CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3622, 1 October 1874, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Last night’s meeting was attended by the Mayor, Couucillors Beck, Carroll, Woodland, Reeves, Grant, Gibson, Isaac, Mercer, Prosser, Walter, and Fish. The principal business transacted was the following ; Messrs Gibbs and Clayton reported that in consequence of insufficient drainage accommodation their premises had been flooded, their machinery was stopped, and great damage was done. Messrs Guthrie and Larnach wrote, complaining that great damage bad done at their Staud.ard Ironworks, and requesting that immediate steps be taken to remedy the flooding. Messrs Asher and (’o. wrete to the eff ct that their engine-house was flooded and machinery stopped, and claim-d for losses. Mr liealey claimed Lls damages, caused through his cellar being flo >ded by the water oveifl .wing in Stafford street. All the complaints were referred to the Finance Committee. Messrs Bate and Findlay wrote, offering to lay down atr unway from Princes street south to Great King street north, dt siring a lease for twenty-one years, leaving the sum they should pay the Corporation to be an «pen question. They would have the tramways <aid down and completed in six months from time of commencement. .Referred to a Special Committee. 1 he Works Committee recommended that tenders be called for the new Fire Brigade building so soon as the Govemim-nt s.ttle the particulars of the new site ; also, that the present brigade building, witli tanks and urinals unjoining, be sold for removal so soon as the now premises shall have been erected for the Brigade. The Committee having finally considered the tenders f.r the stone crushers, aud also the various offers to indent, had resolved to accept the offer of Mr Brown, of Melbourne West, to imports Hape stone-crusher, his price—i 310, delivered free on board at Melb mrne—being the lowest, and provided a screen be supplied with the machine. The tender of John Thomas— Cl 17 9a 2d kerbing and channelling in Great K .ng street, had been accepted. The Finance Committee reported that the employment of a second watchman on the Bell sower is desirable; the one to relieve the other in the middle if the night; but that the different insurance companies should pay the salary of any second man ; the com mittee did not recommend the Council should pay- the salaries of two watchmen. The committee further reported that no blame attaches to 6. West, the Corporatism watchman. in connection with the late fire at Messrs Guthrie and Lamach’s. As to the suggestion or the appointment of two Beveuue offi ers, the committee recommended that one Revenue officer should be iu the exclusive service of the Council, and that the person to be appointed might also act as I own Belt K anger and Col ector of Dog aud Theatrical Registration Fees. Re the appointment of au additional clerk in the town Clerk’s department, the committee recommends that appications be invited for the office in the usual way, ralary to be at the rate of 1-150 per annum, for say, the fir.-t year, and that the clerk to be appointed -'hall assist generally in toe office work under thediectiou of the Town Clerk. The report was adapted, with the amendment that the advertisement for the assistant be not published for a fortnight. A statement by the Town ' lerk was read during the discussion which took place on the r port. The Town Clerk in it recommended that an energetio young man be engaged, and against the appointment t f a City T.ea-urer.

Several letters on the subject of widening Princes street were read. The Reserves Committee reported that Messrs Guthrie ami Larnach declined to name any sum as compensation, but preferred to leave the matter to arbitration. The opinion of the Council appeared to be that the Rase of Messrs Guthrie and Larnach should be allowed to lapse, and that ihe Council should decline to a• to arbitration on ihe matter. On Cr. Fisa’s motion i was r-solved that Mr Laruach should be written to, to the effect that iu the meantime the Council did not intend to widen tha" portion of Princes street South. Che Council consi the app ications for the position of b th-ki-eper, and appointed •John Allan to the office, v\ith a salary of L 125 per annum, conditionally on his entire time 1 being placed at the dispos 1 of the Council-the appointment to be subject to such terms as to the details of the duties «f the i ffice as may hereafter be arranged with the sub-committee.

Among miscellaneous matters, it was resolved to write to the Government, asking that a gang of prisoners might be employed to prevent the encroachment of the Water of Leith ; a letter was read from Mr Genever, gas engineer, stating that the machinery of the gas works was n .w in first-class order ; thao the demand could be met, and submitting an analysis showing that the ga-j supplied was superior to London gas ; aud it was agreed to enter into no fresh bus ness after 10 p.m. Cr. Beck’s morion to bind the speeches of Councillors to five minutes was negatived—his being the only voice ia its favor.