NAPIER MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3561, 7 December 1882, Page 2

NAPIER MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Wednesday, December 6. The Council met at 8 p.m. Present: His Worship the Mayor (chairman), Councillors Monteith, McDougall, Price, Margolioutb, Lee, Graham, Cotton, and Ellison. THB BOHOOGH OFFICIALS. Pursuant to notice Cγ. Lee moved, " That all the resolutions respecting the change of duties of Borough officers and their dismissal from their present offices, and for reduction of salaries, passed on the 28th September, 1882, be rescinded, and that all officers holding office at that date be re instated on the terme and with the duties then existing." Cr. Price seconded the motion. Cr Lee entered into a lengthy explanation of his reasons for desiring a return (o the arrangements that existed prior to the passing of the September resolutions. He felt himself, and was sure every member of the Council would agree with him, that the alterations proposed to be made in the working of the boiough affairs so far as the duties of officers were concerned would be found to be unworkable The amendments to the original proposals had been hurriedly introduced, haetily passed, and were perhaps ill-con-sidered. He was iv favor of the whole matter being thoroughly discussed by the Council in committee, when it could be calmly looked into, and some unanimous decision arrived at. Cr. Lee concluded by pointing out his reasons for believing that the arrangements arrived at in September could not be carried into effect with any degree of success. Cγ Ellison moved, as an amendment, " That Mr Parker's services be retained as receiver of rates, ar>d tbe Council decide in committee what other changes may be desirable in the officers of the Council." Cγ Margoliouth seconded the amendment. After some discussion the amendment was carried on the casting vote of the Mayor. Cγ. Monteith intimated his intention fo give notice of motion to rescind the amendment on account of one of tho councillors being absent from the present meeting. On the motion of Cr. Price, Monday evening was fixed for tbe Council to meet in committee to discuss the other matters raised by Cr. Lee's motion. CORRESPONDENCE. From the Returning Officer notifying the re-election of William Isaac Spencer, Esq., to the Mayoralty of the Borough. From the Under Colonial Secretary, acknowledging receipt of voucher showing amounts advanced by the Charitable Aid Committee for quarter ended 30th September last to be £273 Is lOd, and asking for a return setting forth to whom the moneys were advanced.—lnformation supplied. From Mr T. R. Cooper, architect, submitting to the Council for consideration the anomalous position in which architects in private practice in Napier were placed through having to submit their plans to the Municipal Engineer for his approval, the engineer having the right of practice as an architect himself.—A good deal of discussion followed the reading of the letter, in the course of which some of the members expressed themselves rather " strongly," It was finally agreed,on the

