Hastings Borough Council.

Hastings Standard, Issue 88, 7 August 1896, Page 2

Hastings Borough Council.

MONTHLY MEETING,

The usual monthly meeting of the Hastings Borough Council was held in the Council Chambers last evening. Present —The Mayor, C. A. Fitzßoy, Esq. (chairman), Crs Tyerman, Wellwood, Cullen, Bielby, Beecroft, and Murdoch. The first business was the adoption of three bye-laws instead of fryi-laws Nos. 308, 381 and 556, whri# were repealed. The new bye-lawrplace the drivers of private vehicles on the same footing as the drivers of public conveyances with regard to being obliged to chain their wheels when their vefficles are left unattended; deal with riding bicycles, &c., or rolling trucks or wheelbarrows on the footpaths; and compel bicycles, Ac., to be provided with front lights whilst being ridden or lead after sundown. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. ROAD overseer's REPORT. The Road Overseer's Report was read and dealt with as follows : 1. I have the honor to report that' in accordance with instructions I have prepared an estimate of the coat of draining Southland road, and partially filling up the hole near the caretaker's house, amounting to £57: also for deepening and diverting the drain running through Dr Nairn's property, details of which will be laid before the Council this evening, together with the report of the Drainage Committee thereon. 2. During the recent rains the water in the Southland drains rose to a depth of more than five feet, being one foot above the timbering, on which it had no effect whatever, except in the lower end, in the sandy part behind the pah, where two large pine trees slipped in and caused the water to cut behind the timber on the opposite side, and shift about a chain of it into the middle of the drain. They were removed when the water subsided, and from the appearance of the bank I do not think it will be necessary to replace it. 3. The Eiverslea road has slipped badly and needs timbering, but this being practically a county drain I called the County Road Overseer's attention to it, and it is now under that council's consideration. 4. The timbering of Railway road and Havelock road drains is now complete ; there is however another length down the Havelock road adjoining Mr Elliott's property, which-needs doing for about 4 chains in length and 2 feet high. Estimated cost £lO. 5. The new quarry in St. George's road is now open and about 800 yards taken out. At present the metal is rather fine, but clean and of good quality. Already permission has been asked to take shingle from it, which I have refused until I, know the Council's opinion on the matter. 6. Lumsden drainage—Hollow above Mr Stack's house. In accordance with instructions, I have taken the levels to drain this, which can be done by grading the road down to the main Eiverslea drain. Estimated cost £BB 15s 6d. 7. The Park road drainage from Mr Cotten's section can be taken into the Tollemache road drain at a low level at slightly less than f inch to the chain grade, cost £2lßs ; and into Southland road by a drain with a grade ljiu. per chain, the deepest part of the drain being 3ft, at a cost of £4; or by road formation and grading the road down to the Southland drain and carting ■ the earth away. Cost £47. The clauses were dealt with seriatim. Clause No. I.—Dealt with in the Drainage Committee's report. The suggestion contained in clause 4 relative to the drain in Havelock Road was ordered to be proceeded with. With reference to clause 5, in which the Road Overseer asked the Council's opinion as to "selling shingle from the new quarry, it was resolved to empower the Mayor and the Road Overseer to deal with the matter. Clauses 6 and 7 were referred to the Drainage Committee for consideration. REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERHOUSES. I have the honour to report the slaugh-ter-houses in the district in a satisfactory condition. The yards are, however, muddy "owing to the recent rains. The animals slaughtered for the month were : Cattle, 57 ; sheep, 805 ; pigs, 35. Report received. DRAINAGE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. August 3, 1896. Your committee held a meeting on the above date to consider the question of opening a drain along the bed of the TVlakmkiri Creek, from the Railway road drain to Market street, and from the western boundary of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's property to Gordon road. After careful consideration your committee makes the following suggestions:— % " 1. That an 18-inch culvert be laid from the Racecourse Lake across Southland road, and that a drain be opened along the bed of the creek from Southland road to Gordon road in accordance with Mr Kennedy's plan; estimated cost, .£l9 10s 6d. 2. With regard to the proposed drain between Railway road drain and Market street, that a deviation be made from Mr Kennedy's plan by carrying the drain along the boundary of Dr Nairn's and Mr A. L. D. Fraser's properties; estimated cost, £'2s 10s; but as Dr Nairn and Mr Fraser have promised contributions of £ls and £5 respectively towards the expense, the cost to the Council will be only £5 10s. 3. That the waterhole on the Southland road, opposite Mr J. Coughlan's house, be entirely filled up instead of partially, as at first intended. Your committee offered to undertake the filling up of that part of the hole on the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's property if that body will gay the cost. 4. That tenders be called for sho aforesaid works, and that they be let in three contracts. The Mayor said that this work could not be deferred any longer. If the suggested deviation were made the roots of the poplar trees growing along the boundary line would maintain the sides of the drain, and obviate the necessity for timbering. With reference to the water-hole, if the Jockey Club did not agree to the proposal made the Council would only fill in their side. The cost of the work will be charged against the loan account as part of the drainage works. On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr. Beilby, tho leport was adopted.

