NAPIER MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 2988, 22 January 1881, Page 2

NAPIER MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The ordinary meetin_ of the above Council took place last evening.

Present: The Mayor (in the chair), Councillors Mouteiib, Swan, Wall, McKay, dc Lisie, Leonard, Cotton, and Ellis. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. VALUATION ROL_. The Mayor stated that he had received the valuation list for the year 1881, and it gave a total of £56,248, being £1,500 in excess year's valuation. APPOINTMENT OF ENGINEER. Cr. McKay, pursuant to notice, moved, " That Robert Lamb, E<q., be appointed engineer to the Borough of Napier at a salary of £300 per annum." Cr. McDougall seconded the motion. Cr. McKty said he had little to say. It was unnecessary to recapitulate the whole bearings of the matter. He believed that Mr Lamb would make an excellent engineer, and do all that was required of him by the borough. Cr. M Dougall said snfficient reasons had been given for their support of Mr Lamb, and as to his professional ability his merits as pet forth in his testimonials were quite sufneitnt for that Council, and be sincerely believed bim to be a fit man for the office of borough engineer. Cr. Monteith paid there was a recommtndation from the Public Works Committee before the Council, but the rules of their procedure prevented its being discussed until after the notices of motion had been disposed of. He considered tbe Council, in confining themselves to local men, were establishing a bad precedent. He looked upon it as an introduction of the thin end of the wedge ; it was a principle that would apply to all borough officers, contracts, etc. Cr. M'Dougall had said that "all things being equal a local man should be apDointed."' This would also apply to borough contracts. Cr. M'Dougall: Certainly. Cr. Monteith : And they might say, when a local tenderer wa-s slightly above the lowest tenderer, " Oh, it's only a slight difference, give the local man the preference," and to that sort of tbiug there was no limit. They were introducing protection in its worst form, and if carried out it had theStendency to play into the hands of a few. He did not wish to make any disparaging remarks, but he was quite competent to pxamine for himself. He would ask if the different testimonials of the proposed engineers were before the Council for inspection.

The Town Clerk, in reply to the Mayor, stated they had all been returned.

Cr. Monteith: Such teing the case there could be no comparison. As for Mr Lamb he saw none of the qualities spoken of and attributed to him at Home. One Councillor had said that testimonials went for nothing ; he could get a bushel of them in an hour. Such being the case, they should get testimonials from places tbey knew something about, say in New Zealand. Amongst the applicants were men who had been employed by tbe General Government. That of itself was a guarantee of their ability, resides which tbey knew of their having been good practical men, whose work could be pointed out and spoke for itself. He was not a judge of Mr Lamb's ability, nor were other Councillors, as tbey had uothing before them, but he would urge them not to localise the matter too much, as they had decided to appoint a local man.

Cr. Ellis: Log-rolling. Cr. Monteith believed the motion would be carried, but nevertheless he wou'd like to record his opinion, and that was they were lo.alising the matter too much. There were other local men besides Mr Lamb who were competent for the position, and he maintained they should advertise afresb. The circumstance* now were different from when they previously advertised. There were probably other local men who had not applied, being deterred from doing so knowing they would be placing themselves in competition with men of higher qualifications throughout the colony. It would be utterly devoid of principle and unjust to carry this motion without letting every man ia the province have a fair chance. He would move, as an amendment, tbe recommendation of the Public Works Committee, as it could not come before Cr M'Kay's motion, "That as the Council has affirmed the desirability of confining the appointment of engineer to local applicants, applications be advertised for in the local papers for ten days from date; salary £300 per annLm." It was only fair to everyone concerned that it should be made public tbat tbe Council were going to confine the appointment to a local man. Cr. Eliis secouded tbe amendment. He knew whatever arguments his side mightbring forward in support of any other local engineer, even if they showed him superior, would have no effect. The whole proceedings seemed to him to be a parody on the comic song. "Jam, jam, jim " ; with them it was " Lamb, Lamb. Lamb, nothing but They had tried to meet them tairly in every way, but as nothing would touch their conscience? but Lamb it was unnecessary to say anything more on the matter. Cr. Leonard hoped tbe amendment would be looked at in a straightforward He feared to give his vote on the question, as if it passed it would only be by tbe casting vote of the Mayor. He feared that there was something beyond the votes in foisting this thing on the Council. Cr. de Lisle said Cr. Ellis had stated that whatever his side brought forward, tbey were determined to support Mr Lamb. He was welcome to his opinion but as far as he (the speaker) was concerned, it was fal«e. They had not brought forward any one superior to Mr Lamb. Cr. Ellis: Facts are stubborn things. Cr. de Lisle : Very. Cr. Ellis: Your actions in Council. Cr. de Lisle: Tbey have certainly the merit ot consistency, which yours haven't. What he could find out about Mr Lamb from contractors who bid worked under bim proved to his mind that he was thoroughly up to his work, and in every way a reliable man. Cr. Ellis: Name one ot the contractors. Cr. de Lisle : Cr McDougall is one. It had been stated that Mr Lamb was not an engineer, but amongst the twentysix applicants there was only one certified engineer, and that was Mr Saunders. Mr Marchant was not a certified engineer. Cr. Swan: What is a certified engineer ? Cr. de Lisle : One who has eerved his apprenticeship in an engineer's office, and received his indentures at the termination of his apprenticeship. Or. de Lisle: No, but what is architects work at home is the sort of work a borough engineer would have to do here— drains, building, etc. Mr Lamb, from what he bad gathered, would be quite capable of undertaking drainage works, and he should certainly support his appointment. It had been thrown up agaiDst them that they would not give reasons, but a man's own modesty ishould prevent his giving reasons.

