CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3092, 16 January 1873, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

At last night’s meeting, there were present the Mayor, Councillors Mercer, Thoneman, Barnes, Walter, Rossbothara, and Woodland. The following was the principal portion of the business transacted : THE CITY CEMETERIES. The Reserves Committee reported, in reference to these, recommending that interments in the Southern Cemetery should immediately cease, except as regarded ground already sold, and that the Governmein; should be asked to take any necessary steps to that end ; that the Northern Cemetery i e announced as open for interments, selection of allotments for purchase to be allowed within certain blocks only as the Committee might recommend, notice to be given to the representatives of the various religious denominations accordingly. The fees to be the same as for the -Southern Cemetery. That the sexton of the Southern Cemetery (A. Muir) take charge of the Northern Cemetery and act under the direction of the Committee and Surveyor; also that applications be called for the office of sexton of the Southern CJeipetery, at a salary at-.the rate of L 75 a-year.

THE CITY VALUATIONS. The same Committee reported having considered Mr Gore’s last valuation of City properties, and recommended that the following reductions should be made therefrom, viz. Mr Mercer’s shop and buildings, valued at L3lB 18-s to be L 25 0; Mr Jacob’s shop, "valued at L 74 10s, to be LSO ; Mr Esquilant’s shop, valued at L 54, to be L 3 5; printing shop. High street, valued at 1,60, tube LSO ; and that the remaining properties stand as valued by Mr Gore. 'J he committee further recommended that the parties now occupying section 18. blo.k 15, Stuart street, the-lease of which has for some timo expired, be charged weekly rentals at the rate of 11 per foot frontage to Stuart street per annum from January, 1873, this arrangement to he a temporary one, pending a settlement of details as to extension of Cumberland street, south of Stuart street, and closing up of Gaol street. The committee also recommended that Messrs Inglia and Co.’s request for an extension of the term of their tenancy of section 18, block 16, be declined ; that the valuation of stationer’s on section 17, block 16. as already decided, be adhered to; at d that the valuation for Mr Bannatyne’s hotel, section 17, block 16, L 250 be adheied to. Councillor Walter said the Council would be aware that they had reserved to themselves the right of acce2)ting or alt “ring the valuations made; a d that they had already acted in that manner. In one batch of valuations they had taken advantage of that light, and had reduced the valuation, being influenced by the necessity for the fixing of a price that would admit of the unsubstantial buildings on some sections being replaced by substantial ones. ISo objection had. been made to those reductions; and he hoptd none would be made now. He moved the adoption of the repo it. After a pause, . Councillor Woodland seconded the motion.

Councillor Thoneman wished instances bad been given where reductions had been made, as he was not aware of them. In any case, he thought if any reductions were effected they were unfair, because the occupiers of the sections had he n asked before hand to agree to a valuation which was to be abided by. Councillor Walter denied that such was the case, and the Town Clerk read the circular letter of September 13, which stated distinctly that the Council declined to be bound by any of the valuations so made. Councillor Thoneman considered the letter bore out what he had stated : the Corporation asked the occupiers to agree to the valuer’s valuation. He thought it very arbitrary that one or tw r o members of the Council should maintain right and left most of the valuations, and pounce on one or two, and reduce their valuation.

Councillor Walter called Cr. Thoueman to order, for saving that the committee had pounced on any case. If that councillor had acquainted himself with the facts he would have known that what was being done now had been done previously. Why then did counpillors wait till now to object ? Councillor Thoneman only asked for information, . The Mayor said he had intended to give it, but should not have addressed himself to the question had it not been for the disgraceful remarks which appeared that morning in one of tho daily papers—remarks which he had no hesitation in saying no respectable journal in any portion of the British dominions would have inserted, and which, applying to himself particularly, had beep referred to another person for investigation. Hie report, however, which this miserable newspaper had inserted, led the public and those

