MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 9017, 17 March 1908, Page 5

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Gas aud Finance Committee of the Mastertou Borough Council was hold iv the Borough Council Chambers last night, Present —Or.. Temple (iv the chair), Elliott, Yarr. GAS MANAGER'S REPORT. I havo the honour to report as follows :—Gas mauutactured for the mouth of February shows au increase of 41 per cent, as compared with the corresponding pvuiod of last year. The avei'aga rate of iucreaso for the past eleven mouth's being 8(5 per o.ut.

During the month eight new services have beeu laid aud fourteen new meters fixed.

The manager of the Waugauui Corporation Gas Works advises that he wll be able to give delivery of the exhauster purchased from them within a fortnight, the large oue which is replacing it having beeu delivered at the. works.

I have to report that the tar stocks are practically depleted. The Works Committee haviug beeu supplied with some 12,000 odd gallons siuce October Ist, 1907. I would like a direction from the Gas Committee as to whether customers other thau the Borough Council are to be supplied for the time being. I have refused all outside order . Re Johusou-street extension of gas maiu. This svork is authorised aud cau be carried out early next moi-th, which will bring the expenditure iuto the coining financial year. The proposed Makora-rmd extension I will report ou for next meetiug of the committee, aud if approved of by the committee, the two works cau be carried out simultaneously.

Re stokers' wages: The meu have approached me iv this matter, stating that the rate of pay at present in force is not adequate for the work they have to do, especially duriug the winter seasou. I beg leave .o recommend for the consideration of the committee the following rates, viz.. Leading stokers to recieve 10s per shift, second hands to recieve 9s per shift. Both classes to receive a fortnight's holiday ou full pay at the expiration of twelve mouths service. The meu also state that the atmosphere of the generator cellar is very unpleasaut aud unhealthy to work in. This is to a certain extent true, the ventilation not being very good. This fault, I propose to remedy, either by an induced draught to be obtained by running an air pipe iuto the old chimney shaft, or by forcing a larger volume of air iuto the cellar—either plau will have the desired effect. The plaut, as a whole, is in good order.

Gas made for the mouth 1,711,300 ft, au increase of 498,400 over the correspoudiug month last year. The gas made per ton of coal was 10.371 feet; coke sold, 10(59 bags; tar sold, 3488 gallons. Total revenue for the mouth, £817 14s lOd, as compared with £49(5 2s 4d, au increase of £321 12s (sd.

The report was received and adopted.

The following report of the actingTown Clerk, dated Kith March, was submitted:—l submit herewith a report as requested in these matters iv the following terms : — "Dixou-street. —In this matter Mr Macara only was concerned. An agreement was entered into with Mr Macara for payment by instalments of au agreed sum, aud I understand there is no betterment worth troubling about.

"York-street.—l have beeu unable at preseut to find any record of this.

"Cross or Park-street.—lv this case an award w r as made in favour of Mr Jones of £20, Mr Camerou £25, and Mr Hoar £375. I understand that Mr Hoar, objecting to the award, has appealed, aud that the appeal is peudiug. The appeal iv itself is uo bar to claims for betterment being made, aud I understand that betterment cau be claimed only as against the Sullivan's trustees as owners, and Mr O'Meara' as lessee opposite Mr Hoar, and Miss Williams opposite Mr Camerou and Mr Jones. If it is desired that betterment claims be filed I will take the instructions of the Committee.

'' Bannister-street. —I understand that claims-have beeu made and discharged excepting part of the Temperance Trustees property. So far I have been uuable to trace a plan pre • pared by Mr Frasi, in 19015, on these subjects."

Arising thereout as to Yorkstreet, the acting-Town Clerk was requested to endeavour to furnish further information:—

"Cross or Park-street.—That claims for bettermeut be placed in the bauds of Mr Pownall, with instructions to prepare and file chums."

As to Bauuister-street, thai the amount of b ittermeut together with amount of rates owiug be sent to the Laud Registrar for attachment against the property.

The acting-Town Clerk reported that he had furnished the Borough Solicitor with the necessary figures of laud required for this purpose.

Accounts amouutig to £487 (5s „4d, as set out iv orders ou Treasurer, were considered and passed for paymeut.