CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1961, 18 August 1869, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The weekly meeting of the Council was held this af ernnon, There were present Councillors Wilkinson (in the chair), Fish, Thoneman, Griffon, Walter, Simpson, Dods, and M'Glashan.

GouncillorTHONßM AN presented a memorial siened hy 175 ratepayers in Bell Ward, calling attention to the necessity for constructing drains ahm,' the line of St Andrew’s street. The memorial was referred to the sanatory commission. The Gas Committee reported that the in-

structious of the Conned had been sent t° Mr A. K. Smith to prepare plans and speci* fications for new works.

A fetter from the Town Clerk to Mr Smith was read.

Counci lor Simpson asked a question, as to whether the Gas Committee had made any verbal airaugement with Mr A, K Sin it- 1, as to the probable cost of drawings, plans, and specifications. Councillor Dons rose to move the adoption of the report, and said it afforded him pleasure to answer the question put by Councillor Simpson He (Mr Dods) asked Mr Smith what he would charge for | drawing up plans and specifications for new works. He replied that Jin the event of his getting the contract for their erection his fcharge for commission would be per cent. ; but if bo did not get the contract, his charge for commission and supervision of their erection would be 5 per cent. With regard to the letter to Mr Smith it had been drawn up with every care, and with every desire to avoid any future misunderstanding. The gas committee met first on Monday last, and they adjourned to await the result of the meeting called for that evening by Councillor Simpson for the purpose of seeing whether any arguments were adduced there showing why the letter should not be sent. So far from there being any necessity to postpone the sending of the letter, or to alter its terms, he (Councillor Dods) thought there was more necessity than ever of having the thing done promptly, with at the same time every care being had to business prudence. He, with his co-coinmitteemm, agreed that the let‘er should be despatched by the first mail. Councillor Fish seconded the adoption of the report. Councillor Simpson expressed his entire disapproval of the action of the Committee, which he characterised as being indiscreet in the extreme. Councillor Walter expressed his approval of the action of the Committee, The motion was carried. The Reports of the Bye-Laws and Public Works Committees were ordered to lay on the table for a week. The following letter from Mr Hutchison was read :

“ Sik, —On the 11th of August I addressed a lett r to the Dunedin City Council, stating that I had in course of preparation a Report on the Gas Question, for their special information, and which I desired to read to the Council at its next meeting. “After devoting much time and severe study in the preparation of this Report, so as to shew results from every possible construction that could be placed on Mr A. K. Smith’s statements and figures, as also of my own experience, I find that the Council have not had the courtesy and caution on behalf of their constituents to wait for my promised inform ction, before incurring the liability of L2OO in obtaining plans and specifications from A. K. Smith for a second Gas Works.

“ Such a course I can only believe to be a studied insult to the whole of the professi nal men in Dunedin, and myself in particular; therefore, I shall withhold my Report, prep -red for the Council, and make it known to the citizens through some other channel. “ I may add, that as the course taken by the Council has been followed in defiance of resolutions passed by one of the most numerous meetings of ratep -yers ever assembled in Dunedip, there is little doubt my Report and its effects will probably form a future subject of consideration for the Council. ‘ l l have the honor to be, Sir, “ Your obedient servant, “Stephen Hutchison, C.E.”

Councillor Fish moved that the letter be not. received, on the ground that it was not courteous to the Council

The motion wa- carried, Councillor Simpson being the only dissentient voice. The Council was left s-tting.