BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3063, 21 April 1881, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wednesday, Apbtx 20.

The Council met at 8 p.m. Present: His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Councillors M'Kay, M'Dou gall, Leonard, deLisle, Cotton, Swan, Monteitb, and Wall.

MUNICIPAL ENGINEER.

Or. Monteith moved, " That, af» it is advisable that the municipal engineer ehoold be competent to conduct surveys ppder tb? LancJ Transfer Act, be be re-

quested to obtain the necessary license." Me thought circumstances were likely to arise that would make it desirable that the engineer should have a license. The borough was at present paying as much in salaries as it could afford, and if by this license being obtained a saving to the borough could be effected, it was desire ble it should be done. Cr. Leonard seconded the motion. Cr. M'Kay said he rose to oppose the mo* : on. Mr Lamb has been employed as engineer, and he thought that he had quite enough to do in that capacity. He failed to see that any benefit would aiise to the borough from Mr Lamb going to the expense of getting a license, Any survey requiring a licensed surveyor would have to be done by a neutral party. The engineei* had already as much as he could possibly do, and he could not fairly be called upon to do survey work. Cγ. McDougall said it had been his intention to second Cr. Monteith's motion, but on further thought he had determined to oppose it. He could not see that any benefit to the bo-ough would arise from the passing of the motion. It would cost a considerable amount, and they could not expect the engineer to obtain a license without giving him an increase of salary. They advertised for an engineer only. A licensed surveyor could make £300 a year without » becoming engineer to the borough. The only instances where his evidence as a licensed surveyor would be wanted would be in a dispute between the borough and an outside party, and in that case the evidence of the borough engineer would be valueless. The reason Mr Lessong was recently employed to do a survey in the town was that he would be an impartial person. The borough engineer was now doing a good deal of surveying ia connection with the water supply, and he was doing without an assistant work in which Mr Peppercorn required an assistant at 15s per day. All the surveying the borough requires for itself could be done by Mr Lamb, who was a competent surveyor. There was no necessity to incur the extra expenses proposed. If the engineer was required to obtain this license his salary would, in all fairness, have to be raised. To obtain a license would involve an expense of about £60 for instruments, &c.

Cr. de Lisle would oppose the motion. Iα cases where a licensed surveyor would be useful the borough engineer could uot be employed. He believed the engineer was at present fully employed, Cr. Swan thought it would have been well if Mr Lamb had supplied them with information on the subject; in the absence of that he would sunport the motion. He considered it woula be an advantage to the borough to have an engineer who was a licensed surveyor. That their last engineer was not a licensed surveyor had nothing to do with the'raatter. He would oppose any sura being granted to enable Mr Lamb to obtain a license ; it was part of his duty to be a competent surveyor as well as engineer. Cr. Wall said he had made enquiries, and found that Mr Lamb was a competent surveyor, but that it would cost about £60 to obtain this license, and he did not think it was necessary to go to that expense. The Mayor said that the instruments that would be required by Mr Lamb wouH cost £60. So far as he could see the two positions bad nothing to do with one another, any more than the engineer and the solicitor had. At present the engineer was fully employed, and it was unreasonable to ask him to do more work, or to obtain a license. The previous engineer had never been asked to do the work of a licensed surveyor. It would be as reasonable to ask the engineer to qualify himself to do the work of the collector of rates, the Town Clerk, the treasurer, inspector of nuisances, and perhaps the Mayor. It would save expenses, but if things were to be done in an efficient manner this could not he done. Cr Swan wished to correct a misstatement in reference to the previous engineer employing assistance in surveying. He had occasionally employed a draughtsman at, he believed, 15s per day. Cr. Monteith said it was the intention of the Council that their engineer should be a competent surveyor. The town was shortly to be resurveyed, and the borough engineer might have to do that. If it were necessary to purchase instruments to enable the engineer to obtain a license, the Corporation might bear that expense. The arguments used by those who opposed his motion showed more consideration for the engineer than for the ratepayers. He could not see what work there was to keep an engineer employed. It appeared that the engineer was willing to take out a license if supplied with instruments. The motion was then put and negatived by 5 to 3. EXTENSION OF BOUNDARY. The Mayor stated that the petition to the Governor in favor of including the foreshore within the boundaries of the borough had been drafted, and would be forwarded so soon as it had received the signatures of the Councillors. CORRESPONDENCE. | From the Colonial Secretary, thanking the Mayor for undertaking on behalf of the Corporation to meet the current liabilities for charitable aid. From the Registrar-General asking for statistical information regarding the borough. From Mr Bowes resigning the office of poundkeeper. The resignation was accepted. From Mr H. Skelton, asking to be appointed poundkeeper. Cr. Cotton moved that Mr Skeltoo be appointed. Cr. Monteith moved as an an amendment that applications for the office be advertised for. The motion was passed by 5 to 3. solicitor's opinion. The following opinion from the municipal solicitor was read in reply to the question (put by Cr. M'Dougall), " Can the Corporation pay any portion of salaries not directly incidental to labor involved in drainage scheme without an illegal act" : — If the payment of the salaries referred to is really necessary, "whether directly or incidentally, to the effectual carrying out of the construction of the drainage and sewerage works, I do nofc think it is to pay such salaries out of the proceeds of the loan raised for drainage and sewerage purposes. It is therefore, T think, legal for the Corporation during the construction of the drainage and sewerage works to pay a fair proportion of the engineer's town clerk's, and Municipal solicitor's salariess out of the drainago and sewerage loan. Sub-section 4 of the 126 th section of the Municipal Corporations, Act, 1876, expressly declares that the interest account of the loan is to be charged with the cost of collecting the special rate, and a fair proportion therefore of the salaries of the collector of rates and the server of demands is chargeable to such interest account. Gk E. Sainsbttry, Municipal Solicitor. Cr. McDougall did not like the tone of this reply to his question. He asked a plain question, and wanted a plain answer and not a number of "ifs." It appeared to him that the question must have been put to the solicitor io euch a way as to

suggest an answer to fit a certain state o f things. Before the drainage scheme they had a collector and an engineer, and when the scheme was done they would require them still. The salaries should be charged to general revenue, and it was idle to say that paying them out of the loan was a legal outlay. Unless something was speedly done in the matter there would be nothing left for a water supply to the hills. Unless his present efforts were successful he might have to try stronger means, and see if an injunction could not be obtained in the Supreme Court to restrain the Corporation from spendine the loan illegally. The Mayor pointed out that the question to the solicitor was in Mr M'Dougall's own writing; it had been sent just as he had written it. Everything that had been done in this matter had been done under the advice of the solicitor. 1

