NAPIER MUNICIPAL COUNIL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7825, 18 August 1887, Page 2

NAPIER MUNICIPAL COUNIL.

Wednesday, August 17. Present— His Worship the Mayor (Mr G. 11. Swan), and Crs. Fanlknor, M'Vay, Cohen, Welsman, Neal, Cotton, and Graham. DRAINAGE OK THE SPIT, l'ursuant to notice, Cr. Graham moved, " That competitive designs be invited from competent engineers for the effectual drainage of the North Ward, the same to include the drainage and permanent levels of the Spit and the ultimate drainage of the hills sloping in that direction." Cr. Graham urged that the present was an opportune time for carrying out his proposals, as the Harber Board was about to lay oft" streets on the reclaimed ground, and desired to know the levels. Cr. Cotton seconded. Cr. Neal did not oppose the motion, but would like some further information its to the bonus or other remuneration to be paid to the successful competitor. Cr. Cohen opposed the motion, urging that until the Harbor Board laid off its streets it was impossible for proper instructions to he given to competitors. Ihe Council, too, should be very careful m hxing permanent levels, as if any alteration were made afterwards the Jorough would have to pay large sums for compensation. No one knew what changes would take place at the Spit when the harbor works were finished. ! Besides, where was the money to come f.(0lli ? Cr. Cotton urged that when tho Council recently entered into 'now financial arrangements it was distinctly understood that the money which became available was for the drainage of Coote and Shakespeare roads and the Spit. Cr. M'Vay thought there was r.o necessity for an expensive and extensive scheme of drainage just now, but he' thought that ft report from a comjtetent engineer, covering the whole question, would lie of great service to the Conncil,

