NIGHT-SOIL CONTRACT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume X, Issue 2028, 18 September 1883, Page 2

NIGHT-SOIL CONTRACT.

A COMMITTKB meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening in the Council Chambers, for the purpose of discussing complaints made against the night-soil contractor in the performance of his duties, as also to ooußider the scheme to abate the night-soil nuisance laid before the Council hat Tuesday evening and signed by Mr. Sievcwright. Piesent: Cr. Lewis (in the Chair) ; Crs. Townley, Hepburn, and Brown. The specification and the contract as entered into by Mr. Hearfield were read by the Chairman, who drew the particular attention of the Committee to a clause in the specifications, which stated, " That any dispute between the night-soil contractor and householders was to be finally decided by the Borough Council." — Mr. Hearfield's tender of Is per box for the removal of night-soil was then read. — A minute dated 30th November, 1879, of the Council, showing that ratepayers beyond the North side of Derby street could utilize the night-soil for gardening purposes, was read. — The Chairman said that would not affect the contract in any way. — Cr. Townley said he was quite sure the contract was for the whole of the borough, but he was not so sure about the removal being compulsory on the contractor beyond Derby street — In answer to the Committee, the Towu Clerk said he held written complaints from Messrs Barnard, Shrimpton, and Sievewright, and that he had had numerous verbal ones. — Cr. Brown said those householders who had paid more than Is should take it to Court, and there fight it out. He would move that an advertisement be inserted in the newspaper informing the public that the charges up to Read's Gate for the removal of ni^ht-soil was Is per box, and no more, and that beyond Derby street night-soil could be used for gardening purposes, provided such nightsoil was removed once a month, but, when requested so ti> do, the contractor must remove.— The Chairman then drew Cr. Brown's attention to the clause that any dispute must be decided by the Council. — Lv answer to questions, the Town Clerk stated the price per box had not been advertised. He had also given Mr Hearfield written notice to attend, but he had not done so. — The Town Clerk asked to be informed whether the householders were to look to the Council for redress or go to law. He had had numbers of complaints against the contractor, one of which wag from the Government Buildings, that the night-soil was not removed for some time after notice had been given. — Mr T. Faram, Nuisance Inspector, said the only fault he had to find with the contractor was that in some instances he was one or two daya late. As to the Government Buildings, the soil was removed once a fortnight, and the contractor was only one day behind. — The Chairman said it would not matter much if only one day was lost. — The Inspector added that in his visits he had never found any complaints against the contractor, and when any instructions had been given to him they had immediately been attended to. He had nothing whatever to do with the price the contractor was charging. — Cr. Brown said with the exception of once he never had any complaint to make against the contractor. The work was done in proper time because the contractor knew he could get his money when his work was done. He believed that a great deal of the dissatisfaction which now existed was caused through the trouble the contractor had in getting his money, and if he was not paid he could not be blamed for making himself obnoxious. — The Inspector said as far as Mr Barnard's complaint went, the contractor had informed him that Mr Barnard had ordered its removal, but that owing to his not being well, and knowing Mr Barnard was particular as to having it removed, he had sent a man to bury it. — The Town Cleric was authorised to write to Mr Hearfield informing him that in terms of his contract he could charge no more than Is per box for the removal of night-soil throughout the Borough.— The Committee then considered Mr Sievwright's scheme for abating the night-soil nuisance, and after thoroughly going into the scheme, expressed their approval of it, but thought that if the boxes- were emptied more often, there would be no necessity for adopting it. The whole question will come up before the Council next Tuesday.