NAPIER BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12869, 22 September 1904, Page 4

NAPIER BOROUGH COUNCIL.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21. Pment: The Mavor (Mr S. Camel!), and Cts R. A. Wilson. J. P. Thomson, J. Spence, C. X. Edwards, \V. J. McGrath, M. \V P. Lascclles. G. Widerstrom, A. E. Eagleton, and J. C. Westall. CORESPOXBEXCE. Sainsbury, Logan and Williams sub mittcd an opinion as to the liability oi’ J. McHardy for damage done to the council's fence on Colenso-avenne by his horse and cart. —Xo action to be taken: The Feilding Borough Council asked if the council would contribute towards the cost of preparation of model byelaws. under the Municipal Corporations Act. —Reply to be sent that the council could not concur in the proposal.

The munioinal solicitors advised that if the council granted permission to ihe Wanderers' Bicycle Cluh to finish their Waipukurau road race at the Marine-parade. Rotunda, they might be responsible fur any accident.—• Ine Town Clerk stated that the club had been advised to the effect indicated in the- solicitors’ letter, and that the permission asked for could be granted. —Approved. The Napier Hospital Trustees again applied for payment of the levy on the council amounting to £143 15s, as - funds were particularly needed by them.—Payment authorised. W, F. llighlcy drew attention to the urgent necessity for a lamp at the corner of Breakwater-road ana Batteryroad. —Referred to Lighting Committee. The Napier Dramatic Students solicited the patronage of the council for a performance to be given by them in aid of the funds for a new site for the Old People’s Home.—Granted. The Napier Plumbers’ Union intimated that they favoured the present system of issuing separate licenses for plumbers and drain-layers, but thought it would be an impro\ement if separate tenders were called for drainage and plumbing work. As the council had made it practically compulsory for local plumbers to attend the Technical School if they desired to qualify for certificates, the union thought the council might take into consideration the expense thereby incurred, and, if possible, issue licenses free to successful students, or put the license fees into a fund to help to defray the cost of the examinations. —Referred to the sanitary surveyor to report to the Works Committee. W. G. Taylor, manager o! the abattoir, reported on the proposed schedule q£ yMes as tV?c* Jutlca of the caretaker, and suggested sevend amendments. —Referred to Abattoir Committee. R. Woodcock, plumber, applied for a water-fitter’s license.—Referred to Sanitary Committee, The Labour Day Sports Committee applied for permission for a procession through the principal streets, to take place on the rooming of October 12th, ■: and also tat the Fire Brigades be i allowed to take part in a spectacular

: display.—Granted. The Cabmen’s Association requested the council to approach the Government with a view* to having mails loaded and unloaded in the yard at the back of the Post-office.—Reply to k- be sent that the matter is under consideration; letter referred to committee : set up to interview the Postraastcr- ; General. J. J. Niven and Co. forwarded details —of their account, amounting to £lO5 7s Bd, for repairs and renewals to the small pumping engine at the waterworks.—Referred to the Waterworks Committee. H. S. Triggs drew attention to the dirty state of the road and gutter opposite the Terminus Hotel.—Referred to Roads Committee. The Napier Harbour Board asked the council to join with the board and the Chamber of Commerce in forming a deputation to wait on Sir Joseph Ward relating to the railway rates between Napier and Wellington.— Agreed to, and the Mayor, the Cltair- ’ man of the Public Works Committee. Cr Edwards and Cr McGrath were ap- ’ pointed to represent the council. The Napier Harbour Board intimated that they consented to the erection of a new bridge at the Iron Pot in accordance with plans submitted. — Received with thanks. Dr de Lisle, District Health Officer, suggested that the owner of the sec--1 tion at the corner of Shakespc-are-road and Clyde-road should be called upon to abate a nuisance caused by an aci cumulation of horse manure used for r forcing beds, within fourteen days.— F Copy of letter to be sent to owner. Kf W. T. Dickinson offered to purchase ■ town section 577 for £66, or half of Bit for half that amount.—Referred to ■ the Fire Brigade Committee. ■ SINKING FUND.

