BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3840, 24 June 1891, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held in the Chambers last evening, there being present His Worship the Mayor, and Crsfi Chamberlain, Feist, Gapper, Mutrie, Dixon, Hessey, and T Chamberlain.

The minutes of the previous meeting having been read,correspondence was dealt with. A letter was received from the Australasian Meter Company with regard to gas fittings, which was referred to the Gas Committee with power to act. Mr C T Natusch, architect, forwarded plans, and specifications for certain buildings about to be erected. These were referred to the Borough Surveyor. Applications from A Henderson and W Grqathead that their names be inserted on the Burgess roll were granted. Mr Lionel Caselberg wrote requesting that no action be taken with regard to the water supply, as Mr Renall had promised to put no water down the channels during the wintor months.

The Mayor stated that Mr Caselberg's supply did not aeffct tbe general supply. On the motion of the Mayor it was resolved to inform Mr Caselberg that the Council has no objection to letting the matter'stand over until after the winter months, provided the ditch in Miriam-Btreet is either filled in or tbe road le veil 3d off before next meeting. The Yolunteer Fire Brigade requested tho patronage of the Mayor and Councillors for the annual ball to bo held on August sth.—lt was decided to reply that the Counoil would be glad to extend its patronage to the ball.

Cr Gapper said i'i was nece3sary to protect the work already done at the Waipoua bridgo. This suggestion had been made by the County Engineer.

The Mayor did not think the Borough Council was liable tor repairs effected to the Waipoua bridge. The opinion of the solicitor for the Borough should be taken on the matter.

On the motion of Or Gapper it was resolved that the Waipoua bridge be protected at a cost not exceeding £lO. The question of the liability of the Council for repairs to the Waipoua bridge was referred to its solicitor, Cr Gapper submitted the plans and specifications for the proposed morgue, and suggested that the Town Clerk be instructed to forward the same to the Road Bo*rd and other bodies, requesting that they will bear their share of the approximate cost. The suggestion of Mc Gapper was agreed to. The Mayor stated that he had waited upon the .Railway Commissioners with regtrd to the crossings iu R6iia.llstreet, and had been

received courteously. The Comrais~ sioners had promised to extend the crossing to forty five-feet. Gr Hessey : That is very satisfactory. The Mayor, in refeiring to the Municipal Conference, stated that there had been considerable difficulty in arriving at a concensus of opinion owing 10 the difference between the cities and the boroughs. A consideraiuoimt of tiro 3 had been frittered away in meddling with the Act. So much time had been taken up in matters of detail that the question of Cnaritable Aid cculd not be brought on. As the cities, however, had an undoubted majority in tho Conference he thought it was to their advantage that the question of Charitable Aid was shelved. A Fire Brigade .-Bill had been prepand, to which he idnld see no great objections. The Bill was really an attempt to compel the fire insurance companies to contribute towards the maintenance of the brigades. It was mentioned at the Conference that tho' fire insurance companies of Christ church contributed either £2OO or £250 a year towards the mainten ance of the Brigades of that city. H could not see why tbey Bhould no receive similar contributions in Mas terton. It was proposed to establish a Fire Brigade Board to takeover the plants of the various Brigades. He had suggested that the Board should take over the plants of existing Brigades at a valuation, but the Conference did not agree to this. He considered this to be a defect. Many useful small provisions had also been made with regard to sanitation. The utmost, good feeling prevailed at the Cocference, and he thought the result would be beneficial. He did not intend to make any charge to the Borough for his services at the. Con- . ference, as he believed lie had been acting for the good of the Borough.

The Mayor thought it was true some action was tat on with regard to obn taining a water supply for the Borough.', They should have the opinion of an Engineer as to the merits and demerits of the various sohemes, and take a poll of the ratepayers in the matter. Cr Uessey stated that the matter of the "Waingawa supply had died out. They vere waiting for the convenience of the County Engineer. , If was resolved to write to the County reminding them of the decision, to obtain an estimate of the cost of a supply. The Council then adjourned.