MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2125, 21 October 1885, Page 2

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Masterton Borough Council was hold last evening, Present-His Worship tlio Mayor, and Crs Williams, Perry, Chamberlain, Gapper, Mason, Hessey, Heron, Muir, and Bacon. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Hospital and Charitable Am. A number of communications on this subject from the Government were received, bearing on the election of a member of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. It appeared from these that the Council had failed to meet with a quorum on the proper day qf the oleotion, namely, the loth inst.,' and tfyo Governor therefore requested that tlje Goijncjl would recommend the Government to appoint the Sfaynr or one qf its numbers, and further requesting fljat the member so appointed should preside at the first meeting of the Hospital Board to be held in Masterton,

A lengthy discussion ensued upon the interpretation of the clauses of the Act relating to the appointment, as to whether a iijember qf the Cpuncij only could be appointed, qr whether anyone outside would suffice. ' Or Perry moved that His Worship the Mayor bp appointed, The motion was seconded by Or Heron and carried. FIRE BRIGADE, A letter was received from the Secretary to the Masterton Fire Brigade forwarding the resolution to resign in a body passed by the Firo Brigade, and also a statement of the liabilities of the Brigade, which amounted to £69 5s 6d, The Mayor said he would have been glad if the assots had also been valued. Cr Williams said the money assets, if got in, would amount to about £3O, but he could not say how much the plant was worth.

Or Muir said it would take soihe time to value all the plant and make out the statement, the Secretary was not paid, and could not be expected to do it. The plant eto. might be worth about £l5O, which would not include the engines. Cr Hessey suggested that the matter should be referred to a committee.

The Mayor said whether the plant was worth anything or not, he was certainly in favor that they should take over the affairs of the Brigade. The Brigade had not worked very well the last two years, and a reorganization was desirable, They laid in a wooden town and had to main, tain a Brigade at any cost. He moved that the matter be referred to a Committee consisting of Crs Heron, Hessey, Perry, Mason and the mover, to report at the next meeting of the Council. Seconded by Cr Heron. Cr Gapper said that the matter had come before them in a very unsatisfactory manner. The Brigade might at least have appointed a Committee to meet a Committee of the Council to consider the matter. There would then have been no antagonistic feeling, as at present, The Mayor said the Committee of the Council should have power to make arrangments for the temporary appointment of a Brigade,

Cr Williams thought it very unfair for Cr Gapper to talk of the Brigade in the manner he had done, considering that they were a voluntary body. They gave their time for nothing, and were supplied with appliances which were perfectly useless to put out a large fire, The Council should pay at least £IOO per annum.

Or Perry wondered that the Brigade should be so thin-skinned, If they could not stand all the slating the papers gave them, they could not stand fire, (Laughter.) Cr Gapper explained that all he found fault with was that the members of the

Brigade -should have resigned in tho manner they did,' The Mayor said individually the members of the Brigade deserved the warmest thanks of the ratepayers, but there were one or two who had misled them, • Tho motion was then amended to empower the Committee to form a new Brigade, and carried. The first meeting of the Committee was fixed for 3 p.m. on the following day. THE CARTERTON STOCK SHOW, A letter was received from the Secretary of tho Wairarapa Pastoral SwJieti, asking that the 4th November, i»eing the day of the annual show of Me Society, be proclaimed a public hpMay. Or Hessey ask" l ! whether Carterton people would proclaim a holiday for the day of the, Masterfon show, (Laughter). Cr Kuir moved, and Cr Mason seconded, that the request bo acceded to, Tho resolution was lost on the voices, Crs expressing themselves to tho effect that it was not meant as an act of discourtesy to the Society, bnt that' tho motion was negatived simply because there were too many holidays,

WORKS COMMITTEE. The report of the Works Committee was read and adopted. BANNISTER STREET, Or Gapper said ho thought that it was time that they took steps to widen' Bannister street. He pointed out that after the Register and other offices were burnt down, £3OO was offered for land to widen the street, and £SOO was asked for. At the next fire efforts were again made, but again fell through. He moved that a Committee be appointed to interview Mr Maeara and Mr Elkins and ascertain on what terms they will be prepared to concede 16ft 6in towards widening the street, the committee to consist of Crs Heron, Perry and the mover. Seconded by Cr Hessey. The Mayor said he was almost afraid to speak on the subject, for he had advocated street widening, water works, and the purchase of a steam fire engine, and failed to do much, The question waa whether tho ratepayers would agree to borrow money for such a purpose, The Town Clerk said he understood that it was the intention of Messrs Macara and Elkins to build about eight feet away from the street,

Or Bacon pointed out with regard to the amount likely to be asked for the land, that tlio widening of the street would really enhance the value of the land, and other ratepayers could not be expected to contribute much.

Cr Muir said if the buildings were put back they had no guarantee that they would not be extended to the street at some future time. If the street had been a chain wide the late fire would never have spread across the street, and the property of those now most concerned would not have suffered so much. The resolution was carried. WORKS AND FINANCE COJfMITTBES. The Mayor moved the following motiqn standing in his name, ''That a joint Finance and Works' Committee be appointed, to consist of five members, three to form a quorum." He explained that the work could be more simply done, There was no necessity for having two committees when one could do the work, Cr Gappcr seconded the motion, and said the members should beseleoted by ballot, Cr Perry thought the plan would not work at all. The committee would rule the Council, Cr Heron opposed the motion. Only quite recently the Finance Committee had objected to the expenditure of about £9O in one street. Or Muir pointed oqt tj)at the Qas Committee had six members, and they did not find that it ruled the Council. ' The Mayor said at the present time the Works Committee met first, and then the Finance Committee had nothing to do but pass their accounts. Cr Hessey suggested %t tlje two pominittees reverse the order of thjngs, The resolution was lost by three to seven, only the Mayor and Crs Gapper and Muir voting for it. Cr Bacon moved that Crs Heron, Perry, Hessey, and Gapper, be appointed a Works Compiittee, Seconded by CrMiuon and carried. Cr Perry moved, and (Jr Mtpr seconded, That the Finance Committee in future meet at 7.30 p.m., and the Works Committee at 8 p.m.—Carried. WATERWORKS, The report of the Engineer on procuring a water supply was lajd on the table, but on the Town Clerk reporting that the Engineer was preparing a siiplementary report, was allowpdtp stand oyer, The Council then adjourned.