CITY COUNCIL.
Wednesday, November 12. THE WATERWORKS QUESTION. The communication from the Secretaiy of the Waterworks Company, a copy of which was published in yesterday’s issue, was discussed at some length by the meeting held last night. After reviewing the various propositions set forth in the letter, Councillor Walter suggested that the Council should stick to its offer already made to the Company. So far as he was concerned, lie was not anxious for the erection of new works, provided always they could get the present works upon anything like equitable terms. He was still willing to give LI 6 per share for them if the Company were inclined to accept of it. That was a very fair price for the property. It was taking np the new issue and paying LO upon these shares also. He thought the public proposed to act generously towards the Company, and he could not see what was necessary to be referred to arbitration. If making an offer of 10 per cent, upon property amounting to such a large sum was not dealing in a fair and liberal spirit, then he did not know what it was. Had the Corporation been differently disposed, the majority of the shares might have been secured at a probable sum of LlO. If one or two capitalists had combined together for the purpose of buying up the shares and acting as agents for the Corporation, they would have had the works by this time. He was glad to think that no member of the Corporation would think of submitting the question to arbitration. He thought it was only right that the matter should now be settled one way or another. As a Corporation they were possessed of certain powers, and it was time for them to make use of these powers. He had visited the spot indicated by Mr Barr, civil engineer, in his report, and in his (Mr Walter’s) estimation a better site could not be fixed upon. It was at least 300 ft above the level of the present reservoir, and not only would it supply the City, but if necessary they could carry the supply still further on.
Crs. Kekvkh and Ramsav both spoke in a similar strain. They had voted that the price for the Company’s shares should be LIG, which they now thought was in excess of the value of the property. They both condemned the proposal for arbitration, (!r. Pkosskk proposed—“ That the matter be referred to the Waterworks Committee for their consideration.” Something would, he thought, be gained by allowing a lapse of time before further action was taken in the matter. The Directors of the Company had not acted in a proper spirit. Or. Pauses seconded the motion. This matter had been going on so long that he thought it should now bo settled. The iMayok was much pleased to hear the Councillors discuss the question in so calm and deliberate a manner, He had bean a share-
holder in the Waterworks Company for three years, and thought LIC per share was quite enough. The Council would have sufficient money to buy the works without exceeding their borrowing powers. They were bound to look after the interest of the citizens, and he thought it would be sufficient to let the Directors know the Council did not consider it necessary to have arbitration on the subject. The motion was put aud carried. NEW SCHOOL.
A letter was read from the legal advisers of the Hoard, Messrs Smith and Anderson, stating that the Council had no power to part with the fee-dmple of any laud for educational purposes, bur that they could lease a piece of land at a nominal rental if they chose to do so. After discussion the letter was referred to the Reserves Committee. RESERVES COMMITTEE. The Reserves Committee reported in reference to Mr (Simpson’s (sexton) application for temporary assistance in order to improve the Southern Cemetery, that they had declined to comply with his request, and had replied that the Council expected him to have a competent man constantly employed at the two cemeteries, PUBLIC WORKS. The Works Committee reported inter alia that the following tenders had been accepted G. Munro (LB3), for taking down weighbridge in Crawford street and erecting it in Great King street; D. MTntyre (L(l3 (is Sd), for supplying and spreading 200 yards of metal on Castle street, between St. Andrew street and Bell Ward; Mrs Craig’s (LI 10s), for cutting and removing the grass on the North Recreation Ground for six months ; Joseph Hindle (L 2451 for kerbiny and channelling in Howe street, from George street to Leith street.—The City Surveyor has been instructed to call the attention of the quarrymen engaged in blasting stone on the Town Belt to the danger to which patients in the Lunatic Asylum are occasionally exposed from the operations carried t on at the quarry in the vicinity of that institutions.—That LSO be laid out by day labor in forming and metalling street lines adjacent to Messrs Driver, Stewart, and Co’s new wool stores.—As to Cr. Reeves’s motion re watering streets, the committee find that it is impossible to have the watering of the streets in the City completed by 8 a.m.—The following matters were recommended to lie over Mrs Calvert’s claim for compensation for damage to her property in connection with the reduction of Queen street; Cr. Reeves’s motion for improvements at Queen street from Forth place to Duke street; and the memorial from ratepayers in Leith Ward re a third bridge across the Water of Leith to the new Botanical Gardens. The report, with some slight alterations, was adopted, MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS. Cr. Prosser moved—“ That all quarter-acre sections be numbered consecutively, commencing in Princes street south and proceeding north—thence through the parallel streets—thence through the cross or other streets. That every single house on any quarter-acre section shall have its proper number affixed thereon—that where there is any more than one house on any such section, each house must have its sectional number and a distinctive letter (as section No. 1 and section No. la. section No. 1b). That all houses north of Stuart street shall have the letter N affixed under a distinctive number, and that those south of the same the letter S. That the numbering shall proceed from south to north and from east to west, or as near thereto as possible.”—The motion was referred to the Finance Committee. Cr. Prosser called attention to the bad quality of the gas provided recently by the Gas Works, and moved—“ That the Town Clerk be authorised to write to the Company, asking them when they would be in a position to supply good gas.” A motion by Cr. Beck, that arrangements be made with the Corporation contractor for a man and a horse to be located at the Brigade Station, between nine o’clock p.m. and five o’clock a.m., was also referred to the Finance Committee.
After some further business, chiefly of a formal nature, had been transacted, the meeting adjourned.
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Evening Star, Issue 3349, 13 November 1873, Page 2
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1,176CITY COUNCIL. Evening Star, Issue 3349, 13 November 1873, Page 2
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