CITY COUNCIL

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2555, 26 April 1871, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL

Before the regular business was proceeded with to-diy Mr Barnes rose, and asked to be allowed to make a few remarks upon a paragraph which appeared in Saturday evening 7 *) Star. In that article great fault was found with the City Council. The first fault was that the Council hid neglected to have proper metal broken at a cheap rate ; great stre-s was laid on the “ expense’’ wasted in carting metal to the different streets to be broken there. He distinctly denied that that was done. Fault was also f mnd that the metal was broken up at a time when it should be pat on the streets : further, that the stones were in danger of being used to break windows; besides being a danger to life. He (Mr. Barnes) -asserted, that the stone did not bel-mg to the Council, that was, it belonged to the Council in one way and did not in another. The stone belonged to the contractors, who, through the action of the prisoners employed at the Water of Leith, ha I to break them before carting them away. Tiie weather of late had not bien suitable for laying down metal on them. He hope 1 that the “ reporter ’ would not in future insert “ paragrams ’’ which were incorrect. That in Saturday night’s paper was without foundation. The Mayor : I have not had the pleasure of reading the article in question, having been uut of town when it was published, i do not think, as a rule, articles which appear in the Star a-e correct; my experience has always taught me to regard them as being unreliable. Mr Walter submitted the discussion was irrevelant. The mayor thought any Councillor had a right to mention articles throwing redicule on the Corporation, Mr Walter read the article this morning, and it certainly contained s me erroneous statements, iieference was made to stone--1-r -airing machines. Since he (Mr Walter) had been in the Council, a decision had been come to in rega-d to them ; it was thought at the tine that they effected' no gain jh breaking stone. Mr Barnes remarked, in conclusion, that he would have taken no notice of the article, but that the Council was challenged to deny ft- . ihe other business was unimportant. A letter from the insurance companies notified that the companies had come to an understanding in reference to their contributions to the sujr ort of the Fire Brigade.