NAPIER MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3594, 18 January 1883, Page 2

NAPIER MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Wednesday, January 18.

The Council met at 8 p.m. Present: His Worship the Mayor (chairman), Oh. Montcith, Wall, MeDougall, Price, Margoliouth, Graham, and Cotton. CORRESrO>*DEX'CE. From Mr J. Buchanan, M.H.R., enclosing - copy of an official lettter he had sent to the Minister of Public Works in relation to better accommodation at the Napier railway station, also stating- that a definite promise on the subject was made by the Hoi>. Mr Johnson several months ago, and lie (Mr Buchanan) had yet to learn whether the delay in fulfilling that promise was not due to some local authority. From Mr F. J. Tiifen, calling attention to what was termed "a most unsightly piece of disfigurement" in the shape of a top-rail lately placed around Olive Square, and requesting that it be removed. Mr Tili'en regarded the rail as being utterly useless, and expressed his disapproval as a ratepayer of such work being sanctioned by the Council.—The Town Clerk said ho had acknowledged receipt of the letter as directed by the Public Works Committee. From Mr W. Rathbonc, Waipawa, enclosing a cheque for £'225 -is, being amount claimed by the Council for filling in "a portion " of town section 384, and expressing an opinion that the charge was exhorbitant. He thought the engineer ought to be ashamed of the specifications, which were loosely drawn. The letter continued, - 'I am informed that would-be tenderers when Jipplyiny for information were told by the engineer (as no written specifications were to be seen at the time) that the nuisance was required to be abated immediately, that only three weeks would be allowed to do the work in, in contradiction of which I may state that the man whose tender was accepted took six months to complete, without any fines being available as a set oft. The result is I am called to pay 2s (id a yard, when 2s is a substantial price for the work done, with a reasonable tiino to do it in—not 'three weeks,' as verbally stated by the engineer. I cannot pay this money in silence, as I think an injustice has been done, which I think the Corporation ought to inquire- into, and should it be found that I have sustained pecuniary loss through any negligence on the part of one of the officers I feel assured that in the interests of justice a portion of the money will be refunded."—Cr. Wall said Mr Rathbonc's letter contained several errors. The cost of filling in the section was not 2s Gd per yard, as stated by Mr Eathboiie, but 2s 3d; both plans and specifications were available, and everything that the Council could do was done. In the opinion of the engineer, and of several councillors who had seen the work, it was done very cheaply. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Public Works Committee presented the following report :— Your committee having met pursuant to notice, beg to recommend the Council to give effect to the following : — 1. That the ratepayers living , within tile district watered by the watering-cart be waited upon to enquire whether they are desirous to continue the present .system of watering the streets, and if so, whether they ■will contribute towards the cost of maintaining it. 2. That the engineer's report of the I.sth instant herewith forwarded be adopted. 3. That with reference to Mr Brawn's letter, ho be informed that the road mentioned by him not being a public road the Council decline to move in the matter of an approach to his premises. 4. That the Colonial Secretary's attention be called to the fact that no notice has been taken of the Town Clerk's letter on the subject of railway encroachments, &c, and that he be requested to enquire into the matters therein referred to, as they are of pressing importance to the public. •"). That applications from persons competent to. drive, clean, and repair, when necessary, the new "waterworks engine be invited. G. That the vouchers (wages £92 Is 2d) be passed and ordered to be paid. Clauses 2, ;i, 4, 5 and G were adopted without any noteworthy discussion. On the motion of Cr. Wall it was agreed that the Town Clerk should write to the present engine driver, and inform him that he is at liberty to apply for the appointment referred to in el&uee o.

engineer's rerort In connection with the second clause the following report from the municipal engineer was read: — 1. Mr Brown's Letter.—l have the honor to report, in connection with this applica- JL tion, that I estimate the cost of forming ■ this road 6ft "wide "would, be about £45. It is not a public road, and at present would only lead to one house. 2. Hyderabad-road. —I repectfully refer the committee to my report on this road, dated 27th February, 1882. In addition to that report I have the honor to suggest that should the recommendation therein contained be adopted the additional width throughout should be an average of three yards instead of two yards, and should be continued do-ma to opposite the Petane bridge approach. This I estimate would cost about £75. 3. Labor Staff.—As the permanent works are now drawing near completion the decision of the Council to reduce the labor staff might now be carried into eif ect. Herewith I have the honor to submit a list showing how the reduction may be effected, and in doing so I beg most emphatically to state that I have no complaint to make against any of the men proposed to be dispensed with, as, if we had employment for them, they might without exception, as far as their characters are concerned, be retained in the employment of the Corporation. 4. Water Supply.—l beg to report that on Friday last the old boiler broke down so completely as to render it useless. lam glad to say, however, that we have got the new boiler fixed and connected with tho present engine, and pumping- was resumed this (Monday) afternoon. WATERING THE STREETS. Clause 1 of the Public Works Committee's report elicited considerable discussion. On the clause being read by the chairman Cγ. Wall moved that it be struck out. Cr. Price seconded the motion. Cr. Graham said it was easy to see why Cr. Wall objected to the clause. If it were passed he would have to pay a paltry sum for watering Hastings-street, or a special rate would be struck. Tho proposal was intended as a step towards retrenchment, and Cr. Wall knew as well as anybody else that retrenchment was necessary. Cr. Price was strong in recommending the clause in committee, yet when it came before the Council he—as he always did —backed upT - that which would result in the largest expenditure. He and '' his friend the editor ' were always talking about the necessity for retrenchment, while opposing everything which would result in retrenchment. Cr. Price said that the meeting of tho Public Works Committee was very thinly attended, and this recommendation was passed as a sort of compromise between striking off the watering cart and imposing a special rate to cover the cost. He hoped to see that these small expenses could be carried out at the coft of the Corporation, instead of imposing further rates. Cr McDougall would like to support the clause for the reason that some retrenchment was necessary, but he thought, there was a better way to effect it than by cutting oft , the water from Hastings-street, and he would therefore vote against it. Cr Montcith did not see that the resolution would havo the effect some of tho coxmcillors thought. It was simply intended to obtain an expression of opinion, and he hardly believed the ratepayers on Hastings-street would agree to pay for the watering. Their answer was a foregone conclusion, and tho resolution would therefore end in nothing. Cr Margoliouth thought the business people of Hastings and Tennyson-streets who benefited by the watering , of the streets should pay for the same. The Council had as much right to pay for a watchman for those streets as it had to pay for the cost of keeping them watered. Cr Wall reminded those who were opposed to his amendment that the Hastingsstreet people paid almost three times as much rates as the other ratepayers, and were therefore entitled to consideration in the matter. The amendment, on being put, was lost by 4 to 3. A question here arose as to whether the clause actually conveyed the recommendation of the committee, Crs. Wall and Prico alleging that it did not. The Mayor said he saw no help for that now. Ho must put the clause as it was placed before him. Cr. Wall then moved, as a further amendment, that all the words in the motion from tho word " streets " be struck out. The amendment lapsed for want of a seconder, and the original clause was adopted. HOSPITAL REPRESENTATION. Crs. Lee and Margoliouth were appointed to represent tho Council at the Hospital Committee for the ensuing year. In reply to Cr. Graham, the Mayor said he held a seat at the Committee by virtue of his office. MISCELLANEOUS. Cr. Piice was appointed to sign contracts and cheques on behalf of the borough, vice Cr. Wall resigned. Vouchers amounting to £dl Is 2d for wages were passed and ordered to be paid. The Council then adjourned.