Invercargill Borough Council

Southland Times, Issue 13509, 17 July 1896, Page 3

Invercargill Borough Council

Thursday, 16th July. The fortnightly meeting was attended by his Worship the Mayor (Mr John Sinclair), and there was a full Council. The East Invercargill Borough Council wrote asking for a few loads of gravel.—Referred to the Public Works Committee to report, the Mayor pointing out that at present there was no fixed price at which they could sell gravel. Wm. Wills wrote acknowledging receipt of Mr Cameron’s report and denying the statement that ho had no water supply but rain in tanks for flashing purposes,as he had a well and force pump with a never-failing supply of water. —Councillor Goldie pointed out that at present there were two opposing statements and the committee should visit tho place.—Councillor Aitken stated that Mr Wills’ statement that he bad a supply of water from a pump was correct; he had seen it. — The Mayor said the inspector had simply reported on the slaughterhouses as he found them and if they were not flushed it was no answer that conveniences for flushing were there. —Referred to the Sanitary Committee to report. Wm. Martin, carter, drew attention to the dirty state of the water troughs in town. —Councillor McFarlane said he knew these troughs were in a bad state. He moved that the sanitary inspector attend to the matter at once.—Councillor McKeown said it was evident the inspector was not doing his duty.—The Mayor said that a fortnight ago he had instructed the foreman of works to attend to tho troughs.—Motion carried Jane Fairweather wrote stating that she had sent an application to have a drain deepened, and for some metal to be put down opposite section 10, block 29, Tweed street, in response to which Mr Cheyne had stated that he would not put down any metal or allow any carting to be done across the footpath until a wood crossing was laid down, which was done the next day. Later Mr Cheyne affirmed that the drain did nob require deepening. Her drain had been put in, but the water was not taken off. No other ratepayers had been called upon to lay down a crossing; a neighbouring owner had had metal laid.—Moved that the letter be received, the Mayor stating that the drain was being attended to.—Councillor Robb moved as an amendment that the matter be referred to the Works Commits

