NAPIER BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3877, 20 December 1883, Page 2

NAPIER BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Council met last evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Crs Neal, Cotton, Cohen, Faulknor, Graham, Margoliouth, McDougall, and Lee. CORRESPONDENCE. From the Road Oi'crseer.—Owing to pressure of work ho had boon unablo to prepare a report as to tho letters of complaint of Messrs Frame and AVrightson. From Mr Rochfort, C.E., asking for assistance in obtaining the position of mains, valves, &c. If authorised by the Council he Avould show tho blocks on the hills, but as tho water supply had been carried out sinco ho entered into the contract he Avould roquiro extra.remuneration for doing so.—Tl.o Toavii Clerk snid the assistance had been given. Tho second part of the letter avha referred to the Public AVorks Committee. From the Borough Solicitors, asking for precise instructions. They could not take - any steps till they knew what Corporation lands had been proclaimed as taken for • public Avorks purposes.—Referred to Public AVorks Committee. From tho Property Tax Department, caKclosing rolls for Crown lands in Napier liable to rating-.—The Toavii Clerk said ho had written asking whether there was no appeal, as many of tho valuations were too low, and some properties Avero altogether omitted. From Mr Lamb, asking that tho Corporation property might bo taken'over.— The Town Clerk said he had taken over tho property and given notice to Mr Knowles that tho offico Avas no long-er required. From secretary of the Gas Company, acknoAvledging receipt of letter, in which tho Council declined to accept any of tho tenders for lighting tho streets; the letter Avould bo laid before tho board of directors.—The Mayor suggested that somo temporary arrangement bo made AAdth tho Gas Company.—Cr. Margoliouth moved, and Cr. McDougall seconded, that on receipt of reply from Gas Company the ToAvn Clerk notify same to three councillors, Avho Avill cause a special meeting to be called as soon as possiblo thereafter.—Cr. Margoliouth said there Avas no intention to leavo tho toAvn in total darkness. Thero was an idea that tho toAvn could bo lighted with kerosene, but they found it Avould cost moro Avith less satisfactory results.—Cr. Faulknor thought they could do hotter by lighting Avith kerosene ; the gas Avas only lit a few nights in the month, and then only for three or four hours.—Cr. Cohen said it was not tho intention of councillors to neglect the toAvn as far as lighting was concerned, but they thought it their duty not to pay extortionate prices.—Cr. Neal said that that Avas not the time to enter on the question. —Motion Avas carried. PUBLIC WORKS RETORT. Tho following report from tho Public Works Committee Avas read and adopted : — Your committee having met pursuant to order beg to report as folloAvs: — 1. That tho tenders of Messrs Ellison and Murnane for the footpath in the Shakespeare road for £24 be accepted. 2. That tho follo\A'ing tenders for the undermentioned annual sorvices bo accepted: — Blacksmith's work, Mr J. Parker; fuel, D. Gray and Co.; drain connections, Edser and Son; carting, Mr AY. A. Ainner; nightsoil and rubbish, Conn ell and Madden ; printing, Daily Telegraph ; advertising, Daily Ti.r.EGßAi'ir. 3. That tho vouchers herewith forwarded (.£65 12s lOd) ho passed and ordered to be paid. 1. Your committee report that Cr. Neal's resolution re building suitable offices, &c, referred by the Council on being considered in committee, was lost. THE MUNICIPAL OFFICES.' The Mayor said they avci-c all aware that a notice had been served on the Council by tho Government to quit the offices on tho 31st of December. Ho had taken tho opinion of their solicitor, and the notice they had received was a perfectly legal and justifiable one, and if they did not leave by the 31st it Avas competent for tho Government to put a bailiff in the rooms. If thoy refused to go out the Government could enter an action, AA'hich the Corporation would lose, and the monetary loss would bo a considerable ono. Cr. Lee moved that His Worship tho Mayor bo authorised to tuko temporary premises to carry out the business of the offices. Seconded by Cr. Cotton. Cr. Lee regretted that they should not build. A considerable sum would be spent in furnishing and removing. He Avas not prepared to say they should stick there till thoy Avere turned out. Cr. Cohen Avould Avait till they Avero turned out. He did not believe tho GoA'ernment Avould stand tho odium of throiving their books outside. In taking temporary premises they would be put to considerable expense. Tavo lejjal gentlemen had told him for £50 they could stay till Juno, and he could find the money from the ratepayers. Cr. Graham believed tho Government ay.is prepared to do anything. [Cr. Cotton: Except build a railway station.] The Government that Avould sond a member here and make a promise and thon break it Avould do anything. Ho did not liko to be bundled out, but tho only thing they had to do was to go and bring it boforo Parliament, though perhaps they could not do that oven Avith tho men they had to represent them. Cr. Margoliouth never belieA'ed they had any right to occupy tho offices. They had stayed for several years on sufferance. Mr Dink stated the offices were not required and they Avould not be disturbed, but then ho (Mr Dick) lost Iris notos, and had no recollection of AA'hat took place, notvrithstanding tho mimbor of councillors present

at the time. They should have to take temporary offices, and discuss tho subject of /' . building "afterwards. -J Cr. McDougall objected to the absurd \ tali that had taken place. The Government had no power to enter in and bore holes through a wall. The Government could only eject them on a Resident Magistrate's order, and if the Government did any objectionable act it could be punished by law. The order of ejectment Avould bo made Avithout any expenso except tho application fee, Avhich would only be a guinea. Ho would like to stay till they wore legally turned out, so that it should not bo said afterwards that thoy did not push matters to extremes, but that they went out voluntarily. Cr. Neal said it was an insult to the Council for Mr Bamford to say he would boro holes through the Avail. AVere they to receive insults from the Registrar of Deeds ? Cr. Margoliouth said he had not been spoken to as a member of the Council, but as a private individual. Cr. Neal: Cr. Margoliouth gave it as information to this Council. Cr. Margoliouth: I deny it. I simply said it as information, aud it ay.is not said in any Avay insulting, but spoken as a private individual. Cr. Neal : If it was private information it should not be repeated here. He has no right to firing private information hero. Cr. Margoliouth : I did not bring private information here. Cr. Neal is straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel. Tho Mayor: Thero has been a little mistake here. The motion was carried. Cr. McDougall moved, and Cr. Graham seconded, "That, notwithstanding the *W taking of temporary offices, the Council do not remove until legally ordered to do so by the Resident Magistrate." Carried, Cr. Lee dissenting-. VOUCHERS. The third clause of tho Public Works Committee's report, recommending payments to tho amount of £05 12s lOd, Avas then put and carried.