CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3379, 18 December 1873, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Yesterday’s Council meeting was attended by the Mayor, Councillors Barnes, Beck, Ramsay, Prosser, and Walter. The following was among the business transacted: Mr M, W. Hawkins sent in an account of L2(i ss, for services rendered to the Corporation as valuator. A letter was received from Mr H. S, Fish, jun, stating that during his Mayoralty it became necessary to have a sworn valuator appointed for the City, and he applied to Mr Hawkins, who agreed to do the work for ten or twelve guineas. Subsequently Mr Fish and the Town Clerk waited upon Mr Main in reference to this matter, and while at the office Mr Hawkins arrived. His recollection was that all three left together, and while in the hall he said to Mr Hawkins, “ Now, you understand about L 10,” referring to his previous conversation with him. Mr Hawkins replied, ‘■All right, I understand.” Mr Hawkins in his letter stated that no arrangement whatever was made for his charge, and that the words “ from ten to twelve guineas” were never used by Mr Fish in his presence, or by himself in this matter. The Town Clerk said that as Mr Fish, Mr Hawkins, and ho came out of Mr Main’s office, inside the Post Office hall, he heard the first-named gentleman say to Mr Hawkins, “Your charge is to bo about ten guineas,” to which he replied, “All right, I understand you.” —The Mayor said Mr Massey could confirm the statement made by Mr Fish in reference to his being present on this occasion. —Or. Ramsay moved— “ That Mr Hawkins be paid Ll2 12s, and no more and (T. Walter moved as an amendment-“ That the matter be referred back to the Finance Committee, with power to act.” The motion was carried by the Mayor’s casting vote, Cr. Barnes’s motion “that Dowling street be fixed upon as the new Town Hall site,” was opposed by Crs Prosser and Woodland, who urged thatit would bo unfair to absent councillors to discuss the question. A motion for delay was carried by the casting vote of the Mayor, a? was a motion for delaying, for the same reason, a decision as to uniting the Supreme Court with the proposed Town Hall.

The Works Committee recommended inter alia., that tenders be invited for supplying tin> water-carts, horses, and drivers, for watering streets for a, period of four mouths, the Committee being of opinion that using the hose, as at present, seriously damages the streets. —That the roadway referred to in memorial under date November 2(5, 1873, from residents in Canongate, be sufficiently metalled, and a bank of earth, containing 700 or 800 yards, removed and tilled in, to widen the street, at an estimated cost of LOO. -That three brick urinals he erected at the following places -One at Princes street south, at the junction of Manor Place ; one at the cutting, Princes street; one near the Black Bull Hotel, George street. That tenders be called for their construction. —That an application be forwarded to the Government, requesting that a small portion of land at the comer of the Hospital Reserve may he granted as a site for a urinal. That stand-pipes be erected throughout the City, at the following prices : One at Princes street south ; one at the corner of the White Horse Hotel, George street; one at Jetty street, opposite the premises of Messrs R Wilson and Co. ; one at Octagon ; one at High street, near the Arcade ; one at Great King street, at the comer of Union street; one at Maclaggan street, at the corner of Messrs North an.d Scoullar’s premises ; one in the vicinity of the Railway Station.- On Or. Barnes's motion, it was decided to call for separate tenders for urinals in brick and iron. The following motions moved by Cr. Prosser were carried:--A bye-law for numbering houses ; and that the Council should meet at 7 p.m. in future, Cr. Walter tendered his resignation as a member of the Works and Reserves Committees. The matter was ordered to stand over till next meeting, which takes place throe weeks hence.