CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3128, 27 February 1873, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of this body was held last evening. There were present —the Mayor (in the chair), Councillors Barnes, Neale, Woodland, Mercer, Walter, Rossbotham, and Ramsay. The following business was transacted : CORRESPONDENCE, The following communications were received Fv.un the Unaer-Secrotary, in answer to the Council’s application to be allowed to erect a urinal on the vacant piece of ground between the University and the Custom House, - intimating that after communicating with the Collector of Customs, the General Government had arrived at the conclusion that it was not desirable to accede to the Corporation’s request.— From the Provincial Under-Secretary, intimating that the Superintendent approved of the scale of fees adopted for the North Dunedin Cemetery : in reference to the proposed closing of the Southern Cemetery, that the Government would introduce an Ordinance to the Provincial Council having that object in view, in order that the matter might then be fully discussed : that the Government accepted the Council’s offer of 1350 for the reduction of Queen street and the adjoining sections —From Mr 11 B Martin, on behalf of the Morningtou residents, urging the necessity of forming a road from the head of Stafford street to Morniugtou. the cost of which was estimated at L2DO, L7O of which was subscribed by the Morningtou Road Board, L7O by the Provincial Government and the residents, and the Council was asked to contribute the remainder. -The trustees of Mrs Cowie wrote asking for compensation for damage done to her property by the reduction ot Pitt street. EXTENSION OE CUMBERLAND .STREET. The Provincial Government forwarded for the Council’s consideration the following letter from the factor of the Presbyterian Church : As the proposed extension of Cumberland street is regarded as a work of public importance, the representatives of the Presbyterian Church will not raise any objection to the undertaking, provided they get equitable compensation for the land of which the new street line will deprive them. Judging from the plan furnished, it appears to me that the piece of land at the corner of High and Gaol streets is scarcely equal in extent to that portion of the church property required for the proposed street ; but if Gaol street is still to be main tabled as a public thoroughfare, the Church would he satisfied to accept this piece in lieu of that they would be required to surrender. I have heard it that it is contemplated tp fetaiu’' u thoroughfare through Gaol street, in ordet to prevent any buildings being immediately adjacent to the Gaol, yet that tin present street will be reduced to siy one-half the existing width. Should such an arrangement or any similar one be c .fried out, we should stipulate that our new boundary be extended to Gaol street, as shown by the clotted line* on the auo?»«4 «lwtcb,

The Mayor said he could not help thinking that the Ghurch Trustees, seeing that they had got a deal of what he called 1 'olonial property gratuitously, and the oublic character of the proposed work, might have given the land for notlr'ng. Ho fancied, if proper representations were made to them on the subject, they would give it up. (Jr. Mercer desired to correct the Mayor. The Church gat its laud in the same way as the Covporation ; it waa originally reserved by the early settlers. Or. Ramsay thought a satisfactory arrangement with the Church Trustees could be come to. THE SOUTHERN RECREATION GROUND. The Provincial Government forwarded for the Council’s information the following letter by Mr R. Stoat, M.P.C. : I have to bring under your notice the state of the ditches around the South Recreation Ground, and also along the Anderson’s Bay road. Formerly it was the duty of the daymen on the road to attend to tire floodgates, and sec that these ditches were kept clear. For some reason or other, no attention has been paid to the ditches, and the consequence is, as I can testify from a personal inspection on Saturday Inst, that the stench arising from stagnant water, etc., in the ditches, is unbearable. I believe that with a small, but judicious, expenditure of public money, this matter might be remedied; and I believe the Board of the District would, if requested, aid the Government to carry out any improvement suggested. I must, however, bring under your notice, and through you the notice of the Government, the fact that the South Recreation Ground is vested in the City Council of Dunedin, and that the Council have, since the reserve was vested in them, taken no moans whatever to make it suitable for recreation. The ditch is left uncleared, and had it not been for the prisoners, the ground would, except the portion cleared by the Cricket Club, have been left in a state of nature. The Government might, I think, fairly ask the City Council to look after the reserve vested in them, and should the City Council refuse to do so, I think it might fairly be asked that an Act should be passed re-vesting the reserve in the Superintendent for the joint benefit of Dunedin, and the townships on the flat, such as Kensington, Forbury, and St. Kilda. REPORTS. The Public Works Committee reported as follows : That in view of the Council undertaking the proposed works at York place and Stuart street, and considering the reserve is unsuitable for the purposes of a recreation ground, the Government be requested to have an Ordinance passed at next session of the Provincial Council, to enable the Corporation to lease said reserve for building purposes. That no action be taken regarding Councillor Barnes’s motion as to calling tenders for Corporation carts ; and that W. N. Blair’s application on behalf of the General Government for permission to erect a temporary fitting-shop in Crawford street south, be complied with during the Couucirs pleasure. The following matters have been oidercd to be attended to. viz. : gravel to be laid at the foot of St. David street, to carry out a previous order; a three-rail fence to be erected along the most dangerous parts of the cutting in Brown street; the approaches to the Bath street Free School to be repaii ed ; extra metal broken by Meade, in Maolaggan street quarry, to be bought at os 3d per yard, delivered. L3O previously ordered for repairs at Dnmbis street Bridge, to be outlayed. Portion of footpath at Royal Terraco to be formed as per previous order. The ditch, at the South Recreation ground, to bo cleaned out in the manner proposed by the Surveyor. A few necessary tools to be got for the Northern Cemetery ; a water-tank for the lodge, and seats for the waiting-room. Replies have been forwarded as under :—To Dr. Richardson, -That the Council cannot, interfere with the drainage of properties at Albany street, between Leith and Clyde streets. Your Committee beg to report having written to Messrs Proudfoot and Oliver, as to the obstruction of Castle street, where the railway line crosses the said street, and intimating that the fence must be removed forthwith. Your Committee has decided to adopt Mr Mimm’s suggestions, as per report, for the prevention of offensive smells arising from the Manure Depot. Your Committee lias accepted Joseph Hindle’s tender (LlB5 14s) for kerbing, channelling, and metalling at Hanover street. No tenders having been lodged for sample footpath »t Jetty street, your Committee has decided not to call for fresh tenders. A special report was made as follows ;