Cr Eagleton said hs had given notice to move that the resolution of the council providing for a sinking fund for the £70,000 loan be rescinded; It was a subject upon which a » aeal could be said, out it to him that the whole was whether t}T not the council were bound by the action of their agents. When the * lean was raised in London, the Union IJfKik did a certain thing not authorised by the council, and there was a wide diversity of opinion as to whether the council were responsible or not. He asked to be allowed to amend his motion to read as follows, and stated that if it were agreed to he would lay the whole position before the committee as lucidly as possible '“That the resolution of the council of April Ist, 1901, with regard to sinking fund for the £70.000 6 per cent. loan be considered by the Public Works Committee, to report as to whether or not such resolution should be rescinded; and that the municipal be requested to advise the council whether they arc bound by the action of their agents in this matter, and to give reasons for their opinion.” Leave was granted as requested, after which the motion was seconded by Cr WesUll, and carried. WAIROA-ROAD. t Cr McGrath moved, “That the attention of the Tourist Department be drawn to the unfairness of their report published in the ‘Hawke’s Bay Herald’ of August 27th, in which no mention whatever is made of the Xapier-Wai-roa-road as a means of access to Waikaremoana although there is a firstclass service once a week; the reportonly mentioning the road from Rotorua via Ta Whaiti, which is at present quite unfit for traffic.” In proposing the resolution he said the reasons for his doing so were well known. The department, as usual, were neglecting Napier, and apparently endeavouring to divert the Waikaremoana tourist traffic from this district to Auckland and Rotorua. The Wairoa-road was really a first-class one, and only wanted a couple of bridges. There was a coach service on it, and in addition there was a steamer service to Wairoa. connected by the Motor Company's service with Waikaremoana. He ’thought ad van tage should be taken, of Sir Joseph Ward's presence in Napier next Monday to urge the matter on his attention. The people or this district had been very moderate in their demands, and therefore they had been neglected, not only in connection with the Wai-roa-road but also with regard to the Taupo-road, on which there was tome of the finest scenery in the colons - .

Cr Thomson seconded the motion.' He endorsed what Cr McGrath had said, kind he thought they should do all in “their power to assist in the matter. . The Mayor agreed that Napier had utterly neglected. As an instance, he understood that the public buildings were not to be gone on with. If they were too quiet and mild, they , would get nothing. Cr Westall; That does not say much ‘■for the Government. ► The motion waa carried, and it was agreed to send copies of it to the members for the town and district, and to invite the co-operation of the Chamber of Commerce. WORKS COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The Works Committee recommended as follows: — „1. Hospital Sewer.—That, the sower be extended if the Hospital authorities will contribute half the cost of the work, namely, £ls. j 2. Drainage Notices.—That the Town Clerk advertise that legal proceedings will be taken against all persons failing to comply within fourteen days with the notices already forwarded. 3. Drainage Deferred Payments. - That four applications to have drainage work carried out on the deferred payment system be granted. 4. Stable Sewerage.—That notices be sent to owners of stables to connect .with the sewer as per list in sanitary surveyor’s report. 5. Water Rate Charges.—That for the first half year’s rate the minimum be charged, and that the account for The second half be adjusted on the annual supply by meter. i 6. Water Supply, Cobdcn-road.—That Hie 4in main be extended to the corner Hf West’s section, and a 2in -supply pipe continued as far as Mr Russell Duncan’s, and a fire plug placed near the junction of the two mains. 7. Waier-main Leakage Tests.—That lie turncock be instructed to take the best means for testing the mains to dis cover leakages, that the work be done jn sections, and that the Marine-parade fce the first section taken. 3 Wages of Staff —That the wages pf the following men be at the rate of jgs per day as from next pay-dayW.

Barrett, J, Sinden, J. Barton, W. Scott, and C. N. Anderson. . 9. Thompson-road Deviation. —That the sketch plan of the proposed deviation be sent to Mr V?- E. Wood for bis. approval or otherwise at once. IG. Lamp, Sixty-fiffch-sireet. —That a n incandescent- light be installed on the ] present lamp, and that a protecting i rail be put across the left- side of the embankment near the steps, 11. Lamps, Guy’s HiU.—That the* lamp at the jinicuon oi Spencer-road and Chanrer-ro.id be raised about 2ft, thus lighting the entrance to Guy’sroad, and that an estimate of the costof the work be submitted. 12. Transvaal War Fund. —Thai £l5O of the fund be reserved for disabled members of the contingent?, that- about £SO be granted towards the memorial, and that the unexpended balance be available for the erection of convalescent home, whenever the Napier Hospital Trustees are prepared to ereot a suitable building for the purpose.

Cr McGrath moved as an amendmenfi on the last clause that £SO fund be voted to the Garrison Ban*-—Nega-tived. The report was adopted. MISCELLANEOUS. Cr Westall presented a petition sieved by 47 residents of Munroe-stree& requesting the council to cut down an<P remove altogether every second bluegum tree on the east side of Munroestreet. —Referred to Works Committee# Thiee tenders for lopping the bluegum trees in Monroe - street, alternatively to a height of 25ft or loft, were received, but owing to informalities in two of them and frregnlarities in the specifications, it was decided to call for fresh tenders, the height to which the treev are to be lopped being fixed at 25fi-* The question of forming Thompsonroad was referred to the Works Committee. On the motion of Cr Wilson, it was resolved that the councillors appointed to wait on Sir Joseph Ward with regard to railway rates and the Wairoaroad should also lay before him the necessity for a new Post-office for Napier. Cr Lascelles moved that the question of making new arrangements with the Napier Gas Company for the Supply of tar be referred to the W T orks Committee for consideration and report.— Carried.

Cr Eagleton moved, "That Lieu-tenant-Colonel Kettle’s attention be cal-

led to the valuable services rendered bv the Garrison Band during the time oi the Transvaal war demonstrations in Napier, with a suggestion, that they should be considered in the allocation of tie £2OO granted to the garrison out of the More Men Fund.—Carried.