BOROUGH COUNCIL

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 994, 7 February 1883, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL

The Council held its monthly meeting on Monday evening, there being present — His Worship the : Mayor, Or» Adams, Aitcbison, Gibson, Dixon, Maywood, McCarthy, Tapi in. Minutes of last ordinary and special meetings were read and confirmed, and outward correspondence approved of. TRANSFER OF SECTIONS. Mr W. Dixon applied for and obtained permission to. transfer section 8, block 23, to Dr Keating. The trustees in the estate of the late Peter Larsen obtained leave to transfer lease of sections 7 and 8, block 38, to Gustave Benicke. SLAUGHTERHOUSE LICENSE. ■ L, S. Barraclough applied for a license for a slaughterhouse on section 9, Patea suburban. Granted. A COOL REQUEST. Mr Wm. McKiver, wine merchant, Wellington, applied, as be was going to start business in Patea, that he should be allowed to transfer his present license here without taking out a fresh one. He added that it would be an advantage* to the borough, as be would have to pay £2O a year subsequently. Cr Adams moved “ That the application for a " transfer of license from Wellington to Patea be not entertained .” Cv Gibson did not think they could discuss the matter as it was one for the Licensing Committee. Cr Taplin seconded the motion which was carried. FORMATION OP BEDFORD STREET. , Mr J. G. Beamish wrote : I would wish to call your attention to the work going on in Bed ford-street opposite the Masonic Hotel. I have been under the impression for some time back that the street in front of the hotel is two or three feet too high and have been informed by good authority that such is very likely to be the case. Now this mound was placed in front of my property nearly two months ago, and considerably depreciating the value of the property, I would ask you, before taking any further steps, to inquire into the matter, and it a mistake has been made to the detriment of my properly, I will ask you to make me an offer as to what amount of compensation you would be willingjo give. Of course the longer it remains as it is the greater the amount of damages, as, r you will know, every day makes a difference to the trade of the house. The letter was left over until the Engineer’s report was under consideration. REPRESENTATIVES ON'HARBOUR BOARD. The secretary wrote that it would be necessary to elect two members to the' Harbour Board in room of Messrs Ad arils and - Aitcbison who retired through effluxion of time. The election was fixed for a special meeting-. I: ■/ WORKING GRAVEL ON LEASED HARBOUR LAND. The chairman to the Harbour Board wrote drawing attention to the fact that the Borough Engineer and workmen had been opening up a new grovel pit on Harbour Board land on the east side of the river, leased to Mr The letter stated that no notice had been given to the Board/ and if iXhnd been given to the umpire It was not within the knowledge of the Board. Cr McCarthy : I gave permission. The Mayor: It is necessary to give notice to all concerned. Or McCarthy said he believed it was Cr Adams who had proposed, that a bonus should be given for any gravel found convenient to the-town. He thought lie knew where it was, and on searching found a pit on the property leased by him. He thought he should get a bonus for finding it. However, ho gave permission to prospect. The Mayor ; The Public Works Act makes it necessary to give notice to all concerned. Cr Taplin : Who are the parties concerned ? The Mayor ; The lessee and lessor. I move ; “ That a reply be forwarded to the Patea Barbour Board expressing regret at not giving proper notice, which was caused by an oversight of the Engineer.” It was only right to reply to the letter received, and explain- how the mistake bad been made. Ho would like to see an anficablp errapgeinent come to between the two bodies for the obtaining of this, graved for the borough ? Cr McCarthy did not consider there bad been a ny oversight, as he, as lessee of th£

land, had given permission. Nothing was said about compensation to the lessee, and ho defied the Harbour Board or Council to go, on the land without his consent. Gr Adams, in seconding the motion, was glad that gravel had been found so near town. Cr McCarthy was rather grieved at ■ compensation not being mentioned, but by the terms of his lease the Harbour Board had a right to take away gravel or permit others to do it. Cr McCarthy, (to the Mayor) : I ask you, as Mayor of Patea, to fill up the Imles the 'Engineer ■ lias caused to be opened. If any cattle or horses fall in them, I will hold the Council responsible. The, Mayor * You gave permission to make these holes. Cr McCarthy ; They must fill them up again. The motion was then put and carried. WOBKS COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The Works Committee reported that the whole of the day labour employed during the past month was under the superintendence of the engineer, who bad been instructed to prepare and forward a statement in detail, in time for the Council meeting. The committee with the ■engineer inspected the works under contract in Leicester and Dorset streets before the same had been taken over by the engineer, and the mixture put down for side channeling did not meet with, their approval, and the}' recommended the engineer to have the Same given a coat or two, if required, of liot coal tar, to prevent its breaking up by the action of stormwater. They further recommended that an : improved mixture be- put down in ’Bedford .street, and that the channel be increased in size.

