CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3598, 3 September 1874, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the City Counoil was held last night; present—the Mayr.r, Ors. Barnes, Beck, Carroll, Fish, Gibson, Grant, Isaac, Mercer, Prosser, Reeves, Walter, and Woodland. THE WIDENING OF PRINCES STREET, Correspondence was read from lessees on the Manse ard Corporation Reserves, expressing their willingness to submit to valuation, but some of them conditionally as to the appointing of valuators, and also that the work be done promptly. Messrs Guthrie and anach and Mr Haworth, who had been written to since the fire, exprjssed their willingness to move back. The resolution of the Council was to widen only as far as Police street, but since the fire too' 1, place) the Mayor, at the suggestion of some Conn cillors, wrote to Messrs Guthrie and Larnach and Mr Haworth. Referred to the Reserves Committee. THE WATERWORKS COMPANY. The Secretary to the Waterworks Company wrote stating that a considerable portion of the shareholders had not yet replied to the circular asking whether they would take debentures or cash ; but intimation had been given of the intention to take L 50,000 in debentures and LLO.OOO.in cash. Referred to the Finance Committee, THE LATE MAYOR. The Mayor reminded the Council that the late Council, as a mark of appreciation of the services rendered by the then Mayor, Mr Mercer, had resolved that an addr«ss be presented to him for the manner in which he had discharged the duties of his office. The address was as follows : “TolAndrew Mercer, Esq., Mayor of the City of Dunedin. “Dear Sir,-We, the Councillors of the City of Dunedin who have held office during the terra of your Mayoralty, desire to record and to express to you our appreciation of the courteous manner in which you have uniformly discharged the duties appertaining to the office of Mayor of this City, “ A*- the Council board your decisions have been at all times impartial, and your bearing as Chairman has been considerate to councillors. As a consequence, your rulings have been implicitly and invariably obeyed. “Many City improvements have been recently carried ont, but it is especially a matter of congratulation that, during your term of office, arrangements bare been concluded for the transfer of the Dunedin Waterworks to the Corporation. “ As regards the general public, the testimony is universal that during your Mayoralty yon have been accessible to all, and we are glad that at this juncture your old constituency, the ratepayers of High Ward, have done you the compliment of returning you as one of the representatives of the Ward in the new Council.” [Here followed the signatures of all the members of the late Council ] He had very much pleasure in carrying out the wishes of the late Council in the matter of presenting Mr Mercer with the address. Mr Mercer replied that he was very proud to receive the address, and more especially so because of his associations with the City for the past twenty-six years, PUBLIC WORKS The Public Works Committee reported ; As to letter from Provincial Government asking Council to give employment to immigrants, that fifteen or twenty be employed at North Cemetery Road at 7s per day. That the request contained in the memorial from Grange street residents, asking that the street may be repaired, nothing having been done since it was handed over to the Corporation three years ago, be complied with. As to clause of Surveyor’s report i stimating cost of placipg road from Regent road to Town Belt in proper order at LSQ to L6O, that the necessary work of metalling the road be proceeded with. As to clause regarding Mr James Morrison’s claim for compensation for damages in York place, that Ll6 be paid hlte. Mtetfn Sorrow wd Ct»,’s a'ppli&tiob

for permission to erect chimney-stack on reclaimed land has been agreed to. The SurVvyor has, with tho c indur. ence of your Committee, arranged with vjr Campbell for payment to him of the sum or LSO for the removal of the pound from St. David street to site on Towi Belt; this payment to cover any claims Mr Campbell may have in respect to the cancellation of his unfinished contract lor the erection of the poilud at St. David street It was resolved not to employ immigrants, and the other clans is were then adopted A clause recommending an offer to Messrs Browm Ewing, and Co. for ton feet of land at the junction of Manse and Princes streets, was referred back to the Committee. FINANCE The Finance Committee reported :—The amount paid for d y labor dining the last fortnight—L3oo odd—appearing very heavy, your Committee has instructed the Surveyor to