NAPIER MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3824, 18 October 1883, Page 3

NAPIER MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Wednesday, Octobee 17

The Council met at 8 p.m. Present: His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Faulknor, C'olion, Ncii], Robjolins, Graham, and McDougall. CORRESPONDENCE. The following inward correspondence was road:— From the secretary Napier Hospital, asking whether any by-law exists which provides that explosives must bo stored outside the borough boundary, the two powder magazines in town being rather close to the hospital.—A reply was sent informing Mr Harkcr that the powder magazines are under tho direct control of the General Government, to whom application in the matter should be made. From tho General Crown Lands Office, forwarding official notification of the appointmont'of His Worship the Mayor as a member of the Mcanee Domsiin Board, together with Messrs J. N. Williams, W. J. ■•©irch, 0. A. Fitzroy, J. C. MoVay, and G. Rymer. From the secretary Napier Hospital, applying for grant for building and furnishing tho now wing at tho institution, and reminding tho Council that it had voted £200 in March last.—The Town Clerk in reply to a question, said the amount voted in March, 1882, was paid over to the hospital on tho 19th of that month. Ho believed, however, that what was now applied for ■was a fresh grant.—Cr. Robjohns said it did not seem to him very difficult to understand what Avas wanted (laughtor). It was another £200.—Cr. Neal asked whether tho present application was made by direction of the Hospital Committee or whether Mr Harkor simply wroto on his own rosponsibility. —The Mayor said ho was unaware, having been absent from tho last meeting of tho Committee —Cr. Neal was quite prepared to support the application if money was really wanted, but it Boomed to him that tho hospital was in a better financial position than tho borough.— Or. Cohen remarked that Mr Barker's letter did not soom to bo an application for anything in its present form. He agreed that the Council could not afford to contribute any more funds to the hospital at present The borough was in that position that it had■ A froquently of ■ late to defer necessary ■works, and the ratepayers, most of whom subscribed ono way or another to the hospital, would undoubtedly object to a voto such as that proposed. —Or. Graham said £200 seemed a very large sum to vote two succcssivo years for building purposes. Tho previous £200, he believed, was applied in that way.—Cr. M'Dougall remarked that £200 was nearly a tenth of. tho shilling rato for ordinary purposes, lie moved that tho letter bo referred to tho Public Works Committoo. —Cr. Graham seconded the motion, which was carried. FIRE BRIGADE SUBSIDY. A letter was received from Mr James Sidoy, secretary to tho Napier Fire Insurance Association, enclosing cheque for £150, amount of subsidy payable by the Firo Brigades. Ml , Sidey added that, while regretting tho unavoidable delay which had taken place in making the payment, ho must; take exception to tho attitude assumed by members of tho Council at their last meeting, He believed that Napier was the only town in Now Zealand where tho insurance companies helped tho Corporation in their duty of fire prevention, and tho contributing companies being numerous, it was but reasonable to expect , that thero would bo somo delay in collecting the subsidy. Half the amount (£75) was offered to tho Town Clerk in July, who, however, then said that it would be preferable if tho wholo sum were sent in one cheque. He (Mr Sidey) feared that the attitude taken by tho Council would not tend to promote harmony between the companies and the Corporation. Ho might also point out tho unsatisfactory state of tho hose used by tho brigades, and the fact that tho quantity was insufficient, although tho arrangement under which the subsidy was paid provided that tl c Council should keep tho brigades and all plant in an efficiont state. The Mayor said he was not quito sure whether the letter just read was from Mr Sidoy as secretary of tho Firo Insurance Association, or from Mr Sidey as a private individual. Tho question was whether Mr Sidey, was authorised by tho companies to send it, as on that would greatly depend tho way in which tho Council should receive it. Mr Faulknor did not think thero wcro any real grounds for complaint, cither against the fire brigades or their plant. The Mayor: The question is who complains ? Is it tho Fire Insurance Association or Mr Sidoy ? Cr. McDougall thought they must take tho lcttor as coming from the Association. But then arose the question, what was ■wanted ? Did tljc Association simply desire that tho Council should not remonstrate ■with the companies in future, or that moro hoso should be procured? or both ? It did not seem very clear. i Cr. Robjohns suggested that tho letter and cheque bo acknowledged, and the matter allowed to drop. There was no need to say uny thing moro about it. Ho moved to that effect. , Cr. Graham seconded tho motion, which was carried. public avorks committee's report. Tho following report from tho Public Works Committee was read:— Your committee having met pursuant to notice beg to recommend tho Council as follows : — 1. That tho bank in Wellesloy-road bo slojied oft' in tho manner recommended by the overseer in his report. 2. That the nuisance reported as existing on Stamford-street bo abated at a cost not exceeding £7. , 3. That the inspector of nuisances bo directed to furnish a return of all tho houses that arc connected with tho main drains and . of all thoso that aro not. 4. That tho inspector of nuisances bo directed to give notice to tho oAvner of subdivisiou2of suburban section No. 87, Shakespeare road, to abate tho nuisanco thereon forthwith. 5. That tho vouchers herewith forwarded (£9O 18s 8d) bo passed and ordered to be paid. Tho several clauses in the report Averc adopted without amendment. On clause 1 being read several members ppoke of the unworkmanlike and dangerous condition in which this piece of road had been left by the contractor. In connection with clauso 1 a report was read from the inspector of nuisances pointing out the necessity for fencing in tho Section referred to, it being at present used by some persons Avhom ho Avas unable to disoover ns a receptacle for all kinds of filth. DANOBEOUS NUISAXCKS. Tho inspector of nuisances under tho Public Health Act reported aa follows:—

