MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3908, 17 May 1877, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Wednesday, May 16. The Council met at 7.30 p.m. Present — His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), and Councillors Williams, Tuxford, Lyndon, Neal, Vautier, Holder, Swan, and Lee. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirned. PUBHO WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The following report from the Public | Works Committee was read : — The Public Works Committee having met pursuant to notice, beg to recommend to the Council the following : — 1. That no stone wall be erected in the Shakespeare-road, but that in lieu thereof a substantial two-railed wooden fence be placed there ; the present wall to be pulled clown. 2. The Gas Company having refused to lay pipes down to connect the mains with the two proposed lamps ■at the corner of Eailway and Munroe-streets, that the Corporation call for tenders to lay an inch pipe for this purpose. ' 3. With reference to Messrs Boylan and Co.'s application re footpath and kerbing, that the engineer be directed to alter the kerbing and footpath at their premises to the same angle as at Messrs Newton and Irvine's corner. 4. That Mr Guy's offer to dedicate land for a street, conditionally on the Council filling-in his section No. 352, be declined. 5. That the Municipal Solicitor be directed to draft a short Bill and a petition to His Excellency the Governor, the former to make certain land adjoining the Town Hall reserve a part and parcel of the said reserve, and the latter to includethe said land within the boundaries of the borough. . 5. That, the requisite amount of money (£7O) not having been subscribed, Mr F. Parker, the successful tenderer for the formation and making of the Beach-road, be informed thereof, and his tender allowed to lapse. - - . ' 7. With reference to the letter of certain inhabitants of Milton Terrace, complaining of encroachments on their road, that the Municipal Engineer be instructed to survey the said road in conjunction with Mr'Rochfprt, and define its limits. ■8. That" the tender of James Reedy, jun., to supply 100 yards of road metal at 2s lOd per cubic yard, be accepted. ~ 9, That the tender of Messrs Mills' and Oxenham,- to form roadway in Leverrstreet for £65, be accepted. 10. The committee beg to submit for the consideration of the Council Dr. Gibbs' letter of the 13th instant, and to recommend that the Town Clerk be directed to convey to him the thanks of the Corporatron for bis suggestidns. ... 11. That the voucher for £224 3s 6d, in full payment for reservoir, be ordered to be paid. .•..-■•.•. - ! 12, That the pump in Millar-street be put | in repair, and that a stand pipe be erected at the end of the main in Clive Square. : Clauses 1 to 7 were passed without discussion. „'■-' '■ " ' On clause -8 being read, Cr. Neal said that though the' tender of James Reedy, jun. , was the lowest, there were two other tenderers who would supply metal of a more durable kind from a different quarry to that from which the successful tenderer would draw his supply. He therefore moved that the three lowest tenders be accepted, viz., those of James Reedy, sen., James Reedy, jun., and George Amner. . •; : Cr. Vautier said that the contractor would have, to take the metal from where the engineer directed him. Cr. Tnxford thought that the specification should have stated from what quarry the metal was to be taken. ■ Cr. Holder also took that view. Cr. Neal said that the specification stated that the tenderers were to say from what quarry, they- would take the metal, and so the choice was left in the hands' of the Council." \\- ■ ~ ' ~ The Mayqr agreed that it would be advisable thatthe specification should state from what quarry the metal should, be procured. Bvit as the tender of Reedy, jun., was only for 100 yards, it would perhaps be as well to adopt the recommendation of the Public Works Committee. A good deal more metal would be required, and when inviting othei tenders care would be taken that the quarry was specified. The clause was then passed. On clause 10 being put for adoption by the Council, the letter from Dr. Gibbes to which it referred was read. It was as follows : — . Sir, — I wish to bring before your committee a subject which has been engaging my attention for some time past, and one which I .'think of most paramount importance for ■the welfare of many in this borough. It is that of the sick poor. It is needless for me to state that there must necessarily be many, who, from imforseen circumstances, are unable to provide for a time of sickness. This was forcibly brought before our notice two years ago, during the severe visitation of typhoid fever we suffered from, and it is to prevent a recurrence of so much misery that I now write. I beg to make the following suggestion : — " That a health officer be appointed, whose duty it shall be to attend those who are unable to pay for medical attendance, on an order from a committee appointed by the Council to investigate these cases. That he should report to the Council, from time to time, the health of the borough, with especial reference to infectious diseases. That he shall examine and report on all food, siich as milk, meat, &c, suspected of being bad." The remaining clauses of the report were passed without discussion. THE FIRE BRIGADE. His Worship read a letter from Mr Miller, which he had received that afternoon, requesting the Council to give the brigade aid to the extent of having the alarm bell hung so that it could be used, and of fencing in the section upon which the engine station is erected. Cr. Hqlden moved that the request be acceded to. ' Or. Tuxford seconded the motion with much pleasure. He considered that the Council should assist the brigade, even to the extent of voting £100 to that body Cr. Williams concurred. Cr. Swan had no objection to what was asked for in ; the letter, but he certainly would object to go any further. The brigade had received a good deal in subscriptions from the inhabitants of the town, and he did not consider that it would be right to devote the fates towards subsidising the Fire Brigade. With respect to the letter, while he did not object to the request being granted, he thought that the matter should be referred to the Public Works Committee, and he moved to that effect. . , Cr. Lee said that there was sometliing very indefinite about that part of the letter referring te the fence. It was not stated whether the Council was to put up the fence altogether, or whether assistance only was required. It would be better, therefore, to refer the matter to the Public Works Committe to ascertain what would be the nature and cost of the work. Cr. Tuxford suggested that the Council shoxild accede to the request fespecfonc the hanging of the bell, anU^r'efer the matter of the fence to the Public Works Committee. Cr. Holder said he was willing to alter his motion to the effect suggested by Cr Tuxford. The motion as amended was then carried. PRISON LABOR. Cr. Swan gave notice that at the next meeting of the Council he would move a resolution for applying for the aid of prison labor in making the road along the beach and erecting a stone wall. , The Council then adjourned.