NAPIER MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3588, 11 January 1883, Page 2

NAPIER MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

"Wednesday", January 10. The Council met at S p.m. Present: His Worship the Mayor (chairman), Councillors Monteith, McDougall, Wall, Trice, Margoliouth, Graham, and Cotton. watering of streets. Pursuant to notice Cr Graham moved, "That this Council consider the advisability of a more efficient scheme for the watering of the streets than that which at present exists, and that the cost of the same be defrayed hy a special rate to be struck on properties abutting on the streets, watered.'' Cr Monteith seconded the motion pro former. Cr Graham said in calling attention to this matter, he might state that, first, tho watering had not been sufficiently done, and was was done had been paid out of the general rate, which ought not to be the case. If the work were sufficiently done the people who received the benefit should pay for it, but it wa» unfair to expect residents on the hills and those iv Onepoto and the upper __-• end of Hastings-street to do so. The saddle should be placed upon the right horse. A. good deal might be said on the subject, but he felt that it required very little comment from him. Every ratepayer had to pay for the water rates certainly, but this was properly an extra expenditure amounting to about £1.30 per annum. Ho thought, if the councillors looked fairly at the question, they woidd see it was high time an alteration was effected. It might be said the people in Hastings-street paid heavy rates, and so they did, but theirV' position was more valuable. He would, with these few remarks, leave the matter hi tbe hands of the Council, and ask that it might be dealt with iv a fair manner. Cr. Lee said Cr. Graham had not suggested any method by which the watering might be better done. If there were no scheme before the Council it would be advisable to refer the matter to the public works committee. He moved to that effect as an amendment. Cr. McDougall seconded the amendment. Cr. Monteith was not prepared to strike a special rate for watering; still he agreed with Cr. Graham that the matter was one which required consideration, for, though it had often been brought up, no satisfactory plan had been yet devised. He would therefore support the amendment. The amendment on being jnit, was unanimously carried. correspondence. From Dr Spencer, as chairman of the Hospital Committee, asking to be informed whether the Corporation proposed to contribute towards the maintenance or the enlargement of the Hawke's Bay Hospital during the coming year.—Referred to the public works committee. From Air F. Sutton, M.H.R., in reply to the Council's letter of lGth ultimo, -with reference to more suitable accommodation at ■ Napier station, stating - that he woidd be glad to render any assistance to secure the object desired. He had already, both iv coujiuiction with Air Buchanan, member for i Napier, and of himself, brought the matter before Ministers, who had promised that at all events a verandah would he at on<« erected, and other alterations made, but this promise had evidently been overlooked. Air Sutton had urged upon the Government that it would be cheaper in the end to erect new and suitable buildings, and to remove the present railway station elsewhere. From the Under-Secretary for Railways, acknowledging receipt of the Council's representations respecting the necessity for increased passenger accommodation at the Napier railway station, and stating - that the matter was under consideration.—Cr. McDougall asked if that letter had been written since the present little "shanty" was in course of erection at the railway station, or before it was commenced.—An affirmative reply having - been given, Cr. McDougall suggested that, as the chairman had recently shown himself to be possessed of an extraordinary gift for letter writing, perhaps he woidd write again to the RayL way Department at Wellington and give the Government to understand that we etuld do with a mil ten 1/ station at Napier and not a " shanty."—Cr. Monteith thought the Council had gone the wrong way about securing what was desired. Pressure should be brought to bear on the member for tin district.—After some further remarks tho question was allowed to drop. From the secretary to the Napier Gas Company offering to light the streets at the following - prices per lamp :—From sunset to dawn, except for seven nights during moon, as per existing contract, 00' lamps, >. £8 los ; from sunset to midnight, except moonlight nights, £0 16s: from sunset to 11 o'clock, except moonlight nights, £6 ; gas if supplied by the average metre system, the Corporation to light, extinguish, and and attend to the lamps, lis Gd per 1000 feet. With reference to the second and third offers, it was pointed out that the cost of lighting, extinguishing, cleaning, and maintenance was the same as if the lamps were alight till dawn. It was also suggested that, if cither the first or second offer were accepted, it woidd be well to insert a clause iv the agreement giving the manager discretionary power as to moonlight nights. Under the present system the lamps were not lighted for three days before and three days after full moon, which provision had'been found a great public inconvenience as, in cloudy weather, the town was sometimes in complete darkness. The manager had, 011 several occasions, had the town portion of the lamps lighted without extra cost to the Corporation.—After a good deal of discussion it was decided to accept the second offer, viz., lighting from sunset to midnight, except moonlight nights, at £0 10s, the suggested discretionary power asked to he vested ia the Gas Company's manager not to be allowed.—Crs." Price and Margoliouth dissented from this decision, alleging that the lighting - could doubtless be effected much more cheaply by contracting with the Gas Company for a term of, say, three years ; at all events, it was worth obtaining an esti- > mate. Frqm the Municipal Solicitor, in reply to the Council's enquiry, staging tljat the late poundkeeper, Air SkeltQii, could he pro? eceded against legally imdor the Cattle Trespass and Impounding Act, 1873, of the Province of Hawke's Bay, sectiqn 2 of whichrenders any poundkeeper who neglects his duty liable to a penalty of £10.-—Cr. Monteith moved, and Cr. Lee seconded that the Municipal Solicitor be instructed to take proceedings against Mr Skelton forthwith.—Cr. Graham said the man was a pool man, and could not pay a fine ; it would do.' the Council no good to put the man iut<f gaol. The matter might be allowed to drop.—Cr. Lee thought the prosecution should be proceeded with on principle. Poundkecpcrs must ho taught to carry out their duties faithfully.—Cr. Margoliouth would oppose the motion on the ground that the Council had sustained no damage in the matter. Doubtless it was a mere omission on the part of the poundkeeper not returning his keys and hooks when he sent in his resignation.—The motion, on being put to the meeting, was lost, Crs. Monteith, Lee, and Wall alone voting for it. petition. _ A petition signed by some 4,5 carriers residing m the borough whs presented by Cr. Cotton. The petition j-et forth the necessity for widening Hyderabad road in cer. tain places so as to allow drays to pass rail, way trains on the line adjoining in safety. —Referred to the Municipal engineer to report to the next meeting of the public works ' committee. MUNICIPAL rRLNXINO. The report of the select- committee on printing, recommending the acceptance of the tender of Messrs Dinwiddie, Walker and Co., it being found to be the lowest by about £3, was read and adopted.