Cr. Swan said it was hoping against hope to have any more controversy on the matter. No amount of arguments would alter this cast-iron vote. They might bring forward reasons for the course adopted by him and other Councillors, but it would be only waste of time. He was prepared to prove that Mr Marchant was a properly certified engineer, and if not he was certified by bis works, and they were such as to fit him for any position. He was the beat qualified man that applied for the appointment, totally regardless of any personal feeling or extraneous circumstances, and for professional ability he stood far and away above the other applicants. (Or. Swan here recapitulated some of the actions taken by the Public Works Committee ) He thought it was tbe duty of Councillors, as guardians of tbe ratepayer's money, to do their duty and elect the fittest man to the office on which the raiepayers' money is expended. It had been said that their present engineer, Mr Peppercorne, was incompetent, but he had always supported him. They had been attacked in the papers for having an incompetent man, and if they elected a man who has not as good credentials as the one they bad in the past, they were taking a retrograde step, and it would lay at the door of the Councillors who voted on the motion • tbey would have to take the whole brunt on their shoulders. Ithad been stated there was now little need for a borough engineer, as the drainage works were nearly completed. He denied it. There was water supply to be devised for the hills ; they had about £30,000 to expend on it, and they should get the best talent to spend tbe money in the most judicious manner possible. As for the drainage works not requiring an engineer, be held that it was more important now than ever to have a good engineer. When a ship was nearing port, instead of discharging the captain, a pilot was engaged to carry her through the straits of difficulty and avoid the rocks and shoals. Such a thing was never heard of at this important juncture; they should have the best man at the helm, who would, if rocks were ohead. show them out of their difficulties. But it was no good talking any mor« about the matter. If this motion were carried it would cause an action of law which would have to be defended by the Corporation, the onus of which rested with His Worship the Mayor and those Councillors who voted with him in- illegally overthrowing the vote of a majority of the Council, He should propose, as an amendment " That the appointment of a Borough Engineer be left to His Worship the Mayor." The Mayor: I can't receive your amendment, as there is one already before the Council.

Cr. Wall said nothing had been brought forward against Mr Lamb. He was not pledged to any particular man, but they had not brought a better than Mr Lamb forward. He had only seen his testimonials. There were no others before them.

Cr. Swan asked if Mr Marchant's testimonials were not in the possession of the Town Clerk.

The Town Clerk replied to tbe Mayor that tbe testimonials were still in the Corporation office.

The Mayor said they should have been returned. It seemed to him that the whole matter originated in the Public Works Committee, and if anyone was to blame they were the parties. As for the water scheme Cr. Swan spoke about, it was only an extension of their present one, and that did not require a very superior engineer. Any one could carry it out after the original scheme had been devised.

Cr. Swan : I refer to the hills,

Tbe Mayor: So do I. It only requires an extension of the present scheme to carry it on to the hills. He thought Mr Lamb was the very man they wanted. He was both an architect and an engineer, and as architect bis services would be particularly useful to the borough in twelve months' time .in carrying out the building regulations. They were only now carrying out the original recommendation of the Public Works Committee, and that was his reason for voting for it. The amendment was then put to the meeting. Ayes: Crs. Monteith, Swan, Ellis, Cotton, and Leonard. Noes: The Mayor, Crs. Wall, McKay, De Lisle, and McDougall. The Mayor gave his casting vote with the -oes, and declared tbe amendment lost.

Cr. Swan then moved, as an amendment, " Tbat the appointment of a Borough Engineer be left to His Worship the Mayor."

Cr. De Li«le said he would second the motion pro forma

Cr. Monteith said he would second it without any pro forma.

Or. McKay proposed they take no notice of the amendment, as they knew its motive. He never expected to see Councillors run themselves into such childishness.

Cr. Ellis : Same old varo.

Cr. McKay: Yes; same old yarn, to see matured men reducing themselves to children. He would vote against anything childish. Cr. Swan : I hope you don't think anything I asked the Mayor to do is childish.

The amendment was put and negatived, and the original motion carried.

Cr. Monteith a*ked if His Worship the Mayor would withhold official notification of the appointment, as five had voted against it.

The Mayor replied tbat he would con* sider it.

Cr. Ellis moved, pursuant to notice, " Tbat Mr L. Lessong be appointed Municipal Engineer," The Mayor said he saw no u.e in bringing forward this motion, as the one just passed virtually rescinded the other two motions.

