Page 1 Advertisements Column 6

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1358, 20 September 1883, Page 1

The Chairman said they might pay th e £360 odd, which had been received from th e County Council, and hold the remainde 1, over. v ■ > ri Cr Tutchcn J moved, and Cr Tucker Seconded, that tho £360 be paid over tn Mr Graham, and the rest !>e I eld over until tlm County Council accepted the tram from them. Cr Lewis said the money was the 25 per cent, and he did not see how they could pay it until the line was accepted by the County Council. Cr Townley said he could see no obstacle to paying the whole of the money. If any repairs were necessary Mr Graham would do them. He was not a man of straw. Cr Kenny said that as a matter of form the Clerk could state that the payment was made without prejudice to , action. By this means the Council could hold itself perfectly safe in the matter. He gave this as his legal opinion. Cr Lewis suggested that half the whole account be paid. He moved and Cr Townley seconded that £6OO be paid to Mr Graham without prejudice. Cr Tucker thought that they should remain in possession of the situation. He certainly thought some hold should be kept until the penalty was finally remitted and the rails taken over by the County ( uq i l . The Chairman put the amendment of Cr Lewis which was carried. Nightsoil Committee. Cr Townley wished to know whether the above question should be gone into as that was a special meeting. It was resolved to receive the report which was then read as follows :— Nightsoil’s Committee Report. The Committee met at 7.30 p m. on the 17th September, and report as follows :— First—The letter received from Mr Sievwright containing suggestions for closet reform, was carefully considered and discussed, and we have come to the conclusion that if the present closets were emptied more frequently the causa of complaint contained in the letter would be removed. We therefore, recommend that during the summer months those closets which heretofore have been cleaned out once a month, should be done so fortnightly With reference to the complaint of Mr Barnard that his closet had been emptied with great carelessness, and one found to be correct. We examined tho Inspector of Nuisances, who stated that on the occasion referred to> the nightsoil contractor was ill, and had employed some one else to perform his duties. The Inspector stated that with reference to the complaint that the closets at the Government Buildings had not been attended to on the proper dates for the removal of nightsoil, That he hud inquired into the case and found that only one day after the date was allowed to lapse before the nightsoil contractor attended to his duties. The Inspector also stated that he had no fault to find with the manner in which the present contractor for the removal of nightsoil performed his duties, As a committee we also wish to record that as far at» our experience goes, the duties of the contractor have boon carried out in a regular iind eatisfactory manner. We further suggest that the ratepayers be informed that the uniform price throughout the Borough contracted for, is Is, per box, Ratepayers living west of Derby street cun either utilize the nightsoll or make the contractor remove the same ut the above rate, and that the Town Clerk write to the contractor and draw his attention to terms of his contract.—We are, &c., H. Lewm, Chairman.

Cr Lewis stated that the Committee had written to Mr Hearfield and asked him to attend j but, acting upon legal advice he had not done bo. He (Cr Lewis) could state that had Mr Hearfield attended and given some explanations at the tiino which lie had since made that the Committee’s report would have been much more favorable even than it now was. It appeared that Mr Hearfield had employed a man for a short time tu do the work, and the employee had certainly not performed his duty properly in several instances. Mr Barnard soil had been buried some 15 or 18 inches deep, but had not been properly stumped down, and there was a proper cause of complaint in this instance, but as a rule the contract had been properly carried out, There appeared to be a few well grounded complaints, but this was the result of employing un inefficient men dur* ing the sickness of the contractor. Cr Kenny said that bis closet had just been emptied and buried in the garden, and the closet left in a very dirty state. It was the first time he had cause of complaint. Cr Tucker said that the contractor had evidently not carried out his contract properly. Cr Leu is said that upon tho evidence of the Inspector of Nuisances, the work had been completely carried out. It appears that Mr Hearfield had been ill, and had enifiloyed a man who had not properly perormed the work in some instances. Cr Kenny moved that the Clerk be instructed to write to Mr Hearfield, informing him that he must be careful and see that a proficient man be employed for the future, as he (Hearfield) would be held responsible, and that he must remove all night soil to the depot, except in the cases beyond Derby Street, where he is allowed to bury it. Cr Tutchen seconded the motion, which was carried. The question of more frequently emptying the boxes was then discussed. Cr Tucker thought. this should be left to the Inspector of Nuisances. Cr Townley thought the matter should bo made compulsory, otherwise some would not carry it out. He thought the contract referred to the whole town. Cr Lewis said the Committee did not think the plan of Mr. Sievwright was practicable. Cr Tutchen moved, and Cr Kenny seconded, that the boxes be emptied every fortnight during the months of December, January, February and March.—Carried. Cr Townley said the Inspector of Nuisances had been strictly questioned, and he said he had no fault whatever to find with the contractor. He knew that hia own place had always been properly attended to. As to the overcharge he thought that was a matter the Council could not go into. Cr Tucker said he should like a paragraph inserted in the report complaining about the overcharge made. Cr Brown moved, and Cr Tucker seconded the adoption of the report. Carried. It was also decided that an-advertisement be inserted, notifying that the contractor’s charge is only ] s per box for each service.