CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3094, 18 January 1873, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The following business was also transacted at Wednesday evening's meeting THE CEMETERY BO AD. The Kensington Load Board wrote, asking that they might continue to move, under direction, surface earth from the Town Belt, near the Cemetery road, by which they said a dangerous projection would be removed. Councillor Barnes strongly condemned the removal of the earth, as it placed in danger the Cemetery hill; and asked by what right the Mayor had given permission for the work to b.e done without the authority of the Council. The Mayor explained that the application from the Kensington Road Board was sent into the office, and as a matter of course was referred to him. He enquired from the City Surveyor if any danger was likely to result, and was informed none whatever; where: upon he gave permission. He had himself visited the g ound, and his opinion was that no possible harm could result ; but, on the contrary, good would be effected, as what was a dangerous, bank would have its face s'oped. The City Surveyor also reported that no harm would be done, Besiies, it was a public work, and he conceived the Council should endeavor to assist other public bodies. Mr Barnes : I repeat that the work is positively dangerous, and either tfte Mayor or I is telling a falsehood, The Mayor said ftp did pot contradict Mr Barnes; he only stated Ms individual opinion, after haying seen the work. Mr Barnes t The Mayor has no more power than 1 have to grant this permission, and 1 should -ike to ask by what right public property is thus disposed of. The matter was referred to the Works Committee. THE LATE COACH ACCIDENTr Councillor Barnes moved his motion, that the in pector of carriages should be direct- efto sice ihat all horses in carriages aud coaches plying in the City should use breeching.' The following letter from the City Solicitors was read

In reply to yotir letter of the Bth inst., we beg to state that, in our opinion, the Council has no power to pass bye-laws affecting any other than the two classes of passenger vehicles defined iff section 2, part schedule XIII., of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1867-4.*., vehicles plying and wholly within “theprescribed space.,,.. The answer to your second question depends, in our opinion, upon whether a passenger vehicle drawn by horses without breeching can properly be said to be “in a condition unfit for public use.” That of course would be a question to be determined upon tlu> balance of { skilled evidence. In view of the probable contrariety of skilled opinions upon that point, we would recommend the passing of a special byelaw (if deemed desirable), making the use of breeching for vehicles plying within the prescribed space compulsory. Councillor Rosshotham disputed the right i of the Council to interfere : they might just ! as well order that a man should wear a cer- ! tain kind of coat. The matter was referred I to the Bye-laws Committee. DRAINAGE. The consideration of Councillor Barnes’s motion, that LIS,QUO should be borrowed to carry out a rystem of drainage, work to be commenced before winter with St. Andrew, Frederick, Stuart, and Walker streets, was postponed. THE WATERWORKS COMPANY. The Mayor mentioned that, owing to a technicality, the Council had to ask the Com pany to agree to an extension of the tim* of the purchase ; but no answer had yet been received, though be believed the directors, or a m . jority of them, were prepared to recommend the shareholders, at their meeting ou the 7th prox., to grant the extension. There was no doubt a conti a;t had been made, and it could not be honorably rece.ied from ; indeed he did not think it would be. Messrs Thoneman and Mekckr men ’ tinned that the Company was making fresh calls.