of the councillors who were not aware of the 1 facts, to believe that Mercer's corner—and in .speaking on this subject he would have of noces-ity to be somewhat personal—had been picked out from amongthe various Corporation tenants by the members of the Reserves Committee, and himself as its Chairman. to make an onslaught on it. Anyone who knew the case, or had taken the trouble to inquire into the circumstances, wnuld know that the statement made in the Daily Times was as base and groundless as it was contemptible in its nature. At their la'-t meeting the Heserves Committee had under their consideration a series of valuaiions—the second batch made by Mr Gore and among them were some comprising the block known as Bannatyne’s Sussex Hotel, and adjacent premises. The hotel, if he, did not mistake, was valued at from L3*2o to 1.1130. Now. it was one of that class of buildings which, if purchased by an incoming tenant, must of necessity be pulled down, so that the building would only be really worth so much as would be represented by the amount which it would fetch as oki material. In that particular case the Committee thinking that the old material would j not be worth anything like the red uced price, j and considering it to he their duty, in the interests of the citizens, to get as large a price as possible, which a high valuation would not allow of, recommended the Corporation at its last meeting to reduce the valuation ; and that recommendation the Council adopted, Councillor Mercer heiuj present. Councillor Merger said that throughout he had ca efully ab-tained from taking part in any of the discussions relative to these leases ; but had ho known of the reductions he would have objected to them, as he dis approved of the principle The Mayor bad only stated the fact. If he objected to the principle he should have urged his objection before. He (the Mayor) wished to point out what would be the result if the Council did not act with extreme care in dealing with this matter. Thcfe was an 1 instance in Oliver and Ulph’s property next to the Council Chamber, on which, through fixing a high valuation on the buddings, persons were utterly debarred from bidding, and the Corporation lost from LSO to L6O a year rent, which for twenty-one years reckoning iirercst and compound interest, was a serious item. In acting as they had done—and he said it fearlessly—every member of toe Reserves Committee was actuated by the purest motives, and merely with a regard to the best interests of the citzens. Why then were the committee charged in this villainous statement with singling out one man and letting oft auothei’. when the exact reverse was the fact, as had been shown-in that a similar course to the present was adopted in regard to Banuatyne buildings and those adjoining? Then let them consider the merits of the case under discussion. The Corporation valuator valued Mr Mercer’s building at L3lB. The Reserves Committee considered the matter in the s »ma light as they did Bannatyne’a sections. -And what was Mercer’s building ? No person purchasing the ground would use it in any shape or form. It was a‘“shanty.” neither more nor less, with patched roof, old-fashioned windows, and ricketty stairca'cs. He did not think the Council or any one could fairly say that the building, if pul ed down would fetch anything like ld()0. The committee therefore thought it would he dealing peifectly fairly with Mr Mercer and with the Council, if it did in tide case the same as it did in Bannatyue’s ; and reduced the valuation to L 250. He did not think for a moment that any unprejudiced person would say it was too little. He stated this for a fact: when it became known that Mr Gore’s valuation of Mr Mercer’s premises was L3lB, a tenant of the Corporation-on the opposite corner said, “ I shall he very glad if the valuator comes to value me inthesame way when it is my turn. ” JSexttoMr Mercers was Mr Jacobs’s shop, which everyoneknew to be worthless as a building, except for its plate-glass windows. The Committee so considered it, and therefore reduced the valuation in exactly the same way as they did the other places. At all events, they acted with the strictest impartiality, and without the slightest desire to do inju.vt ce to •anyone ; and if there had been any error at all. it was one of judgment. But the inueudoes in that shameful rag - (laughter) - the Daily Times, went further. The paragraph went on to sfate that the valuation on Mr Hyman’s property was maintained. The fact was, as might have been easily ascertained, that Mr Hyman had not owned the buildings for some years ; they were Mr George v ‘Lean’s. But it was necessary to show that the Mayor had, put of hia well-known friendship for his friend Mr Hyman, used his influence with the Committee in that gentleman’s behalf, and against Mr Mercer. The paragraph had, ho doubt, misled hundreds of his fe’low citizens ; and it i effected not only < n himself, but on every: member of the Reserves Committee. That bugbear removed, he proceeded. The Committee considered Harrop and Neill’s and Hart’s shops to be constructed in such a manner, and to be in such good r* pair that they would last for some time, and for that simple reason did not reduce the valuation ; and for the same reason did not interfere with Bing, Harr s, and Co.’s valuation. There was another phase of the case to be taken. Complaints had all along been cropping up about this section. When the original valuation was made of L 6 or Lfi 10s a foot, it was complained that it was too high, and the Committee reduced it to L 5 10s; and as the rule applied in the one case against the interest of the Corporation, so in the oth r it should apply against that of the individual affected. He hoped the matter would be considered im. artiallly. Mr Ross.hotj.iam considered that as Mr Gore had bl en app anted valuator, because of his competence for the work, his valuations should be adhered to, and he moved accordingly. Mr Mercer said when his premises were built, tea years ago, they were the best in Dunedin, and cost LIOOO, the foundations alone costing L4OO, and the latter, with the exception of a portion of Caversham stone, which would have to be replaced, would last 100 years. He had a legal opinion on the subject, and it yet might be a very serious matter f r the Corporation. 'I hey were departing from the original intention of the leases, which was that full valuation was to be given in the event of there being an i • coming tenant. What was the use of levying high cents, and placing a millstone round the necks of the purchasers, the consequence of which would be that in a few years the Corporation would be asked to relieve the latter from their obligations. “ Live and let live ” was his motto, only wanted to be dealt with fairly. Mr Barnes defended the action of the Committee, and expressed surprise at its p oceedin.s leaking out. Councillor Thoneman wanted the matter referred back to the committee, but found nobody to second his proposition. Alter some further discus don a vote was taken as fallows For the adoption of the valuator’s valuation. Ayes Messrs Rossbotham, Thoneman, and Mercer, Against —Messrs Woodland, Barnes, and Walter. The Mayor gave his casting vote with the noes. The report was therefore adopted.

