BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3205, 6 October 1881, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5

The Council met at 8 p.m. Present: His Worship the Mayor, Ore. Swan, Wall, Monteith, M'Dougall, de Lisle, M'Kay, and Graham. BECREATION G BOUND.

Cr. Monteitb, in accordance with notice given, moved "That the resolution of the Council of the 17th August, adopting the report of the Reserves Committee, be rescinded." His object was that the reserve should be leased in one block, and that the Recreation Ground Company should have an opportunity of tendering fer it. He wished distinctly to say that he would be no party to tendering a smaller price than was mentioned in the letter of the company to the Council. Cγ. Swan would second the motion, but would not bind himself to any future action ; in fact he intended to move an amendment to a proposition to fix the terms of the company's tender. The Mayor quite approved of the movement to get a recreation ground for the borough. To lease this reserve to a company would be a benefit to the Corporation. There'had as yet been no offers for the sections into which the reserve had been divided. Cr McDougall said application for leasing some of the sections would have

been sent in, but people were not desir-

OQs of competing with the Recreation —s. Ground Company. He was favorable to the scheme, but a lower amount than that mentioned would be unfair to the ratepayers. What he dreaded was that an attempt would be made to secure the land at a peppercorn rental. Cr Monteith then moved, "That tenders for the Town Hall reserve be advertised for one week, the upset price to be in terms of the letter of the hon. secretary of the Recreation Ground Company ef the 22nd September, 1881." He considered the offer made in that letter was

ft fair one to the ratepayers, and he re-

peated that he would be no party to at- - "tempting to get the reserve at a lower price. Cr McDougall seconded the motion. Cr. Swan moved, as an amendment, that the reserve be offered for lease by auction for 21 years at the upset price of £5 for the first year and £60 per annum for the' remainder of the term. He thought that under the circumstances the Council should be willing to let the reserve at as low a price as possible. The object of the company was not gain, but to provide a recreation ground for the people. Cr. Wall seconded the amendment. He considered it the duty of the Corporation to provide a recreation ground for the borough, and that the reserve should be let at as low a rental as possible. Cr. M'Dougall thought it would be against the interests of the borough to let it at a lower rental than the one offered. It was not as if the ground was going to be thrown open to the public free. It was a business transaction. The proposal of Cr. Monteith was a fair one, and he deprecated the effort of Cr. Swan

to get the land at a lower price. Cr. Swan said he did not look upon this movement as a private speculation for the purposes of gain ; he wished to point out that £700 or £1000 would be ppent upon the ground during the first year or eighteen months, and that as the rates would be levied on the land as improved by the company, the revenue of the borough would benefit. If any profit arose to the shareholders he for one would be glad to devote his share to the benefit of the town.

Cr. McKay said he would like to be generous if they were in a position to be ■o. They could not afford to throw away money on this matter. The motion was then carried. CORRESPONDENCE.

From Mr G. Griffiths, Auckland (tele- / gram), stating that he would have much /pleasure in forwarding to Washington the Council's address of condolence to Mrs Garfield.

From the office of the Minister of Justice (telegram), aeking for a statement of the number of ratepayers in each ■ward of the borough.—The Town Clerk stated that he bad forwarded the information required. From the Colonial Secretary's office, stating that the rooms now occupied by the Corporation are urgently required for the service of the Land and Deeds Department, and that the rooms lately vacated by the Property Tax Department woald be temporarily placed at the disposal of the Corporation.—lt was decided that a reply be sent that at present it was impossible for the Council y. to move, but that they would do so r shortly. From Mr George Ellis, resigning his ■eat for the North Ward. From the Inspector of Nuisances, asking to be relieved from his duties on the ground that his other duties in connection with the Corporation kept him

_ fully occupied.—The Mayor thought the y duties should be continued. It would be difficult to get an inspector who knew the town so well.—Cγ. Swan said that Mr Williams' duties were numerous, and he ■was overworked. Since he had been appointed valuator he had saved the borough fully £100. Of course there were complaints made, but they arose from Mr Williams having too much to do.—Cr. Monteitb suggested that if they added another £100 to the Inspector's salary he would find time to attend to the duties. —After further discussion the letter was referred to the Public Works Committee. BOAD OVERSEER'S REPORT. The report was read, and particularised the works done during the past month. INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES* REPORT. The following report from the Inspector of Nuisances was read :— I have the honor to report that in accordance with, instructions from the Council I * have issued notices to householders and r "' owners of houses relative to carrying into effect bye-law No. 2. Very great opposition against this bye-law is shown by householders who live on the hills, especially when their distance from their neighbors is considered. Several hotels and other buildings within the borough hare 'water-closets up-stairs which lead to cesspits within a few yards of the building, and ns the notices I have given to the proprietors to abolish all cesspits have not been carried out I respectfully solicit instructions as to what course I am to pursue. B. WIWJAMS, Inspector of Nuisances. public works committee's eeport. The following report from the Public v Works Committee was read : — ''N. Tour committee having met pursuant to notice beg to recommend the Council to give effect to the following : — 1. Engineer's Monthly Report. —That the engineer's report of the Ist instant be adopted with the exception of clause No. 7, which is to stand over for future consideration.

