BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4298, 7 May 1885, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Council met at 8 p.m. last evening. Present: His AVorship tho Mayor (in tho chair), Crs. Graham, Cotton, Robjohns, Cohen, Faulknor, and Neal. CORRESPONDENCE. From Scott Bros., Christchurch, offering fo supply the Borough, 'wjtli'a "steam boiler. They could also supply a steani pump, and a gas engine if necessary.— Tenders have been called for. From V. . Miller forwarding the balancesheets of the fire brigades for the quarter ending 31st March. Ho ocriifiod to the efficiency of both brigades, and suggested that 400" or 500 feet additional canvas hoso bo procured for tho Napier Brigade.—Referred to the Public AVorks Committee to deal with tho question of procuring the canvas hose. From Neal and Close applying that tho kerbiug in front of their premises might be put straight in a level with tho National Bank, also asking to have the culverts in Emerson-street fixed and agreeing to pay half the cost.—Dealt with in Public AVorks Committee's report. Froni Towii Clcsrkj Dunedin, agreeing to

the Council's request to take charge of spcciueationsforaOornish boiler. —Received. From G. A. Preece, stating return would be prepared as to offences of cabmen.— Return had been furnished.

From Sir J. Vogel asking the views of tho . . Council on a proposal to increase the rating f limits within boroughs from f d to Id in the pound on the capital value. Would the Council also agree to use the Rating Act of 1882, thereby saving the cost of valuation ?— The Mayor said he had received the .telegram, on Saturday night and he had forwarded it to the Public Works Committee. The first question was the one of rating on the value instead of the annual value, and thejsecond one would place the valuation of the property of the borough in the hands of the Government.—Cr Cohen said he expressed the views of the whole of the members present at tho committee meeting that they preferred to remain as at present than have anything to do with Government or the Rating Act of 1882.—Cr. Sob Johns would prefer to let things go as they wero than to be at the mercy of the Government.—Cr. Graham said Government had not served them, well in tho past, and he would move that a reply be sent that they did not agree with the Government proposals.—Cr. Robjohns seconded the motion.—Cr. Neal thought reasons should be sent by the Town Clerk for their disagreeing with tho proposals.—The motion was carried.—Cr. Neal's suggestion was also adopted. From W. Black re Hart's case :—" With reference to the case recently hoard before tho R.M. Court re Town Sections 3, 4 and 5, and adjourned to arrive at a settlement, the fallowing is the substance of agreement,i viz. :—' Town So -.lions 3, 4, aud a to bo claimed forthwith to level of Hyderabad- • road. The Corporation to increase the width of Hyderabad - road to its proper boundary on* the surface opposite sections 4 and 5, by plumbing up tho batter of the bank as may be necessary, aud to fill in the narrow portion surveyed by the Government of sections 1, 2, and 3 for the purpose of handing over to the Corporation in lieu of the encroachments by the railway. All to be let in ono contract, both parties paying pro rata as per quantity; the quantities to be defined by Mr Rochfort if necessary, his fee to be borne equally between the two parties.' I unhesitatingly consider the agreement a fair and reasonable one."— Dealt with in Public Works Committee's report. From W. Black, Road Overseer, with reference to the portion of land south of the railway on the edgo of the Harbor Board lagoon at Thackeray-street, I have made enquiries and find that it is included within the borough boundaries, but there is con-' sidcrable obscurity us to ownership. It is 4not claimed by the Harbor Board, and is not / included in the railway reserve, therefore it" must, I think, be looked upon as Crown land. To abate tho nuisance by reclaiming tho stagnant pools will—roughly estimated — cost about £100. As it is unlikely that the Government will undertake tho work, the difficulty might be got over by having tho land in question, with the cottages thereon, proclaimed a "Municipal Reserve," when it would amply repay the Corj>!_lj.tion for

any improvements necessary to be carried out—area 2 acres.—Cr. Graham moved that tho solicitor bo instructed to get it proclaimed a reserve.—Cr Faullnior seconded the motion.—Carried.

From W. Krauze, drawing attention to tho fact that though he had paid water rates for four years he had never been supl>lied, as a Corporation laborer had put a hole in the pipe with a pick.—Dealt with in Public Works Committee's report.

From E. Lyndon asking for a kerbing from Shakespeare road to the corner of town section 451, ho would fill in the pathway if that were done. —Referred to Public Works Committee's report.

