BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3052, 7 April 1881, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6.

The Council met at 8 p.m. Present - His Worship the Mayor (io the chair), Councillors Wall, M'Kay, de Lisle, Ellis, Leonard, Swau, M'Dougall, Monteith and Cotton, PROPOSAL FOR CONFERENCE. From the Manawatu County Council (circular) referring to the sale of Crown lands, the construction of new roads, the imposition of school fees, and a number of otber items having reference to the necessities of local bodies, and proposing a conference of delegate! to meet at Wellington before the sitting of the House of ReDresentatives. The Mayor moved that the circular be referred to the Public Works Committee for their consideration and report. Cr. Leonard seconded the motion. Cr. Swan could not see the use of faking up the time of the Committee with tbe consideration of such a circular, it had more to do with the County Council than with them. There were some of the clauses he entirely disagreed with, and it would be absurd to go to the expense of sending a representative to a conference at Wellington. Cr. McDougall thought that the Council conld deal with the matter very promptly. Tbe whole scheme appeared to him a gigantic humbug. It was proposed to form the wbole of the Borongh ' Councils of the colony into a hugh cooperative institution for the purpose of loer-rolling. They had nothing to do with the tea, sugar, and beer duties, and other matters referred to in the circular. He moved " That the Clerk be instructed to acknowledge receipt of the circular." Cr. Swan seconded the amendment. Cγ. Monteith thought there were some clauses in the circular which deserved consideration, and he would support the motion. Cr. de Lisle thought that the circular referred to matters that ought to interest every one of them, and it was their duty to take an interest in legislation which concerned the welfare of the whole co'.ony. The motion waa carried on the show of hands. CHARITABLE AID. The Mayor said that since their last meeting a deputation from the Charitable Aid Committee had waited upon him, and he bad agreed to communicate with the Government by telegram and ascertain what was intended to be done. A telegram in reoly had been received requesting the Corporation to carry on the charitable aid in the meantime, and the Government would recoup them for any expenditure incurred until there wae some legislation on the subject. The telegrams bad been forwarded to the Charitable Aid Committee.

EXTENSION OP WATEE SUPPLT. From the Corporation Solicitor, in reply to the question " Can the Corporation legally expend money from the loan account in extending the water supply to districts tbat can be eepplied from tbe present reservoir P" Reply: "In my opinion certainly not, the obvious meaning of the eighth section of the Municipal Corporation Acts Amendment Act, 1880, being that no moneye appropriated for special purposes are to be expended for any other purpose."

' NEW BOAD. From the Municipal Engineer, stating that the Government had consented to the formation of a road to connect Miller street with Wellsley road, and that Mr Baker had been instructed to make a survey of the same.

MISCELLANEOUS. From Mr Charles Dolbel, asking the Corporation to take over a portion of section 377 for the purpose of making a road.

From the executors of the late James Watt, asking the Corporation to take over a portion of section 376 for the came purpose. From the Chief Fire Inspector forwarding quarterly accounts, and account in connection with tbe telephone.

EUBBISH ON THE BEACH. From the Corporation Solicitor, in answer to the following question, " If the Inspector of Nuisances sees any person depositing either night soil, or rubbish, or any offensive matter, between high and low water mark on the beach, is it competent for him to take legal proceedings against such person for a breach of the bye-laws of the Borough ?" Reply : " As the space between high and low water msrk is not within the boundaries of the borough, the bye-laws of the borough do not apply to such space. By section No. 30 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, the Governor may in the manner pointed out by that section alter the boundaries of the borough so as to include therein the foreshore or space betwen high and low watermark, and if this was done the bye-laws of the borough would then apply." Cr. Ellis said he believed the foreshore for three miles in each direction was under the control of the Harbor Board, and it was for them to attend to this matter and see that no nuisance was permitted. Cr. Leonard thought it was a matter which ought to be settled definitely at once as to whose business it was.