Cr. Swan said they might have half-a-dozen engineers if tbey liked to appoint tbem.

The Mayor thought it useless to go on with it, as the first motion was

passed

Or. Swan said he was only arguing the abstract point. Notices of motion should be dispensed with somehow.

Cr. Ellis said if the Mayor was going to carry out 6uch arbitrary action he should have to give a notice of motion that would be both unpleasant to himself and the Mayor. The Mayor: You want to be a Councillor and Mayor too. If you want to try it you had better go before the ratepayers of No. 1 Ward again.

Cr. Ellis said he bad nothing more to say ; it was an arbitrary proceeding. Cr. Leonard seconded tbe motion. He said he should like to see the question tested as to motions. Re Cr. M'Kay's expressions of childhood, five of them voted against the motion, and represented the ratepayers, and four only voted for it. He did not consider the Mayor represented the ratepayers. He had two votes on account of his office, but the five in the majority were not to be browbeaten by Councillors in the minority talking about childhood. He would always oppose Mr

Lamb's appointment, as there was something behind it tbey could not under stand, and it would come out soon.

Cr. McDougall agreed tbat there must be something behind in the business. It waß nothing else but a deliberate attempt to delay business, and a disgraceful exhibition also. Cr. McKay was perpectly justified in bis remark about childishness. Cr. Swan's amendment was only intended to throw ridicule and obloquy on the Mayor for the way he exercised his casting vote.

Cr. Swan : No. Cr. McDougall: I can see it in no other light. Cr. Swan and others in the first debate admitted that, next to Mr Marchant Mr Lamb was the be9t man, and after Mr Marchant had beeu disposed of, why this trouble ? As to Cr. Monteith's remark about all things beiug equal, it did not mean anything odd that Councillors might construe it into. Cr. Cotton said he saw that there would be the same deadlock as before, and _c would not vote for the motion. But he did not want any of the odium that would result from a failure.

*J he motion was put and lost. Ayes,

4; Noes, 6* Cr. Swan remarked there was no need of the Mayor's casting vote tbat time. Cr. Leonard then moved, " That as Mr Marchant is now a local engineer, he be appointed engineer to the Borough of Napier." Cr. Swan seconded.

Cr. Leonard said, in support of his motion, that he had heard that Mr Lamb bad left Darlington works—for what he could not say. Cr. Ellis said Mr Lamb bad been seventeen years in a railway office, two years on the Darlington estate, and two years in an architect's office. He made an application for a surveyor's position in Pouth Shields, which be did not get. Those were his qualifications as engineer for a borough. Cr. McDougall asked if Cr. Leonard could bring more than one testimonial of Mr Marchant's from a professional man. Cr. Leonard: Then let them be read.

Cr. McKay said they would be satisfied with only hearing tbe signatures read. They did not want to sit there all night. Cr. Leonard wished them to be read all through. # The Town Clerk was instructed hy the Mayor to read them. After they had been read, Cr. Leonard reviewed them at some length. The motion was then put and lost. CORRESPONDENCE.

The following letters were read and considered: — From Messrs. Sewell and Crowther, Sydney, advising the shipment of a parcel containing medals. From the Hon. John Hall (telegram) ■tating that the Governor proposed to •rrive at Napier on the 29th instant from Taupo, and tbat the Hon Mr Wbitaker would telegraph further when his Excellency leaves Auckland. —It was resolved that an address be prepared for presentation to the Governor, and tbat stens be taken for properly receiving bis Excellency on his arrival. From Messrs Banner and Liddle, renewing their request tbat the footpath in front of their premises in TennysonBtreet be formed and curbed. —Referred to the Public Works Committee.

From Mr Ollivier, Wellington, as follows: —*'I am instructed by Mr Nicholas Marchant, C.E., to intimate to you that he fully intends to hold the Corporation responsible for substantial damages if the Council should refuse to accept his services as engineer. My client entertains, however, a hope that at the meeting to be held on Wednesday next such a course will be adopted as will render litigation quite unnecessary."—lt was decided that tbe letter be referred to the municipal solicitor. PUBLIC WORKS EEPOHT. The Public Works Committee's report, BS already published in the Daily Telegraph, was passed without amendment, with the exception of the last clause, which was withdrawn. Mr lamb's appointment. Cr. Monteith asked leave for the standing orders to be suspended, so that he could move the following resolution, guaranteeing at the same time that his motion would finally decide the matter: —" Tbat the Town Clerk be instructed to withhold the notification of the appointment of Mr Lamb as Borough Engineer until Mr Lamb forwards the necessary documents certifying that he is a qualified engineer." The standine orders having been suspended, Cr. Monteith said, as they had not yet had evidence of Mr Lamb being a qualified engineer, it was only doing their duty to the ratepayers to see he had those qualifications. Or. Swan seconded the motion. Cr. Ellis said he was not goiug to oppose Mr Lamb any more. He did not care if he turned out a chimney sweep. They had been defeated, and ho should accept his defeat.

Tbe motion was put and lost, the mover and seconder only voting for it.

The Council then adjourned.