COB&ESPONDEXCE. The correspondence was read cl: i. v den it w'th: — From J. E, Mclvor and other?, calling attention to the state of tho artesian wi-J: mi Mr! -'•s property in Nelson stmt, the pipes of which were hurst and the watt r riowed into other sections and was an annoyance; also complaining of the state of the wate?-uhi«- in Nelson street.—The Mayor thought the matter was outside the Council's jurisdiction. It was merely a neighbor's quarrel, and their remedy lay in another direction.—Cr * / Tyennan said that Mr Boyle admitted the nuisance, and was prepared to do anything the Road Overseer suggested in or 1 r o nitigate it. On the motion of ib Ma\or it was resolved to call the atltnt rt cf ihe Road Overseer to the matter. From the Fire Brigade, forwarding (1) account from B. L. Knight for the use of five bags of coal used by the brigade in extinguishing his own lire, and suggesting that Sir Knight be charged with the use of the fire engine, the coal consumed, and the services of 25 men for the time employed in putting out his lire ; (2) asking for a refund of 85a paid to firemen on the 17th of last May; (3) enclosing account for paraphernalia, amounting to £4l 15s.—Cr. Murdoch, while purposely refraining from referring to the action of Mr Knight, moved that, the five bags of coal he paid for. —The Mayor said the Council did not supply the brigade with coal ; they got an annual subsidy of £SO for that purpose.—On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr. Beecroft, the letter was referred to ihe Fire Committee. From J. S. Elliott,. Havelock road, asking for repairs to drain opposite his premises.—Dealt with in Road Overseer's report. From E. V ?11, re nuisance caused by sta ant % ater lying on the Loan and M t Company's sections, by whicn me health of his famii was endangered.—The Mayor said tlr manager of the Loan and was willing to remedy the nuisance ' but there was a difficulty in getting' material for filling in.—On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr Beilbv, the letter was referred to the drainage committee. From A. Leonard, re water lying on Southland road, opposite Mr Chapman's property. —The Road Overseer was instructed to attend to this and to endeavor to abate ihe nuisanceFrom Mr A. S. Whitehouse, asking for rebate on licensee fee (£2), paid for exhibiting kinetescope in the town, and suggesting 10s as a sufficient fee.—Cr Well wood thought that from the business he did he could well afford to pay the fee of £2. —Cr Beecroft said the proprietor of the steam riding gallery - who did very poor business here, paid' the full fee. Granting Sir Whitehouse's request would be establishing a precedent.—The letter was received and no action taken. ' From Mr E. H. Williams, giving the opinion that two butchers doing separate businesses may use one slaughter-house without infringing the Act, provided the premises were kept clean.—Received. From Messrs Moroney and Jameson, complaining that Mr W. A. Beecroft plied for hire at the Railway station off the cab stand by accosting a lady and then hailing one of his cabs which stood last on the stand.-—The Mayor thought as Mr Beecroft was present he niisht wish to make some explanation —2r Beecroft said .he received a 1 t n ihe ordinary course of busir n straeting him to meet a young lih wno was to arrive by train and whom he had never seen. He went to the railway station, but not knowing the lady he accosted the wrong one. It was merely a mistake, and no breach of the bye-law was intended—On the motion of Cr Murdoch it was resolved to accept Cr Beecroft's explanation. From Thomas Ha.mil, complaining - that the ranger did not treat all parties alike. He had been sued for allowing his cattle to stray, whilst his own fences were broken down .by straying cattle. —Several councillors spoke of complaints made against the range r> and a committee, consisting of th e Mayor, Crs Beilbv. Beecroft, Murdoch ( and Linney, was appointed to consider said complaints. From A. Trevelyan, re a nuisance on his section by the accumulation of water. —Referred to the Road Overseer to report. ORDINARY BUSINESS. Cr Tyerman called attention to the state of Oak road. This is a road not taken over by the Council. There were about five settlers living on it who were willing to bear a proportion of the expenditure in metalling preparatory to its being taken over by the Council, but who were not prepared to undertake the entire expense. He suggested that a local tax be levied on the inhabitants of this district for the purpose of metalling the road, or perhaps the Council would take it over if the five residents aforesaid contribute a fakir proportion of the expense of putting the road in order. On the motion of Cr Tyerman it was resolved to instruct the Road Overseer to report on the state of Oak road to the next meeting. On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr Beecroft, it was resolved to erect a gas lamp near Dr Nairn's residence. jfl Accounts amounting to £295 lis Jtßd, and on the loan account to £B2 5s were passed for payment. On the motion of Cr Well wood,-se-»i conded by Cr Beilbv, it was decided to give the local Literary and Debating Society the use of the Council Chambers for their debates until further notice. This concluded the business.