The report was adopted. INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES.

The Inspector of Nuisances reported (lie town clean, and that lie could not proceed to lay informations for unregistered dogs without incurring expense to the Council. .engineer’s report, ■ The Engineer reported—A great deal of necessary work had been done during the past month. 1. Leicester and -Dorset street conract has been completed. Tire water channels are not as I should wish, the hot weather being unfavorable for this work, and it was the first piece of asphalting constructed in the borough ; but I see how to improve this at a very small cost, and provide for a better class of work in future. The kerbing is also not firstclass, owing to . the wretched timber, although the best obtainable at the time. 2. Bedford street is progressing slowly but well, and, if. the weather continues fine, I anticipate the formation will be completed in a fortnight. The contractor is doing his utmost to' get the limber for kerbing on the ground, and has already a considerable portion of good timber,; tar and bolts, ready for placing the kerbing. . .; 3. The formation at the Masonic Hotel is not completed. It is necessary to have all made ground higher than the intended level to allow for dressing off and shrinkage ; at present it is exactly right on the line of street, and at three feet ,off line of street towards centre is ten inches too high, and in centre is 1.20 feet too high. The contractor will-bo instructed to commence at this point of the street about Wednesday next. ' 4. I have bad the drain dowtl Surrey street cleaned out, and that in Monmouth street, leading to Victoria street drain pipe ; also the outlet of the old street into the lake extended (in the course I propose for drainage pipes) to deep water, so as to allow me to get the required length, and'also to take the levels. 5. Footpath and cart- crossings have been constructed in five places in Leicester street, which are now in the course of being gravelled. 6. In compliance with your instructions, I have prospected for gravel, and Councillor McCarthy having kindly in r ormed me where lie found gravel on his .property, X obtained his permission to open it up. I have done so, and already exposed a seam of excellent metal 6 chains long and 9to 12 ft. in depth. The width I have not ascertained yet, but believe it t(i be considerable. It is situated oh Harbour Board land outside the Borough, but within 12 chains of the Patea bridge, and a road can easily be made for all seasons of the year, 7. New contracts. X have not been enabled ,to prepare specifications for' the works authorised at last meeting of the Council, owing to my time being taken up with the woiks in hand.

8. Drainage A. The first work which I consider of most importance would be to place a 9in. pipe from Gibson’s corner along Egmont street to the Central Hotel, thence down Oxford street to the old wate’r course, with sumps at the corners of streets. This would relieve Leicester and Bedford streets from nearly all the surface water and enable the works in the streets to be carried out and without fear of damage from rainfall.: B. A pipe from Taplin’s corner along Egmont ! street south to the Surrey street drain referred to in clause 4. This is part of the drainage scheme approved by the Council and is certainly the least'expensive work under the drainage scheme, giving the greatest relief to the whole of the main portion of the town, therefore I strongly recommend tin’s work to be done at once. The pipes for the first portion are already m hand, and the sumps now making could be used. 9.1 have endeavoured to reduce the expenditure under the heading “ Engineers and Works department” as much as possible. I may tell you it is almost impossible to do so for the next ten months, without risking a , heavier expense when the wet weather sets in.

