NAPIER BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3887, 4 January 1884, Page 2

NAPIER BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Council mot last evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Crs. Faulknor, MoDougall, Cotton, Graham, Margoliouth, Lee, Cohen, Neal, and Robjohns. correspondence. From the secretary to the Harbor Board (in reply to the Council) in reference to tho complaint of tho local Board of Health to abate a nuisance in Carlyle-street. A report was forwarded from the Board's engineor, from which it would be seen that the accumulation of stagnant water on tho reserve had been caused by the municipal authorities in carrying out their sewerage works.—Referred to Public Works Committee. From the secretary to the Napier Gas Company—" I am instructed by tho directors to acknowledge tho receipt of your letter of the 7th December, intimating that the Council declino to accept any one of the alternative tenders for lighting tho streets for the year ending 31st December, 18S4, on the ground that they are higher than they were last year, and in reply to inform you that tho board ai - o unable to amend any of tho prices tendered for tho services named. As mentioned in my letter of 23rd ultimo the prices under headings 1 and 2 allow for the employment of two lighters instead of one owing to tho fact that during tho present contract tho lamps havo been oxtended to distant parts of the town. The board would draw tho attention of tho

Council to the prices charged by companies for street lighting in other towns of tho colony of a similar size as this, amongst which are Timaru with 63 lamps, the charge being £8 Ills per lamp per annum, extinguished at 2 a.m., the consumers paying 15s per 1000 ft. At Oamaru and Hokitika the gas is used by meter, and charged for at the samo rate as that paid by the general consumers ; the former has 34 lamps at 12s per 1000 ft., and the latter 74 at Els id por 1000 ft. ; tho price submitted by this company for gas by meter system being lis Sd per 1000 ft., and the price paid by the general consumers being 14s, only very few persons consuming sufficient to enable them to take advantage of tho rato for increased consumption, viz., 13s and 12s per 1000 ft. It will be observed from tho foregoing that the prices submitted by this company are considerably lower than those charged by other towns of similar size as this, and bear a favorable comparison to tho advantage of the Corporation over the charge at Timaru, which is £8 10s per lamp till 2 a.m., with tho price submitted in our tender of £7 15s per lamp till midnight; and also, if the meter system is adopted, the difference over the general consumer in favor of the Corporation being 2/4 per 1000 foot. So, on these grounds, the board fail to see the justification tKo Council h.nve for requesting tho company to submit prices more on the basis of those charged to the general public, and in forwarding this their final decision the board hope that the Council will now see that every endeavor has been mado by them to meet the requirements of tho borough, and at the same time have kept in view both tho interests of the shareholders and tho general public. The board also wish to point out that, with a view to encourage day consumption, a special rate of 10s per 1000 ft is charged for gas for engines and cooking stoves. This, of course, cannot apply to street lamps."—Dealt within Public Works Committeo's report.

Under-Secretary for Lands, in reference to the Mayor's application for offices in the present buildings. (The letter has already appeared in our columns.)

From Messrs McEwan and Co., enclosing letter from Messrs Shanks and Co., manufacturers of the engine and pumping appliances ordered for the waterworks extension scheme, in which they traversed tho various objections made by Mr Stewart, consulting eugineer, and in which they laid stress on the vagueness of the specifications with which they had been supplied. The machinery was in accordance with the specification, and no fault could be found with its structure. Tho engine which tho Corporation wanted was a compound engine with separate connecting rods, which would have cost a good deal moro money than the one supplied. The defects were due to the parts being strained during erection. The suction valves were networking properly, duo to sonio local cause, which should bo remedied. The slide valves were not set correctly, and they did not understand why they should be left in that condition so long. Coke was not suitable for tubular boilers.—lt was moved by Cr. MoDougall, and seconded by Cr. Cotton, that the letter bo referred to Mr Stewart.—Cr. Neal moved, and Cr. Lee seconded, as an amendment, thi't tho letter be referred to the waterworks engineer.— The amendment was carried.

From Mr G. Cullen, clerk to the Napier Licensing Committee, enclosing a recommendation from the Committee to the Council that tho latter should pay Mr Cullen a gratuity of £25 for his services during the past year.—Cr. Lee enquired what tho Council received for licenses during the year.—The Town Clerk: £910.—Cr. MoDougall: Tho Government appointed Mr Cullen, and if the Government did not compulsorily cause us to accept his services the work could be done by the servants of the Corporation.—Cr. Neal thought tho question wanted ventilating ; ho considered it very unfair that services should be given without, any remuneration whatever.--It was ultimately moved and carried that £10 be awarded, same as last year.

From Mr King, waterworks engineer, requesting permission to erect old pumping engine in tho new pumping station, which would do away with tho present noise and dirt, tho connections to bo made by the staff.—Dealt with in Public Works Committee's report.

PETITION. Cr. Ncal presented a petition from sixteen ratepayers of Main-street asking the Council to abate a nuisance there.—Referred to the overseer to report to tho next meeting of tho Public Works Committee.

road overseer's report. The following report from tho ororseer of roads was read: —

1. Mr Wrightson's Letter.—With reference to this letter, complaining of inconvenience from flooding, I bog to state that I am quite awaro that such is the case, but as tho floors of his house and tho one near adjoining are 9in below the level of the pathway, and subject to flooding from the hills at tho back, I am unable to see that tho road drainage—bo it improved as it may—would in any way relieve Mr Wrightson from this annoyance, as the flood water from the largo water shed at the hack has to flow over tho pathway to escape into the channels, and tho floors are inundated in consequence. Mr Wrightson's house (together with tho ono occupied by Parker—both in the same condition) contain, as I am informed, a front shop and four rooms, and has been held up to about two weeks ago under a rental of 5s por week each, it would therefore appoar. unfair that the Corporation should pay for y ineonveniencearisingoutof the circumstance. -- The condition of these cottages as regards the public health was reported to the Council on the 7th November last.

