MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3268, 22 December 1881, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21.

Ohdinaht Meeting

The Council met at 8 p.m. Present : His Worship the Mayor (chairman). Councillors Swan, Monteith, Cotton, M'Kay, Wall, M'Dougall, Renouf, and Graham.

Tbe minutes of the special and annual meetings were read and confirmed.

SITE FOR MUNICIPAL OFFICES. [ Pursuant to notice of motion, Cr. Wall moved, "That the resolution of Council recommending Clive Square as a site for Municipal office?, &c, be rescinded." Cr. Monteith seconded the motion. Cr McDougall moved as an amendment, "That the consideration'of this question be adjourned until the Government i have been communicated with re the present buildings used by the Corporation, and an answer from the Government received; and that in the meanwhile no steps be taken in relation to building offices on any site." Cr McDougall thought if this amendment were carried it would be best for all parties. Cr Swan seconded the amendment. On being put to the meeting the motion was declared carried, Councillors Swan, McDougall, and Renouf only voting against it, and for the amendment. COEBBSPONDENCE. The following inward correspondence was read and discussed: — From the Colonial Under-Secretary, acknowledging receipt of the Council's letter of advice re the election of J. H. Vautier, Ecq., as Mayor of Napier. From the same enclo-ing a copy of the annual report, of the Victorian Humane Society. From the Under-Secretary for Justice, stating, that His Excellency tbe Governor had been pleased to re-appoint His Worship the Mayor a Justice of the Peace for the colony of New Zealand. From the Fire Inspector, in reply to a letter from tbe Town Clerk, stating that it would be impossible for him to give the amount of time necessary to make a proper house to house inspection for the purpose of looking after flues, ovens, &c. Referred to the Public Works Committee. From K. M'Laren and Co., ironfounders, Glasgow, offering to supply cast-iron water-pipes to the borough. A reply was directed to be sent that the Council had already ordered the gooda mentioned. Moved by Cr. M'Dougall, seconded by Cr. M'Kay, that letter received from James Rochfort be not considered this evening. Carried. From J. W. Craig, on behplf of the managers of St. Paul's Cburch, asking the sanction of the Borough CJouncil to their holding a sacred concert in the church on Thursday eveniug at which a charge would be made for admission. Agreed to. PETITIONS. Cr. Monteith presented a petition from ratepayers residing in Hastings-street aud the vicinity ot Sale-street praying the Council to reclaim swamp sections Nos. 384 and 316. Cr. Cotton presented a petition signed by a number ot expressmen praying that that portion of Hastings-street from the junction at the Masouic Hotel to Mr Tuxford's shop be proclaimed an authorised cab stand. Both petitions were received by the Council, and referred to the Public Works Committee. engineer's report. A report was read from the Municipal

.Engineer stating tbat the works in connection with the drainage contracts were being satisfactorily proceeded with, and that he had not yet received the documents in connection with the proposed new road between Milton-road and Napier-terrace.

fcOBLIC WORKS COMMITTEES REPORT. Tbe following report from the Public ' Work's Committee was read: — Your committee having met pursuant to notice beg to recommend the Council to give effect to the following.-— 1. That the following tenders fov the undermentioned works bo accepted :—Beachroad extension, W. Barrett; fuel, Tait c.nd Mills ; carting, John Hayden ; night-soil and rubbish, William Miles ; blacksmith's work, Joseph Parker; advertising, Daily Telegraph ; printing, Herald. & That the report of the engineer on a letter, signed "J. Lute,' 1 be adopted. 3. That tenders be forthwith invited for supplying a map of tbe town for municipal purposes. 4. That the vouchers for the fortnightly wages of laborers, &c, be passed and ordered to be paid. After considerable discussion re the acceptance or otherwise of a tender for the Beach road extension, Or M'Kay moved and Or Cotton seconded that the matter be delayed for the present. This was carried by 5 to 4. Cr Swan then moved that only 13 chains of the extension be proceeded with. Clause 1 of the report, as amended, was then adopted. In connection with clause 2 a letter (apparently a forgery), signed "J. Luke," was read, alleging tbat one of the drainage contracts was being carried out in an unworkmanlike manner; tbat the work was crooked ; that a laborer was employed to do the brickwork instead of a bricklayer; and that tbere was no proper supervision of the work. Thi9 letter had been received in the first instance at the office of the Dailt Telegraph, with a request that it be published. Instead, however, the editor had handed it over to the Town Clerk to be dealt with. Tbe report of tbe engineer on the subject denied categorically all the allegations in J. Luke's letter, and asserted that tbe work — Was satisfactorily done, and that the bricklayer employed was not a "laborer," but one of the best bricklayers in the North Island. Cr. M'Kay bore out the engineer's statement as to tbe work having been satisfactorily done. The clau«e was then adopted, as were also the 3rd and 4th clauses. MUNIC PAL ENDOWMENT. Moved by Cr. Monteith, and seconded by Cr. M'Dougall, tbat a committee, to consist of Crs. Cotton and M'Kay, and the mover, be appointed to enquire into and report upon the best mode of utilising the Corporation endowment at WoodYille. An amendment by Cr. Swan, tbat the Municipal Engineer be added to tbe committee, was negatived. A further amendment, proposed by Cr. Wall, and seconded by Or. Cotton, that the matter be referred to the Public "Works Committee, was carried. THE MUNICIPAL OFFICES. Cr. Monteith desired permission to move without notice that a committee be appointed to prepare a memorial to the General Government asking tbat the old Provincial Council Chambers with grounds be vested in the Municipal Corporation. Leave not granted. NOTICE OF MOTION. Cr. Swan gave notice that he would move at tbe next sitting of tbe Council that tbe resolution passed at the present sitting rescinding a resolution affirming Clive-Fquare as a suitable site for municipal offices be rescinded, and that tbe original resolution stand good. The Council then adjourned.