10, Re drain, between Victoria-street and the lake, as it will go through private property it will, I believe, be necessary to prepare a plan showing the course and give the requisite written notice, .and agreement made with the owners before proposed drain pipe is laid, also steps should be taken to open up the Middlesexstreet extension. I believe notice has to be given and,the road made before it can bo proclaimed a public street. 'The following" letter from Mr P. McLoughlin, contractor for Boresford street, was read at the same time as the report “ I have the honor to call your attention to that part of the road between Kent and York streets which I have clayed, and I levelled it according to the pegs that were in and which I thought were the levels put in by the Borough Engineer. These levels might not be taken accurately, as the Engineer informed me at the time I asked him for some levels to go on by that he had no instrument to take levels with, but he would do the best he could. Now he informs me that 1 will have to go over the road again, and take more off it. Gentleman, it is very unfair to me, and means great hardship, leaving work as done and then having to cart all tin's clay off again. It is a very big item, and I hope you will give the matter your favourable consideration.” Cr Adams : I move that the matter of drainage bo left over until next meeting. I think wo should see what our \v«ys and means are before we undertake further

works of any magnitude. I suppose by next meeting of the Board we shall be in a position to know what money we really have to expend for the improvement of the town. I do not think this is really work:we need rush on, at next meeting we can decide the m; tier better than at this.

The Mayor : I second the motion. I do so thinking it is not advisable to be introducing another system of drainage. We ha% T e had two or three systems already and seemed to adopt every one and do not know where it is going to end. The motion was carried.

The Mayor said he had obtained a statement from the Engineer regarding the cost of his department. He had often brought the heavy cost of.this office before the Council and he wanted to know if they were justified in keeping it on. They were expending considerably more than was right for so small a town. One band bad been discharged from the office, but another was kept on and he did not see that it was necessary. Cr Aitehison was of opinion whether it was necessary or not, this little place could not afford to keep on the expenditure it had for any length of lime. He could easily understand, having extra assistance when there .was so much office work being done, hut the Engineer must try and get along with smaller expenditure than was now being incurred. : There must be some other plan tried, as he supposed that the expenditure of the one department amounted to more than the.whole of the rates. ; .

The Engineer explained that the office expenses need not be so great in future as the most urgent and. important work was done. The man he had now, not only did office work, but assisted him in the streets and was only paid laborer’s wages.

Cr Aitchison had been under a delusion about the engineering business. He thought at first when the plans were' prepared that there was nothing more to do than for the Engineer to carry out the work. They did not know: lipw- they stood i with the Engineer, whether he was engaged by the month, quarter, or what. It seemed to him a very loose way of doing things altogether. The Mayor : The; Engineer, shortly afterbeing: appointed* received intimation that all; labour required was to be obtained through the Public Works Committee, but since be was in . office all the labor required has beeh obtained by himself. : It will almost he necessary for the Council to determine that no labour shall be employed without its sanction. (To the Engineer) :,You can see from the feeling of the Council to-night that . this great expenditure must be done away with altogether, excepting what is really urgently required. We are banging fire now, and .1 hope you will see and reduce it.,.,, Cr Tapliu.considered it was impossible for the Engineer to be out in the streets superintending And doing detail work in the office at (be same lime. They should not censure the Engineer yet; the Mayor should have done something more last year for bis hundred. The Engineer : One man has been occupied the last month making duplicate plans in case of fire. ‘

Cr Adams said if it took the whole rate to keep the Engineer’s office the Council should look into it. All labour should be got through the Public Works Committee, and at present they were simpty carrying on as a farce. Cr Aitchison (warmly) : I am ashamed of myself as a Councillor that I belong to a body which should consent to such work as Leicester street! With regard to the clause for drainage, it was stated that as Captain Wray did not think the Council had treated him properly, he would not allow drainage to pass through his property. On the motion of the Mayor, seconded b3 r Cr McCarthy, it was resolved—“ That Mr McLoughlin be informed that the Council cannot depart from the original grade contracted for by him.” Cr’ Taplin moved—“ That Mr Beamish be informed that Bedford street is in course of construction, and that it will be completed according to levels and grades as fixed b3' the Council.” Seconded by Cr Gibson, and carried. TAKING 6BAVEL; Resolved, on the motion of Cr Dixon, seconded b3 7 Cr Taplin, “ Thst the Clerk be instructed to write, to ~tho„ Palea Harbour Boaixh asking fdr permission to take gravel from McCarthy’s pit, and upon what terras they will allow the pound! to take it.” ACCOUNTS. ■ ■■■'■ Accounts amounting to £ll9 6s 8d were passed for payment, two accounts not being passed.