NAPIER BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4016, 5 June 1884, Page 2

NAPIER BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Council met last evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor (in the chair) Crs. McDougall, Faulknor, Margoliouth, Cotton, Neal, Close, Lee, Graham, and Robjohns. CORRESPONDENCE. From Property Tax Department, iiu; reference to the payment of sums due to the borough into the Colonial Bank, tho matter had been referred to the Colonial Treasurer. —Received. From the Treasury Department, in reference to the same complaint, and asking further explanations as to why if was inconvenient.—Cr. McDougall thought some reference should be made to the letter. ■ He understood the Town Clerk had a voucher in the Colonial Bank, but giving no clue as to what rate it was for, • and good bookkeeping required that the amounts should be forwarded to the Treasurer.—Cr. Neal said the letter explained itself, that particuy, lars were always forwarded to the Town Clerk at the same time the money yras ■ sent to the bank.—The Town Clerk said £2/ 12s 6d was paid in for a Government account said to be for water supply, but there-, were no particulars forwarded to' show what the , amount was for.—lt was decided that the/ Town Clerk should reply and explain thaF the Council had ordered all accounts to bo paid to the Treasurer direct. From Woodville Settlers' Association, asking that tho borough would take steps to have the reserve in the Woodville district sold or otherwise disposed of, as the present was a favorable opportunity, there being a great demand for land at the jiresent time. —Cr. Neal said the trustees of educational reserves had been enabled to sell them, and it was thought by some gentlemen who recommended the letter to be written some other boroughs and counties would be making an application for a short Act to enable boroughs to dispose of their endowments of that description.—Received. From S6n Hon, asking if the Council would lease' the'small section adjoining the pumping station for a garden,- and what rent would be required.—Cr. Neal moved that the request could uot be entertained as those living in the neighborhood were taking steps to have a street opened in the locality. From W. Black, urging that the Corporation should tender for tho Gas 1 Company's tar for three years at a price similar'to that, already paid.—Dealt with iv Public Works report; : , ' ' From R. Lamb, stating that he had asked contractors •to give • supplementary estimates for the construction of three chimneys, such tenure to include the bosk

of fire grates, mantle pieces, and hearths.— Received. From John Parker, offering his services as impounder. —No action. From F. A. Morgan, secretaiy of the Municipal Association of New South Wales, asking how the streets of the borough were lighted, whether by a gas company or by gas works owned by the Corporation, and the cost of said street lighting.—The Town Clerk to furnish the information. From H. A. Cornford, writing on behalf of Messrs Tait and Mills, drawing attention to the bad state of Hyderabad road, which could be repaired and made safe by the expenditure of less than £100. To test the matter his clients intended to take action unless the road was repaired, in consequence of a loss sustained by them recently.—Cr. Margoliouth moved that the letter be referred to the borough solicitor, whose reply be forwarded to the Public Works Committee. —Cr. Cotton seconded the motion. —Cr. Neal moved as an amendment that the letter be referred to the overseer of roads for report.—The amendment was not seconded. —Cr. Margoliouth added to his motion: that the overseer be requested to report on the road. —Cr. Cotton said it was time to either shut up the road or widen it, as if not some day there would be a heavy doctor's bill to pay for an accident on it.— Cr. Margoliouth's amended motion was agreed to. From E. Lyndon, calling attention to the unsightly condition of Napier Terrace. —Cr. Graham said the overseer had visited the locality, and found he could do without Mr Rochfort's plan. He moved the letter be referred to the road overseer, which was carried. PROGRESS REPORT. The following report from the road overseer was read:— I have the honor to report for the informotion of the Council on the progress of works during the month. 1. Fitzroy road.—The channelling on this road in progress last month has been completed. 2. Byron-street.—-Thefootway from Hers-chell-street to Marine Parade has received a second coating of tar. 3. Station-street. —A second coating of shingle has been placed on this street, which will have the effect of proventing the beach metal from rolling about on the surface as hithertofore. 