THE RIVAL COACHES. Messrs Chaplin and Co. sent in a letter, applying for permission to use their booking office as a coach-stand, and the application was termed by Mr Barnes as playing at “ ducks and drakes ” with the Council. The Mayor understood that Chaplin and Co. did not wish to apt in defiance of the Council’s wishes. So far as the law at present stood, there was nothing to prevent ihem from starting from the place mentioned, as the Couiicil werfe aware in a case decided in the Court the other day it had been decided that the bye-law under which Chaplin and Co. were proceeded against for using this stand was inoperative, as the Council had not passed it properly ; consequently there

vaa no stand for “borough stage coacne*. Mr Barnes : Then the Corporation have no ii/hi to interfere with the Cayersbam 'buses, ,r with the City cabs, if ■un outside the Town Belt, wnirfn I hopg ;hey will do. They need only ouM icensefor the North-E»St Valley. ikin, but need',not run there. Tbs- wIa«WJ loped the cabmen would not [James’s advice, as they stilkvtfe svithin the prescribed sp&be of hve tvliich the Council had jurisdiction, but tne > ye-law did not meet borough stage coaches, which travelled beyond the five miles, the fault was the solicitor’s; but the Corporation could, no doubt, if it is so wished, pass i bye-law to “meet the case. Mr Rossbotham moved that permission be granted ; and Mr Barnes gave notice if it wens, he would each morning drive down his buggy to the stand to stay there. The voting being equal, the Mayor gave his casting., vote with the ayes. In giving his vote, he said when the case first cropped up a temporary permission was given to use the stand now applied for, which was only used for about a month, as the permission was revoked by the Council during his (the Mayor’s) absence from town. He did not think that sufficient time bad elapsed to enable persons to form a proper estimate of whether the stand was a nuisance or not; and for the sake 'of consistency, if for no other reason, be felt bound to vote as he did. Mr Walter said it did not take twelve months to find out what was a nuisance ; that could sometimes be ascertained in an hour. He knew this stand bad been considered a nuisance; and further, that when Mr Reid had the temerity to complain of its being so, he was severely talked to by several persons interested, THE RATTItAY STREET SEWER, On a letter being read from Messrs Macassey, Holnms, and < baptnan, on behalf of the Daily Times Company, threatening to stop up the Rattray street sewer, opposite their new premises, if it were hot, diverted with n two days, the Mayor said the matter had been referred to the City Solicitors for an opinion, FIRE BRIGADE EXPENSES. The Fire Brigade sent m accounts for the month, amounting to L2l 78) of which L 8 odd was for repairs to plant by Chapliu and Co. This was objected to by Mr Barnes, who complained that the work had been ordered to be sent to Chaplin and < o. by the Mayor, without reference fo the Council. The Mayor explained fotyt the plant had been sent by Captain Wain to Chaplin and to. before he spoke to him on the subject; when having been assured by the captain that the work was absolutely necessary, he ordered that it should be done. Mr Barnes also objected to one of the items charged, viz*, for the first horse with hose reel at the lust tire ; stating that he .was..present, and could declare that the reel was brought to the tire by men. The accounts were referred to the Finance Committee.

