Borough Council.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5275, 19 July 1888, Page 2

Borough Council.

The Council met last night. Present; The Mayor (in tlio chair), and Ore. Smith* Robjohns, Ncal, Cohen, and Faulknor. ' COEKESPONDKNCB. From R. Williams, Returning Officer, North Ward, notifying the election of Mr H. C. Robjohns, junr., as councillor.—Received. From Town Clerk, Wanganui, asking -under what authority members of fire brigades who had served five years could bo voted medals.—lnformation had been supplied. Medals were not given by tho Council. From W. Ooleuso, complaining of the charge made for water.—The charge made was a proper one, and it could not be altered to suit the small requirements of the writer. From secretary of the Atheiußuin, statingthat tho matter of a fire escape stairoaso. was in hand, but by an oversight the Council had not been notified to that effect.— Peceived. ■ , ' Fri-ro. librarian of tho Athemeum, asking' that all arrangements entered into before the cancellation of tho license by the Council might bo allowed to proceed.—License had been cancelled, but speoial permit had been given. From R. G. Graham, resigning Ms seat for tho North Ward. Nothing but the strict injunctions of his medical man would have induced him to tako the step, and it was with the greatest regret he felt himself compelled to take the step.—Cr. Cohen moved the resignation be accepted, and suggested that a letter be sent regretting the cause which led to the resignation. Cr. Graham had been a very regular attendant both at Council and Public Works Committee meetings — Cr. Neal thought it would be ■ a bad precedent to send such a letter, though overy one acknowledged that Cr. Graham had served the ratepayers well.—Th 0 Chairman bore testimony to Cr. Graham's good work and zeal, thoogh at times ho was inclined to kick over tho traces, but he had ever been a hard-working member. Resignation accepted, and letter of regret to be sent that he should bo forced to retire through ill-health. „ •.. From Property Tax Commissioner, forwarding declaration to be signed when' balance of subsidy under the '-Local Bodies Finance and Powers Act" would be paid.—Had been signed and forwarded I<rom secretary Hawke's Bay Club, asking that the kerbing and forming of the footpath from tho corner of the Savings Bank to the Marino Parade might be put in hand. -Or Noal suggested that the footpath* should bo continued all round the dub, and if the shrubbery were destroyed a few seats could be placed there—Overseer to report to Public Works Committee. -. From G. W. Grainger, askmy that the usual hcenso fee might be remitted for an entertainment in St. Paul's school-room in aid of the Baud of Hope.—Perm__s*_<m granted. ...■•,*; From Superintendent Waterworth, askintr that a committee miirht be appointed to meet a committee of the brigade with reference to appointing a permanent engineer and station-keeper.—Cr." Smith thought there should be severer alteration* made m the brigade. He would have three members of tho brigade sleep at the station and one of them could be either an engineer or assistant engineer, who could get up steam when required, which might be the means of saving the whole town. When he* first camo to the Spit he lived two or three years at the station, and got some five pounds per year for sleeping there. It was impossible that men living at home with their wives and families could be on the spot m five minutes. He would move that' the letter be referred to Pnblic Works Committee, where ho would move thatthrea members of thefirebrigadobe alloweda small subsidy to sleep at the station.—The Mayor said tho object of the letter was that a sub- ■ committee should meet a committee of the fire brigade. He. thought it better for the Council to appoint a committee.- Cr. Neal would second Cr. Smith's resolution. The matter should be discussed in Public Works : Committeo before the committee were appointed, then tho committeo would know the opinion of the bulk of the councillors and they would act accordingly. The* Publio Works Committee might recommend a committeo, or the committee would receive their instructions. There was no necessity for the engineer to be on tho spot. The difficulty was the firemen did not hear the alarm. There was abundance of water to put out tho fire without tho engineer. The difficulty was that sufficient of the firemen did not hear the alarm • the wind was blowing in a direction that the sound did not travel. He had been informed of six firemen who had not hoard the bell the other night, and something in the line as suggested by Cr. Smith would meet the difbculty.-Cr. Smith said Superintendent Wilkie, who was living about four hundred yards away, did not hear tho bell, and had to be called.—The Mayor thought the course proposed was deferring the matter as tho Public Works Committee would havo to report to the Council.—Cr. Ncal thought tho course proposed would open the whole question. The Council had ! allowed the fire brigade hitherto to tako thou-own action, while now it was Opening a very largo question. It was giving the Corporation a voice in the management of tho brigade. The letter meant somethinjr more than a committeo; it meant that the Corporation was to contribute a larirer amount. That was on tho face of it and he thought it required a good deal of consideration. — Referred to Publio Works Committee to report on. From W. Miller, forwarding accounts and reports of both brigades for the quarter ending 30t.h June. The Spit Brigade proposed to mako an addition to their station by raising the roof about nine feet, and using tho top story as their meeting-room, and tho wholo of tho first floor to be used for the plant. The extra accommodation was much wanted.. The brigade proposed to pay for the addition out of their funds. Ihe plant of both brigades was in good conditiou, and the- brigade*- efficient.— Received. From Peter Glen, asking that repairs to Shakospoare Terraca might be gone on with, the residente agreeing to pay onohalf the cost.—Overseer to report to Publio Works Committee. From G. liymer, forwarding account for inspection of a 'bus in 1885.—Amount to be paid. From secretary Scinde Lawn Tennis Club, comphuniug that they had been charged for a quarter's supply of water while during that timo they had used no water.-Cr. Smith proposed tt-at tho letter be referred to Public Works Committee. — Cr. Cohen thought tho letter could bo doalt with at once. It was absurd to scud such letters to tho Council. Two shops were erected in Hastings-street two years ago, and no water had been used, but tho rates for water had been paid.—Cr. Neal said when the meter was put on they must havo known that they had to pay £10 per annum, and that was the chargo made. The thing was perfeotly fair.—Tho Mayor said it was different when there was a meter.—Cr. Neal pointed out that something would have to havo been paid oven if there had been no meter It was scarcely fair to ask to remit the rate in the winter, when water was plentiful, and then that it should bo used in summer when the chargo did not pay tho cost of l_pt.lving the water.—Tho charge was the minimum one, aud must bo paid The minimum charges wero now under consideration. WAT_mvon_3 committee's kepokt. With referonco to tho application of tho Railway Department, Napier, for an extension of firo mains into the Napier rail way station premises, your cornmitten recommend that permission be granted to lay a throo-iuch main, tho work to be done under the supervision of the Corporation overseer. * *"*"■" With reference to tho latt-r portion of the application relative to the Council laving a mam at their own expense, so as to connect tho mam water reservoir with Wellesloy-sheet, your committee i-eoom-mend that this be not done, as the Council havo n?(i(J a °v Wellesley-strcet through Sale-street —Adopted.

r. Xt , *J nscE -*-I-ANISOUS. st a„ f"" °. d */ tho St. Augustmo's had ever given nenmssion to have the bell „ SC( I f ol . _& V !3_£Kc£ Tow*n Clerk replied in the negS.Jcr! Neal moved that permission bo asked from / the churchwardens of St. Augustine's te '• make such alterations to tho church beU as >•„ to enable it to ho nsod as a fire-bell. Half, tt-dozen firemen living in the neighborhood would have attended tho late firo if the bell could have been rung.-The standing orders were suspended, and tho motion was put and carried. M - Cr. Smith gave notice of tho following motion :-" That no more applications for exemption from tho by-law re ni-rht-soil contract be entertained, aud those to whom exemptions hayo been granted to pay their annual fee to the Borough Council" Vouchers to tho amount of £84 Os od wore passed for payment, and tho Council adjourned.