Hastings Borough Council.

Hastings Standard, Issue 112, 4 September 1896, Page 2

Hastings Borough Council.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the above Council was held in the Council Chambers last night. Present, —The Mayor (Mr C. Fitzßoy), Crs., Beilby, Beecroft, Murdoch, Tyerman, Crosse, Cullen, and Linney. Minutes of ordinary and special meetings were read and confirmed. The Mayor reported re the drainage on the Haveloek Road, adjoining Mr Elliott's property. It was decided to form a culvert across the road carrying the water into the drain on theotherside. With reference to applications for permission to remove shingle from the pit, it was decided, as the Council could have no proper check over those using the pit, to refuse permission in every case. ROAD overseer's REPORT. The Road Overseer's report was read as follows : 1. I have the honor to report that the Southland road contract is progressing favorably at the present time. However, they are stopped for a few days owing to the recent rain. The drain contract at Dr Nairn's is also progressing favorably. 2. In accordance with instructions, I have inspected the locality of Oak road, and find that the whole of the back yards, sections, paddocks, as well as the road, arftijn a sodden condition. This was in the early part of the month, and after a good spell of fine weather: and I attribute this in a great measure to the lagoon in the Woollen Factory Reserve. On the 20th August I took the levels of the water in the lagoon and the lower end of Oak road where it intersects Riverslea road and found the 'water was 3ft. sin. above the road level; and I think undoubtedly the proper method of dealing with the whole matter will be to keep the lagoon water down as low as possible. This can be done by draining it into the Railway road drain (with the exception of two or three very low spots that would need filling up). The cost of this I estimate would be £-i 17s 6d—l3 chains of drain at 7s 6d per chain. 3. There are various lengths of watertables that require cleaning out. The most urgent of these are: —Riverslea road, from Heretaunga street to Southland road drain, 68 chains ; Southland road, from Gascoigne street to the drain, 66 chains; Nelson street, from Heretaunga street to Southland road, 61 chains; Willow Park road, from M'Conbie's paddock to Riverslea road, 40 chains ; Murdock road, from Southland road to Railway road, 78 chains. Total estimated cost, .=£ls. 4. I have seen Mr Boyle in reference to both his artesian wells complained of. The one at the back of Trevelyan's he thought would be best destroyed, and fill up the hollow ; and the one Mr Caulton and others complained of he would attend to at once. Up to the present time, however, he has not moved in the matter. In reference to this last one I may say it does not affect the roads in any way, neither is there any great accumulation of stagnant water from it. There is just sufficient to keep the sections surrounding it in a sodden condition. Cr Beilby proposed and Cr Crosse seconded the adoption of clause 2. Cr Cullen asked if any action had been taken in the matter of forming Oak road, which had been brought forward by Cr Tyerman at last meeting. The Mayor explained that the rule of the Council was that every private road should be handed over to the Council in good condition before they could undertake to maintain it. Cr Cullen pointed out these persons were ratepayers and were consequently entitled to consideration. The Mayor said the rule existed and favor could not be shown. Cr Tyerman wished to place the matter in another light. Oak road had in places accumulations of stagnant water and slush which was a menace to the public health. Could not the matter be treated as a public nuisance and the residents compelled to remedy it by filling it in with shingle. Cr Murdoch thought this would hardly meet the case as the parties in question could not be made to use shingle. They might use mud, which would leave the place in a worse condition than before. He thought a special rate might be levied in the locality. Cr Beilby thought the rule of the Council should be adhered to. Cr Cullen said if the Council would not move in the matter it was unfair to charge these people rates. The Mayor suggested that clause 264, sub-section 2, of the Public Health Act might have a bearing on the point, and that legal advice be j taken. | Cr Tyerman withdrew his motion, and this course was consented to and clause 2 adopted, subject to the Mayor's suggestion. On the motion of Cr Crosse, seconded by Cr Cullen, clause 3 was adopted. Tenders to be called for the work. With reference to clause 4, Cr Beilby proposed, and it was seconded by C'r Crosse, that a notice be served on Mr Boyle to abate the nuisance complained of. Cr Cullen said that as the matter was only a private dispute, and as the nuisance complained of did not damage the roads, he would propose as an amendment that the persons affected be left to settle the question amongst them. Cr Linney seconded the amendment. Cr Beilby: The water flowed on to the road and damaged it. Mr Cook, Road Overseer, interrogated, explained that the water flowed on to the road, but the water tables were abls te deal with it and carry_ it into the drain. The sections adjoining the road were in a sodden condition. Cr Linney said the overseer distinctly reported that the road was not affected in any way. The amendment was then put and lost on the voices, and the original motion carried. INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES REPORT. The report was read as follows : 1. The section owned by Mr J. Riggar in Southhampton street : The part of this section on which the house stands is very low and full of stagnant water, and before this last raia it was covered with green slime*