public works committee's report. The following report from the Public "*\ Works Committee was road: — "■ ». Your committee having met pursuant to order, beg to recommend the Council as follows :— 1. That the following tenders be accepted :—Tait and Mills, Beach wall, £29 10s; Shale and Westlake, Enfield-road, £51. 2. That the clause in the lease of the town hall reserve to the Recreation Ground Company relative to the sub-letting thereof he expunged. 3. That with reference to tho application from the Licensing Bench for a gratuity of £25 for the clerk (Mr G. W. Cullen) a reply be forwarded that the Council cannot entertain the request. •1. That Mr Chas. Raven be appointed poundkeeper vice Mr H. Skclton resigned. 5. That a siun of £10 be voted as a special grant to the Fire Brigades. 6. That the engineer's report of the Bth instant be adopted, and that the public be notified that tho bulling regulations are still in force, and that all applications connected therewith must be made to the engineer. 7. That the vouchers, £1332 IS* lid, herewith forwarded, he passed and ordered to be paid. Clause 1, 4, G, and 7 were adopted without discassion. The adoption of the second clause was strongly opposed by Crs McDougall and Price, who pointed out that, if sub-letting was permitted, there was no saying to what uses the ground might be applied by the Recreation Ground Company.—Cr Monteith said the clause forbidding sub-letting was not in the original conditions of lease ; it had been inserted in the draft lease without authority, aud therefore should be expunged.—Ultimately the clause was adopted, Crs Price, McDougall, and Lee dissenting. An amendment by the latter, " That the opinion of the municipal solicitor be obtained (upon a perusal of all papers connected with the lease of the recreation ground) whether or not the retention of the clanse in proposed lease restricting alienation can be insisted on by the Council," was negatived. The third clause in the report was discussed at considerable length, and on being put was negatived on the casting vote of tho Chairman, Crs. Monteith, Graham, Cotton, and McDougall having voted for its adoption, and Crs. Wall, Price, Lee, and Margoliouth against it. —Cr. Lee then moved, and Cr. Price seconded, that a gratuity of £2-3 be voted to Mr Cullen.—Cr. McDougall moved as an amendment that the amount be 10s Gd. He did so to show that the Council considered that Mr Cullen ought to be paid, although not by the Council. In his opinion it was the place of the General Government to pay Mr Cullen, as they had created the new '' billets '' by their legislation. Let Sir William Fox pay him. (Laughter).--Cr. Monteith seconded the amendment, which was lost by G to 2.— A further amendment that the amount be £•3 was negatived on the casting vote of the Mayor, and ultimately it was agreed, on the motion of Cr. McDougall, seconded by Cr. Price, that £10 be granted, Crs. Monteith and Margoliouth alone dissenting-. Clause five was opposed by Cr. Monteith, but as he was the only dissentient it was adopted as read. nuisance inspector's report. The Inspector of Nuisances reported that during December he superintended the removal of several nuisances, one of which was the frequent washing up of dead animals on the beach between Sea Point and the entrance to the inner harbor. These carcases were thrown from the wharf at a time when the tide was unsuitable and washed up on the beach. He suggested that the Harbor Board should be requested to put a stop to the practice, except immediately after high tide. The inspector also called' attention to the nuisance arising from the accumulation of stagnant water on sections 10 and -30; aud to a partially burnt house in Emerson-street, which was liable to he set on lire at any moment, from the quantity of paper and combustible matter within the building. ROAD OVERSEER'S REPORT. The overseer of roads reported that the contractors for the new reservoir had been making good progress with the work, tlic plastering of ono compartment having been completed, and the carpenters' work iv connection with the tower nearly finished. The contractors expected to finish the contract about the end of the present month. The laying of water mains had been proceeded with without interruption—about 2 : y- miles of pipes were laid. The machinery at the pumping-station was also being erected. The works under the heading of "Road Maintenance " attended to during the month consisted in the channelling of Coote-road, repairs to Napier-terrace, Burns-road, Waghorne-street, Clive-square west, Brewster-street, and Milton-road. The water channels iv various places had been cleaned, and the silt-traps and storm-water sewer cleaned. VOUCHERS. Vouchers amounting to £1352 were passed and ordered to be paid, the two sums of £10 each voted that evening being included. The Council then adjourned.