Cγ. Swan thought the quickest and most satisfactory way would be to requisition the Governor to alter the boundaries of the Borough so as to' bring the foreshore under their their control, and he would move that a petition be forwarded with that object. Or. McDougall seconded the motion. The Mayor said that, although it was the duty of the Harbor Board to attend to the matter, they would not do it, and it was no use referring the matter to tbem.

Cr. Leonard moved, " That the matter be handed over to the Harbour Board to deal with."

Cr. Monteith seconded the amendment. Cr. McKay would support the motion. If they were not the proper persons to move in the matter, thea the proper persons would come forwaad when they saw that the Council were determined to have the nuisance abated. The original motion was carried. REPORT PUBLIC "WORKS COMMITTEE. The following report from the Public Works Committee was read : —

Your committee having met pursuant to notice beg to recommend the council as follows : —

1. Chaucer-road encroachments.—Acting on the advice of Mr H. Baker, chief surveyor, who kindly attended the meeting, your committee recommend, with reference to Chaucer-road, that an authorised surveyor he employed to survey the lino between Faraday-street and Chaucer-road, and thus ascertain the real proper width of the street, and that Mr Lessong be appointed for this work.

2. Re-survey of the town. —That a survey of the town, subject to the following conditions, be authorised, viz.:—The municipal engineer to confer with the city surveyor on the best positions for fixing certain stone or concrete blocks, to be used as starting points in new surveys ; that these be fixed by survey, and the municipal solicitor be instructed to draft a bill for Parliament legalising the position of these posts as laid down by such survey.

3. Wellesley-road.—That the municipal engineer be instructed to communicate with the Government, and again endeavor to obtain some definite information as to their intentions with regard to the Wellesley-road approaches. 4. Repairs, Hyderabad-road.—That the tender of Messrs Harrison and M'Dowol for the sum of £58 be accepted. 5. Monthly Keports.—That the reports of the engineer, inspector of nuisances, and overseer of roads be adopted. 6. That the vonohers for expenditure for March be passed and ordered to be paid, ■with the exception of one for £12 12sforthe sale of four swamp sections, which is withheld for further explanation. Geo. H. Swan, Chairman.

On clause one being read, Cr. M'Dougall asked what reasons the Committee had for appointing Mr Lessongr to do this survey. Cr. Swan said it was suggested by Mr Baker that some independent person should be appointed, and Mr Kennedy had first been suggested, but as he was out of town Mr Lessong was named, and his appointment had the thorough approval of Mr Baker. Cγ. M'Dougall said that the reason he asked the question was because some question or' skill might be made out of it, and it might have had reference to the election of Mr Lamb. He though the Borough Engineer could have done the survey. Cγ. Monteith said the reason why Mr Lamb was not requested to make the survey was that he was not a licensed surveyor under the Act. Cγ. de Lisle said that, supposing Mr Lessong did the survey, and decided that the Corporation was right, or tbat they were wrong, he did not see that they would be in any better position than they were now.

