CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3812, 13 May 1875, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The following was the principal business transacted at the meeting of this body last night;—

The Government < intimated that prison labor would be available for the reolamation of the old botanical gardens as soon as the Council had completed a third of the work. A long letter was read from Mr Ritchie, asking for delay in the Council erecting gas works until he heard positively whether or not Mr Hankey would sell at a fair value, he having urged his principal to do so. He stated further that, upon inquiry, the Council would find the present works worth negotiating for, and that they could give an efficient supply for many years to come. The Premier wrote explaining how it came about that full issue of L 117,000 worth of CorE oration’s debentures bad been placed upon the icndon market, and said 99 was a good price, when it was considered Dunedin was new as a borrower in that market.

The Council unanimously passed a resolution "viewing with regret” the attempts being made to deprive the Mayor of Dunedin of a seat at the Harbor Board.

Cr Reeves and the Mayor, referring to the Road Beards Conference, said that power to annex suburban districts was only being sought, and could only be carried out on the motion and with the consent of the districts themselves.

The report of the Works Committee, which was adopted, recommended inter alia ; Be the application of Messrs Anderson and Mowatt and other merchants, for permission to lay down a horse-tramway along certain streets at the south end of the city, your Committee is of opinion that the public inconvenience which the tramways would cause would far outweigh any public advantage which it might fairly be supposed would accrue through any saving to the City funds in tiie shape of street maintenance, the cost of which would be reduced per annum, owing to the traffic being diverted to the tramways. The applicants, should, however, offer an annual rental for the tramway concession •ought to be obtained. The Reserves Committee recommended • “ That with regard to leasing the Southern Market Reserve for building purposes, power be sought to grant building leases for 21 years. Thefollowingreoommendationsof the Finance Committee were agreed to “ That, as the police are taking steps with regard to the suppression of sly-grog selling within the City, the services of the revenue-officer, Mr Shera, be dispensed with as no longer necessary, Mul that Mr Shera receive one month’s notice to this effect. That Mr Hawkins’ old account for L 26 5a for land transfer business performed by him be not paid, but that the former offer of the Council, viz., L1312s in full, be adhered to. This decision has been arrived at after hearing all available explanations.” In consequence of the Corporation offices having been closed on St. George’s Day by the Mayor’s order, the Finance Committee recommended that no saints’ or fast days should be observed. _ This clause was referred back to the committee, the feeling of the Council seeming to be that the Corporation should observe the same holidays as the Provincial Government offices.