to report. He considered that the writer had been treated in a disgraceful manner.— Councillor McKeown seconded the amendment, considering there should be an investigation.—The Mayor stated that Mr Cheyne had no authority from him to act in the matter, and he was the wrong person to have been applied to as he was not foreman of works. —The amendment was lost. Ayes : Councillors Roche, McKeown, Rose, Thomson, and Batchelor. Noes: Councillors McFarlane, Mair, Blacke, Goldie, Aitken, and Stead. Wm. Martin, Liddel street complained that during the late floods he could have sailed a boat in'his coal yard owing to the drain in front of his place finishing in front of the Hokonui coil yard. He would like it extended a chain to allow him to drain his yard.—Letter received and work to be attended to by the Mayor. Mrs Jarvie, Crinan street, complained that she had no outlet for water from her garden as the drain was too high.—Referred to the Works Committee to report. Five ratepayers in Annan street between Ettrick and Crinan street wrote asking that the adjacent 'ditch should be deepened so thatjthey could-drain their land.—Referred to the Works Committee to report. W. Nelson complained of the bad state of the road near his residence in Annan street. —Referred to the Works Committee with power to act. The Southland Hos pital Trust wrote stating that they had a twelve months contract for the disposal off nightsoil at the expiry of which time they would consider the Council’s proposal.—Referred to the Sanitary Committee to report, the Mayor stating that the Council were not seeking the work but wished to know where the nightsoil was being deposited. The H. and O. A. Board applied for a few loads of gravel for the entrance to the Home. —Tobe complied with. Bing, Harris and Co asked that the Council should give instructions preventing the pasting of bills on hoardings near their warehouse in Tay street, as in wet weather the paper came off and became a great nuisance —Referred to the Inspector of Nuisances to report, Councillor Goldie considering the persons who were responsible for the sticking of the bills should be written to. Mr Harvey, solicitor, intimated on behalf of James Yeo that, unless the damages (Ll 7 7s 6d) sustained through an accident to his cab in front of the railway station were paid ho would take legal proceedings to recover. —Councillor Aitken thought they could do nothing until they learned the decision in the case at present before the Court.— Received, a copy of the Council’s previous resolution disclaiming responsibility to ba forwarded to Mr Harvey and to be informed that the Council is waiting for the decision in a case at present before tho Court. James Bryson, Otatara, wrote stating that if the jetty on tho foreshore there were removed a great injustice would be done to himself and others who were in the habit of using it as a landing place and had assisted in making it. —Councillor Stead did not think the jetty should be removed as such an action could not do any good and might injure some people, — Councillor Goldie said that Mr Bryson had LlOO invested in one part of the jetty. He thought the Council should at once see if they had power to deal with it. He heard that a man was asking prices for the removal of the jetty.—Letter received; the writer to be informed that the Council had given no authority to anyone to remove the jetty. —Councillor McFarlane referred to another person who was supposed to own the jetty. —Councillor Thomson said the Council should ascertain who was the owner. — Councillor McKeown thought that the matter should be referred to the Harbour Board to investigate, and in the meantime that no one should be allowed to interfere with the jetty.—Motion carried. Janet Jamieson, Gladstone, wrote stating that the drains adjacent to her place were in bad order. —To be informed that the state of the drains mentioned is under consideration. Tho town engineer wrote asking that a part of the salary which had some time ago been stopped should be restored, pointing out that now, while he was only receiving L2 per week, the work was at least as onerous as when in previous years the Council was paying L 350 a year.—Moved that the letter be referred to the Finance Committee to report on.—Councillor Roche thought the Council should deal with the matter and moved as an amendment that Mr Sharp get an increase of L5O until the completion of the present works.—Seconded by Councillor Thomson. —Councillor Blacke considered that before such an addition in expenditure was sanctioned an opportunity should be given to thoroughly consider it in committee.—The amendment was lost, the mover and seconder alone supporting it. W. Adamson, Geo. Young, R. Harris, Janet Jamieson, Wm. Lyon, Mrs J. Lyons, and John Maher applied for licenses to sell' milk, and J. Vickery and Jabez Lyons for licenses to sell meat.—Councillor Rose wished to know what was to be done with those who did not apply for licenses ’—Councillors Hanan and McFarlane spoke as to the usefulness of the system of licensing. — Councillor McKeown thought it should be understood that licensing in these matters was compulsory.—The Mayor stated that when persons were found selling without a license they would be prosecuted. Prior to granting the license tho inspector would see to the state of the slaughterhouse or dairy concerned.—Referred to the Finance Committee with power to act. Councillor McKeown presented a petition from 18 ratepayers and residents re the state of the drain on the east side of Ythan street. —The Mayor said the work had already been passed, but want of piping had caused delay. WORKS COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

