MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3875, 17 March 1877, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Fbiday, March 16. The Council ' met at 7.30 p.m. j Present—Councillors Swan, Lee, Williams, Tuxford, Lyndon, Holder, Neal, and Yautier. Cr Vautier was voted to the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. ■ PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE'S EEPOfiT. The following report from the Public Works Committee was read : — " The Public Works Committee having met pursuant to notice on Monday, the 12th day of March, 1877, beg to recommend the Municipal Council to give effect to the following : — "1. That it being the solicitor's opinion that it is not competent for the Corporation, to lease lands except by public auction, the Chairman of the Fire Brigade Fund Committee be informed thereof in reply to his application of the 20th ult. " 2. That with regard to the leasing of the reserves belonging to the Corporation, the following conditions should be enforced : — Leases to be for 21 years. Leases to be progressive, as follows — First 7 years at upset price, or that realised by auction. Second 7 years at 50 per cent, increase. Third 7 years at 100 per cent, increase. Amounts to be payable half-yearly. The first halfyearly payment to be made on the fall of the hammer. No responsibility of Corporation with regard to making or maintenance of fences. Solicitor to draft particulars and conditions of leases. The following are the reserves proposed to be dealt with : —

"3. That the offer of the Scinde Lodge of Freemason's to lease their hall be declined, and the thanks of the Corporation be conveyed through Mr Cornford for the ofier. "4. That Mr Anderson's (of Anderson and Berry) request to be allowed to take earth from the Town Hall reserve for the purpose of filling in a certain section belonging to Messrs Watt Bros, be granted. " 5. That the petition of Messrs Scully and other residents and owners of land in the road leading to Cobden-road to have the said road made and formed be grauted, half the cost thereof being guaranteed by the aforesaid residents and owners. "6. That the engineer be directed to inspect and report upon the carrying capacity of the the public halls and places of amusement in the town, and especially ■with their means of egress and ingress. "7. That the engineer be directed to furnish an estimate of making a road alone; the beach from Emerson-street to llaffles-street, the road to be 20 feet wide. "8. That the solicitor's opinion be obtained with regard to the position of the Corporation as to slaughterhouse fees."