prepare a return showing the cause of the employment of so many men, with a view, if possible of substituting contract work where practicable. Your Committee has passed for payment, accounts as per warrants attached, amounting to L 1,233 Us 8d Cr. Pish commented upon the impolicy of having so much day labor, and siid there was no reason why the bulk of this work should not be done by contract. The Mayor said the increase was only eleven on the ordinary staff, and he did not consider the large amount of day labor so alarming an increase ss might be inferred from the remarks of Cr. Pish. The report was adopted, with the exception of the clause referring to the employment of day labor, which was referr d to t 'e Public Works Committee for consideration. RKSKKVES. The Reserves Committee reported As to the application by tae Provincial Government for a change in the proposed site for a Museum, that the Council endeavor to make arrangements with the Govornmeat with a view to granting them the us a of portion of block XXIX (Chinamen’s garden) for a site. As to Mr Burton’s letter re dairies in the City, that power be obtained in the new Municipal Act to deal with this and kindred matters. As to the application by the Government for use of ground in Maitland street on which to erect cottages jfor the immigrants, that a reply be sent that it is the intention of the Corporation to offer the land for le ise by auction shortly. The report was adopted. INCOME AND OUTLAY. Tim following statement of present ordinary income and outlay of the Corporation under date September 1 was laid on the table : Income.—Kents (for next year), LB.OOO ; Licensing Act fees, L 3 , 10 0; auctioneers, L4OO ; sundry licenses, L3OO ; building fees. L 25 0; town hawkeia and market, LIBO ; dogs and goats, L 350 ; theatres, Ll2O ; fines from R. M. Court, LltlQ ; country coaches and drays, L 10 0; country hawkers, L2O • rates, 15J. L 9.400. Total. L 22.220. * Outlay.—lnterest, L 5.268; sinking fund, one per cent,_L7B7 ; street lighting. L2 800 ; law costs, L2JO ; assessor, L 20 0; advertising, 1.450 ; printing and stationery, 1,250; mam road, Ll,500; day labor maintenance, L 2.00 0; salaries (including gardener), L 3 550; salary of offi.er in charge of P’ . 8., engine, Ll5O ; salary watchman, LIOO ; contingencies, fcay, 1400 ; necessary for maintenance metal, L 750 ; available for new works, or to pay interest on a new loan L3,7t>5. Total, L 22.220. 1 orporation indebtedness at present date. L 79.000. ’ MISCELLANEOUS. An application from the residents in the North-east Valley for the Council to make a footpath along that part of the main road within the Town Belt, was referred to the Works Committee. Mr James Wilson wrote, stating that he had a claim for compensation on the Waterworks t ompany, which that company had not made known to the City Council. He was recommended to pros acute his claim upon the Waterworks Company before the works are transferred to the Council on the Ist January next. A letter from Mr Hocken, Coroner, enclosing the rider of the jury at the inquiry at the late fire, was referred to the Finance Committee; the same Committee also to inquire into the truth of the rumors of the fare being »;en for some time prior to the ringing of the bell. It was reported that a nuisance existed at the Railway Station, and that an in'.imation had been made that if it were not abated a summons would issue. An application from the General Govern* ment, requesting permission to erect wood and iron stables at the Railway Station on the reclaimed laud, was referred to the Works Committee.

A complaiut from ratepayers in Maclaggau street of the bad drainage in that locality, aud a memorial from forty residents m High street, were referred to the Works Committee. The butchers and stall-holders in the Octagon Market protested against the allowing of meat to be hawked round town, mentioning among other reasons, that there was no check as to whether the meat sold was wholesome or not. Referred to the Byelaws Committee. A memorial from property-owners in Lon* don street was read, informing the City Council that, in the opinion of the memorialists, London street, at its present level, is utterly unfit for traffic ; aud recommending if the street is to be permanently formed, that the gradient be uniform from the top of Albert street to Victoria street, from Victoria street to Scotland street, and from Constitution street to George street; but that, until the permanent level of the street has been fixed, bo unnecessary expenditure should bo incurred. Deferred till the adjourned meeting. At 11.30 p.m. the Council adjourned to Wednesday next, at 7 p.m.