? In reference to Mr Deverell’s application to close half of Garry street, the committee inspected the section and adjoining ground and recommend that the Council apply to the Land Board for that portion of waste land between the railway reserve and foreshore, from south end of Annan street to Dalrymple road, and that tho engineer be requested to prepare a plan of same to accompany the application; (2) having considered the application from the Corporation of South Invercargill for permission to deepen the ditch on Elies road and recommend that the Council give their consent provided the South Invercargill borough puts in tiles, the levels to be approved by the engineer; (3) that Jas. McLachlan’s application to be released of his contract to supply rubble is under consideration ; (4) recommend that the engineer be instructed to report on the brick drain in Bowmont street; (5) that the engineer inspect and report on the drain in Crinan street opposite Mr W. F. Stewart’s residence; (61 that a pipe drain be put in on the west side of Jed street extending four chains from Yarrow street ; (7) reported having had under consideration the prices paid for the drainage works now being carried on under the co-operative system, and recommend that the same be fixed at Is per yard in all drains over five feet deep, and 8d per yard where under five feet deep, the men to be paid according to such scale from commencement of the work now in hand, and to bo allowed extra for shoring where required ; (8) recommend that the late J. T. Thomson's trustees’ attention be called to tho condition of the drain through their section between the North road and Kelvin road, and that they be requested to have it cleaned out without further delay, and that the Park drain be cleaned out; (9) that the town clerk communicate with the sergeant of police calling his attention to the disorderly conduct of young people who are in the habit of congregating'and loitering in the reserves on Sundays 'and annoying citizens passing through the public gardens, and that he bo asked to give the necessary instructions to the police to visit the grounds with the view of assisting to abate the nuisance. In consideration of clause 7 Councillor Rose asked what the Nith street drain, done by day labour, had cost.—The Mayor said the two systems would be compared and if day labour were found to be the cheaper the new work would be done under that system. Councillor Rose considered that cooperative labour was a failure as the good men had to make up for the bad and there were cases of dissatisfaction.—The Mayor said it was intended to give the system a fair trial.—lt could not be expected to act perfectly ‘ in every detail at first but they would make a fresh start on Monday and up to that time the whole particulars of the '' cost of the work would be made up. They

were paying a fair not a sweating wage.— Councillor Roche thoughtthe Council should have adhered to their original scale of wages and given it a fair trial. — Councillor McKeown would have liked to see the report recommending that the work be done by day labour so that all men should be put on a level and not as at present when good gangs of men had easy work while poor unfortunate fellows had to struggle’ with more difficult labour and could not make Wages.—Councillor Mair said there appeared to be a misapprehension. The heaviest work was put out to the best workers. He had considered from the commencement that lOd a yard was too little. Under day labour a person who loafed would receive as much as his more diligent

fellow labiuter who did double tho work. Co-operative labour wag" better than that.— Councillor Thomson said he Understood that when the gangs had been chosen the work was drawn for. —The Mayor said that had not been tho case. The matter bad been left in his hands and he had not specially instructed the engineer to have the work drawn for, but he did not think it could have made much difference. —Councillor Thomson said he was sorry to hear this.—Tho Mayor said that some of the foremen had not exercised sufficient discretion in alloting places to individuals, but ho had tried to remedy this. To revert to day labour would mean that only picked men would be employed, whereas the chief consideration was to give employment to as many men as possible during the winter months at a fair wage. ■ Discussing clause 9, Councillors Goldie ■ and McFarlane said it |was intended to deal with the conduct of young people passing offensive and insulting remarks to females passing through the gardens on Sundays.— Councillor Roche thought too much was being made of this matter. A certain latitude should be allowed to young people who were as well conducted in Invercargill as elsewhere. He would like to see the clause deleted, as so much talk on the subject only helped to create it.—Councillor Thomson, who moved the adoption of the clause, thought that if Councillor Roche went out with his. family on a Sunday afternoon through the 'gardens he would change his opinion. The seats were lined with larrikins who grossly misconducted themselves. Larrikinism was rampant in Invercargill and the police appeared unable to deal with it. The report as a whole was adopted. FINANCE, GAS AND WATER COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

