BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Independent, Volume I, Issue 14, 6 June 1885, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the above was held on Tuesday evening, and the following members were present: — The Mayor (in the chair) and Crs. Townley, Lewis, Wilson, Kenny, Joyce, Graham, Hepburn and Smith. On the reading of the minutes of the special meeting Cr. Joyce said that before confirming the same he wished to ask the Engineer whether it was true that only the East abutment of the Turanganui Bridge could be done for the amount sanctioned at the special meeting. The question was left over until the Engineer’s report was read. COBBESPONDENCE. A communication from Mr. Cresswell, on behalf of Messrs. Houghton, Houlden and Fisher, asking for right of way to sub-sections 159 and IGO, was read and acceeded to. The secretary to the Hospital wrote asking for the regular annual subscription.

Cr. Townley said the nmount had been given for the last two years, and really meant £5O with the Government subsidy. He moved that the amount be passed. Cr. Joyce : But where is the money to come from ? We have not yet got the special loan.

Cr. Lewis : We shall manage to get the £25 somehow or other. The motion was carried. Engineer’s Report.

Turanganui Bridge : The work of strengthening and repairing the east abutment, as proposed in my report of Wednesday last, is being carried on. New wales have been fitted and part of the earth has been removed. I have directed the contractors to get a supply of metal ready to put on the approach when it is finished. —Aberdeen Road : Attention having been called at the last meeting to the drain which crosses Aberdeen Road obliquely, near the old grandstand. I have to report that the present drain could be filled in and a drain cut along the lower side of the road to join the Carnarvon street water channel, at a cost of but I think this matter might very well be left over till the road is regularly formed and metalled, as the present state of things does not cause much public- inconvenience. Day labour to the amount of £7 14s. has been employed during the last fortnight in clearing outlet drains and water tables. There is no day work going on at present.” The Chairman —Now we can hear what Mr. Reynolds has to say in answer to Cr. Joyce. The Engineer said that the contractors were going on with the East abutment at the estimated cost stated in his report of last week. By the terms of the specifications he was empowered to make any necessary alterations which he thought necessary. Cr Joyce said he had been given to understand that all the £l9O was to go to the east end and that the west end would have to be done afterwards. He knew of a man in town w ho would do the whole affair for £5O, and would give a written guarantee. The ratepayers were paying dear for professional experience.

On the motion of Cr. Lewis, it was decided to close in the open drain at the corner of Canarvon Street and Aberdeen Road complained of by Cr. Hepburn at the last meeting, at a cost of £5. Payments. F. J. Piesse, £4 45.; Chrisp and Muir (advertising £l7 ss. 6d., printing, £9 4s. 6d.) £27. [The clerk stated that the advertising included the annual ballance sheet which cost £9 10s. for one insertion], J. Burns, £3 17s. ; J. Shellard, £3 175.; Hospital £25 ; Bishop, £3 10s. ; petty cash £lO. Inspector of Nuisances Report. “ I beg to lay before your Council a case which came before the R.M. during last month, as it seriously affects the nightsoil contract. The contractor went to empty a closet but found that the box had been removed. He sued the person, but the R.M. decided against him. If this person can evade your by-law others can do so. I therefore ask your advice as to how I am to act in this case as it will become a serious question when summer sets in.”

Mr. Burch who was present, stated that his contract was to attend each house twice a month. There were many now who were evading his service on account of the late decision in the R.M. Court, and the matter was becoming serious. If this was allowed he could not go on with the contract. He would ask that a by-law be formed which would allow him to claim 9d.

for attending to remove nightsoil at an occupied house, and not for removing only. Whether such a clause could he inserted in the contract without calling for fresh tenders he could not say. Unless some clause was put in to that effect the contract was not much use to him.

Cr. Joyce said he was inclined to think the Magistrate was correct in his judgement. The contractor had his remedy by informing the Inspector of Nuisances, who could lay an information against anyone not having their box cleaned out. He thought that would meet Mr. Burch’s case. He failed to see how a by-law such as suggested by Mr. Burch could be made. The Town Clerk in answer to Cr. Kenny, said there was no by-law prohibiting persons from burying their nightsoil although a clause of the contract stated that such should not be don* 1 .

The Mayor asked what use it was to give a contractor to understand, by a clause in the contract, that this should not be done, when they had no power to carry it into effect. Cr. Kenny said he was not inclined to agree with the Magistrate’s decision in the case, and thought it was a most unfortunate one for the borough. He (Mr. Booth) might have seen that it was a perverse attempt on the part of one individual to evade payment. As the contractor had gone to the house judgment might have been given for the contractor. He would suggest that a by-law be framed that all the night soil should be buried without a certain radius. If that was done he did not think the most perverse ratepayer would take the trouble to remove the nightsoil beyond that radius. If the Magistrate had used a little discrimination the question would never have cropped up. The Mayor thought a simple amendment to the by-law would meet the question. He would suggest that a committee should draw up an amendment and submit it to the Council at its next meeting.

On the motion of Cr Kenny, the Mayor, Crs. Lewis and Kenny were appointed. Cr. Joyce said while concurring in the by law being amended, he thought it hard that a man who had been away from home should have to pay for what had never been performed. Mr. Burch said Mr. Thompson had never been absent from home, but was at work in his garden. Other people had emptied their boxes the night before, and would not pay him for calling.

Notice of Motion.

Cr. Joyce gave notice to move at the next meeting “ That on the completion of the Turanganui Bridge, the services of a Borough Engineer be dispensed with.