NAPIER MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3694, 17 May 1883, Page 2

NAPIER MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Wednesday, May 1(3

The Council met at S p.m. Present: His Worship tho Mayor (chairman), and Crs. Ncal, MoDougall, Margoliouth, Cotton, Ellison, AVall, Lee, and Montcith. COBBESI'ONDENCE. The following inward correspondence was read: — From tho F-ji-e Jnspeotor, stating that ho had inspected the town and Spit brigades twice during tho quarter ended 31st March, and that the men were eflicient and tho appliances in good order. Accompanying tho letter were the audited quarterly accounts of both brigades. From Mr It. Williams, accepting tho position' of A r aluer to the borough on tho terms offered by the Council. From the Colonial Secretary, stating that a voucher had been passed in i'avor of tho Corporation J'or f 3!j9 19s 2cl, being tho amount expended by tho Council on behalf of tho charitable aid fund during tho quarter ended March 31.—Cr. Margoliouth drew attention to the fact that the Council had to pay bank interest on tho money advanced

on behalf of charitable aid. He failed to see why this expense should be borne by the Corporation.—The Mayor said they were only obliging the Government. Ho agreed with Cr. Margoliouth's remarks.— V~ Cr. Margoliouth thought it time the practice Avas stopped. Why should the Government be accommodated at the expense of the ratepayers. He moved that tho Government be asked to pay theinterest in future. This Council had not even control of the disbursements im which they paid interest. — Cr. Ellison thought the motion might go farther and be m:idf' retrospect ive in its operations.—Cr. Cotton moved, as an amendment, that the Town Clerk be asked to write to the Town Clerk at Auckland asking what practice obtained there with regard to interest on money advanced for a similar purpose.—Cr. Wall seconded tlio amendment. The voting- resulted in a tie, and the Mayor gave his casting vote for the amendment.—Cr. Margoliouth then moved, as a further amendment, that tho Council notify to tho Government that in future, as the Council's revenue would not meet current expenses, it would not undertake to make advances on account of charitable aid. — Cr. McDougall seconded the motion.—Cr. Monteith did not think the matter worth _ a moment's consideration. When this discussion got abroad the ratepayers would no doubt feel highly grnteful to Cr Margoliouth for having represented the borough as in a state of bankruptcy. The whole thing only involved a sum of ,Gl2 or £1"> a year at most, and it was scarcely worth talking so much about that when it was remembered that the Council occupied Government offices free of charge. He objected to the statement also that"the borough was unable to mcctcurrentoxpenscs.-—CrMoDougall explained that he seconded the amendment as a protest against the useless plan of asking what was tho rule at Auckland. This Council should be its own guide, and not bo influenced solely by what was practiced by other Councils. Besides, seeing that the Government had treated the Corporations throughout New Zealand in such a shabby way in regard to the subsidies, he did not see why the Council should pay about £25 a year, or something like that, for accommodating the Government. — Cr. Lee said the annual cost of tho interest did not exceed £12 a year. It would not y do for the Council to abandon the system of disbursing charitable aid to the destitute ; else where would such go for it P There was no Government officer for the purpose in town.—Cr. Margoliouth twitted Cr. Lee on not being an authority on figures, and remarked that the benevolent society might disburse charitable aid.—Cr. Lee: Not likely, when there is a Borough Council to do it.—Cr Monteith said ho had made a careful calculation, which ho would read out for Cr. Margoliouth's information. The annual charge to the borough for interest on charitable aid disbursed, talcing it at £1200 per annum, came to £0 lGs. —The amendment was then put and negatived, and the original motion was carried. From tho secretary of tho Napier Fire Insurance Association, asking for certain information with respect to tho regulations iv force relating to the turning on and off of the high pressure water supply.—ln connection with this the Town Clerk read a copy of tho regulations as supplied by the engineer.—lt was agreed to enclose same to Mr'Sidcy with reply to his letter. From the road overseer (report) on the matter of the roadway and fence bounding Mr E. W. Kuowles' property in Browsterfitrcct, and regarding which a communication was received from Mr Knowles at last meeting of Council. The road overseer re- ' ported that he had examined the place, and found both the fence and tho roadway in tho state described by Mr Knowles for a distance of 40 feet. A retaining wall of stone ov wood would be required, with an average depth i.F three feet. This would cost about :£s. He {the overseer) undcrstaod, however, that there was no hurry for the work boing carried out, the chief object of the I'omphiint not briup; so much to have it done fit once us to hfivc a proper job made of it when it is done. From tho same, reporting on Mr B. Warues' letter received at last meeting rch meeting a nuisance that exists on Battery road owing to the unreclaimed swamp that fronts it. The overseer considered that the mere reclamation of Battery road would not remedy tho nuisance complained of. The cost oi' making Battery road at the point indicated of sufficient height abovd the sea lovel would bo about £20 a chain. From Mr H. R- Holder, offering terms for leasing tho Corporation reserve at Woodville. —Deferred until the reading of the report of the Public Works Committee. THE WATERWORKS PLANT. The Public Works Committee presented the following special report:—" Your committee having met pursuant to order, and carefully considered the reports laid before them, beg to recommend tho Council as follows, viz.—l. That tho Council request the contractors to make good the defects in the waterworks machinery according to the terms of the contract.—2. That the Council appoint Mr Stewart to inspect the waterworks plant, and report to the Council theroon, and that Mr Rainc be requested to appoint a representative to act on behalf of his firm, and to meet Mr Stewart on his visit to Napier." Tho Town Clerk read tho following opinion from Messrs Sainsbury and Logan, Corporation solicitors : —We think the position of the Napier Corporation wovdd be very much strengthened in the event of their having to proceed against Messrs M'Ewan and Co. for damages, if they at onuo took the opinion of a good consulting engineer upon. 1. Whether the machinery in connection with tho waterworks has been properly erected. 2. Whether it falls short of what it was required to do accordiug to the specifications. We would suggest in tho meantime that a formal notice bo at once sent to Messrs M'Ewan and Co., informing them that the machinery has turned out to be not only defective in itself but unable t> do the work specified for. We would also suggest that the consulting ongiucor, Mr Stewart, formerly employed, be at once communicated with, and as soon as it is known when ho can bo present in Napier that Messrs M'Ewan and Co. be informed thereof, and required to send a representative on their behalf to meet Mr Stewart." On tiic motion of Cr Ncal, seconded by Cr McDougall, the report was adopted. Some discussion took place as to whether Mr Stewart was entitled to a special fee for coining down to inspect the plant and report 'thtivooii tq tlfp Council.' ' Cr. McDougall said, so far as his memory served him, the arrangoment made with Mr Stewart was to act as consulting engineer, in the matter for £100 and expenses. £50 of this amount had already been paid, and the remaining £o0 was he believed, due on the works beciug inspected and passed. Several other councillors had a similar A* recollection. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Public Works Committee reported as follows: — Your committee having met pursuantto notice beg to recommend tho Council to give effect to the following , ; — X- 1. That the duties of consulting engineer us previously submitted to tho Council be now adopted and authorised. '1. That tho resignation of Mr Raven, poiuidkcoper, be accepted, and that applications for the appointment be invited. ?>. That the Council decline to accept either of the two tenders for the lease of the borough endowment at Woodvillc, but to advertise it again with the addition of a clause to compensate the tenant for permanent improvements at the end of his lease to the amount of £2000 or under according to valuation. •1. That tho vouchersfor oxpenditureherewifcli forwarded (£l3B 3s 7d) be passed and ordered to be paid. On clause 1 being put a good deal of discussion ensued as to whether or not the engineer was entitled to the offices at prosent occupied by him iv addition to his salary of £100 a year. Nothing definite, however, was arrived at, and the clause was adopted as read. Clause 2 was adopted without discussion. Some discussion took place with respect to clause 3, Cr. Margoliouth contending that the offer of Messrs Jumiesou Bros., being the highest, should be accepted. The rental offered was very fair considering that tho Council had thought that anything would bo enough provided improvements were made.—Cr. Ncal said it seemed that tiio Public Works Committee had seen reason to deam the reservo worth more than the value that had at first boon set upon it. j The light he looked upon the matter was ~> that the wants of the borough necessitated immediate revenue, and he thought that by allowing compensation upon the valuation of improvements a rent of £100 a year j night be obtained.—Ultimately the clause was divided, thoiirstpartfileolinhiy to accept cither of the tendors for the lease of the endowment) being adopted; and tlie romaiada