On the second clause of the report, in respect to the leasing of reserves, there was some discussion. Cr Lyndon considered that 21 years' leases were not long enough. He moved, as an amendment, that the term for each lease be 35 years, in progressive periods, of 15 years, 25 years, and 35 years. He considered that by lengthening the term better buildings would be put up than for a short term. Cr Swan seconded the amendment. Cr. Holder remarked that the terms of the leases as recommended in the report were the same as those put forward by the Harbor Board for their reserves. Had that board not set the example he would have gone in for 35 years' leases, but he could not see how the Council could do so while the Harbor Board had so much land to lease, bearing in mind that in extending the term for 35 years the rent would have to' be increased. In that case, he feared, the municipality might not be able to dispose of their reseserves while the rents were in excess of those of the Harbor Board. Had the sites' been su,ch as would be required for dwellingdftuses, he would have been favorabJMo the 35 years' term, but business sites were different. People did not wan£ for such sites a longer term of tenure than 21 years. 'the amendment was then pat and lost, and the recommendation of the committee passed. On clause 3 being discussed, Cr Swan said he did not agree with the recommendation of the committee. He considered thai the Council ought to have premises of their own ; the only question was the outlay. He regarded the termsoffered by the Scinde Lodge very favorable, and that the proposal was well worth the consideration of the Council. He would therefore suggest the appointment of a committee to inquire into the matter and report to the Council. The Chairman thought that the Council had better remain as they were for the present. In the course of a short time they might be able to put up premises of their own at an outlay, the interest of which would be less than the rent asked by the Scinde Lodge. After some further discussion, the clause in the report was passed. On clause 4 being dispussed, Cr. Tuxford objected to permission being granted for the removal of earth for filling up reserves until the contract with the municipality should be further advanced. He moved an amendment to that effect, but it was not seconded. Or. Lee pointed out that the permission to remove earth was applied for by the same person who had the contract with the municipality. If by removing earth for' Messrs Watt the contractor placed himself in a position that he would fall short of earth for his contract, he would have to find it elsewhere. He (Cr. Lee) thought the Council should afford all possible facilities to persons who desired to fill in their sections. The clause was then passed. On clause 6 being discussed, Cr Tux--ford remarked that the matter of providing easy means of egrass from public buildings had attracted a great deal of attention at home, and not without reason. He thought that there could be no question that the facilities for egress from the Napier Oddfellows' Hall were wholly inadequate in case of any accident inducing people in the hall to make a rush outwards. Cr Lee concurred in the remarks of CrTuxford. The very fact that the doors of the Oddfellows' Hall opened inwards instead of outwards, was in itself an ob-. struction to speedy egress. But, besides that, there were generally forms acrross, causing another obstruction, and altogether the doors would be almost useless in case of a rush. The Chairman said that the hall was was about to be enlarged, and probably better facilities for egress would then be made. At all events the Council bad the matter in their hands ; . if the facilities for egress were rfot deemed sufficient/ they could refuse to license the hall. Cr. Tuxford said that the report of the engineer should include the churches. Cr. Lee .was quite sure that the Council had no power over the churches. The clause was then passed, as were also all the other clauses, and the report was adopted. FIBE BRIGADE BUILDING. The opinion of Mr Sainsbury, municipal solicitor, respecting granting a lease to the Fire Brigade, was read. It was to the effect that the Corporation have no power to grant a lease to the Fire Brigade or to any other body or person, unless subject to the restrictions specified in section 177 of the Municipal Corporations Act of last session ; that all leases must be by public auction and at a rack rent. EXTBA CLERICAL ASSISTANCE. A return was laid on the table, showing the expense incurred for extra clerical assistance during the months of December, January, and February last. In December S. F. Anderson was employed, at a charge of £5 ss, during the absence of the Town Clerk. In January and February F. Broughton was employed, at a cost of £14 15s Bd, in the matter of summonses, m accordance with a resolution of the Council passed on the motion of Cr. Lee. In February F. Broughton was employed (night work), at a cost of £10 6s Bd, in connection with the proyisious of the Rating Act, making out notices of valuations, &c. The total cost of the extra clerical work was £30 7s 4d. Cr. Lee considered that the Council had had a good deal of work for the money. The first item was rendered necessary by the Council having given the Town Clerk leave of absence. With respect to the second item, he was quite sure that the summonses would not have been got out in anything like the time if the extra clerical assistance had not been employed. The Council would remember that it was in consequence of a proposition to employ an extra clerk that he had moved the resolution for the employment of clerical assistance, and the result had proved that a permanent assisstant was not required. The last item was an expense imperatively necessary iv order to comply with the Eating Act. Altogether the Council could congratulate themselves that so much had been done for so little money. BOTANICAL GARDENS. The following report was read from the select committee appointed to report upon the state, &c. of the Botanical Gardens : — " The committee has to report most favorably upon the efficient manner in which the gardens are kept by Mr Burton, the curator. " The committee recommend that two angle gates be erected at the top and bottom of the gardens, and also that six substantial seats be erected in different parts of the gardens, for the convenience of visitors. "That two places of convenience be provided in suitable parts of the grounds. " That the Engineer be instructed to provide such timber as he may have on aand, suitable for making steps, so much wanted in many parts of the gardens. " That the Engineer be consulted with as to the desirability of surveying the boundaries on the north side, with a view of erecting a new fence on the proper boundaries, the present fence being old and unsuitable. " That the question o£ leasing portions I of the land be left for future consideration." The Chairman remarked that the report did not mention anything respecting the expense of maintaining the gardens, &c. Cr Swan said that the committee had discussed that matter, and also the best means of utilising the gardens, but no conclusion had been arrived at. They thought that those matters required more consideration, and that it was better not to report upon them as yet. Cr Tuxford said that it was the opinion of the gardener that the only plaa to

render the gardens remunerative waff hV planting ornaifcental shrubs. The Chairman thought that- that would! very likely necessitate the" employment of labor, and it would therefore' be -better for the Council to let it alofleV ■« SLATJGHTBBING LICENSES. The following opinion from Mr Sainsbury, municipal solicitor, was read : — " I , am of opinion that the £10 licensing fee payable by butchers carrying on, business in Napier is payable to the Corporation, and not to the Hawke's Bay County Council. The fees charged for the use of the slaughter-house, at so much per head of cattle, &c, will be part of the revenue of the Hawke's Bay County Council." THE EESEEVOIB. ' -': The Chairmen stated that Messrs Davis, Bochforfc, and Bold had been written to, but in consequence of Mr Eochford being out of town, the examination of the reservoir had ttoi been made. , Mr Kochfort was, however, now in town, and the inspection would be made without further delay. The Council thefl adjourned 1 .-

No. Upset price. 553 Hastings - st. In 2 lots £10 ea pr an. 568 „ 1 £10 569 Wellesley Rd. 1 £io „ 575 „ 1 £15 „ 576 „ 1 £10 „ 587 Waghorn-st. 2 £15 ea. „ 598 Reclmd. land 1 £35 „ 600 „ 1 £30 „ 610 „ 1 £35 „ 613 „ 1 £25 „ 614 „ 1 £25 „ 615 „ 1 £15 „ 617 „ 1 £15 „ 620 „ 1 £25