2. The section own* <1 oyillßlW'' ley, and situate in St. a similar condition. Mr 'aj|S|||M anxious to fill this up if the grant him the earth to do so. ' this coidd be obtained from the iipp99HHHH! of St. Anbyn and King streets. It not, however, be advisable to break '■Spg these roads until we are certain of a spell -i----of dry weather. "™i 3. A nuisance is caused by Mr J, O'Neil's covvyard in Avenue road. It is situated in the corner of his section, close to the footpath, and, being above the level of the footpath, the filth runs out, and the cows continually crossing the footpath at this spot makes it altogether impassable at all times. \\ ith reference to clauses 1 and 2, Cr Linney proposer!, and Cr Bto toft seconded, that notice be served on Messrs Rigger and Apperly instructing them to till np their sections. Cr Cullen opposed the motion and called attention to the state of the section opposite the Council Chambers, which had never been attended to. Favoritism was shown. The Mayor explained that the cases were totally different. There were no houses on the section Cr Cullen alluded to, whilst there were not only houses on the other sections, but people living in them, over stagnant water. Cr Linney's motion was adopted. Clause 3 was left in the hands of the Mayor to deal with. INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERHOUSES REPORT. The report was read as follows I have the honor to report that the slaughterhouses within the Council's jurisdiction are in a satisfactory condition. The yards, however, still continue to be in a dirty and muddy state, which is impossible to avoid owing to the wot weather. The number of beasts slaughtered during the month, as per returns, are : 50 head of large cattle, 316 sheep, and 31 pigs. The report was adopted. THE BOROUGH RANGER. The report of the committee appointed to consider the charges made against the Borough ranger was read as follows:—• After hearing the evidence of MrHamil and several witnesses, and also the evidence of the Ranger, your committee deemed it advisable to caution liim that in future his duties must be carried out with the strictest impartiality and without favor to any one. We also recommend that the Council allow the Ranger an assistant whenever it is considered necessary. Resolved that the matter be further considered in committee. DRAINAGE COMMITTEE REPORT. The Draiage Committee's report was read as follows : 1. With regard to the drainage of Lumsden road and the nuisance caused by stagnant water an the Lonn and Mercantile Agency Company's sections complained of by Mr Metlierell, your committee recommend that the said company be allowed to take earth from Lumsden road for the purpose of filling in their sections adjoining Metherell's, provided they form and metal the road in accordance with specifications to be prepared by the Road Overseer. 2. With regard to the drainage of Park road, your committee recommend that the matter be allowed to stand over for the present. 3. We also recommend that an additional acre of land for a quarry be purchased from the Riverslea Syndicate. With regard to clause 1 it was resolved, on the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr Linney, that the Loan and Mercantile Company be served with notice to fill inthe section. Clause 2—On Cr Beilby's motion, seconded by Cr Linney, it was resolved to approach the owners of the properties in question in order to ascertain to what extent they were prepared to assist the Council in constructing a drain. Clause 3 was adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence was read and dealt with : From the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club, offering £lO towards the cost of filling in the water hole, part of which is on their own property.—Offer not accepted. From S. Heighway, asking the Council to form the road leading to his property. It was resolved that a culvert be put in, but that the road formation be deferred until a proper season. WATER GAS. The Balclutha Water Gas Company wrote re the adoption of this gas by the borough, and offering to bring up a model plant and exhibit the power of the gas if the Council bear a proportion of the expense. Cr Murdoch thought if the Company wished to exhibit the gas the Council should place no obstacles in their way, but the Council should not assume any responsibility, financially or otherwise. The Mayor thought the proper course to pursue would be to appoint a committee to consider the matter. The adoption of this gas would mean au expense of £2,000 or £3,000. "Cr Beilby said the gas had been a failure ever where. Letter received. GENERAL BUSINESS. Cr Tyerman, whose term of office does not expire until the 10th insfc., handed in his immediate resignation in order to enable the Council to appoint a member to act in his place on the Fire Brigade committee. He thanked the Mayor and Councillors for the courtesy always extended to him. Resolved that the appointment cf Cr Tyerman's successor be left in the hands of the Mayor. On the motion of Cr Beilby, seconded by Cr Bee-croft, it was unanimously resolved that the Council accepts with regret the resignation of Councillors Tyerman and Cullen, and recognise - the faithful and efficient manner in which they always performed their duties. Cr Linney thought that as there was now a telephone exchange in Hastings the Mayor's private residence should be connected at the borough's expense. Cr Tyerman understood that the authorities would connect the Mayor's house free of cost if approached. The Mayor asked that the matter be postponed until next meeting.

<:r Linney called attention to the iy of the stone crossing recently i icros* Station street from the M t.s Adams corner to the railway. The Mayor explained that the contractor who did the work is not here now, but Mr Cook is watching the place complained of, and if lie thinks it necessary it will be filled in with shingle. According to his agreement the contractor must keen the erodings in repair for 12 mouths. A. . ■ •rx r>. The monthly accounts amounting to £IBB 19s Kd were passed for payment. UPps concluded the business.