motion of Cr. McDougall, that the letter should be laid on tbe table. From the Under-Seoretary for Railway?, stating, in reply to the Council's representations of the 10th instant, that the matter of additional passenger accommodation on the local railway would receive consideration. From Mr J. T. Tylee, calling attention to " the disgraceful manner in which repairs to road on Napier terrace are being carried out." From Mr G-eorge Robson, on behalf of the petitioners re stating that that road had been legally dedicated to tbe Council, and praying that the matter of repairs should receive early attention. —Referred to Municipal Engineer. From the secretary of the Fire Brigades Reception Committe, asking the Council to appoint two councillors to act on the committee, also requesting the use of the Council Chamber for the approaching meeting of delegates.—Crs. Price and Margoliouth were appointed to represent the Council on the committee. With respect to the use of the Council Chamber application would require to be made to Mr Bamford. PUBLIC WOBKS COMMITTEE'S EXPORT. The following report from the Public Works Committee was read : — Your committee having met pursuant to notice . beg to reccommend tho Council to give effect to the following : — 1. That Messrs G-lendinning and Griffen be allowed tar in quantities of not lees than 1000 gallons at 4d per gallon. ....."•. That the engineer's report ofthe4tli instant herewith forwarded be adopted. 3. That the report of the inspector of nuisances be adopted, and that with reference thereto the municipal engineer be requested to make a plan and estimate of the cost of the best means to be adopted for draining the houses situated on the western side of Hastings-street. 4. That the vouchers for expenditure for November be passed and ordered to be paid. Clauses one and four were adopted as read. On clause two being read, Cr. Cotton moved that paragraph four of tbe en- i gineer's report, having reference to diggiDg a salt water well for street watering purposes, be expunged. After some discussion the amendment was carried, and the clause was adopted as amended. On tbe question for adopting the third clause of the Public JWorks Committee's report, Cr. Ellison moved, " That a committee to consist of Flis Worship the Mayor and Crs. Monteith and Ellison be appointed to examine (in company with the municipal engineer) all that portion of the borough affected by the existing drainage works and to report to the next ordinary meeting of the Council what alterations or additions may be deemed advisable," but the motion not being seconded lapsed. It was then agreed that the recommendation of the committee with regard to the engineer drawing out the plans and estimates for draining the bouses on tbe Bouth side of Hastings-street be adopted, and that the inspector of nuisances be instructed that the drain from Mr Holder's bouses mußt be the main eewer. BEPOHT?. The following are the reports of the/ Engineer and Inspector of Nuieances re- * ferred to above: — Engineer's Eeporb.—l. Sea Wall, Beachroad. —Herewith I have the honor to lay before you a communication received from the owners of property facing the Beachroad from Emeraon-street to about 5 chains southward. I have prepared a plain and estimate of a suitable wall which I herewith be» before you. At the same time I beg todraw. your attention to the condition of the northern portion of Beach-road, and especially to the unsafe state of that portion ■which, was washed away during the last storm, and in connection therewith I would suggest that the Government be asked to construct a suitable sea wall to the extent of the frontage of their land abutting on that end of Beach-road. 2. Yearly Contracts. —I shall be glad to receive instructions to procure tenders for the coming year for those contracts which expire on the last clay of this month, and in addition thereto, for the supply of broken metal, kerbing, channelling, and tarring footpaths and roads. 3. Contracts. —I Lave the honor to report that the various contracts in connection with the waterworks extension are progressing satisfactorily ; that the contracts for Have-lock-road and Petane bridge approach have been commenced; and that the contracts for repairing Goldsmith-road and for filling in town sections 243 A and B are completed. 4. Street Watering.—l beg to submit for the consideration of the committee the desirability of procuring a windmill pump and fixiDg tho same at the head of Emersonstreet for the purpose of pumping sea water for street watering, and for flushing the sewers on the lower levels. This would be a great relief to our artesian wells during the dry summer -weather, when the yield of ■water from them falls off. Nuisance Inspector's report. —I beg respectfully to suggest the necessity of a sewer being constructed at the back of sections on the western side of Hastingsstreet, nearly the whole of the properties on that side of the street being too low to use the sewer in Hastings-street for drainage purposes. I beg to report a bad drain from one of Mr Holder's houses in Marine Parade. Some time since Mr Holder received permission from the Borough Council to eontruck a culvert aci'oss the road on the foreshore, and recently the culvert has been destrojed, as it interfered with the public sewer and water pipes. I respectfully solicit instructions as to whether under the circumstances Mr Holder be compelled to connect ■with the main sewer or not. I have again to report the very bad state of town sections Nos. 49 and 50 the stagnant water thereon being very offensive and a thorough nuisance. CLAIMS AGAINST OWN*BB OF PROPERTIES. Tne Town Clerk stated that about a month ago he bad written to owners of properties against whom the Council had claims for filling in sections, &c, requesting payment of the amount due, but had received no reply except the one from Messrs Johnston of Wellington, stating that the agent of the Hon. J. Johnston - Jjjd been communicated with. He therefort; wished to receive instructions as to what be was to do. Cγ. Monteith moved that legal proceedings for the recovery of the amounts due in each case be taken at once. The motion was seconded by Cr Cotton, and carried without dissent. THE RAILWAY STATION. It was resolved, on the motion of Cr. Monteitb, that the Mayor be empowered, on behalf of the Borougb, to lay before the Government the condition of the Napier railway station, and to ask that a proper station be erected, also to apply to the Chamber of Commerce for the cooperation of that body in the movement. The Mayor remarked, in answer to a suggestion, that there were other matters also that had been brought under the notice of tbe Colonial Secretary when he was in Napier, and of which Mr Dick took notes. These questions he would also urge upon tbe Government. SANITARY REGULATIONS. The Mayor referred to tbe near approach of summer, and suggested the advisability of making the burgesses fully aware of the provisions of the Public Health Act co far as it concerned infectious diseases. If the recurrence of a fever epidemic such as was experienced here last summer was to be avoided, it as necessary that every due precaution ehotild. b"e ta&n, The should be

made aware that the law required the occupier of any house in which a case of fever occurred to give information of the fact to the Board of Health, and that neglect of that duty rendered the person so offending liable to a fine uot exceeding £20. Cr. Lee moved that clause 28 of tbe Public Health Act, 1876, be published for general information. Tbe motion was seconded by Cr. and carried. NOTICE OF MOTION. Cr. Ellison gave notice to move—"That the special rate of Is 6d in the pound on all ratable property within the boroagb be increased to Is 10d in order to defray the charges on the special loan." Special Meeting. At the special meeting held at the conclusion of tbe ordinary business Bye-law No. 22, adopted at a special meeting held on November Bth, was confirmed. The Council then adjourned.