BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3140, 21 July 1881, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20.

The Council met at 8 p.m. Present: His Worship the Mayor-(iv the chair), Councillors Swan, McKay, McDougall, Ellis, Leonard, de Lisle, and Monteith. TOWN HALL EESERVE. Cr. McDougall, in accordance with notice given, moved *' That an upset price be placed upon the sections in the prepared plan of tbe town hall reserve, and conditions of lease attached, and that the same be advertised as open for selection by public tender." His object iD moving this resolution was two-fold. It was clear that, unless they were prepared jo increase the rates, they must utilise the Corporation reserves. Then that part of the town had been neglected, and it this reserve was. leased there would be an increase in the population at that end of tbe town, and increased prosperity. He had estimated that the rental to be derived from the reserve would be £152 for the first year, £208 for the second year, and £304 for the third year. At present the ground was no good to anyone. If his proposal was adopted it would become not only a monetary benefit to the Corporation, but an advantage to the neighborhood in which the reserve is situated. Cr. McKay seconded the motion,

thought that in the absence of any other flsherae for utilising the ground Cr. McDougall's scheme should have their support. He did not know that people were prepared to lease the sections, but in the absence of a better scheme be would support the motion.

Cr. Swan deemed it his duty to oppose the motion, and be did so on what he considered strong grounds. He felt sure that not a quarter of the sections would be taken up; a few might, and that would stand iv the Way of their doing anything else with the reserve. The Council had higher duties than simply to find money ; it was their duty to look to the future, and consider the matter from a sanitary point of view, and also with a view to providing a recreation ground for the town. The town was worse off than many smaller towns in this respect ; the bad been denuded of their valuable reserves by the old Provincial Council; and this was the only piece of ground suitable for a recreation ground left to them. If this resolution were carried the Council would commit a blunder not easily rectified. They had to look to the comfort of the ratepayers as well as to the treasury. A recreation ground was one of tbe greatest wants of the town, and if this ground was put into proper order they could derive a revenue from it by letting it to cricket and football clubs. All the ratepayers he had spoken to agreed that this would be a great boon. From some conversation he bad had with members of the Harbor Board he believed that that Board would be willing to hand over to the Corporation two acres of land adjoining this reserve for the purpose of making a good recreation ground; if this were done, they would have ample room for sports of all kinds. He moved as an amendment, " That it is expedient at the present time to offer for lease the land known as the town hall reserve, and that the municipal engineer be instructed to report on tbe cost of laying the reserve down in grass and planting a belt of trees around the same with the idea of forming it into a recreation ground or town park." Or. Ellis seconded the amendment pro forma. Cr. Leonard would support the motion. The reserve might lie there for years without their deriving any benefit from ' it. The ratepayers had been agitating for a reserve for recreation purposes at Meanee, and a petition had been sent to the Government in favor of tbis land being handed over to the Corporation, but their prayer had not been acceeded to. This town hall reserve was too small for the purpose of recreation. If the amendment was passed this reserve would be looked upon as the recreation ground for Napier, and the agitation for obtaining the Meanee ground would cease. The Mayor agreed with Cr. Leonard iv the matter of the Meanee reserve. He would support the motion, but he thought an effort should be made to utilise the whole of tbe Corporation reserves, and he would suggest that the motion be altered to meet that object. Or. Monteith agreed with His Worship in reference to all the reserves being utilised. This particular reserve was too small for a recreation ground, which would require a square block of at least four acres. He considered they would be consulting the interests of the ratepayers in leasing the reserves. Cr. McDougall accepted the Mayor's suggestion, and added to his resolution the words " The same to apply to all the reserves within the Borough." Cr. Swan objected to the alteration unless notice were given. Cr. Swan's amendment was then negatived, and the original motion carried. CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence was read:— From the Colonial Under-Secretary, requesting to be furnished with returns of the cost of valuing property and making up valuation rolls. —The Town Clerk stated he had furnished the returns applied for. From the same, intimating that a voucher was passed for £23 14s 9d for charitable aid disbursed by the Council up to the 31st of May last. From the Secretary to tbe Napier Gas Company, stating that the company would lay the main pipe in Carlyle-street, as far as the Royal Hotel, as soon as material for the purpose could be proCured. From Peter Eddy, offering his services to keep the sewers clean.—Referred to the municipal engineer. From J. Spencer and P. Ready, complaining of having been dismissed from employment under tbe Corporation, and denying that they had given any information to anyone in connection with a newspaper or otherwise. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. Tbe report from the Public Works Committee was read, recommending that the estimates, plans, and details of the works in No. 6 drainage contract, as submitted by the municipal engineer, be authorised, and that tenders be invited forthwith, made returnable at noon on the Ist prox. Cr. Swan said there had been some deviation in their contract from the plan of the late engineer. It had been proposed to carry a portion of the storm water into the sewer, but their present engineer thought that would be objectionable, and provided for carrying off tbe water by open channels. The Mayor expected to find all the remaining drainage work included in this contract. He thought that the whole of the work should he defined so that they could ascertain the cost, and know in what position they were with regard to the increased water supply. Cr. Monteith did not think that fourteen days was a sufficient time to allow for tenders being sent in for such an important contract. He thought tenders Bhould be advertised for i_ the Auckland and Wellington papers. He believed that a saving to the ratepayers could be made by doing this. He moved that the time be extended to a month. Cr. Leonard seconded the amendment. The Mayor thought it would be advantageous to hold back their contract until the plan for the completion of the work was ready. Cr. Swan could not see what advantage would be gained by keeping back the contract. He thought a fortnight's notice was ample. After further discussion the report waß adopted. MUNrciPAL engineer's report. The following report from the municipal engineer was read :— 1. Tree Planting. —I have seen Mr Burton on this subject, and have put him in communication with tbe gentlemen who have undertaken to supply tho trees required, so that no time will be lost in carrying out tho scheme. 2. Burke-street. —The work in connection with this contract is completed, and tho overseer has orders, as soon the weather permits, to put a top dressing of dry rubble or metal on it. 3. Tenders.—The various contractors whose tenders were accepted at your last meeting have been notified of tbe fact, and requested to sign their contracts. 4. Storm Water Sewer, &c. —Tenders for cleaning out this and the silt traps connected,

