CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2277, 24 August 1870, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Council was held this afternoon, to consider the propriety of borrowing LSOOO to be expended on City works. There were' p-esent—the Mayor, and all the Councillors, except Mr Jack.

The Mayor, in answer to a question; said the effect of borrowing the sum proposed would not be to increase the taxes. The income of the Corporation was L 14,100, which left a balance of L2OOO, for what might be termed new works—works over and above day labor, Ot course, the balance was very small, but it was supposed that the Corporation would be recouped for the increased oijtjay it would incur, by the reserves, now let at a low figure, the leases of which would soon fall in.

Mr Mercer moved pro forma, a resolution authorising the borrowing of LSOOO on Corporation debentures. Mr Barnes seconded the resolution pro forma, and pointed out that iu the statement of revenue and expenditure no allowance was made for maintenance metal, for which, during the next twelve months, 12,000 yards would be required ; nor was allowance made for extra labor, which might amount to LSOO. He knew the money was wanted, but would like to know wflat works it was proposed to construct with it. If, instead of gravelling footpaths, they kerbed and channelled them, it would be a raving. With LSOOO, some necessary works might he constructed, in High and South Wards, but Leith and Bell Wards might as well bo without it. He did not think they could make shift with less than LIO.COO. Mr Walter considered the Corporation in as good a financial position as it ever was. He sqqnlcj like to know what the LSOOO was to be applied to, as fyc felt quite satisfied that unless that 'sum were borrowed for an express purpose, there would be a rush to get the largest proportion. Mr Baclev would like to see the matter

approached not as affecting wards, but the City generally—as one of effecting permanent improvements of such a character as would show themselves for years to come, quid -\yoiild haye the effect of incr asing the vajne of rafeabip pppprty, flierejiy the works to some extent remunerative. " He was bound to say he considered LSOOO inadequate for permanent improvements. Surface drainage was a necessity, and to carry it out would taka nearly tlfe whole of the sum. He agreed with the works to be done, but unless LIO,OOO were borrowed the money would be thrown away. Air Tiionkman thought if the money were spent on such works as v/oulif lead to a saying in day labor, much worse might be done with it; but by borrowing LIO,OOO they would at once increase their annual outlay by LBOO for interest —which he did not think they were justified iu doingMr Ca rgill suggested that while it might be necessa y to borrow more money than proposed, it was essen ial that there should he a distinct understanding what works were to be constructed. He moved that the matter be remitted to the Works Committee to enquire as to what streets the money proposed to be borrowed should be expended on —the Committee to report in a fortnight.

seconded the amendment, which''trailcarried. ■lt was stated by the Mayor that the letter of, the Town Clerk accompanying the specimen of road metal forwarded by Mr Rattray had been returned unopened. It was resolved to forward a letter to the Superintendent informing him of the fact, and further resolved that in future all communications he addressed to the Superintendent,