THE city valuator. Mr J. P, Millar wrote resigning his appointment as City Valuator, aud intimating that he would merely complete the notices for Bell Ward which he had served.—Councillor Mercer regretted the misunderstanding that had taken place between the Mayor and Mr Millar; and thought if the latter were written to he w©u d continue act. The Mayor said Mr Millar had positively declined to do so. He (the Mayor) had done all that an honorable man could do to remove the impression that his previous remarks had created.—Mr Fenwick fiifi appointed valuator in Mr Millar s stead. reports.

The Finance Committee reported as follows :—Fire Brigade accounts, recommending that the existing regulation providing for rewards to horses supplied to the Brigade os any occasion of a fire, be rescinded, and that in future the amount to be paid be proportionate to the time, <Sc,, during. Which the horses may be empl 'yed : such amounts amounts to be in the recommeudationof the captain of the Brigade. That the amount annually subscribed by different insurance companies to the « 'ouncil, in aid of the the cost of maintaining the Brigade (L 160) is inadequate, and that the companies should be applied to for an increased annual subsidy. As to the letter from the Government re Mr Lumb’s salary: that a reply bad been sent to the effect, that if itbefound necessary to employ anyone to perform Mr Lumb’s duties as? revenue officer, one of the Council’s present officers could be told off for the duty, espedaily so, as portion of Mr Lumb’s time is engaged outside tne City bounds. Letter from the Government, asking the Council to pay a second time for land situate between Princes street reserve and allotments as otiginally laid off at the west side of Bond st-eet: that the committee has replied,.that evidently the Government must be ,-pnder some misapprehension, as the Council’s certificate of title clearly shows that the land ni question has already been purchased; and conveyed to the Dunedin Corpora ion. After discussion, it was agreed that the sum to be paid to the first horse atatire should not exceed 40s. The poition of the referring to insurance companies contribution was referred back to the committee, with instructions to bring up a report as to the annual cost of the Brigade. The Public Works Committee reported m reference to a memorial asking for an ext uston of hours for removal of rubbish from private premises that the request be declined. As to a proposal to re-aaju.-.t the lamp-posts of the City: that the proposal is not practicable, and that 25 new street lamps be provided ami distributed in terms of Councillor Ramsay’s mot ou, which was before the t ouncil at its last race Tug; that in future cases in which crossings are sanctioned, a rebate of 2s per li eal foot be allowed iu respect of any 12-inch kerbiug, which may have been previously laid down aud paid for, abutting such crossing. With regard to a letter from the Government relative to the reduction of Queen street, iu order to provide material for the completion of Castle street, that the Council soould offer to pay the Government a lump sum of L 250 for the reduction of Queen street to its permanent level, as laid down by the City Surveyor, for a. distance of ten and a half-chains north of Bitt street; the Government also to te iuce the municipal section I, block 25, to its permanent level. On the Surveyor's report, which detailed the work that had been done by his department, being read, Councillor Barnes took exception to the employment of the day men in decorating the head-quarters drill shed for the citizens bad to the Governor, and inquired by whose directions they bad- been so employed ? 'lhe Mayor: The time of the men has been kept separate; and the account sent into the ball committee, who will pay it. The reason the daymen did the work was that they could do what was required much better than strangers. I ordered them to do it; and would do so again. Mr Barnes : Then I state plainly you had no right do so.