(1) That the application from the two nightmen for increase of wages is hold over for consideration ; (2) recommend that the alterations and additions to the buildings at the nightsoil depot be left in the hands of tho Mayor to carry out, at a cost not to exceed Ll 5 ; (4) that they do not see their way to grant Thomas Gruet, gasworks employe, an increase of wages; (5) having considered the supplementary report reabaltoirs by Mr S. S. Cameron and recommend that a public abattoir be erected and that the necessary steps be taken to approach the ratepayers with the view of raising a loan of 15000 for the purpose ; also that the Council invite offers of land suitable for a site ; (8) that the Town Clerk take legal proceedings for recovery of overdue rates remaining unpaid after 31st inst; (9) that the Mayor be authorised to make arrangements for temporary clerical assistance, say for four weeks ; (10) that the Council vote L 25 towards the fund being collected for the sufferers through the recent local floods; (11) that the account of L 3 3s from the Municipal Association of New Zealand as subscription be struck off the list of payments and that the Council cease to be affiliated with the Association; (12) that a gas lamp be erected in Tyne street opposite the centre of block 14. Councillor Hanan moved the adoption of clause 5. In doing so he said he only knew of one butcher in Invercargill who opposed the establishment of public abattoirs, the others welcomed it. There was a growing feeding that when competition was as keen as at present there should be something between the conscience of the tradesmen and tho public or adulteration must follow. He believed that if they established public abattoirs they would be earning tho gratitude of the community.—Councillor Stead seconded the motion. Though he thought the public had no cause for great alarm he considered the time was ripe for the proposal. They were quite right in affirming the principle and laying the matter before the ratepayers.—Councillor Blacke thought Councillor Hanan was to be thanked for the manner in which he had identified himself with the question, but found fault with him for not dealing with the manner in which the money was to be raised and the scheme carried out. They should have before them the prospective cost and the probability of its being successfully carried out and should first ascertain what would be the result if the County Council were induced to see that the slaughterhouses at present existing were properly conducted. He supported the establishment of abattoirs. — Councillor Goldie contended that Councillor Blacke had had equal opportunitywith other members at the last meeting of the Council to hear the full particulars in connection with the scheme. —The Mayor considered the fine was opportune for carrying out the work. There was very little vested interest at present as most of the slaughterhouses had been inspected. The most important feature was that only when cattle were being killed could disease be detected and it should be inspected both before and after killing. This was a suitable time also for obtaining a sufficiently large area, say 100 acres, to do for all time, at a cheap rate. — Councillor McFarlane supported the clause, as their meat supply must be attended to. Public abattoirs must be obtained at once, irrespective of vested interests or even cost. —Councillor Roche said this was only the first st>p in a great question. The great dread of diseases were only ghosts of the imagination. {His opinion was that colonials consumed too much meat. He did not think that the proposed work would increase the rates as it would be a paying concern and should be carried out. —Councillor Rose, while supporting the motion, could not allow Councillor Hanan to have all the honour in the matter, as outside of Mr Cameron’s report he did not think Councillor Hanan knew anything of the slaughterhouses.—Councillor McKeown was glad to see that the Council had given in to a resolution moved by Councillor Hanan, who two years ago had moved in the direction of establishing public abattoirs and he should have the credit of having initiated the scheme. He (Councillor McKeown) had backed him up, butjthe motion was lost. Councillor Roche also deserved credit for moving in the matter of sending for Mr Cameron to report. In certain places meat altogether unfit for human food was exposed for sale. — Councillor Hanan was sorry that there should have beenanynarrow-mindednessas to who was the originator of the scheme. He asked for no credit in that inspect; it was sufficient for him that the public health was at stoke, and he was glad to see that the proposal was at last in a fair way to be carried out. It was untrue that he had not made himself acquainted with the state of the slaughterhouses ; he had frequently shocked councillors and others by his descriptions of the disgraceful state in which the slaughterhouses hud been conducted. Cancer and like diseases were increasing in such an alarming manner in New Zealand that they should take all preventive measures to remove any possible causes. —The clause passed. The Mayor said that owing to a misunderstanding the town clerk had not obtained the solicitor’s opinion as to whether the Council could devote L 25 to the relief of sufferers bythefloods, but he did notthink the auditor would pass the amount.—Clause referred back to the commiitee.—ln answer to Councillor Roche the Mayor said that the Municipal Association had not forwarded a report of the proceedings at the last conference. The report as amended was adopted. The Mayor moved that a vote of thanks be parsed to Mr Cameron for his comprehensive report. It had been very satiefact< r ly executed.—Councillor Hanan seconded the motion, which was carried.—Councillor Rose opposed it, but the Mayor ruled him too late to give his reasons for so doing. The motion striking the annual rate was confirmed, and the officers’ reports having been referred to the respective committees the Council adjourned.