From W. Riddell, asking that a copy of tho Act with his powers and priveleges as a fire inspector defined might be forwarded to him.—To be supplied.

From G. A. Preece forwarding list of convictions against cabmen during the last four months, and suggesting a list of cabmen should be forwarded to the R.M. Court office.

From Town Clerk stating ho had refused licenses to all cabmen whose names figured in tho above list with the exception of two whose offences were trivial. He also desire*, to know what limit of age should be posed ou drivers.—The Town Clerk said licenses had been refused to four men.—Cr Cotton begged leave to retire till tho question was settled as he was an interested party.—Cr Cohen did not think a license should be granted to a man who was wait? ing to answer to a serious charge. In two cases he saw no reason why license should be refused to married men who were old drivers, and it might servo as a caution to them their being refused at first, —The suggestion waa adopted. From T. Campbell asking that M. 0. Moloney might havo his licence renewed, as he was not in charge of a vehicle when tho offence was committed for which he was convicted. —The request was granted.

ROAD OVERSEER'S REPORT. Hyderabad road.—This road from tho Royal Hotel to the Spit bridge requires a coating of shingle throughout. It is about two years since it received a similar coating and is now in bad condition. During the ensuing winter the traffic will be heavy, particularly between Battery Point and the Spit in connection with the construction of tho railway through tho inner lagoon. I would beg to recommend ■ that tenders be called for the delivery of the shingle at per cubic yard, the work of spreading to be done by Corporation labor. This system has answered well in the past.

Cameron road.—The portion of this road between the old reservoir and Mrs May's g.itc is in much need of repair. The laying of the water-pipes has contributed much to its present bad condition. I would suggest that it receive a 4in coating' of about £17 T

Gladstone Road.—This road from Clyde road past Mr J. A. Smith's residence, in wot weather is in almost impassable condition (being- in itsnatural state aud much cut up), and as thero are a considerable number of residents that have to use it as a means of access to and from their premises, its condition must be to them a decided hardship. I understand, however, that the road has not yet boon legally dedicated to the public. I should like to be instructed in the matter.

Crossing—Wulleslcy Road.—The railway department has made the " crossing" between. Wcllesley road and Thackeray street, at the junction of Owens street, so that it now remains for tho Corporation to connect the present formation in Wcllesley road with the railway embankment, to open up traffic between tho west end of the town and the railway station. It will also be necessary to widen the formation in Wellesley road between tho railway and Miller street now (10 feet) by 8 additional feet. A pipe culvert, 18in., will have to be laid opposite Owens street to keep tho main storm-water drain open. I would beg to suggest that Messrs Glendcnniug and Griffin bo allowed to proceed with tho work at the samo rate as that for widening Wellesjey road between Miller street and Lucas _nd Humphries', their tender being the lowest of three, at Is per cubic yard delivered on the road.

Childcrs Street.—Tho cost of repairs to this road, consisting in forming up and. coating- with a 4in. coating of limestomb rubble, to meet the object of the petition, will, I estimate, cost about £5.

Right-of-way, Carlyle Street. — The "right-of-way" uskedforis, I understand, to permanently secure a right of entrance to a houso at the rear of. tho section leased by Charles Watson- to Benjamin AVatson. As tho house has been in Existence for somo time, it is, I think, desirable that this security should bo granted. I would beg to recommend that the request be acceded to.

Clive Square.—As the work of reclamation will bo completed iv two months—or less, should the weather prove favorable— 1 would beg to recommend that steps be taken to have a permanent fence erected. By the lime that tenders are called and accepted the reclamation will be so '.far advanced at to allow of tho fencing.-Ifcing-proceeded With,'fed the advantages of th 6 present planting season will thus be secured, In connection with this I would bog to suggest that tho present urinal near tho Theatro Royal bo removed, and replaced with a more sightly and useful one, to bo erected back from off the road line, and bo planted around with suitable (roes.

Mr Kelly's application.—The distance from the water-main to Mr Kelly's pror porty by way of Gladstone-road, is 110 yards, and by -way of Childcrs-street 61 yards. Tho cost will be about £9 and £5 respectively. If tho piping be taken by! way of Childcrs-street only Mr Kelly will' be benefited thereby, but if by GlatfstolGeroad, all the intervening properties thereW can be supplied. I would therefore sugi> gest that a ono inch pipe be laid by way of Gladstone-road for a distance of 110 yards,