4. France road.—Tho authorised repairs to this road are now in course of progress. 5. Repairs have been effected in channeling Shakespeare Road. The " steps " leading to the Reservoir have been repaired with sand and tar. Clive Square-street east and part of Craven-street have been repaired withahingle. The ordinary jobbing work has been attended to during the month. 6. Contracts.—The contract for reclamation of Wellesly and Hyderabad Roads, near' the Royal Hotel, has been completed. The contract for reclamation of twon section No. 360 will he completed in a few days. 7. Owing ■; to the large amount of work authorised, I have no works to recommeud for the consideration of tho Council at this meeting. - PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE S REPORT. The Public Works Committee made the •following recommendations: — Your committee having met pursuant to notice beg to recommend the Council as follows: — . 1. That an offer be made to the Napier Gas Company for the purchase of their surplus tar for three years from the Ist prox., at threepence halfpenny (3jd) per gallon. 2. That the tender of Mr L. F. Blake for building the new Corporation offices (£B3B 16s) and for erecting chimneys thereto (£42 15s), be accepted. 3. That the vouchers herewith forwarded (£569 4s sd, less 4s 3d for advertising), be passed and ordered to be paid. The first two clauses were adopted without discussion. BALE OF BTAMEORD-BTRIET. The valuer wrote that he valued the part of Stamford-street, which abutted on WeUesley road, at £3 15s per foot frontage. Cr. McDougall asked if any councillor knew what private sections in that neighborhood had been sold for recently ? Cr. Margoliouth said land adjacent to what they were now dealing with had been sold a few months ago at £3 per foot, . and Mr Colenso had leased one or two pieces recently with purchasing clauses in tho leases at £3 per foot. Tho valuer had apparently put 15s more per foot on the land than recent sales had been made at. _ He begged to move the valuation be received. They were in a fix, as they always were : They had asked for a survey, and as Mr Rochfort was ill it would be a long time before the plan was obtained. Cr. Lee seconded the motion. Cr. Neal said the Council had nothing in their possession to prove they had a street 66 feet wide there. Cr. Lee: The position of the street could be easily decided by the gentlemen concerned. Cr. Neal said he had been given to understand that in many of the streets in Napier they did not know the exact width of them. Cr. Lee: That one is marked on the map. Cr. Margoliouth : Have we a record of all our streets ? Town Clerk: No. His Worship: Dependent on the newmap ? Town Clerk: Entirely. Cr Neal moved as an amendment that the consideration of the valuation of Stamford street bo deferred till the Council were in possession of the new map of the borough which was being prepared by Mr Rochford. Cr Margoliouth thought the amendment was not in order, as it was rescinding a resolution of the last meeting. Cr Neal maintained the amendment was in order, as it was moving an amendment on a subject under discussion—the reception of tho valuation. His Worship ruled the amendment in order. Cr Faulknor seconded the amendment. Cr Graham thought, before it was put, something more might be said. The motion at last meeting, as far as his memory served him, was to sell the street if the Councd agreed with the valuation. He did not agree with the price. It was no price at all for a section there; they ought to get more for it than for a section anywhere else. . , Cr Cotton said the valuation was _ 15s more per foot than any land in tho neighboorhood had been sold at. Cr Graham: It was no valuation for a piece of a road, which was what they had . got to sell. For the amendment: Crs Neal, Faulknor, and Graham. Against: Crs McDougall, Margoliouth, Cotton, Lee, Robjohns, and Cohen. Several further amendments were moved. As fast as one was rejected a new one was proposed. Ultimately a motion hy Cr. McDougall,' that Stamford- strert be sold to Messrs Colenso and Robjohns for £300, was Carried by six to three,' the voting being tho same as on tho first amendment. DESIGNS FOR TOWN HALL. Cr. Graham moved that a voucher for £10 he passad, as they had accepted Mr Lamb's plan. The 'motion was seconded by'Cr. Lee and carried. Cr. Margoliouth moved that the plans ■ belonging to the unsuccessful tenderers be , returned to them with the thanks of the Council. The motion was carried. VOUCHERS. Clause 3 of the Public Works Report, authorising the payment of vouchers for (as amended) £578 19s 2d, was put and carried. ' ■ . Tho Council then adjourned.