The clause was then adopted. On clause two being read, Cγ. Swan iaid the suggestion had come from Mr Baker, and the Council were much indebted to Mr Baker for the valuable information and suggestions he had given them. Cγ. M'Dougall aeked if there was not a trig mark near the Hospital from which the first survey of the town had been made, and if it could not be used at the present time. Cr. Swan knew nothing of the trig Station alluded to. It was well known that the original map of this town had been destroyed, and there would always be litigation unless they had an Act of Parliament to enable them to fix their position. Cγ. M'Dougall did not think that a reBUrvey or map were necessary. The ■whole trouble arose from the obstruction of one man who laughed at the Corporation. A gutter bad been made up to his property, and there it had been stopped. Unless they proceeded with these works Which they thought necessary and right they would stultify themselves and become the laughing-stock of the district. After further discussion the clause was passed. Clauses three and four were passed without discussion. Clause five contained the following report from the Engineer. ENGINEER REPORT. Municipal Engineer's Office, April 2nd, 1881. Chaucer Road, Corporation, and Amner. —As instructed I have seen Mr Baker, who promises to hare his report on the above ready to lay before this Committee meeting. Telegraph Post, Milton Eoad. —I have seen Mr Bold, who agrees to remove the telegraph post above Cameron road the necessary distance nearer the fence. Swamp Reclamation. — The dangerous parts have been fenced in, and are now being trenched in order to fascilitate evaporation, as per instructions. Mr P. Dolbel's Letter. —I have seen Mr P. Dolbel, who says that his letter is only intended to keep open his right to the land in question encroached on by the Hyderabad road. He contemplates no immediate action in the matter, as he considers that the Government, as proprietors of the railway, will have first to be dealt with, they being in the first instance the encroaphors. _ He has promised to submit for any inspection a plan of Burvey that he is having prepared, but it has not yet come to hand. No. 5 Drainage Contract. —This contract is being carried out in a satisfactory manner by the contractors, but some delay has been caused in consequence of their not being eupplied with bricks in sufficient quantities. Havelock Road Contract.—This work is being carried out satisfactorily. ' Waghorne Street.—l have stopped the fixing of curb and formation of footpath at the point where the road crosses the lagoon, a3 at that point the road is out of its position, and would require filling in to the northward to an extent that would cost nearly £40. As there appears to be no immediate necessity for this I judged it best to suspend the work for the present. Milton Road. —The repairs to this road are now completed. Hastings Street.—The formation of channelling, kerbing, and finishing the roadways, are now being proceeded with. Inspector's Report.—l herewith beg to enclose the same, and at same time return Mr. P. Dolbel's letter. I am, Sh*, Your obedient Servant, Robeut Lamb, Municipal Engineer. The Chairman of the Public Works Committee. INSPECTOR OF NUISANCE'S REPORT. Tbis report contained a reference to the offensive smell arising from the silttrap near the General Post Office, caused by water remaining stagnant in the trap until it becomes impure, and suggesting that during the dry weather it be flushed at least once every week. Cγ. Swan said that instructions had been given in accordance with this suggestion. The clause was then passed. auctioneer's charges. F On clause six being read, Cγ. Swan said that some of the Committee were of opinion that the chargee for the Bale of the swamp sections were excessive. The Mayor said the matter bad been left with him, and be had made the beet arrangement he could under the circumstances, rie thought it would be better if the Committee would attend to these matters themselves. The arrangement was that the auctioneer should have three guineas for each section put up. Previously be had had to attend to put up one section only ; this time there were four sections, and the amount looked large, as the sale occapied a very short time. After some further discussion the exception was struck out, and the clause passed. THB MUNICIPAL ENGINEER. Cγ. Monteith brought uuder notice the inconvenience arising from the munici- ' pal engineer not being licensed to conduct surveys. He moved that the engineer be requested to apply to be liceused under the Land Transfer Act. Cr. McDougall seconded the motion. Cγ. Swan said the proper course was to give notice of motion. The matter was one that required consideration, and he would oppoNe its being brought forward without notice. Cγ. Leonard moved the suspension of the standing orders, so as to allow Cr. Monteith to bring forward bis molion. He (Cr. Leonard) was sure that the engineer could not get licensed. The Mayor eaju , that tbe standing

orders could not be suspended without the nnanir-nous consent of the Council, and Cr. Swan bad already intimated that he would vato against it. Cr. Monteith said he had no wish to push the matter. He would give notice of motion. He was quite sure the Council would agree that it was desirable the municipal engineer should have a license. BOURKE-BTREET. Cr.de Liale asked when the work that was to have been done in Bourke-street would be undertaken ? The Council had some time ago decided that the work should be clone on the ratepayers contributing £8. The money had been paid, he was informed, and the residents wished to know when the work would be commenced. The Town Clerk said he would look into the matter. NOTICE OF MOTION. Cr. Monteith to move :—" That it is advisable that the municipal engineer should be competent to conduct surveys under the Land Transfer Act and he be requested to obtain the necessary license." The Council then adjourned.