CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3610, 17 September 1874, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The regular monthly meeting of the City Council last night was attended by the Mayor and all the Councillors. A goad deal of business was transacted, the following being the principal:— On Or Fish’s motion-" That, in order to ensure the fa cure permanent works of the City being carried on in a systematic manner, the purveyor be instructed to prepare, without delay, a detailed statement of what works are required to place the City streets, pathways etc., in a permanent state ; the works in each Ward being kept separate, and the statement to be accompanied with a detailed estimate of the cost of each work, the cost of kerbing being kept separate,” Or. Prosser called attention to the fact that in Janua y the Surveyor had been instructed to prepare a similar statement; to which the mover replied that it was necessary that immediate action should be taken, as it was his intention, if the motion were carried to propose that L20,0()l> should be borrowed. He was against voting equal mms to the various Wards, in some of which the works would prove reproductive. Bis idea was that the {Surveyor should increase his staff, and that their principal works should be done during the summer months. It was urged by Councillors Prosser and and Reeves that the ISurveyor should be iustrncted to bring up the report ordered in January ; and the last-mentioned contended that the motion was a slur on the Council, as it in effect said the Council had conducted i t business in the reverse of a systematic manner, while he was not aware that such had been case. Cr. Fish then explained the difference between his resolution and that adopted on the 15th January. He would take leave to say that, for six years, the works of the Council had not been carried on ►ystemaiicaliy. Of corns i he was willing to take his share of tho responsibility.—Several amendments were pr >- i osed, but negatived ; and the motion was ultimately carried. Letters were read from the Under-Socre-tery stating that the site of the Pelichet Bay Baths and the end of the Rattray street training wall, selected for baths by the Corporation, had passed from the Government into the hands of the Harbor Beard. ~ A discussion took place on the UnderSecretary’s application for permission to erect an office for Inspector Cairns on the Corporation section near the Fire Brigade station. Cr. Fish complained of the Government erecting the building before obtaming the necessary permission from the Council, but moved that temporary permission should be granted Several Councillors urged that the rights of the Council should be enforced, and Hr. ISAACS’ motion, "that the building be removed,'’ was carried. In answer to Cr. Barron’s question—" If any, and what - tops have been taken towards surveying and recording a system of permanent street levels binding on the City Council and for any deviation from which they will be responsible the Mayor replied that he was not aware that any stvps had been taken to recognise a permanent level. If the Council bad dona so, they would not have been able to carry on the extensive works in Dowling street and other places. 6 Or. Gibson’s motion—" That all the manuka scrub at present growing on that portion of the Town Belt between the upper part of Forth place and the township of M arrayville be forthwith cleared away”— was referred to the Reserves Committee. The Under-Secretary wrote informing the Council that the various matters referred to at their recent interview with the Suparintendeut had been under the consideration of the Government. With regard to the widening of Princes street, the Government could not see its way to comply with their request. The services of a prison gang would be placed at the disposal of the Corporation for a limited time towards the embankment of the Water of Leith, The Government was unable to render any assistance towards the pitching of High and Rattray streets. The use of the dredge for deepening the Pelichet Bay Baths would depend upon the time which was likely to be occupied with the work. The result of an estimate of the cost would shortly be communicated to the Council.

Reports from several committees were r® ad ■ ! — Tb ® F-nance Committee reported that too Town Clerk had been instructed to reply to the letter from the. Dunedin Waterworks Company, re Mr J R. Morris’s appointment as valuator for waterworks purposes—that the Council had been advised to make its own appointment of valuator, and that steps would be taken in the matter shortly. They recommended the Council to suggest that Mr Lumb’s present appointment as Revenue Officer be cancelled, but that he be at liberty to re-apply for the office along with other applicants. They further recommended that the premiums on the guarantee bonds given by the Corporation officers be paid by the Council. The Reserves Committee recommended that the Superintendent be replied to that the Council respectfully declines to accede to the proposal for the erection of concrete cottages on the Corporation reserves for the use of immigrants ; that the Provincial Government be offered one acre of the reserve known as the Chinamen’s garden for a Museum site, on condition that the Government undertake to lay out the ground for recreation purposes. The Public Works Committee reported that the Surveyor had been instructed to prepare an estimate of the cost f, oDdoa * tr ?> et iH a Permanent levei, that Messrs T, Robinson and Co.’s offer to supply a Hope stone-crusher for the sum of L 335 be accepted, &c. o u Cr JI AAO u B , J motion -“ T hat the meetings should be bdd at 3 p.m.,” was supported by Crs. Fish, Mercer, Walter, Carroll, and Reeves, and opposed byC’rs. Beck, Prosser («rho contended that the field of selection of Councillors would be narrowed if the hoots of meeting were altered), Woodland, Barron. Want, and Ujbaan, Ihe votes being e^uaj

the Mayor gave his dating rote with the uoes, saying that he did uot feel justified in voting f <r the change, as from the arguments used it would prove inconvenient to several Councillors if agreed to. i miscellaneous matters was a letter from Mr A. Mowat, stating that he 71.>K Prepared to acoe P t from the Corporation L42S as compensation fer 33ft of his present holding in Princes street, the Corporation to form the street and make good the footpaths as at present. It the Council thought the price excessive, he was agreeable to Rave it so arbitration. Messrs R. and T. Haworth wrottf stating that they would give laud 33ft to Princes street south at valuation, or take L4OO Mr David James requested employ, ment as Sanitary Commissioner. Me had had considerable experience in Scotland and other places, and enclosed testimonials. A memorial was received from eighteen residents in the North-east Valley, requesting the removal of the pound. Mr G. Adams wrote stating that he would require L3OO as compensation for 33ft frontage to Piinees street. Messrs Smith and Anderson, re Princes street widening, stated that two of the Church Trustees were absent, and their signatures would shortly be obtained.