CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3045, 21 November 1872, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting was held last evening. Mr Bamsay, in the absence of the Mayor, presided. All the other councillors were present, councillor iurnes and a contractor. Mr Barnes said he wished to make a complaint against one of the contractors working for the Corporation At the last meeting of the Works Committee, when that body passed accounts, he objected to one of them ; and it appeared that by some means the contractor to whom ho had then referred had learned all about the matter, lu consequence he (Mr Barnes) had been sbbjectcd to a good deal of abuse, although, as the Mayor could bear him out were that gentleman present, he (Mr Barnes) had only done his duty Tim Council, he thought, ought to take notice of such conduct on the part of a contractor, At any rate, he intended to mo.c that no tender of the contractor alluded to be accepted for twelve months. Such a course was often adopted in other places, and if pursued by the Council it would teach people that they could not abuse councillors with impunity, merely because they did their duty. It was suggested that the matter should be considered in Committee. THE LIGHTING. Mr Neale considered the present a fitting opportunity to call attention to the indifferent manner in which the city was lighted. At the present time the lighting was almost unbearable, Mr Barnes : We cannot interfere with the private lighting. Mr Neale : But it is in reference to the lighting of the public lamps. Mr Thoneman : If the gas is bad in one place it is so in another. Mr Barnes explained that last night was the first time the lamps had been lit for six nights, and therefore they could not pretend to speak of the illumination of the streets during several previous evenings. He was aware, however, that some of the shopkeepers bad been making complaints regarding the quality of the gas, and he had told them that the Corporation could not interfere with the private lighting ; that, in fact, they could not interfere so long as the lamps were properly lighted. The Council had incurred expense in obtaining the means of testing the quality of the gas; but as had been "the case with regard to many other matters, the apparatus had been allowed to lie idle, and the money spent upon it might just as well have bon otherwise deal with, and so prevented the interest on it being looked up. The Town Clerk was instructed to communicate with Mr Larnaoh.

'i 11H daymen's wages. The two daymen employed by the Corporation asked that tiieir wages might be increased by la per day, on the following grounds : —The increased demand in the labor market; because there would be a good dual of time lost in consequence of the forthcoming holidays ; and also because most of them having large families, they could not afford to lose time, The matter was referred to the Works Committee, but not with power to act, UEI’OUT. The Public Works report dealt with the following With reference to the proposed opening up of the road from Kensington to the Ocean Beach, the Committee, recognising the importance of the work to the citizens, recommended that in the event of the road being shortly completed, the Council should for in so much thereof as was situate within the City, including the Town Belt. The Committee’s attention having been directed to the continued damage occasioned to the asphalt and other footpaths by persons laying down drain pipe--, or by carting over them, they recommended that in future all persons requiring to lay down pipes under footpaths that had been kerbed or asphalted, be required to pay a sum of J Us, to defray cost of carefully cutting the kerb stone, and of reinstating the footpath. That a sum of os be paid in ail casts of carting over footpaths the same to cover the expense of reinstating the street. COACH STANDS. Mr Baunks moved that the temporary permission to Cobb and Co. and Mr Vcend, the one for a coach stand in Princes street, the other for one in Manse street, be withdrawn. He said that the scenes that went on at the corner of Princes and High streets of a morning were disgraceful. Ladies going by the coaches were caught hold of and pulled about shamefully. .Steps ought to be taken to prevent a repetition of such conduct. Mr Thoneman had heard no complaints, and therefore did not sec why the permission (riven should be rescinded. 'I o speak plainly, the motion seemed like a piece of spite, Mr Wai.teu supported Mr Barnes motion on the broad principle of doing that which was right and proper. It was ridiculous for a member of the Council to say they were actuated by spite. Where did it lie ? Probably in that gentleman's feitilc imagination.

When a nuisance existed, the Council should endeavor to remove it. It really appeared that applications of this kind carried with them a sort of terror to the minds of some people, and Air Mercer : No insinuations should be made.

Mr Walter had no hesitation in stating that it did appear to be convenient sometimes for people not to sec things. Mr Russbotiiam had heard no complaints from any quarter except from Mr Barnes. When tiie citizens brought the matter forward as a grievance it would be time to move iu it.

Mr Barkis said it would bo too late then. He was surprised to hear Councillor Mercer say that there had been very little annoyance, seeing that he was an eye witness of everything that transpired. Mr Mercer rose to a point of order. He was not, like Mr Barnes, always poking his nose into everything. (Laughter.) He (Mr Mercer) was above it. He could say that for some time back there had been no disturbance whatever. Mr Bar.' ns repeated that Air Alercer had seen what he had stated, and he thought suoh things ought not to be winked at. The moduli was carried. THE RATTRAY STREET SEWER. A letter was received from the Provincial Secretary’s Office, stating that the Government had no intention of expending LIOOO da the Rattray street sewer, seeing that the Council had declined to contribute or assist in its extension, as proposed in the letter of the Cndcr-Secretary of Ist July. MISCELLANEOUS, On Air Barnes’s motion, LOO was voted to form and gravel Cumberland street from Union street to Dumbs street ; and Mr Woodland called attention to the condition of Hanover street.