GREY BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 11 October 1901, Page 4

GREY BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The regular meeting of tlie above Council was held last night. Present —■ The Mayor, Crs. M'Loan, Bignell, Thomas, Steer, Petrie and Giosoking.

Messrs Clark and Polly’er on behalf of the Fire Brigade, waited on the Council relative to the appointment of a Fire Brigade member as Fire Inspector. The Captain in their opinion should be an Inspector. If he was fit to be Captain he was fit to be an Inspector. Mr. Clark apologised for the absence of Lieutenant Ryan, who was absent through a sudden death in his family. The Mayor congratulated the deputation upon the temperate address and said the matter would receive consideration. The ill-health of the Captain was a reason for his non-appoint-ment.

In answer to Cr. Thomas, Mr. Pollyier said that as a deputation they had not power to express any opinion as to whether the Brigade was satisfied with the Captain, but Mr. Clark said the last vote showed confidence in the Captain. They deemed that the head of the Brigade should be a Fire Inspector. The deputation then withdrew. Cr. Thomas then moved that Captain Yinsen be appointed a Fire Inspector. Cr. Bignell, in seconding, said the Brigade evidently wanted some change ; it was but a side wind on the part of some of the members to try and get rid of their Captain. As a matter of fact ho found that at present there was but one man who could look after the engine, and if a fire occurred in the day time the chances were that Mr. Latimer would be absent as he was working on the Cobden quarry. This was far from satisfactory.

Cr. Steer favored a committee to enquire into the whole management, and see that the Brigade wore working harmoniously. _ . . Cr. Gieseking, in seconding, said it was well to sift the matter to the bottom.

The Mayor held that having but one man to look after the engine was a very serious matter, and must be remedied at once. Resolution carried, tho whole Council to be a committee.

A number of formal letters were read and dealt with.

On the petition from residents of Alexander Street, Cr. Petrie moved and Mr. Thomas seconded that open drains bo closed, and footpath on eastern side be formed and asphalted.—Carried. The Finance Committee reported as follows: —The general account stood with* debit balance of £3,172 13s]5d and the loan account £379 7s 2d. They also recommended that the services of one of the inspectors of nuisances be dispensed with.

Cr. Petrie took exception to clause two. Both inspectors had separate duties, and were required.

Cr Biguell took a similar view, stating than the best evidence of the necessity for continuation of Mr Ainsworth’s services was the fact of so much diseased meat being condemned. Than in regard to the Inspector of Nuisances there was also plenty of work, and ho should like to see it receive more attention than in the past. The clause was withdrawn after a general opinion had been expressed that dirty back yards, stables, right-of-ways etc., must in future receive better attention.-

The majority of the Council were of opinion that the services of the two inspectors were still required. The Works Committee report was read and adopted as follows '■ — .1. Reserves 196 and 197 —These reserves are adjacent to the cemetery, and we cannot recommend that they be let at present. Mawhera Quay footpath—This footpath is in very bad repair, and should be put in order at once. The Town Surveyor reported as follows

“ In accordance with instructions since the last meeting I visited Christchurch, and had several interviews with Mr Napier Bell, who has now almost recovered from his severe illness. He sailed from Lyttelton yesterday for New Plymouth, and will bo in Greymoutb the first week in November. Mr Bell has instructed me to prepare for him plans of the pumping station, and filtering galleries, and write specifications for same, as this part of the work must be lot first. He has given me sketches of the reservoir details and I have to prepare plans of them for his approval. For the main bridges over Sawyer’s Creek Mr Bell does not recommend concrete. He claims that three iron bark bridges can he built for one of concrete; the iron hark bridges would have a life of more than 50 years each. On arrival he will give sketches for those bridges. The work he has set out, will take at least one month, and will be barely ready hv the time he arrives unless the Council will allow me an assistant for a few weeks. Mr Beilis instructions are attached hereto.

“I inspected tbe road roller the Council have for sale in Christchurch. The price is £250, but the machine- has had 18 years’ service. To examine it thoroughly would entail sending it to the foundry to be taken down, which would cost £lO. I made inquiries, and from information I obtained I cannot recommend the purchase to the Council. I have made inquiries as to the cost of a new road roller. A 10 ton one would suit us best of the compound pattern. I have quotations for Marshall and Son’s landed at Wellington about £BOO and Fowler’s of the game weight and type £SBO. The Sc A ban’s Borough Council have just; obt daed the latter make of engine, and it is giving every satisfaction, Fowler’r. roller can bo obtained on easy terms, say £2OO cash and the balance by : arrangement.

“I made inquiry as to proposed loan, but see no chance of its being taken up in Cnmtchuvch.”

Or Petiie objected to the evident position taken up by Mr Napier-Bell. He had been asked to aci as consulting engineer in regard to the reservoir only; now they found Mr Bell constituting himself engineer-iu-chief as it wore to the Borough, sweeping on one aide their own engineer in his plans, and even telling them ho was preparing plans for their bridges. If this was to be allowed ho feared the cost would mount up very seriously indeed. Cr Bignell took a like view. It was . distinctly understood that Mr Bell was to be'asked as to the reservoir only. It appeared to him that Mr Bell desired to commence anew, putting on one side all that had been done. He feared the expense would be far beyond what was expected. Cr Steer said be wai u- dartthe impression that Mr 801 l had mh’aken the position the Council asked him to take up. Cr Thoma* thought that even if it cost the Council two or three hundred pounds more for advice, it was batter to have it than make any mistakes. The Council then confirmed its previous decision regarding Mr Bell’s position. Or Petrie moved that tenders bo called for the two bridges over Sawyer’s Creek, to be built with ironbark. Too work waa provided for out of loan account and were urgently required. Cr M’Lean seconded and said the present bridges were dangerous. Carried. . , Or Petrie moved that particulars be obtained about the steam roller. His Worship the Mayor seconded, parried,

Cr Bignell moved that a street be formed from Cowper street to High, street from Mr. Dixon’s residence and Mr M’Kay’s. Carried. Cr Steer seconded. Carried,