CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 4118, 9 May 1876, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held to-day. Present; The ‘Mayor (in the chair). Councillors Campbell, Grant, Mollison, Quick, Reeves, Isaac, Woodland, Roberts, and Brown. Mr J. R. Morris, City Valuator, requested to. be authorised with the necessary instructions to value the City property. The Council agreed to instruct him accordingly. Messrs Sievwright and Stout wrote that there was a claim by the trustees of the late Mr John M‘6lashan for riparian rights still nr paid. :,The Waterworks Company’s offer of L3OO was refused, and no settlement had since been arrived'at. The communication was referred to the Waterworks Committee.

Mr Sew Hoy offered to lease the site of the Manure Depot for a market garden. His offer was referred to the Reserves Committee.

■ A memorial was read from several rate-payers-in High and Maclaggan streets, protesting against further expenditure in Upper Maclaggan street. Referred to the Works Committee.

A long schedule, showing the offices held by servants in the Corporation employ, their salaries, etc., was laid on the table at the Council’s request. A TOWN HALL. - The Public Works Committee recommended inter alia :— Ee the Town Hall.—As to the matter of site, that CoTmcii should decide, the committee being divided on this subject. That competitive designs from architects be invited, the building to urovide approximately the accommodation shown in’tho accompanying schedule submitted, and the following premiums offered, viz : First, L2OO j second, L 150; third, LIOO. The main hall to seat 2,000 including gallery. Successful competitor not necessarily to be the architect for the building. Should he he appointed architect, the pi emmm to merge into his commission. That no further alterations be made to the present offices. Be Tramways: The committee is decidedly of opinion that a system of tramways should be undertaken in Dunedin, and recommends —That proposals be invited from persona willing to assume the position of “ tramway promoters" under the Tramways Act. The tramway to run from the water of Leith to the South Recreation Ground via Great King, Albany, George, and Princes streets, subject to such conditions as may hereafter bo adopted by the committee, the promoters to state their proposals in their own way.

Cr. Reeves moved that the site decided upon by the previous Council -the Octagon —be the site for the new Town Hall. Cr. Isaac moved, as an amendment, that the site in Dowling street be the one selected for the Town Hall, After discussion, Cr, Isaac withdrew his amendment, in order to enable Cr. Ltary to move that the whole subject of the Town Hall he referred to a Special meeting to he convened by the Mayor, r. Deary’s amendment was unanimously agreed to. It was resolved that consideration of the tramway question should be deferred till the same meeting. The other committees reported as follows :

The Gas Committee reported The Committee recommended: (1.) That in future gas be only supplied in connection with services laid hy gasfitters duly authorised by your Committee. (2.) That in future the Council shall pay the cost of all gas services from the main to the building line. Any cost beyond tho building line to fall upon the consumer. (3.) Mr David Proudtoot’s tender for supply of coals for the ensuing twelve months has been accepted at the following prices, viz., 36s 6d Ser ton delivered as at present, and 34s 6d per ton elivered by a railway siding. The Sanitary Committee reported :—Your committee begs to report—(l) That Mr M Kenzie. the depot-keeper’s, offer to surrender hia lease of the manure depot for the sum jf Ll5O, has Been accepted, provided ho leave tne ground in proper order and quit it in (say) a month. The old depot to be closed as regards nighimen’s business forthwith. In the meantime dry, inoffensive rubbish to be taken to the old depot as usual. Operations have been commenced at the new depot ou Mr Cnaplin’s laud, Anderson's Bay district. The Reserves Committee reported : That the Provincial Government bo offered half-an-acre of jh® Octagon Market Reserve, abutting the Normal School, as a play-ground for that school ; also the sections required for a play-grouud at the Albany street School; provided the Government hand over to the Corporation, iu exchange, all the laud lately applied for by the Corporation fer gas business purposes, and bounded by the Port railway, Castlo street, and the municipal sections 41 and 47, block

1, Quays Reserve. (2.) It has been resolved to bold Mr Brenchley liable for rent from the date of sale in regard to his leasehold Wharves Reserve, in terms'- of the conditions. (S.) Arrangements a - e being made for leasing the plots of land at the corner of Jetty and Princes streets, and also at the corner of Princes and Police streets.

It was agreed to refer back clause 1 to the committee for further consideration. The Finance Committee recommends that the small accounts for law accounts incurred, by Messrs Marsden, Scanlan, and auotber in connection with the-proposed widening of Princes street south be paid by the Council.