BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1355, 13 September 1883, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held in the Council ohambprs on Tuesday evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor (in the Chair), Crs. Hepburn, Lewis, Townley, Whinray, Tutchen, Smith, Browne, Chrisp, and Tucker. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Outgoing Correspondence. To Mr M Devito, re acceptance of his tender for forming Ab *rdeen Hoad ; Parnell and Boylan re their account; Parnell and Boylan re fire bell; to Mr J. O'Meara, t'o9 fa*.cin>-8 • to Captain Winter re his appointment as Fire Brigade Superintendent ; and io Mr J. D'ummond. Incoming Correspondence. From Mr Sievwright, re the night eoil system. Ur Whinray moved that the letter be acknowledged and a committee be appointed to consider the proposal. Cr Chrisp seconded the motion, and pointed out f-ore were frequent complaints with regard to the contract, and very excessive charges were mad« by the contractor He could charge so much on one side of a street, and charge double the amount on the other. Cr Whinray had also heard of many complaints. He would ask for a committee to enquire into the subject, composed of Cra Townley, Lewis and Hepburn.—Carried. A letter was next read from Mr J. Barnard, complaining that the night soil m«».n had buried the soil at the back of his out house instead of taking it to the proper place. Cr Whinray said he thought this matter beyond the power of the Council, as the contract only extended to Derby Street, and .Mr Barnard was outside that street Cr Townley said that the contractor was compelled to remove the night soil away from the river altogether as far as Derby Street, but on the other side of that street persons could have it carted away if they liked, or if not, they could bury it in their own grounds. Cr Chrisp thought it incumbent on the Council to let Mr Barnard have some sort of reply. Cr Townley thought it better to leave the question over for the present, until the Committee and the Town Clerk got as much information as they could on the matter. The letter was ordered to be acknowledged, ard Mr Barnard informed of what steps were being taken in. the matter. A letter was received from Captain Winter, accepting his appointment as superintendent of the Fire Brigade. From Kogan and Nolan, re Cook Street, Making tHe Council to take it over as it was now being registered. Cr Lewis wished to know if the dispute between Mr Harris and Mr Tutchen had been settled with regard to the street. Cr Tutchen said he would guarantee that it would be settled, and he would also guarantee the street to be a chain wide all i h rough. His Worship said it would be better if Mr Tutc'ien could say that the diapute had been settled.

Cr Tutchen aaid he would ag>in guarantee that it would not cost the Council a penny. He simply aaked the t. ouncil if they would accept the street for the use of the public. Ur Lewis said the Council could not accept it The ground was private property, and the owner cuii.d do what he liked with it. His Worship pointed out that the letter asked the Council to take the street over, and not .if the Council would object to its being opened for public use. Cr Tw ker could not see under what circumstances the Council could object. If they could noL object, why were they asked if they would object. He would propone that the Council do not object to the street, being opened provided that it be a chain wide, and does not cost the Council a penny. Cr Smith said that unless the street was 60 feet wide they could not take it over, and they knew it was not 60 feet wide. Ur Tucker then withdrew his proposition having misunderstood the letter. His Wors .ip thought that the letter should be acknowledged, and Messrs Rogan and Nolan oe informed that they had exceeded their instructions in asking the Council to take the street over. Cr Tucker proposed that they be informed that i he Council cannot accede to the request of this letter, asking that they take the street over, or throw it open for pubLc use, t e Council being aware uf an existing dispute as to a part of it. But the Council s<«es no possible objection to the street being thrown open for tlio public provided the the same be widened and without any expense being incurred. Ur chrisp seconeed the motion.—Carried. A letter from Mr Bull re the drain in Aberdeen Road. The letter was ordered to be acknowledged. From Mr Drummond acknowledging the receipt of Council’s letter, and agreeing to continue his woik as Engineer for a time longer. The Clerk was ordered to inform Mr Drummond that his request re contracts, would be attended to, the other portion of his letter would come on for discussion after. Engineer's Report, Sir, —I have the honor to forward the usual fortnightly reports. Strong Room —The works under this contract have been temporarily stopped. I have authorized the works to be resumed after a careful inspection of the material used and the workmanship excuted. I consider the works so far carried out, as fairly passable, some delay has taken place through the nondelivery of the iron, which in all probability will necessitate an extension of time for completion. Written notice has been served on the contractor to the effect that all material used, and workmanship executed must be strictly in terms of the specification, otherwise the same shall be at the contractor’s risk.

