CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 2819, 1 March 1872, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The following business was transacted at last night’s meeting : Mr R. S. Miller offered to lease the cattle market for three years, at a rental of L 25 for tiie first year, LSU for the second, and L 75 for the third year —the yards to be open to all comers under the present regulations. The offer was referred to the Market Committee. Mr Yeend’s application for the sole use of the coach stand in High street was temporarily granted, there being some doubt whether it could be done permanently except under a special bye-law, A memorial from Messrs Bathgate, Bagley, and others, having reference to the making of a road from the head of Stafford street across the Town Belt, was read. The memorialists suggested that the Corporation should apply to the Government for the use of the prison labor for forming the road, which would be of great benefit, and go to tbe expense of Lls for necessary dubbins, fcc.— the Mornington Board being willing to assist to the extent of L 75. The matter was referred to the Works Committee.

The reports of several committees were adopted. It was agreed to adopt the Finance Committee’s recommendations to accept Mr Lyons’s offer for LISOO worth of Corporation 7 per cent, bonds at LlO3 1 Is, and to rate the water and gas companies It was also agreed to carry out the Works Committee’s recommendation to aspbalte ail the footpaths in the City where kerbing has been laid down.

A discussion took place in reference to the proposed tilling up of Castle street swamps. The action of some laudowners, who it was alleged flatly refused to contribute towards the expense of filling in, was characterised as “ mean ” by Mr Barnes ; and some of the councillors thought it would be well if means could be devised to compel those persons to abate what was a great public nuisance. The Mayor brought under ihe notice of the Council the question of drainage, which he thought could be very properly taken up, and enquiries instituted as to the manner in which cesspools were kept in the City. As the question of drainage would sooner or later force itself upon the attention of the Council, it struck him that some steps might be taken in the direction of getting what might be called essays on the subject, accompanied by plans and sketches of a systemalic drainage which might be carried out by degrees. As to cesspools, he thought they should be made of brick, properly cemented. Mr Cargill preferred the present system ef surface drainage to anything like an imperfect system of underground drainage, ihe question of cesspools was a very ditLcult one, and one which the Council would have to deal with before long. As a step in the diiectiou aimed at, he would be in favor of sending round dust carts of a morning to collect ordinary rubbish from houses, if the state of the finances would admit of it. 'the Mayor was understood to say tint he would refer to the matter on another occasion. Mr S. Hutch'Nson sent in a claim for L 250, for services rendered in connection with the gas agitation, observing that he considered it very small, especially as tL§ greater part was really money out of pocket. ■Should the Council, he added, be unwilling to acknowledge his services, he must beg them to understand that his oner was without prejudice. —The matter was referred to the Finance Committee.