CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3884, 5 August 1875, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

A meeting of the City Council took place la«t evening ; present—his Worship the Mayor (Mr H. J. Walter) in the chair, Crs. Leary, Campbell, Woodland, Reeves, Grant, Gibson, Chapman, Brown, Isaac, Roberts, and Molli•on.

The Mato* gave an opening address to the members of Council, first referring to the late fire at Princess's Theatre, at which the Council building had a very narrow escape from fire. Kc must express his great gratitude, as Mayor of the City, to the Fire Brigade, for the prompt action they had taken; and he felt it the more because the members of the Brigade had resolved not to reconsider their decision to resign. He regretted this decision very much, as the late Counoil had always considered the Brigade worthy of support. It would be their duty now to organise a new Brigade, provided no arrangement could be come to with the present Brigade, and to carry out that object it would be necessary for two or three members to consult the insurance agents and gentlemen desirous of forming a new Brigade. He might tell them that it was rumored in town that Mr Reynolds had refused to take charge of the Waterworks Bill. He (the Mayor) immediately telegraphed to Mr Reynolds, who replied that he had just seen the Bill that morning, would be pleased to take charge of it, and do his best to carry out the wishes of the Council. The financial position of the Corporation would not justify any new works being entered upon unless they went into the borrowing market. And while on the subject of borrowiug, he would say it was better far to borrow money and pay annually G per cent, interest and I per cent, sinking fund for thirty years, than be paying 10 per cent, interest on overdraft without extinguishing the debt. Hitherto the metalling of streets had been considered new work, and had been done out of loan ; but for the last year it had been doue out of revenue, which fact had a tendency to show figures on the wrong side if not properly explained. Concerning the departmental expenses of the City Engineer'd department, at his request the City Engineer had prepared a statement which showed that the coat of the department had been only 4 per cent, on the works done during the past twelve months, and, in addition to what the department had to do in the carrying out of these works, there were a great number of reports to be made and inquiries to be answered. The Water Department was managed very economically. and in the Town Clerk’s department he knew how closely the gentlemen employed applied themselves to the work. As to the formation of committees, speaking from experience, he would say that on the Works and Sanitary Committees it was abi-olutely necessary to have a member for each Ward, but he held that it was.not required to be the same in regard to the other committees, and that it would be better to select gentlemen according to their special fitness for the several committees.

The Mayor then retired, and Cr. Woodland took the chair while the salary of his Worship was considered. On the motion of Or. Reeves. it was resolved nem. con. that it be the same as last year—L4oo per annum. The Mayoß then returned and thanked the Council. It was explained that the reason why a large portion of the northern end of the City was not lighted the other night, was owing to some disagreement between the lighting contractor and his lamplighters. It having been remarked that in some establishments within the City there were several hundred tins of kerosene stored, and that a fire breaking out in one of these places would have most serious consequences, it was resolved to make inquiries into the matter. Mr Crawshaw’s claim for compensation for excavating rock met with in the York place cutting, was referred to the new Public Works Committee. The following committees were appointed Legislative—Messrs Chapman, Leary, Reeves, Grant, and Mollison; Sanitary—Messrs Isaac, Brown, Campbell, and the member to be elected for South Ward ; Reserves—Messrs Campbell, Grant, Roberts, and Brown; Weeks —Messrs Woodland, Mollison, Gibson, and Isaac ; Lighting Messrs Campbell, Isaac, Reeves, and Leary; Water Supply—Messrs Gibson, Woodland, Roberts, and Reeves ; Finance—Messrs Reeves, Leary, Isaac, and Roberts. Each committee to appoint its own chairman, except the Works and Finance, of which the Mayor is to be the chairman. Tha Finance Committee reported having passed accounts for payment amounting to L1,56010s 8d; also on Waterworks account, L 205 Os 4d. The report was adopted. The Works Committee recommended “ That the Council call for tenders for metal supply from Union street quarry, the contractor to have the use of the machine and engine, the drivers to be employed by the Council, the committee to arrange any further details.” Also that certain tenders for works had been accepted. THE FIEE BRIGADE. Mr Charles Reid wrote to the Mayor as follows :

With reference to the current reports touching the disbandment of the Dunedin Fire Brigade, I have the honor, on behalf of the Association of Insurance Agents, to submit to your Worship the following circumstances bearing on the position of the Insurance Companies and the Brigade:—lsfc. That, as far as can be ascertained, not more than one-third of the insurable property in Dunedin is at present insured. 2nd. The present low rate of fire premiums was adopted in consequence of the good water supply and existing Brigade; and 3rd. Should the Brigade be disbanded, the Insurance Companies will be obliged to refuse to continue a great number of existing policies, and to considerably increase the rate of premium on such as will be continued. The Association is of opinion that it is the duty of the Council to provide facilities for fire-extinguishing purposes, which, in the interests of the general public, would be available to all, whether insured or not, the cost of which should be defrayed out of the general rates of the City. The Insurance Companies have hitherto contributed towards maintaining the Brigade, and would bo quite willing to continue to do so in moderation, but at present would not be inclined to increase the amount of last year’s contributions. Ti listing your Council will see fit to reconsider the whole question, I nm, &c. ’ Ca. Peeves thought it was a matter for regret that this slight misunderstanding on the part of the Brigade should have arisen, and said

it would b« a calamitous thing for the eitteerp if they did not have a properly organised Brigade. Thvo reeent instances showed them what might have happened had there been no Brigade. He believed no body of men, even if they were paid large salaries, could possibly throw more interest into their duties than the Brigade, and it would be for the committee to consider in the first place whether the misunderstanding that had arisen could not be smoothed over, so that Captain Wain and the able body under him would again resume their work. He would move—“ That with a view to a settlement on a satisfactory basis, if possible, of the present misunderstanding between the Council and the Fire Brigade, a committee consisting of the Mayor, Messrs Leary, Ctmpbell, Woodland, and the mover, confer with Captain Wain and the insurance companies, and report at next sitting of the Council.’”

Cr. Least seconded the motion. He might say that the Brigade had arrived at its resolution in consequence of souse remarks made in this Council about a few paltry accounts. If the Couneil took into consideration the amount of work the Brigade had dene, he thought they should pass a lew small accounts eheerfully. There was an impression abroad that the keeping up of the Fire Brigade was very costly to the Counsil, but figures did not bear out that impression, as the cost for three years was L 693, being L 231 per year, whieh was less than ene-third of a penny in the pound on the annual value of City property. He considered that the Insurance Companies would not lose anything by the Brigade being done away with, as they would raise their rates to meet the altered circumstances. If the Council allowed the Brigade to disband without any great effort, they (the Council) would be deserving of the execration of the public. Cr. Ghant said they should not speak of a new Brigade till they failed to get tne present Brigade to continue. Or. Chapman thought if the Insurance Companies did not see their own interests, it might be as well to consider whether Parliament should not be asked to give municipalities power to levy a small rate on them for the support of Fire Brigades. The motion waa agreed to, after which Cr. Reetbs said he understood that the duty of the committee would be in the first instance to endeavor to make some arrangement with the present Brigade, and, failing that, to jjpport what was better to be dons. The Matob said the few remarks he had made with reference to the Brigade he made because he had consulted some of the most active members of the Brigade, and they told him positively that there was no use in con suiting the Brigade. He was, however, glad that the Council had passed the resolution, and it was possible that they might succeed.