"NAPIER BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11592, 19 July 1900, Page 4

" NAPIER BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wednesday, July 18. Present— The Mayor, Cra. F. G. Smith, V. Plowman, C. H. Edwards, J. Vigor 3rown, T. Laws, H. P. Cohen, and G. faulknor, COBRESrONDENCE. The following oorrespondenoe was read md dealt with: — J. 15. Wilson, secretary Spit demonstration committee, making formal application for a grant in aid of peace display.— rhe Mayor intimated that this question vas settled at the last meeting, when it was rosolved not to split up the demonstration, and that the town demonstration was proposed to apply to the whole borough, and he moved that a reply bo sent to that effect. — Cr. Smith moved, a.nd Cr. Plowman seconded an amendment, that .£lO be voted out of tke £50 to bo vulod to the Roneral committee, for the Spit. —The amendment was carried.Cr. Hrown then moved that .£lO bo voted for tho ward he represented, to enable n bonfiru 1.0 bo lit on the hospital bill, if they wcro going to split the demonstration up —The Mayor intimated that Cr. Brown would have to give notice of motion for that purpose. Colonial Secretary's Offics, Wellington, acknowledging .£2OO in aid of Indian famine relief fund. — It waa stated that this wa9 the third instalment of J3200, making £600 in all that had been sent from here. Hawke's Bay County Council, calling on the Council to abate the nuisance caused by the nightsoil deposited by the Borough Council adjacent to the Taradale road, and to erect culverts in place of earth embankments. — The Mayor, in oxplaining the steps that had been taken by the Council to remedy the evil, said there was a proposal to procure a hopper barjje to curry the deposit out to sea, and Mr Niven had been consulted on the Bubjoct. A letter was read from Mr Niven, in which he estimated the cost of such a barge at 4950. He moved that the question be referred to tho Publics Works Committee. — Cr. Smith, in seconding, suid he was glad to see that the Council was coming to his way of thinking on the question. He had advocated this scheme for years, and it was a scheme that the late Cr. Neal had always favored.— Cr. Brown warned the Council to be careful over this question, which would involve them in a large expenditure. If about £1000 was going to be spent on a barge, then there was no reason why, with ample sewage facilities available, they should not go in for the water-closet system straight away.— Kef erred to Public Works Com mittee. Napier Harbor Board, asking for exemption of rates on pilot station reserve, paid in error.— Referred to Public Work* Committee ; .solicitor's^opinion to be obtained. A. L. D. Fraser, M.H.K., informing tho Council that he had personally interviewed tho Postmaster-General i» reference to a grant of the telegraph reserve for a morgue. He had promised to favorably consider the request, and was now making an inquiry into the matter. Mr Praser also wrote that ho had gone fully into the Faraday-street question (Council wanting concession of seven feet) with tho Minister, and he hoped to give a satisfactory reply at an early date. — Received with thanks. Sainsbury and Logan, stating that they had excellent security for the investment of .£4OOO at 41 per cent.— Referred to Finance Coininittoo. .Tamos Hislop, Dunedin, architect foi Napier abattoirs, stating that plans lwd boen posted last Tuesday.— Keceived. I'RKE LIBRARY. Cr. Edwards moved, in accordance with notice, " That a committee be set up, as recommended in the Public Works Coinmitteo's report of 18th June, consisting of Crs. M'Vay, Laws, Brown, Plowman, and the mover, to obtain information and report on the cost of establishing a public library and free reading room in connection with the borough."— Cr. Cohen seconded.— Carried. THAT £1 CHARGE. Cr. Brown rr.oved, in accordance with notice, "That in future the charge of £[ per annum collected from householders for water supply to water closets be abolished." The moyer thought the Council would be unanimous in carrying the motion. It was an unfortunate mistake to make in the first instance. — Cr. Cohen seconded. The ohargo he always thought was unjust.— Or. Plowman said it was a pity that Cr. Browu had not included in his motion that the charge for removing nightsoil and rubbish be re-imposed.— Cr. Edwards conourred, especially seeing that there would bo a loss of revenue involved by the carrying of the motion.— Cr. Smith did not think altogether that the charge was a mistake. It had had its advantages so far as small property owners were concerned, though he was in favor of abolishing tho charge.