Cr. Monteith thought the solicitor's reply was perfectly plain and straightforward, and if the opinion had fallen in with Cr. M'Dougall's views it would have been accepted as quite satisfactory. ' . Swan said he thought Cr. M'DougaH mig have received this reply to his ques on with better grace. It was quite clear that if a loan of this magnitude was to be properly administered there must be duly appointed officers, and unless they had made use of tbe servants already in the employ of the Corporation they would have required a separate staff r-.t a much heavier expenditure. PUBLIC WORKS EEPOET. 1. That water be laid on to the Wellesleyroad as soon as the Government shall have laid out the new stroet connecting M'llerstreet v»ith that road. 2. That the engineer's report be adopted vv;th the exception of clause 6 and 8, which are held over for further consideration. 3. That the tender of Mr W. Combs for the purchase .of sections 28, 29, and 30 on the reclaimed land be accepted. H. Monteith, Pro. Chairman. Clause one was passed without discr v sion. Clause two recommended the adoption of the following report from the engi« neer, with the exception of clauses six and eight:— 1. Survey of Town.—l have postponed consulting with Mr Baker, Chief Surveyor, as to the most sr'table positions for certain starting points in connection with the survey of the town until I can confer with him on the v.Hole subject of the re-survey, especifUy the conditions to bo observed by tenderers for '.' c same.

2. ar Casks. — J. W. Waterworth has accept ■" the offer of the Corporation of 3s per cask.

3. Waterworks. — The engine-keeper (Burley), reports that at the tap which is used to eupply water carts the water ia being constantly wasted by the children to the neighborhood getting at the tap and leaving it empty, and that consequently tr J s (Tuesday) morning, the large tank was empty. I therefore give instructions that the key shall for the future be kept ri the engine-room. 4. Botanical Gardens.—The drato pipes required to carry out the suggestion of the gardener are in stock, and would only cost the carting up to the gardens. I estimate the cost of a well, with concrete bottom and sides and wood cover at about £16. There is at present a pump on hand which might be fixed in connection therewith.

5. Wages and Labor.—l beg to call attention to the clause in the overseer's : >

port, from which it will be seen that it is practicable to reduce the staff of • laborers by three. I wish at the same time to coll to attention the fact that certain descriptions of work (such as channeling) have been carried out at a much less rate than the current contract rates for similar work.

Sale-street. —The cost of forming the portion of this road between Hastings-street and Beach-road, with a covering of rubble 9 inches thick, will be about £26.

Berryman's Contract. —I beg to recommend that Berryman's tender to siipply rough instead of dressed kerb-stone be accepted. By so doing a saving of about £2 9s per chain will be effected.

Kaffles-street.—To prevent persons carting over the sides of this street instead of over the metalling. I heg to suggest that heaps of rubble be placed at certain distances at each side, and that these obstructions be properly advertised. Metal for Boads.—There is at present on hand with the gaol authorities a large quantity of road metal broken by prison labor, which I understand may be secured at the rate of Is 10d per cubic yard. As this is considerably below the current price of netal, and as we shall require a large qir'-'tity for new roads and repairs, it is for the Public Works Committee to say whether any step be taken to secure tb ; s supply. Robert Lamb, Municipal Engineer. Clause two was then adopted. On the third clause being put it waa explained that it was deemed advisable to accept Mr Combs' offer for the three swamp sections because although the amount of cash payment was less and the term for paying the balance extended more than specified at| the auction sale, the rate of interest on the deferred payment was higher. The Mayor said it would be worth considering whether the swamp sections should be advertised for sale on two separate terms—No. 1 payment of 25 ncr ceut. cash and the balance in three y,ars at 7 per cent, interest, and No. 2 payment of 10 per cent, cash and the bal cc in four years at 8 per cent, interest. Persons could then tender either for No. 1 or No. 2, the tenders to be sent in by the middle of Maj. Cr. Monteith thought it would be advisable to advertise for tenders as suggested. It was very likely that hitherto penple had been deterred from tendering through not thinking that sach favorable ti rius would be accepted. he third clause of the report was tf i adopted. SWAMP SECTIONS. The Mayor moved that tenders for the 'Tγ rctaase of the swamp sections be ?avited io accordance with the terms mentioned, tenders to be sent in by the 23rd of May. PETITION. Cr. McDougall presented a petition signed by a number of ratepayers, requesting that Lucknow Terrace be made accessible to foot passengers, and that the channelling be done before the winter begins. The petition was received, and referred to the Public Works Committee. DANGEROUS QUARRYING. Cr. McDougall drew attention to the dangerous quarrying that was going on in a quarry down Carlyle street, close to the place where several men were killed some time ago. The wall of the qup.rry was in a most dangerous condition, and unless some steps were immediately taken a serious accident would almost certainly occur. He had warned the authorities, and if an accident occurred they would be responsible.

The Mayor said that the inspector would be at once informed an required to report upon the matter without delay. The Council then adjourned.