CITY COUNOIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3455, 19 March 1874, Page 2

CITY COUNOIL.

The following was the principal business transacted at last night’s Council meeting : Ihe Normal School Situ. — On the letter from the Superintendent (published by us last night) being read. Councillor Barnes moved, in order that the matter might be settled, that the piece of ground at the Octagon be given over- as a freehold in exchange for the site of the Fire Brigade station.—Councillor Prosser said the late resolution of the Council must be rescinded first, and that notice must be given. This was the more necessary as two councillors were absent. —Councillor Ramsay observed that the matter had now assumed a different shape, and the Council had a perfect right to consider whether they should accede or not to the terms proposed by the Superintendent.Councillor Bart pointed out that if something were not done quickly, the vote for the normal school lapsed. The matter should he at once settled, and no disputes left to 'he settled at the expiration of a 21 years’ lease. —Councillor Prosser did not like to part with the fee simple of the Octagon site, arid would rather give a lease of it, and receive from the Government a lease of the Fire Brigade reserve.—Councillor Reeves Would like to meet the Government, but the Council were trustees for the citizens, and should not part with any ©f the ground that had been given for the benefit of the City.— Councillor Walter said that; since the Council had gone the length of offering a 21 years’ lease with the prospect of a renewal, he thought it would be better to accede to the request of the Government. He was induced to agree to it on account of the liberal manner in which the Council had been treated by the Government.' - , Committees. —The following recommendations by the several committees were adopted: —The salary of the Sexton of the Northern Cemetery to be raised to L 125 a year, with the free use of the cemetery lodge. Jn contracts involving an expenditure, r over LI, 000, a clause to be inserted in the conditiol'® of contract, providing that in the case of the death or insolvency of a contractor, the bondmen should be called upon to complete the work.

Urqent Works. —On Councillor Prosser’s motion it was resolved that upon the representation of any Councillor to .the Surveyor that tho footpaths require gravelling or metal crossings making across any street ho be empowered to get the work proceeded with without any unnecessary delay., and.that for these purposes the sum ef LjOO be allocated for each Ward, ",

The Overdraft. -A letter was read from the manager of the Union Bank, s&yinglhat a general advance in the rate of interest having taken place in November. last and again on March 2nd, he had to advance the rate named for the Corporation overt!raft/in bis letter of January 25th‘, 1873, which would be continued to the 2nd pf June next, sifter which, he proposed that the irate originally agreed Upon should be resumed, linlosa in the interval achange took place in the market value of money. This Igtter was reTerrtsd'tq the Finance Conmpttge. . , *• 1 ' :Waterworks—A letter'was read from the Secretary to the Waterworks Company, saying that wh©a they 'WfeVe in a position to do so, they would furnish the Council with a copy of the Bill under which they proposed to raise further capital. I t was resolved to ask the Company how Jong-it would be before the copy of the Bill could be supplied.

Branch Post Office,— A letter was r4d 8 Private Secretary,-saying that Mr Vogel would be glad: to le*rn that the Corporation had set apart a site for a branch post office : in Dunedin North." On the motion of Mr Reeves, it waa decided'to inform Mr Vogel that his request ©Suld hot be complied with.

Appointments. -In committee, Mr M. 0. Creagh was elected to the office of Town Clerks Assistant. There'were forty appliC « tS ’ en fy Valpy was appointed office youth. For this office there were six applicants. For the post of messenger there Ippoiutef tW " *F? licantß, John was