and the work might afterwards be carried out in wctionSj as money was available. He would like lo bcd every street in the town drained. But he did not like the niottpjl as it stood. A definite bonus should be offered, as no good engineer Would be likely to spend his timo in proparing a scheme for which he might receive no remuneration whatever. Cr. Welsman agreed with the necessity for. the drainaga of the Spit, and urged that it was the work of the Council, and not of the Harbor Board, to fix the levels Of the streets on the reclamation. He cohcurred in Cr. M'Vay's suggestion that Iho work should be done in sections, and schemes which could be so dealt with should be invited. He also agreed that a bonus should be offered for the accepted design. He would support the motion if amended in that direction. Cr. "Neat .said he was anxious that at least a portion of the drainage of the Spit should be undertaken before next summer, but he did not quite agree with Cr. Graham's motion, which should be more • definite. Ho would therefore move as an amendment, "That a committee be appointed to arrange with a competent engineer to take levels and recommend the same for adoption as permanent levels, and also supply plans and specifications lor the drainage of that portion of the North Ward which lays to the north of a line commencing at Battery-pomt s aild along Battery-road to town section 450, the drains to be constructed of sufficient size SB to eventually carry off all drainage from the hills, which slope in that direction ; the committee to consist of his Worship the Mayor, Crs. Cotton, Graham, M'Vay, Welsmaii) and the mover." Cr: Welsman seconded the amendment. C\\ Vanlknor thought the Council eonld very well fix the levels at the Spit without professional assistance. The Mayor supported the amendment, which, he thought, would better meet the object the Council had in view. He believed that every councillor was agreed as to the necessity for draining the Spit, bnt Cr. Graham's motion was rather vague, and he (the Mayor) therefore preferred the amendment. Cr. Cohen opposed the amendment, objecting to any committee of the Council having (lie power to select an engineer. He would rather fall in with Cr. M'Vay's suggestion, that competitive designs should be invited and a bonus offered for the accepted design. He understood that the Council had agreed to drain the Spit by sections, without calling in any engineer, and the lirst portion had beeu undertaken in the drainage of Cooteroad. It was all very well to speak of the Spit as thickly populated, and to give that as a reason for carrying But drainage works, but. he would remind them that the houses along one side of (lie greater part of Hastings-street and the Whiteroad had no drainage, and the population there was thicker than at the Spit. Nor could the Council fix the levels of the streets— they dare. not. A thousand pounds had been spent on a alap of the borough, but there it lay with the levels of only two or three sheets shown on it, because the Council dare not fix the rest, in view of future possibilities. Cr. MY.ay also disagreed with the proposal to leave the selection of an engineer to acommittee ot the Council, A moderate sum offered as a bonus would probably result in a number of competitive designs being offered, and the best Could be selected. He would remind Cr. Cohen, with reference to what he said about the lower side of Hastings-street, that the matter was under the consideration of a commit tee at the present time. He moved " That the sum of £50 bo offered as a bonus for fixing the permanent levels and the best scheme of drainage for the Spit, and that a committee consisting of his Worship the Mayor and Crs. Neat, Graham, and Welsman, bo .appointed to draft the necessary information to place before intending competitors, and to lay the same before the next meeting of the Public Works Committee," Cr. Graham, in reply, urged that Napier was all drained but the one plaie mentioned by Cr. Cohen, and even there the upper side of the street was drained. But /at the Spit there was no drainage whatever, _ though the ratepayers there had contributed their quota to the drainage of the rest of the town. He repeated that the recent loan was raised for this work, and it would not be honest to divert it to other purposes. The Mayor said the loan was raised for the drainage of Shakespeare and Coote roads, which had been commenced, Cr. Graham said he must bow to the chair, bnt what he hnd said was his impression. He did not object to Cr. Neat's amendment if the . committee were required to report to the Public Works Committee before taking any definite action. Cr. Neal said he had no objection to Cr. Graham's suggestion, but perhaps the best way to meet the difficulty would be to refer the whole matter to the Public Works Committee. If that were done lie would withdraw his amendment. The Mayor supported the sugge.stion to refer the matter to the Pnblic Works Committee. Cr. Cotton said he would not oppose that if the Council set a certain sum on one side to carry out a portion of the work, so that however the matter were knocked about from pillar to post the money would not -be spent on some oilier work. Cr. Neal then withdrew his amendment. Cr. Welsman seconded Cr. M'Vay's amendment pro forma, but thought that it would be better to make the bonus iilOO. Cr. M'Vay said he at first intended to name a larger sum, but he recollected that Mr Napier Bell got little more than £100 for his plans for the scheme for the drainage of the town. Cr. Cohen urged that (Jr. Graham's motion should be referred to the Pnblic Works Committee. He objected to calling for competitive designs, and reminded the Council of the experionce of the Harbor Board when it spent a large sum in getting competitive designs for harbor works, which proved useless. On being put, Cr. M'Vay's amendment was carried, with the addition of the mover's name to the committee. CORKKSI'ONDEKCE. The following correspondence was dealt with : — From Mr J, Cierar, complaining of the "abominable way" in which the nightsoil contractors did their work.— Referred I to the Public Works Committee. From Eoulston and O'Kane, night-soil contractors, in answer to complaints. With reference to Mr Colledge's complaint that payment was demanded twice over, although he held the receipt for the first payment, the writers alleged that O'Kane called at Mr Colledge's shop, but finding him busy, left the receipt without receiving any money, thinking he would be paid when he called again. As to the complaint of Mr Dean, Onepoto Gully, they alleged that slops were put into the pan, so filling it that it could not be removed without some splashing over. They denied all knowledge of any holes having been made in the pan. A similar explanation was offered with reference to Mr Crerar's complaint. The writers further alleged that broken bottles, &c., thrown into the pans, would cut the zinc linings. They estimated that fully 350 defective pans were in use, and it was impossible lo handle them without spilling Eome of the contents. James M'Ewen, who was employed by lloulston, wrote to say that, being a "now hand," he had in some instances through want of knowledge or clumsiness spilled offensive matter. He added that Mr O'Kane told him to be very careful. Referred to Public Works Committee.

From Mr Burt, Sydney, with reference to his method of disposing of night-soil and the manufacture of manure. — Referred to Public Works Committee.

From Messrs Merryweather and Sons, London, notifying the shipment of hose, and forwarding account for £133 3s Sd. — Keceived.