Tank for Fire Engine Shed.—This work has been completed. The capacity of the tank is 650 gallons, and the contractor has supplied corrugated iron 24 guage, instead of plain iron 26 guage, the shape of the tank has been altered so as to allow' one tap being used with sufficient fall to empty into the boiler of the eugine. 1 have ordered a connecting spout with the tank of the engine. In my report under the heading of “Contracts ” I omitted to state that the contract for gravel called “Oxenham’s contract ” is nearly completed, about 200 cubic yards only remaining to be delivered. It will be lor the consideration of your Council to devise or provide means for the procuration of maintenance metal. Should you decide upon winding up thia contract, a full and detailed report of the works, throughout, will be furnished. « Strong Room, Cr Smith would like to know if any alterationn had been made in the dimensions of the strong room. The Engineer pointed out that it was about 6 inches short. He thought it was a fair course for a reduction. Tank for Fire Engine Shed. Cr Smith wanted to know why corrugated iron was used instead of the plain, as it was

previously arranged that the latter should oe used. Cr Whinray did not think it was worth wasting time conversing about. Day Labor. Cr Whinray thought that the Engineer ought to be instructed to see that the hollows in Gladstone Road be filled in at oi.ee. Cr Smith would ask the Engineer what amount of gravel would be required to keep metal in depots in certain places between here and Read’s Gate, for the purpose of keeping the roads in repair. Now that the toils are down he thought that more gravel ought to be brought down to keep the roads in order. Mr A. Graham, who was present, said the*--he had an application to make, if ho would be allowed to speak, with regard to the contract for bringing metal from Ormond. He had gone as security for the former contractor. and when his time was up, he had taken the contract over to save further trouble, All through great trouble had been experienced in bringing it down, on account of rhe floods that had occurred, and each of which having cost him something like £2OO each tima. He would not like to tell the Council how much he had lost on the job. He would therefore apply to the Council for them to allow the contract to wind up, and terminate, as t '•* engine was entirely out of working order. He hoped they would acce le to this application, that the Council would not enforce the delivery of the balance of about a 100 yards of river metal under the present contract, it being almost impossible to deliver the same, but in 7 t'>e event of him hereafter entering in ! o'a fresh contract, the balance due should first be delivered. < r Town ey i liought it better before deciding the question, to interview the County Council, as they were drawing a certain sum of money from them. It would be better for Mr Graham to write to the County Council.

Cr Tucker did not see the use of deferring the matter, as there was such a small quantity of gravel to come, he did not think they should wave in their decision. Tney ought not to lose sight of Mr Graham’s conduct as a surety, ar.d as a subsequent contractor. Mr Graham hoped the Council would also go into the question of penalty. Cr Whinray said the Council would have to rescind the penalty. He endorsed all that Or Tucker had said, but the non-enforce-ment of the penalty would have to go before the County Council before they could do anything. Cr Smith said he would second Cr Tucker’s motion. He thought they should use every forbearance, and do all in ttieir power to aid Mr Graham.—Carried. Cr Smith considered that after the explanation of Mr Graham, they could n>t force the penalty. He liked to see all contracts oar-ied out to the letter, but this was most certainly an exceptional <ase. Mr A. Graham wished to know whether the Council had any objection to his interviewing the County Council about the matter. He did not anticipate any difficulty with that body., Cr Townley said it would no doubt be best to consult the County Council about the matter before the penalty was finally remitted. It was only fair that they should consult the County Council first, as they were interested in the matter. He thought their action was only calculated to look like pressure on the other Council. He wished that Council to be on a fair fouling with respect to t e County Council. If the question was decided now it would look like coercion. Cr Smith said he could now see that it would be b>*st to consult the County Council before deciding to remit the penalty. He would accordingly withdraw his motion. Cr Tucker said this Council, he was sure, was most anxious to me« t the proposal. He would move that the Council favourably entertain Mr Graham’s application. Cr Lewis seconded this motion, which was carried A resolution was then passed to the effect that a deputation wait on the County Council re this matter. Payments. Parnell and Boylan account; S. Doleman, £29 17s. Bd. (It was here remarked that (For continuation, »ee Page 4.J