho Assessment Court in ma-

After Borne discussion, it being the opinion of the Council-that they werenot liable to pay the latter; sum of IBs, as taken all precautions with; the road in question, Cr 'Gapper moved, seconded by Or Vile, that the sum of 10s be paid to Mr Dalrymple, as this is the 'amount awarded to him in Assessment Court. .. . Or. Renall ..'.moved,. sebonded by Cr Gappei 1 , that the Bum allowed by the Court. : be paid to Mr W. G. Beard, for fees in the Assesflmeut Court in 1878.—rCarried Cr Vile m6ved, ; seconded by Crßish that the.resignation of'.the-IRev J. F - Teakle as a member of the Library Com-'.-. raitiee be.accepted with regret, and that the thanks of this Council besent to the rev-gentleman for his services as,'hon. secretary, and on the Committee.—Carried..,- . •.-.'.'•. The Town Clerk! was instructed to' acquaint the Inspector of Nuisaiices, pro tern, that his services will not be required after Saturday next, 17th ..' INSPEpIQR OF NUISANCE!}' REPORT. The report of the Temporary Inspector was read, and will be published in extenso in next issue. .

overseer's report. • Mr Hutton, tlie Overseer of Works, laid his usual report before the.Council, and read, • works comkrriaE report. Or. Renall, on behalf of the Works Committee stated that in the absence of Or McOardle, chairman of committee on Waipnua River, they had not been able to. do anything in the matter, Or Renall moved, seconded by Or Gray, that tenders be- called for "forming and raeta'ling about twenty-four chains of the line knpwnas the Railway line.— Carried, .. .■•.,; Or Renall'moved, seconded by Or Gray, that tenders be called.for-metallin? about forty chains of Upper Plain road (Renall 5treet)...,..',,.';, •. .;'...,..',-',;:'.:..." .. i : Cr.'Gapp'er objected to doing this, work at pr&a'nfc In doing this, they would be expending about L2o6,,and yet.they could not find about 125 to .make the Waipnua' river; bank- secure, and. keep the town from devastation. ' . .' Cr'Woodroofe'B opinion was that they .could not afford to metal this street at present. He would more as an amendment that no action be taken as regards metalling Ren'all-'street, and that Crs Biah and Gapper interview Mr Renall in reference to a gravel pit for this work. Seconded by Or Vile. Or Vile asked whether the Finance Committee were able to do this work, and also spend somethingon protective works to the Waipoua. He would not support the metalling Upper Plain road, as,in his opinion, protecting the township from the Waipoua was of greater, importance! . Cr Qapperwas'of opinion they had now as much information from Cr Renall as regards' the offer -pi argraveiynifc, 'and did notv see .why .they,. Bhpuid" ; throw more ; wqrk, oh ; vthe , ' Or R«uall :: had ■ offered., to; 2s 6d sper.chainvihalf-jthe- rulin? price;; and all. tlie.y'-wouidi:require -.would 'be';-an agreementfroin:;GrßenallP>-•;■;;•;;-'(,£■••.: ~ - -The; amendment,was put/andlgst,the. .original ■'motion b^ing; ; the• Mayory;6irting vbtel% ; ,i- : :'.<:'.. O ',.■■ [■'/■ : '.): •• ,;gravblJht....-;L- ..'■ ■, Cr ',Gapper;moved, .seconded', by :Cr Oray, .that the offer, oFOr, Rdill of.-»;

gravel pit at 2s 6d per chain be accepted, and that the Town Clerk be instructed to draw up agreement of same, and sub-' mit.it to Council at the next meetini*.-*. Carried.. .-.■ „-.' /,<'■■] ■-..■.' ."-■ . Tbe following tender's were then for metalling seven-chains of. the Bouth end of Chapel-street:-Joseph Corbett," LI 18s per chain; Hopkins and'.Dundee,/ Ltl3sper •whole: The tender' of E, Lancely WajK? accepted,. 'v'-I- : 'iM . WAIPOUAEIVER. ; - '.,Wti -, Before commencing' on this subject, #-; Gapper resigned, his Beaton the Works. . Committee, as '.-he considered they were nntdoing their duty in this matter. He had tried to do his utmost towards getting something done to protect the. town, but he was sorry to say- he hadnot'thet with that Buppoft from his; colleagues on that committee which should be accorded to a work of such importance. Cr Renall spoke at some length on the question of river encroachments. If any Councillor brought a proper plan before the Council, he would give him his hearty support and advice. Temporary works were of no avail. He instanced the Hutt

