CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 2842, 28 March 1872, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

At last night’s meeting of the Council there were present the Mayor and all the Councillors, except Mr Winter. TUB LOAM. A letter was read from Messrs Bright, Bros., and Co., with cheque enclosed for L 6,173 14s, being the net proceeds of sixty L10I) debentures sold in Melbourne by that /irm. The debentures sold at prizes averaging from LlO2 5s to LlO5. REPORT. The Reserves Committee, in their report, recommended an answer being sent to the Dunedin Cricket Club, that if liquor be sold in the pavilion (except on special occasions, for which permission must be asked and obtained) the Council will be compelled to effect the removal of the pavilions from off the ground ; and in answer to a letter from the Athletic Club in reference to a charge being made at the forthcoming sports, that the use of the North Duuediu Recreation Reserve was grant-'d on condition that the side gates remained open, and that no charge be made for admission to the ground. The Public Works Committee reported, recommending that the application of the Distillery Company for permission to lay iron pipes through certain streets of the

City, in order to convey water from Mr Logan’s property to the Distillery, be declined ; but, after discussion, the matter was referred back to the Committee. The Finance Committee reported that the sum of LIO,OOO had been remitted to London in order to take up the debentures issued under the authority of the Dunedin Municipal Loan Ordinance, 1802, falling due June Ist, 1872. A tender was received from Oapt. Worsp for L2OOO value 30 years, 7 per cent. City Bonds, at LlO3 12s per LIOO. The committee accepted the tender, the proceeds to be applied in the reduction of the City overdraft at the Union Bank of Australia. MUNICIPAL SUBSIDIES. The Mayor referred to the question of municipal subsidies, and expressed the opinion that something should 1»j done towards securing the establishment of a permanent subsidy in favor of municipalities. There was one way—to endeavor to get the continuance of the system former y adopted of paying pound for pound on the rates collected, but it struck him that that mode was not such a good one as m’gbt be adopted, because it sometimes happened that all the revenue could not be collected during the year; and the subsidy was not paid, while the municipality in anticipation of receiving the full subsidy incurred expenditure over its income. He thought tne better plan would be to make a determined effort to get the Provincial Council to endow municipalities permanently with the various taxes collected within their boundaries—sueh as the publicans, auctioneers, and dog taxes. With a view to having the matter ventilated he had written to the Mayors of the different municipalities in the Province asking them whether they favored the idea of meeting in conference in Dunedin just prior to the assembling of the Provincial Council. During the last two or three days he had met iti town two or the country Mayors, and they entirely concurre I with his vie ws, and stated they would be happy to attend the proposed conference. He had also received favorable replies from others He did not know whether the Council would agree with his views ; but he thought it a step in the right direction. Mr Mercer agreed with his Worship’s action ; and mentioned that twelve months ago he moved in the direction of the Council receiving the dog tax. • THE RECREATION RESERVE. The Mayor mentioned that a deputation from the M U.T.0.0 F. had waited upon him during the week with reference to the northern ground, and explained their wishes. Mr Livingston moved that the whole matter be referred to the reserves committer, Mr Cargill auv no good in referring the matter back to the committee, as all that tie committee c mid do would be to frame a regulation permitting the use of the ground ftp purposes of recreation in such a manner as would not interfere with their use by the public generally ; at the same time reserving the use of them in a way to promote good order. The question of selling the right to admission was altogether beyond the power of the Council; it bad no more right to give permission to charge any c iizen than the right to chai'gc him for walking into bis own house. Mr Barnes was understood to say that he opposed giving the right to charge to anybody. The side gates must be thrown open on all occasions ; and he thought there were as many who would pay at the principal gate as who would not, to witness the sports. CORRESPONDENCE. Messrs Smith and Anderson write in reference to the North Duudein Cemetery Bill, that they were unable to rccomend that His Honor the Superintendent’s suggestion should be acted upon, The Provincial Council having no power whatever to legislate on the matter, the assent of the Governor would be of no avail. To save unnecessary and useless circuity of action it would "therefore be far better to apply to the General Assembly in the first instance. The under-secretary wrote in answer to the Council’s application for prison labor to make a road from the head of Ntefford street through the Town Belt to Mornington, that when the several works agreed to be executed within the city by prison labor are completed, the Government would be prepared to give the matter its most attentive consideration.