2. Spencer-road and Ha.yelock-road.—

That tenders be invited for the coating with quarry rubble of that part of the Spenceri'oad situate between the new hospital and the Chaucer-road ; also that part of the Havelock-road which, has been recently formed.

3. Eoad Overseer's Kecommendation Eeporfc. —That the above report be nob adopted, as clauses Nos. 1 and 2 thereof are recommended to be struck out, and the third class is dealt with in the second clause of this report. 4. Chain Bound Clive-square. —That the iron chain lately used round Clive-square be purchased from the Cricket Club at a cost not exceeding £6 10s. 5. Abolition of Cesspools.—That with reference to the order of this Council lately given to the Inspector of Nuisances to enforce the abolition of cesspools generally throughout the borough, instructions be now issued to him to proceed against such persons infringing the order only as are resident on the flats.

6. Extension of Water Supply.—That the report o( Mr James Stewart, C.E., on the proposed extension of waterworks be received, and that No. 2 report of the Municipal Engineer on the same subject, as based upon the report of the consulting engineer, be adopted. 7. Vouchers. —That the vouchers be passed and. ordered to be paid.

G-eo. Hγ. Swait, Chairman

In connection with the first clause, the following report from the Municipal Engineer was read : — 1. Urinal at Spit.—This work is now being proceeded with, and will shortly be completed.

2. Harvey-road.—The work necessary to the length of this road between Milton-road and Seoly-road is now being done. 3. Spencer-road.—The cost of covering with metal the portion of this road between Chaucer-road and the hospital has been estimated.

4. Messrs Large and Townley's Application.—This matter is for the present postponed. 5. Beach-road. —I have suspended the completion of the contract for repairing this road until after the completion of the portion of N"o. *7 drainage contract which is to be executed along the Beach-road. 6. Clive-square. —I have communicated with Mr G-ilberd in reference to the chain which was formerly round the square, but have not yet received a definite reply. 7. Coote-road Footpath. —The cosfe of forming a footpath 7 feet wide, with rough stone kerb and pitched channel from Shakespeare-road to the High School has been estimated.

8. Madeira-road.—This road is now being formed to its proper width, and in connection with this I may say that the owner of the top section on the south side has given up sufficient ground to the road to enable a vehicle to be turned around.

Bobs. Lamb,

Municipal Engineer. In connection with clause three of the report of the Public Works Committee, Cr. Monteith directed attention to the work done in the Beach road. A portion of the work had been done in a most disgraceful manner, and he would suggest that before the final payment be made a committee be appointed to inspect the work.

On clause five being read, Cγ. Swan moved " That the Inspector of Nuisances be instructed to report specially on all houses having the water closet system in operation." He knew that there were four hotels which used the water closet system; they werescleanly kept, and were in no way creating a nuisance. It would be hard upon owners of property and large ratepayers who had gone to considerable expense for the convenience of the public to make them, by a cast* iron rule, forgo the advantages which had cost them so much.

Cr, Graham seconded the amendment.

Cγ. M'Dougall was opposed to cesspits in any shape. This objection should have been raised at the time it was determined to enforce the pan system. Cγ. de Lisle thought that, although the enforcement of this bye-law might press heavily upon individuals, it had not been resolved upon hurriedly, and it was for the good of the whole community. There was danger arising from cess-pits or open drains, although no smell might arise from them. He instanced a number of cases where serious danger had arisen from cess-pits. Or. Swan had always been of opinion that the pan system was a, greater nuisance and a greater source of danger than the water-closet system. There had been a bye-law adopting earth-closets, and it was found that these were not attended to in an efficient manner, and were a greater nuisance than cess-pits. After further discussion, Cr. Monteith moved that the portion of the clause limiting the enforcement of the bye-law to the flats be struck out.

The motion was seconded by Cr. McKay, and carried. The fifth clause as amended was then carried.

On the reading of clause six in the report, it was resolved that the reports of Mr Stewart and the Municipal Engineer upon the proposed water works exteneion be taken as read. After some remarks upon the value of the two reports the clause was adopted.

FIRE INSPECTOR'S DUTIES

In connection with a letter received from the Fire Inspector, enquiring as to his duties, the following memorandum from the Municipal Solicitor was read : —

The duties and powers of a Fire Inspector, as such, are those specified in section 274 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 187G, and no other. If the Council "wish the Fire Inspector to undertake the duties mentioned in sub-section 2 of section 325 of the Municipal Corporation Act, 1876, the Fire Inspector will have to be specially appointed by the Council as the officer to the act under the above sections. If also it is considered advisable that it should be part of the duties of the Fire Inspector to see that bye-law No. 3 (clauses 3 and 6), bye-laws Nos. 11 and 17, or any other particular bye-laws or provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act are not infringed he should be instructed by the Council to th&t effect. Gγ. E. Saimsbuby, •, Municipal Solicitor. The matter was referred to the Public Works Committee. VOUCHERS. The vouchers for the month were ordered to be paid. The Council then adjourned.