BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 17 June 1925, Page 6

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETI G. The Masterton Borough Council held its monthly meeting last nighty there being present, the Mayor (.Mr. T. Jordan; and Crs. H. J. 0 Lean, D. 'Threadwell, C. B. McClymont, xi. M. Peacock, W. Kemp, T. Dixon, W. 11. S. Heaps, X. Jenkins, J. B. Rue, E. 1. .barton and H. !i. Daniell. The Masterton County Council is to be notified that South road has been repaired. ihe Masterton County Council wrote asking for a deposit of £/5 in connection with sewerage work on To Ore Ore road and Gordon street, Lansdowne.— It was decided that the request be acceded to. 1 Joseph Habib, taxi-driver, asked for the installation of a telephone at the Jackson street sta d. fi. Ihicadwell moved .that telephone rent to September 30 be asked for, and not tor tne full year’s rent. Or. O’Leary seconded the motion, which was carried.

Seven taxi-drivers drew attention to the fact that the by-law regarding red reflectors on cycles was not being observed. The matter was held over until consideration of the ne.w by-laws. (Jr. Dixon asked the Council to seriously consider stopping the W aipoua flood* water going straight across the Park paddock. He moved that gineer report on the matter. The motion was carried.

Cr. Threadwell asked the Council to affirm the principle of a reserve account for the gas department, and the Mayor suggested that the subject be brought up by Cr. Threadwell when the gas accounts were considered, after the expenditure on the new plant. It was decided that the attention of the police be drawn to the by-law requiring efficient silencers on motor cycle in the borough. A resolution was passed that the Government be urged to amend the Lights on Vehicles Act to provide that, where parking places are sufficiently lighted, motorists be allowed to leave cars there unlighted. A letter was received from the Wairarapa Hospital Board, stating that patients’ fees outstanding (last year’s figures in parentheses) were as follows: Masterton Hospital £10,416 12s 8d (£7587 7s lid), Grcytown £3522 7s 9d (£2401 ss), Pahiatua £1524 10s Od (£1164 0s 6d). The Mayor (Mr. T. Jordan) said that the amounts were steadily growing, but the Board did not seem to be taking any action to recover them from those able to pay. He had heard of no actions in the Court. The levies of the Borough had grown from about £3OO a few years ago to over £I4OO. It was time -something was done. Or. 11. H. Daniell moved that the Board be asked what- proportion of the accounts had been paid. The motion was carried, Crs. Kemp and Threadwell dissenting. 'Reference was made by Cr. 11. M. Peacock to a leading article that appeared recently in a newspaper regarding the overcrowding of the Opera House and the blocking of the exits. He asked if there was anything in the by-laws to .prohibit this dangerous state of affairs. He, himself, had seen the crowding, and steps should be taken immediately to stop it. The, Mayor .(Mr T. Jordan) said that there was a provision in the new bylaws dealing with the matter. iCr. Rue thought the companies visiting Masterton should not be antagonised. If the Fire Board used the bludgeon on these companies, instead of administering the by-law tactfully, it would be "good-bye” to visits from them.

Cr. Peacock, while agreeing with Cr. Rue as to the administration of the by-law, maintained that one disaster would be worse than the loss of all the companies. Gr. T. S. Jenkins did not believe the companies would wish to sacrifice the safety of the audience for the sake of a few shillings, and they would, probably, take the proper steps if their attention was drawn to the position. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Finance Committee reported inter alia: A letter was received from Mr. A. C. Major on behalf of a client asking the Council to remit his rates on the ground of extreme poverty, etc. — in reply .thereto, it was decided that Mr Major be informed a resolution on

the minutes of tne Council precludes the Council from complying with his request, but that his client can avail himself of the privileges in accordance with the tenor of the resolution in question. In reply to a letter from the •Solway School Committee requesting the Council to place the Solway State 9ehool within the borough of Masterton, it was decided that the committee be informed the Council regrets .that the Municipal Corporations Act dealing with alterations of boundaries of borough prevents them from complying with their request. It was decided that traction engine owners be requested to obtain Jhe consent of the Local Authority controlling the roads (in accordance with section 0, sub-section 5 of Regulations in relation to the Heavy Traffic Act) before operating their traction engine .over such roads controlled by the local authority. WORKS COMMITTEE. The Works Committee reported inter alia as follows: Mr. R. 11. Anker w'rote in connection with the Council granting him permission to sub-lct his stand at the Post Office corner, etc. In reply thereto that Mr. Anker be written to for further details before, .the Council

comes to a decision, jh reply to the letter from the Lansdowne School Committee re gravel being carted from the Waipoua river at a point wiiere the school grounds abut on the river.— That the secretary be informed the subject matter of his letter had been referred to the borough engineer, who reports that the fact of taking metal from the Waipoua at the point indicated is acting as a safeguard to the school property rather than a menace. A petition was received signed by If. W.. Jackson and 15 others re the state

of Mnc.arn. street road and footpath.— The engineer reported he had already commenced repair work in this street. Two further applications were received for drainage connection on the deferred payment system, and in each case granted. Two tenders were received for a further batch of four drainage connections, and the tender of Messrs Jones and Joyce was accepted. A letter having been received from Mr. Ashcroft, the recently appointed assistant sanitary inspector, to the effect that whilst waiting the Council’s decision re the appointment lie had accepted a position at Otahuhu, and therefore, had to decline the Masterton appointment, your committee resolved to re-open the matter, and witli the object of making a further choice- have and selected two, which we send forngain gone through the applications ward for the Council’s final decision. Two tenders were, received for the supply of dog collars for the current season, and in each case the price was

the same, viz., 10/- per dozen. For the purpose of deciding which firm s tender should be accepted yo-ur committee drew, when Mr. A. Donald won and his tender wa9 accepted. It was decided that tenders be called forthwith for the delivery of 500 yards of gravel at dumps to be named, and that such tenders be in by Tuesday next, June 16th, 1025. The engineer reported on a culvert in Ngaumatawa road in front of Mr. Buiok s property, written to inquiring what proportion of and it was decided that Mr. Buick L the cost of a new culvert he was prepared to bear. —It was decided that in view of the Council having been granted the use of a section in Kuripuni owned by Mr. T. E. Mannell for the purpose -of a metal dump, that Mr. Mannell be paid the amount of rates on the said section for the use of same. GAS COMMITTEE. The Gas and Abattoir Committee reported inter alia as follows: —That Crs. Barton and Heaps be appointed to make an inspection of the coke delivery truck and report on same to The next meeting of the Gas Committee. The supply of coke being insufficient to meet the ‘demand, that the same order of preference be observed in connection with the sale of coke as at present existing, viz., hospitals, schools, industries, private. That the engineer be instructed to get the necessary repairs to abattoir doors, also supply new grate in the open fire-place in the abattoir cottage, and repairs to well. That he bring down a report to the next meeting of the abattoir committee in connection with the drainage at the abattoirs.