CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2788, 24 January 1872, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

There were present at the fortnightly meeting this afternoon, the Mayor, Councillors Barnes, Neale, Livingston, Ramsay, Mercer, and Winter. In connection with an application from the Foresters’ Hall Company, as to whether the Corporation would co-operate with the Provisional Directory in asking the Superintendent to remove portions of Sell Hill, hi a Worship remarked it would he in the recollection of Councillors that the Governinept prorpised some time ago to level certain Corporation sections ; that the Corporation had given the tenants Jjlso to leave their houses in order that the work tn ght be gone on with, yet the ground had never been touched, The matter was referred to the Works Committee. The M.vvob observed that he understood that the prisoners were to be removed from the Southern Recreation Ground, before the

ground was turned over, which would be breaking faith with the On-ora-ion. Mr Barnes stated that, he bad 1 earned that the work would be proceeded with next Wick* It was agreed to allow Inspector Nimon s services to be used by the V ater Works Company, in checking the waste of water ; and that he should be allowed to accept the gratuity of L 25 a year offered by the ComPc *Aii application by the Inspector of Works for a reconsideration of the resolution to reduce his salary from L2OO a year to LISO, give rise to a lively discussion, m which Mr Barnes protested against the practice of reducing salaries one moment and raising them the next; defended the reduced salary, on the ground that it was snffici nt, and threatened to move that the daymen s wages be raised from 7s to Ss as before, if the application were acceded to. Ihe application was refused. The Water Works Committee reported that they had received and considered several financial statements, as obtained from the Company’s Secretary, with a view to the Council making an offer for the works, ihe Committee recommended that the Company be desired to say whether there is a likelihood of a fair offer from the Council for the purchase of the works being accepted ; as if such a likelihood exists, the Council is prepared to submit a liberal proposal, ard one which it is thought the citizens generally as well as the shareholders of the Company will approve. The Mayor explained that the report embodied a very serious question. The committee had had under consideration whether it was politic or not to send in a definite offer ; hut in the absence of any knowledge whether the directors would sell, it was thought premature to make any off r, as it might act against themselves in another direction. The committee recommended that the letter referred to should be laid before the shareholders, in order that they might instruct the directors to enter into negotiations, which would be acceptable to both parties. Up to the present time the directors of the Waterworks Company had declined to have any personal interviews with the Corporation, as they did not wish to do anything by which they might commit themelves, without instructions from the shareholders. He had heard it said by some of the directors that the t ’orporation were trifling with this matter; he (the Mayor) wished to say that th;s was a wmug irupr. ssion ; the Council as a body were most anxious to buy the works, if the Company would sell them. The Lighting Committee reported that they had submitted Mr Hutchison’s and Mr A. K. Smith’s plans for Corporation gas works to Mr R. G. Stratton, C. F., for his full report, and recommendation as to which he would advise should be adopted by the City Council. Since then a letter under date January 13, had been received from Mr Larnaeh, as agent for Mr Hankey, making certain proposals for a future supply of gas to the public lamps, hut the Commi tee considered it advisable that consideration of that letter should he deferred, pending the receipt of Mr Stratton’s report. Both matters could then come up at the next meeting, or at a special meeting. The Finance Committee reported having taken into consideration counsel’s opinion as to the liability of the Gas and Water Companies to he assessed and rated by the Corporation : that they feel satisfied that both companies are liable, and accordingly recommend that they be rated fer the year 1872. The Mayor said that the Corporation’s Valuator (Mr Langlauds) was about to visit Europe ; and as in the event of the assessments being opposed—whicli they would be in airprobability—it was necessary to produce in Court the valuator, Mr Langlauds suggested the appointment of M<ssrc ]sass£y and Mjrams ;'and the City Solicitors fiad written that tfiere was po objection to those officers acting ip that capacity, Messrs Mirams and Massey were accordingly appointed special valuators, The Reserves Committee recommended that Mr G. Cook be allowed to rent from year to year, at L 5 a year, the portion of ground at present enclosed by him, and situated between his property in Union street and the Water,of Leith; that tho Rev. John Williams be allowed to similarly rent, at L2 a year, the slip of land between bis property in Fourth street and the Water of Leith ; that Mr Jos. Pearce he allowed a fourteen years’ lease of subdivisions 1 and 2, section 21, block 10, Dunedin, at L 8 a year; that Mr Russell’s application for an extension of the term of his lease of a section on the wharves and quays reserve be declined. A proposal to increase the night watchman’s salary to LIOO a year, was negatived by 4 to 2. Mr B vejstes gave notice of his intention to move at next meeting, “That the Council should take steps to prevent the letting out of boats unless a competent person bo in charge of the same.” The Mayor said the Corporation had full power to move in the direction suggested. Thomas’s tender, for pitching fire-plugs at 8s 3d each, was accepted.