referred back to tho Public Works Committee. THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. Cr. Ellison asked when a report might be expected from the Finance Committee ? The Mayor said he understood the committee would meet shortly. Cr. Neal asked what amount of money was available for road work. He thought it would bo as well if the Finance Committee kept the Council informed of the funds available, and tho expenditure could bo regulated accordingly. A remark had been made to-night that the borough was not able to pay its way, but so far he (Cr. Ncal) saw no signs of that. Cr. Monteith handed in his resignation as a member of tho Finance Committee on the grounds that business engagements preelmlecl his giving- due attention to the duties devolving upon the position, and tho meetings being usually held during- the day he wa's often unable to attend them. The resignation was accepted. Cr Margoliouth proposed, and Cr Cotton second, that Cr Ellison bo appointed to fill tho vacancy. Cr Ellison declined the honor, and, on the motiou of Cr Monteith, Cr Neal was unanimously appointed to the position. FIRE-TROOF STRONG ROOM. Cr Margoliouth drew attention to the fact that there was no place of security in which to lockup the Corporation books and documents, and they were constantly exposed to the danger of being consumed by fire should such at any time break out. A fire-proof strong room could be provided at a cost of about £100, whereas, if a fire occurred, and tho books, &c, wore kept as at present in the clerk's office, it would cost tho borough a loss of many thousands of pounds. He would ask for permission to move without notice that the engineer be requested to supply plans for a brick fire-proof safe, and to report to the next meeting of the Public Works Committee the probable cost of same. Permission of the whole Council having been given, (lie motion was put and carried. Cr. Ellison pointed out that to prepare plans was not an engineer's duty, but an architect's. Cr. Margoliouth said he supposed that meant that the Council woidd have to appoint a consulting architect as well as a consulting engineer. Cr. Ellison said ho did not mean to imply that Mr Lamb would not suppy the plans, &c, asked for. Ho only desired to point out the fact that the work pertained to an architect. THE BOEOUGIt SURVEY. A lengthy controversy of a conversational character took place with respect to the cost of tho borough survey, and whether the amount charged for same included the maps of the town. Tho matter was finally referred to the Public Works Committee. The vouchers for the month were then passed for payment, and the Council adjourned.