— The motion was carried unanimously. NEW BUILDINGS. Cr, Brown moved, " That all owners of buildings hereafter to be erected, if within 100 ft of any sewer, shall be compelled to erect a water closet, and connect the same with the said sewer subject to the conditions as per bye-law 442." The mover said this was the thin end of the wedge to get the system univereal for the whole city. — Cr. Edwards seconded — Cr. Cohen thought that the decision of the Counoil last meeting would have shelved th« question for six months. It was hardly likely that any number of buildings would be erected in the borough within the next six months except those now contemplated on Colenso estate, on whose owners, in the face of tho oharges recently imposed upen them by the Council, it was unfair. Let them go on as they wore going now, and buildings would be connected gradually, without compulsion. — Cr. Faulknor said the Council ought to wait a bit. — Cr. Laws maintained that they should not go behind the motion passed at the last meeting of the Council.— Cr. Plowman reminded the Counoil of the difficulty of the water supply. The advice of their q«ack geologist in the matter of sinking an artesian well last season was of no avail, and the well was a failure.- Cr, Edwards said the water difficulty was easily got over. Ihe amateur geologist was not to blame in the matter. His opinion was asked as tc the proper place to sink a well out of mere courtesy, and he practically said what they knew before, that water was to be obtained somewhere in the neighhood. There was plenty of water available.— Cr, Smith said it was a mistake to make this proposal compulsory,, especially on the flats, without a proper system of flushing the sewers. — The Mayor thought the motion a seep in the right direction, and there was no fear of the water supply running short.— Cr. Brown, in reply, said it was time they brought the borough up to a proper state of sanitation. It was a marvel to him, and incomprehensible, for a body of men to sit there and oppose motions time niter time that hud for' their object the improved sanitation of the borough. — The motion was lost, the voting being— Ayes : Crs. Brown and Edwards. NoeB: Crs. Smith, Plowman, Laws, Cohen, and Paulknor. rUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Publio Works Committee's report contained the following recommendations : — 1. Recommendation Report Overseerro Colenso Estate.— That tlio ovorsoer be instructed to remove the slips; that the ncCJssary drain pipes bo ordered forthwith j that a Oin drain be luid from fltiitou-road to Coleuso Avenue; and that | the balance of the report be referred to the noit Public Works Committee meeting. 2. Potitiou, llosiddilts Colenso Estate Eating f'Hirict.— ■ That tho prayer at the potitiou hi granted, and the necessary steps taken with all convenient speed. '■i. Turner aud Henderson ; Pamphlet " Piague anil i- ecurity,"— That your committee hayc uo recommendation to make. i. Wbare-o- 'araenui Hesorve.— That the question ot the park and lakes aud that of tho suwcr outfull be deferred till next Fiibho Works Committee ineotiug. 5. Gaslight, &c, Turncock's House. — That a light ba ilxed ovor the do jr, in the pas-iige, so as to show where the turncock resides, and that the Bink be moved as reco-nniendcd, cost ifot to exceed £i 10s. — Adopted. WATERWORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Waterworks Committee made the following recommendations ; — 1. For Pumping Engine— That the following be orderod from the UUnliold Company:— Two steam ohest covers for h.p. cylinder, 21 rubber valves for air pump, and tho following from the Vucan Foundry ;— l3O lire bar to weigh 151 b each. 2. Bobjohns and Co. (Chargos Water Supply) — That under the special ciroutnstantes of this case your committoe recommend that a reduction of 'iS per cent bn allowed. This will about cover the cost of pumping. 8. Supply of Water Meters.— That the following wa f or meters bo ordored from England:— 6 lin, 2S Jin, 50 iiu. — Adopted. SPECIAL ORDEtt. A special order was adopted taking over, from September Ist, several streets in the Colenso estate. ADVERTISING NAPIER. The Mayor drew oounoillors' attention to a circular on tho table, In which the advantages of Napier and its climate were :et forth, and suggested that it be districted throughout the Australasian oololiea, copies also to be sent Home to the igsnt-General. Cr. Cohen aaid he wanted some informition on the subject. He noticed that ;he circular had been priiited in Sydney, le asked whether the Napier offices had )een asked to tender for the work, and if ;hey could not do it, why an endeavor lad not been made to get it printed in ;he colony? The Mayor explained that he possessed 10 information about it, and Cr. Cohen ould get all he wanted from the Town Jlerk. Cr. Cohen said, he would get the inormation from the Town Clerk and bring he matter up again at the nest meeting, The Council rose at; 11 p.nj,