therewith will be laid before you this evening. 5. Town Survey.—l have been in consultation with the Chief Surveyor, Mr Baker, on this subject, and will be able to report thereon at your next meeting. 6. Laborers.—l found it necessary last week to order the dismissal of two of the Corporation laborers for insubordination, and beg to lay before you a letter from the inspector in reference thereto. 7. Drainage Works Contract No. 6.—1 have the honor to lay before you the plans, details, and specifications for the next instalment of the drainage scheme, together with my estimates for the same, and for works in connection therewith. The contract will embrace the whole of Tennyson-street, Emerson-street, and Carlyle-street, from the Star Hotel to the Royal Hotel, and the sidestreet abutting thereon —viz., Dalton-street, Craven-street, Faraday-street, Owen-street, Miller-street, Paradise-street, Chaucer-road, etc. I hope to be able in the next contract to include all the work' then remaining to be done to complete the drainage scheme. Robert Lamb, Municipal Engineer. In connection with the sixth clause of Mr Lamb's report, with reference to the dismissal of two laborers, the following letter addressed to him by the overseer was read: — Sir, —I have the honor to respectfully lay before you my reasons for asking for the dismissal of two laborers from the Corporation employ, so as to prevent any misunderstanding in connection with this matter. First.—For abandoning clearing of storm water sewer, assigning as the reason their inability to work on account of insufficient air, while the work could be undertaken by two other laborers, one of whom was in the sewer for six successive days without making any complaint whatever. Second. —For intimating their intention of refusing to clean silt traps in future except in turn with other laborers, and accusing me of having favorites on the Works. Third. —For giving erroneous information as to the depth of silt in the sewer at the time when the work of cleaning sewer and silt traps was about being let by contract, and as this information unfortunately found its w«y into print it was calculated to prejudicially affect the amount of the tenders for the work. W. Black, Overseer. Cr Swan said the committee had considered the matter, and thought they would be going outside their province in interfering with the officers of the Corporation in such matters. It would have a bad effect. Cr Leonard said there was apparently some contradiction between the accounts of this affair. The circumstances were that a report appeared in the Daily Telegraph stating the depth of silt in the storm water drain, and the dismissal of these men followed immediately. The engineer said they were discharged for insubordination, and the overseer said it was for giving this information. He thought the mrtter to be cleared up, and he would move that a committee of three be appointed to make enquiries. Cr. McDougall suggested that there would be a difficulty about such an enquiry. The matter had been well considered in committee, and he deprecated bringing the matter up again. He sympathised with the spirit of the motion, but did not think any good would come of an enquiry. The Mayor said that a great deal had been' made of the giving of information to the press. No doubt it was a breach of duty in these men to give information while tenders for cleaning tbe drains were advertised for. He did not think it would be well to interfere with the officers in employing and discharging their men. Cr. Monteith said he could not see how Mr Black could know that these men had given erroneous information. He did not think the enquiry would be of any value. Tbe engineer's report was then adopted. RE-VACCINATION. Cr. McDougall sa ; d that, in view of the probable spread of small-pox, he wished to ask if the Council could do anything to Becure that re-vaccination should be attended to. After a few remarks from Cr. de Lisle, the matter was dropped, and the Council adjourned.