As to letter from the Provincial Government, of the 19th inst., intimating that the Provincial Government would supply labor and material to the value of LI ,500 towards the diversion of Rattray street sewer, provided ouethiid of the sum was paid into the Treasury hy the Corporation, your Committee recommends that the offer of the Government be not accepted, but that the drainage be temporarily directed by City Surveyor. The Otaiju DaU;i Timex Co. have had notice that the Council will take proceedings to prevent their building on the two feet of Rattray street taken possession of some years ago by Government, for the purposes of the drain, which in all likelihood will now require to be diverted. The Mayor thought the letter should not be passed by unnoticed. Mr .Stout’s assertion that the Corporation had done nothing to the ground, was a simple rpia- statement j the Corporation bad spent a good deal of money on it. tie very much doubted whether the reserve would be better looked after if it were in the hands of the .Superintendent, The chief nuisance came from a portion of the drain that was under the control of the Government, He had heard it stated that Mr Stout thought the powers possessed by the Council were too large • possibly this was one of the means by which he would like to have those powers restricted.

Or. Karnes did not care whether Mr Stout or any one else complained ; but the fact was that it was time that something should he done.

The Mayor explained that instructions had been given to have the ditch cleaned immediately : it would have been done earlier, but that the Council was waiting to hear the result of its application to the Provincial Government for assistance.

Cr. Ramsay thought there should be an expression of opinion as to the letter being sent to the Government, and moved its reference to the Works Committee, which was done.

The City Surveyor reported that the expenditure of day labor in the several wards, for the twelve weeks ended February 8, had been; South Ward, LI 19 11 s ; High Ward, L 156 4s 6d ; Bell Ward, L 95 8s ; and Lei'.h Ward, L 86125. That the Rattray street sewer had been that afternoon closed by the workmen of the Daily Time* Company, and that, in accordance with instructions, he had cut a temporary ditch to carry off’ the water in the meantime, but it could not be denended upon to convey very heavy floods. In a report to the Works Committee, he estimated the cost of a diverting sewer in brick at L 350 ; but had since conic to the con elusion that, if the cost of the alteration was to be borne by the Corporation, a blue-gum box stover, properly constructed, would serve present purpose, and w’ould last fifteen or twenty years . estimated expenditure. LI5(1. Auy work that might be done w'oflld necessarily servo only the immediate necessity which exists for providing a sufficient outlet for the Maclaggau street storm water, aud could not form part of a system of drainage of a permanent character.