2. Mr France'b Letter.—l have examined the place in Priestly-road complained of by Mr France, and find it about tho same as described in his letter. The injury to his fence is tho result of raising the road at this place in connection with permanentimprovements to the road about four years ago. To remedy tho matter of complaint will require the construction of a stone wall for a distance of about one and a-half chains, with an average height of about two feet, and a, stone channel grouted in cement. I estimate the cost to be about £9. If the work bo thus constructed it will permanently divert the water from its original course through Mr France's garden by way of the road channel. lam of opinion Mr France should contribute a littlo towards the cost of the work.

3. Milton-road, North.—l would respectfully reeommond that some permanent improvements bo made on this part of tho road, s) as to avert the disarrangement of the . surface after the heavy rainfall as at pre? / sent; those improvements to consist of a stone channel from Battery-road to the junction of Milton Terrace-road, and a large culvert at tho lattor place to divert the water which flows through Mr Rhodes' property therein. I would also beg to recommend that tho footpath in Shakespeare-road bo coated with a second coating of tar, so as to make the job complete. The cleaning of channels will, in addition to this, occupy the labor for the month.

4. The works executed during the month consists in improvements to the outfall surface drainago in Carlylo-street, clearing channels and storm-water, sower, and -\ general jobbing. INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES' REPORT. The following report from tho Inspoctor of Nuisances was read : — In reference to the late decision of the Council relative to enforcing tho connecting of all premises (within tho prescribed jflH distance from the mains) with the town sewerago, I havo the honor to bring under the notice of tho Council tho inadequacy of the supply of trapped grates to onsuro this work being carried out successfully. At present Mr Garry is unablo to turn out those grates olherwiso than at a slow rate, and is unable to give any assurance of a quicker supply without being furnished with an order sufficient to justify his em: plo}'ing additional labor for the work. If an order, say for 200 or 250 bb given, MiGarry will send for an additional moulder and will then be able to turn out 20 per week. I. would respectfully beg to recommend that this order be given, as without these grates tho enforcing of the work is impossible. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. Tho following report from tho Public Works Committee was read :— Your committee having met pursuant to notice beg to recommend the Council as follows:— 1. That a reply be forwarded to Mr Wrigbtson's letter of 3rd December informing him that the culverts and channels in Carlylc street havo been attonded to. 2. That the water-channol in road, adjoining Mr Franco's fence, bo repaired as recommended by the overseer, conditionally that one-half tho estimated cost of tho work bo contributed thereto. 8, That-the remaining clauses of the over*

seer's report, viz., clause 3, Milton road North, and tarring Shakespeare road footpath, and clause 4, jobbing, be adopted. 1. That tho report of tho inspector of nuisances be adopted, and that an order for 200 trapped gates (to bo delivered in quantities of not less than 50 per mouth) bo given to the contractor, and that ho be informed that his contract will be determined should ho fail to snpplv the number required. 5. Thai tho old engine at the waterworks bo removed to the position recommended by Mr King in his letter of the 31st December. 6. That Mr Holder's tendor for tho supply of dog collars fiv the year 1884 be accej>ted. 7. That a reply bo forwarded to Mr Rochfort's letter of the 12th December informing him that the Council do not require the new water mains to be shown on tho Corporation plans. 8. That a reply bo forwnrded to the municipal solicitor's letter of the 10th December, that the plans required by him will be furnished to him when tho Corporation maps are finished. 9. That tho tender of the Gas Company for the street lamps until midnight for 12 months at the rate of £7 15a per lamp per annum bo accepted. 10. That the vouchors herewith forwarded (£557 10s) bo passed and ordered to bo paid. Clauses 1 to 8 were passed without discussion. Clause 9, that the tender of the Gas Company be accepted, was carried by 7 votes to 2, Crs. Graham and Cohen dissenting. Cr MoDougall asked if he could move a resolution bearing on this question ? He would move that the Town Clerk be instructed to advertise in the Melbourne Argus and Ago calling for tenders for lighting the streets with the electric light. Tho Mu3'or thought, the previous question having been put and carried, the matter was settled. Cr. McDougall: Tho tenders would be from the Ist January, 1885. The Mayor: That would require thrco day's notice of motion. Cr. McDougall: It can be dono now by unanimous consent of the Council. Cr. Lee : It would not be unadvisable to test what the meters really did burn per hour. Cr. Cohen hoped the Council would sco that proper rules were drawn up and clauses put in the contract binding the company to give them what they were entitled to. The conduct of the company was anything but fair to the ratepayers ; thoy never got onehalf of what they paid for. Had a small individual so treated the Council no end of fines would have been made. THE OFFICES. The Mayor said he had viewed a number of premises suitable for offices, but had settled nothing definitely, as he preferred bo leavo the onus to the Council of moving in the matter. A long purposeless discussion ensued without result. VOUCHERS. Clause 10 of tho Public Works Committee's report, recommending that vouchers to tho amount of £557 10s be passed for payment, was put and carried.