From Mr Bristy, asking permission to substitute wood for iron in the erection of a cottage in Edwardes-strect.— Permission was granted on the motion of Cr. Graham.

From Mr It. Holt, complaining of the charge made for water for his boilers, amounting to £ 33 per annum in addition to the water-rate. He pointed out that the supply was drawn only from the lowpressure mains, that he had at great expense lixed large tanks with ball-cocks attached, so that a supply could be taken in at night, when the pressure was not needed for other purposes, and that when it rained he did not draw any water from the mains.— Referred to Public Works Committee.

From Mr John Cony, offering,' lo convey to the Corpoiaiion that portion of Shakes-peare-road at the top of the hill which encroached on his land for £50, provided that the land so conveyed was used for road purposes only.— The road overseer recommended the acceptance of the offer, and that the owners of sections on the opposite sido of the road, now encroaching on the road, be assessed for the required sum as follows : — Mr Cooper, £6 5s 4d • Mr Holt, £27 12s 3d ; Messrs Simon anil Rlythe, £16 13s. — Dealt with in Public "Works Committee's report.

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. . The Public Works Committee made the following recommendations : — 1. Your commit' ec beg to recommend that ■with reference to the encroachment of the Shalccspcarcroad upon a portion of Mr Corry'a land, his njfrcen-cnt as mentioned in his letter of the Bth instant herewith forwarded, to accept the sum of £50 in lieu of the land occupied, be ra tilled and I hat amount authorised for payment. 2. That vouchers £75 Is 7d be passed and ordered to bo paid. Cr. Neal said the first clause of the report was adopted on the understanding that the owners on the opposite side of the road would pay the mini which the Council would pay to Mr Cony. It would he cheaper and more convenient for them than the alternative of carrying the road in its proper line, The report was adopted.

MISCELLANEOUS. The Mayor reported, with referenced to the arrival of new base, that be had met Mr (ioodall and Mr Miller with reference to the supply of hose for the wharf, to give water to shippin". It was then arranged that the fire brigades should retain all the new hose and supply some of the old hose to the whait. — Crs. Neal and Welsman said the Council bad passed a resolution that when the new hose arrived part of it should be used for the supply of shipping, and they objected to the Mayor departing from the instructions of the Council on the ground that there was a heavy pressureof waterat the Spit, and with indifferent hose there wonld lie a great waste of water. — The Mayor read the lei tor sent to the Harbor Jioard on the subject. [That letter promised to supply hose to the wharf when the new hose arrived, but did not specify that new hose could be supplied to the wharf.] He looked up the letter before he acted. The hose supplied to the wharf was good and strong, ami would do all that was required, lint it was not so well adapted for fire prevention purposes as the new hose, so lie made what be considered the best arrangement. — The matter then dropped. The Mayor reported that no lenders had been received for the Corporation's "white elephant," — the reserve near Woodville — nor for the town reserves. So far the " endowment " in the bush had been only a source of expense to the borough hitherto.

Cr. M'Vay was appointed as a member of the waterworks committee, vice Mr Margolioutli. There was some discussion relative to the appointment of a successor to Mr Margolirmth on the Charitable Aid Hoard. Mr M. K. Miller was proposed, but Crs. firaham and Welsman and the Mayor objected to anyone not a member of the Council being appointed. — Cr. M'Vay was pressed to accept the position, but declined, as did all the other Councillors in town. Ultimately Cr. Graham consciited to act, and he was appointed. The Council sat as the Mcnnec Domain Hoard. — It was reported that a contract had been let for tree planting and fencing, which would come to about £85. — Cr. Ncal asked if the funds accruing flolil one recreation reserve could bo devoted to improving another ? The Council held funds to the credit of the Mennec alul Papakura domains, while they had boon spending large sums on Ctive-square and the botanical gardens. Could not the revenue from the first-named reserves he utilised in defraying the lattei expenditure? — The Mayor said the suggestion was an admirable one if it could be carried out. — Cr. Ncal said that as the hour was late he would not then pursue the question, but would bring it up at a future meeting. The Council then adjourned.