~" I have the honor to report for your consideration on the overcrowded condition of a cottage at Tort Ahuriri, near the police station. Tho cottage in question is 21 feet by 12 feet, contains two rooms, and is occupied by two families —nine in all. The ■roncral appearance of the rooms indicates that the domestic attention bestowed upon them is more calculated to increase than diminish the effects likelj- to arise from their overcrowded condition. I have also to report that town sections Nos. 3GO, owned by the Hon. Johnston, 49 and 50, owned by George Hart, and the portion of the harbor reserve opposite the .Royal Hotel are nuisances, and calculated to be injurious to the public health I would respectfully suggest that informations be laid against the owners of the aboveproperties with a view of placing upon them tho leiral responsibilities th.it such an apparent disregard for the public health involves. Tho Mayor pointed out that the Borough Council constituted the local Board of Health, and in that capacity could deal with matters for which provision was made by the Public Health Act, Tho overcrowding of houses was one of the nuisances mentioned in the Act, and the Council, as the local Board of Health, could take steps for having the nuisance abated. Cγ. Graham suggested that the people who lived in the cottage might be Chinese ; tho inspector omitted to mention that point Ho (Cr. Graham) was not aware that Europeans crowded together in the fashion complained of. The Mayor: Tho bye-law makes no distinction 'in favor of Chinese. (Laughter). Cr. McDougall remarked that, although councillors had laughed a little, it was no laughing matter. In fact it was deplorable that such a state of affairs should exist. Ho would move that tho overcrowding reported be deemed a nuisance under terms of the Public; Health Act, and be dealt with accordingly. Seconded by Cr Cohen and carried. "With respect to the second cbniso of the inspector's report, having references to sections which were declared nuisances, it was decided after some discussion to refer the matter to the Public Works Committee. ENGINEER'S JIKI'ORT. The following report from the consulting' engineer was read and adopted : —• 1. "Water Supply to Hospital.—A motor has been procured from Duncdin and fixed in connection with tin's water supply, there being none suitable in stock. The ball taps in connection therewith arc of insuflicient I boo- to suggest that tho Hospital Committee be called upon at once to remove them and replace them with suitable taps. 2. Milton Terrace Path.—l estimate that the cost of completing this path with steps and handrailing will be about £10 or £12. 3. Gas Company's Mains.—Herewith I have the honor to enclose notices received from the manager of the Napier Gas Company of their intention to open up certain streets for the purpose of laying gas mains. In doing this they will of course at certain points have to cross main sewers. Hitherto they have done this to my satisfaction, and in such a manner as not to interfere with tho efficiency of the drains and culverts, and I have arranged with the manager that boforo interfering with any other drains, Arc., ho shall givo duo notice to the road inspector. Tho Council then adjourned.