river as an example. If- they wished to remedy the evil, they _must' first remove the cause. He'had been repeatedly to see the river, and had come to the conclusion that nothing could be done to it temporarily—they .must do iL thoroughly. He bad had thirty years' experience in these matters, and he would wish to know what

the Government intended to do in the matter. What he would propose would be to call a public meeting and lay the question before the ratepayers. In his opinion the Council money'could not be touched for this work, and it was probable that a special Tate" would have to be levied.. .Councillor'Gapper should not take" 'umbrage •at the action he' (the speaker) had taken, asjiejdidnot wish to see money thrown away in. a foolish manner. He would move—" That this Council point out to Government, the dangerous state of the river, and aßk what action it proposed taking in the matter. "• Councillor Wpodroofe seconded. Councillor Gapper held that the Chairman of the Works Committee; had embodied in his report that it* was urgent that steps should;be at. once taken in the matter, and some three week's had now elapsed. If the. Chairman .was of opinion that he could.npt take action in the matter, why not Bay.so, and let them employ an eugineer and get the work accomplished. Even if' they spent; £3O on temporary works, and they proved ineffeo tiye, the ratepayers would f still* see that the Council were looking after their interests.'

Councillor Renall said ho expeoted to sea a report from Cotmoillqr-McOardle, Chairman of the Committee appointed to report on-the river, laid before them that evening, In the speaker's opinion they oould do nothing but turn;the river into ite old course, and to would require a piece of Adams'land; .Councillor Gapper had forgotten : that -the Council had appointed.a committee for-the: special purpose of reporting on tlie'beat hreanß of protecting the town.' ',''"'''"' ' : ,'.' ■ . , • 'Councillor Woodroofe.advdcated calling a public meeting, and hoped 'Government woiild do the matter.' The Majfor said he did riot think ratepayers would lay the charge of dilatori.ness against tho. Council, as they.had tried all possible meapa .to get the work done. At first the Council thought it a County affair, and a deputation had waited upon a Committee of West County, but without avail. He Councillor Gapper would not persist.in tis^Resolution of resigriing.his seat on the Works Committee. If he did, he (the Mayor) hoped the Council would not accept it.. The resolution was'their put and carried. •...-... .'., The question, of calling a public meeting was left over until they had obtained an answer from the Government.. ■ Councillor Vile moved, seconded by Councillor Bish—"That in the interval between this and next meeting, County ■ West be applied to, asking if to kindly grant the services of its engineer to furnish'this'Council withi ;planand estimate of the cost of constructing such'protective works as will efficiently protect the banks of. .the Waipqua-river,' at its recent outbreak above Masteft'on,, from further •overflows. • The estimate to be provided before nextmeeting of Council...'. '•.Councillor Renall, was of opinion that they should not pass such a resolution as they would be drawing the.work upon i themselves as if the: Government | they would Bay the Council, intend to do '.it themselves-, and let thenudo it. He would give it a decided negative.' ', Councillor Woodroofe. was-of the.same opinion.? The resolution was then put arid carried': six voting, for, anid two against Or Woodroofe asked whether Or Renall had procured a- title for the Council for land-purchased in Chapel-street for street widening? Cr-Renall said he was prepared to sign .the. agreement as'soon as the quick' fence was: removed,.and the old fence replaced. Or Bish moved, seconded by Or Perry, that the fence as standing be removed by the Council.—Carried. .',' Cr Gapper moved", seebndedby Or Vile, that Government be.appUed to'toassist in making a road to the Railway Station. Cr .Gapper -moved, 'seconded by Cr Renall, that a committee consisting of the Mayor, and Ors Vtlej Bish, and Renall, draw;-up a memorial asking their members

in. Parliament td'-librae up and address their constituents at an early date, and take preliminary steps in the matter of taking Hall, <k -Carried. The Council then-adiourned.