'I he Reserves Committee recommended that section 30, block 0, be let iu three allotments, viz,, corner of Princes and Stafford streets, and Oliver and Ulph’s premises in one lot; M'Landress, Hepburn, and Co.’s in one lot ; and Wright, Stephenson and Co.’s iu one lot. Mr Core’s valuations of those properties were Wright, Stephenson, and Co.’s, LI, M‘l aniiress, Hepburn, and Co.’3, Li.ppG Hs;’ Oliver and Ulph’s, L7fi,6 10, ; Healey’s shbp, L 544. OK. Ii.AIiKE.-p AX 1) TH E “ Si' AH."’ What was termed a “ memorial,” signed by eleven persons, was handed iu and read as follows;—“Wc the undersignd being presseut at the meeting at the foundry Hotel!. And since there appears an article taxing Oouncelor Barns with statiug to the meeting upon that occasion that Counceler Meil was a Nuisance to the rest of the Connectors and wo conlidiently affirm with truth that Counceler Barns did nothing of the Kind neither did he speak disrespectfull of any person belonging to the Corporation

John Bussell ; Henry Jeffs ; Charles King ; Ed. M'Kewen ; Henry Spears ; Wm. Wihon; And. Lockie; Henry Hawker; George Rogers ; Joseph Hooper ; Joseph Strang.” (Jr. Barnes was glad the “memorial” had been sent in. Since the last meeting of Council, he had sent a letter to the Evening Star, asking it to withdraw the statement it had made, and it refused to do so. It was his intention to take an action against it. CORPORATION BATHS. Mr E. Smith, Factor of the First Church, wrote, in reply to the Council’s inquiry whether the representatives of the First Church would be willing to enter into negotiations with the Council for the sale of the present church and site in Dowling street, that he did not think the Church would be willing to part with the freehold on any terms, even if they could legally do so, which was at present out of their power. When the congregation that now meet in the First Church took possession of their new building, the land in question would be open for leasing, and it was probable there would be no objection to the sale of the building ; but iu the mean time he did not consider it advisable. to enter into any negotiations. STREET TRAMWAYS. The following letter from Mr R. Bare, was read and referred to the Works Committee :

In consequence of an application from Messrs O’Neil, Thomas, and Co., of Wellington, requesting you to grant to them the necessary authority and permission to lay tramways along certain streets in Dunedin, I have the honor to request that your Worship and the City Council will also take into consideration this my application for the construction of street tramways in Dunedin, on an improved principle which will entirely overcome all difficulties arising from grooved rails and flanged-wheels, as now used in connection with tramways in various parts of the world. My improved principle of street tramway ensures the greatest safety to persons travelling thereby, and will not impede the progress, or damage the wheels of vehicles, and by my system, the car can be thrown on or off the line by a simple motion. Should you be pleased to grant me your authority to construct, in terms of the General Tramways Act, 1*72, I should he prepared to lay down a line of tramway within twelve months from the date of receiving permission, and run saloon cars from Princes street south to the "Water of Leith, commencing at the Imperial Hotel, thence along Princes street. George street, Hanover street, and King street, laying down lines if afterwards deemed payable, in other parts of this City. Provided my system were not adopted, I should be prepared to construct the tramway and run cars upon the American principle within eight months. Relative to the advantages to be gained by the Corporation, I cannot offer more than those already offered by Messrs O’Neil, Thomas, and Co., of Wellington, and I beg to state my terms are offered without any prejudice to those gentlemen; and my claims to the consideration of your worshipful Council are simply as follows The great improvement on the old principle of tramways my system possesses, the carrying out the work by means of local capital, and the employment, as far as possible, of local industries in connection with the same. I may he permitted to state that for some time past I have agitated the desirability of forming street tramways in this city, and have received assurance of suppoit from gentlemen willing to embark capital in forwarding the undertaking for forming tramways either by my system (if approved of), or on the American principle. By my system, I would propose that the tramway should occupy the centre of the road, thereby giving a right and left line of traffic for other vehicles. By this plan, loading or discharging of merchandise from business places on the street line will not be interrupted. The roof of the cars will be constructed in a manner which will allow the conveyance of small articles of merchandise. The rates of passenger fares will be considerably less than those now charge*! Should you require any information relative to the construction of tramways, &c., I shall have the honor to afford it, as also working drawings in connection therewith.