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Daily Telegraph (Napier), 22 February 1883, Page 3

From the same, advising that a voucher for £226 had been passed for payment, being the amount advanced by the Napier Corporation on account of charitable aid during the three months ended SlstDecember, ISB2. From the Under-Secretary for Railways, acknowledging receipt of the Council's letter of 24th instant, addressed to the Colonial Secretary, having reference to the railway encroachments, and stating that instructions had been sent to the resident engineer and district mnager to confer and send a fidl report for the guidance of the Government, upon receipt of which report no time woidd be lost in dealing with the matter. From Mr R. J. Burley, applying for a testimonial on leaving 'the Corporation service.—The Town Clerk said the application had already received attention. From Mr W. Colenso, applying, on behalf of Mrs Goddard, a widow in poor circumstances, for a refund of her rates, about £4, which he (Mr Colenso) would otherwise have to pay himself.—lt was resolved that a reply be sent to Mr Colenso informing him that tho Council had no power to remit rates except upon the score of complete inability to pay.—Cr. Margoliouth dissented from tho resolution, and coutended that the letter should have received more consideration. THE NUISANCE QUESTION*. A communication was read from Mr R. Williams, late inspector of nuisances, in which the accuracy of certain statements relative to the number of cesspits within prescribed limits, as set forth in the present inspector's last report, was called in question. It was also suggested that Mr Black's report was intended as a reflection upon the manner in which he (Mr Williams) had carried out his duties during his late term of office. An investigation into the matter -was asked for, Mr Williams alleging that his greatest failing appeared to he his inability to write an elaborate report. Cr." Price thought it a great pity that Mr Williams had the ability even to write a letter. It was well known that within the limits where the existence of cesspits was abolished by the Council numerous cesspits BtQl existed—in fact a glaring instance of this had come under his own notice to-day —and it reflected small credit on Mr Williams that there should at this period from the time when cesspits were abolished be-even one cesspit within the limits of the district prescribed. The late inspector had very little to complain about. With regard to Mr Black's report — the first report worthy of tho name that had ever been received by the Council—it spoke volumes in its favor that it had raised the ire of Mr Williams in the way it had. He would move that the report be referred to Mr Black; it referred personally to him, and was really not worthy of the consideration of the Council. Cr. Monteith did not think Mr Blaok ehould be troubled with the letter either. Ho would move that it be received, and that no further notice be taken of it. Cr. Price withdrew his suggestion, and seconded Cr. Monteith's motion. Cr. McDougall said it might bo very correct to pass a sweeping motion, but the Council might thereby commit itself to an injustice. The letter set forth certain statements in contradiction to others made by Mr Black, and these might be worthy of consideration. He agreed with Cr. Price that the letter contained reflections on the present inspector, but then the whole circumstances must be taken into account, also the relative positions of the two men. He had no sympathy whatever with the concluding- portion of Mr Williams' letter, but he thought the Council should not show pique in the matter. Cr Monteith resented the insinuation that there was any pique or appearance of it. The Council had nothing to be piqued at. He altogether failed to see how Mr Williams could consider himself slighted because Mr Black had put in an able and thoroughly good report. Cr Margoliouth concurred to a great extent with the remarks that had fallen from Cr McDougall, and thought the least the Council could do was to give Mr Williams an opportunity of defending himself. Ho was there as the champion of Mr Williams, and could say that Mr Williams had always carried out his duties faithfully and well for the past seven years. Cr Lee suggested that all the words in the motion from the word •'received" should be struck out. They were not sitting there as a tribunal to try Mr Williams. Cr McDougall moved as an amendment accordingly. Cr Leo seconded the amendment. Cr Graham did not think an investigation would place Mr Williams in any more favorable light than he stood. It woidd, however, be easy enough, to get to the bottom of the matter, as they had only to ask tho night soil contractor how many houses he attended at present. For himself he believed Mr Black's report to be truth and nothing but truth. Cr Price said he would vote against the amendment, as he considered Mr Williams' letter conveyed a direct charge of mendacity against Mr Black. The report of the latter showed clearly enough that the late inspector had systematically neglected his duties, and because forsooth the Council had now an officer who was doing his duty faithfully that officer was to be censured by Mr Williams ! Why the Council should desire to keep the late inspector's letter on record he (Cr Price) could not conceive. It would simply mean a censure upon Mr Black, and a very poor compliment to him for endeavoring to carry out his duties as they should—but never before had been carried out. Cr Margoliouth intimated his intention to give notice of motion for the appointment of a committee to enquire whether the charges made in Mr Williams' letter could be substantiated. Cr M'Dougall's amendmont was then put to the vote, with the following result:— Ayes, 3—Crs. Lee, M'Dougall, and Margoliouth. Noes, s—Crs Monteith, Wall, Price, Graham, aud Cotton. The original motion was then put and oarricd on the voices. PETITION. Cr Cotton presented a petition from residents in Havelock road praying that the water main might be extended from the junction of Spencer road by way of Havelock road for a distance of about fifteen chains. —Received and referred to the public works committee. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE'S RErORT. The public works committee's report, recommending (1) that tho watering of the streets be performed as heretofore, and (2) that the vouchers for the fortnightly wages (£76 10s 3d) be passed and ordered to be paid, was read and adopted. Cr Graham dissented from the recommendation in clause 1. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS. : Cr Price asked permission to move without notice that, from and after this date, no works outside those ordinarily performed by Corporation labor be undertaken without the express permission of the public works committee. He desired to bring forward this motion for the reason that, although the engineer had instructions in the matter already, it was found that works for wliich the Council was liable had been carried out, and the first intimation the public works conmiittee received respecting them was when the vouchers for payment were brought tip. Cr. Graham dissenting, leave to introduce the motion could not be granted. NUISANCE NEAR TAREHA's BRIDGE. Cr. Graham called attention to a nuisance that existed on the road to Tareha's bridge just outside the town boundary, and suggested that the Council should draw the attention of the County Council and the Harbor Board to it, Cr. Margoliouth said that the only way Cr. Graham could have anything done in the matter was by motion without notice, and ho (Ci*. Margoliouth) would object to the bye-law being suspended. The question then dropped. NOTICE OP MOTION. Cr. Price gave notice to move, " That no works outside those ordinarily performed by Corporation labor be undertaken without express permission of the Public Works Committee,"

SPECIAL MEETING.

A further special meeting of the Council was then held for the purpose of confirming bye-law No. 23. "The bye-law having been read, Cr. Lee moved, "That it be a special

order, of this Council that tho bye-law passed on the 17th of January last and now read be confirmed." The motion was seconded by Cr. M 'Doug-all and carried. The Council then adjourned.