CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1974, 22 June 1880, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, June 21. The usual weekly mooting of the Council was hold at 7 p.m. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs Taylor, Gapes, King, Bishop, Vincent, Oherrill, Cuff, Thomson, Ayers, England, Hulbort, and Lambert. The receipts for the week wore stated as being £519 13s 6d, the overdraft at the Bank being £4610 10a 3d. Accounts to the amount of £4Bl 7a 3d were passed for paymont. In reply to Cr. Taylor, Cr. Gapes said that the subject of the improvements on the Lincoln road had not come up before the works committee sinco it camo before the Council, and as the committee had been ordered not to go on with any new works the subject had not been considered by the works oommittoe. As regarded the ditch spoken of by Or. Taylor, it belonged to tho Drainage Board.

Cr. King said the matter would have every attontion paid to it if the proposition to bo made by the works committee were granted. Cr. Ayers asked what answer had been sont to the Tramway Company respecting the concession as to the opening of Lower High street down to tho East Town bolt.

The Mayor said the matter was still in abeyance. Or. Cherrill asked whether any copies of the Bill spoken of in tho House of Representatives as giving larger powers to local bodies and boroughs, had reached the Council. The Mayor replied in the negative. A copy of Mr Hutchinson's Bill had been Bent to the city solicitor, who reported that there was nothing in it repugnant to the amendments proposed by the City Council in the Municipal Corporations Act. Il reply to Or. Cuff, Tho City Surveyor said that the Lincoln road would require lowering, as the Tramway Company were going to lay their line on it by September. Unless this was done the road would be very dangerous, because tho traffic would be diverted on to the sides. It was resolved to requast the surveyor to report upon the cost of levelling tho road. Or. England asked whether tho fire brigade committee were aware of Mr Stevens' Bill to rate the citizens Id in tho £ for fire prevention purposes. He wished to find out where the pressure came from. Or. Taylor, as chairman of the fire brigade committee, said he knew nothing of it until he saw it in the paper that morning. The Mayor said he was very much surprised to find that Mr Stevens had not stated before leaving that ho had such a Bill in his hands.

A letter, sigued by twelve residents, was read, asking that a lamp might be placed at the corner of Selwyn street and the Lincoln road.

Cr. Grapes said the lighting committee had no funds at their disposal to do this work, though there was a great necessity for it. Cr. Taylor moved—" That the sum bo voted for the erection of a lamp as requested." Or. England seconded the motion. Or. Thomson thought it would bo bettor for the lighting committee to bring ud a report, showing what lights wore required throughout the whole city, and not pieoemeal, as now proposed. Ho would move as an amendment—" That the works committee bring up a report upon the lighting of the whole city." At this stage, the Mayor stated that the motion being one for a money vote, required notice of motion to be given. Cr. Taylor gave the required notice.

A letter was read from the secretary of the Local Board of Health, stating that the ohairman had been authorised to take action with regard to Mr Paddy, under the Public Health Act.

The Mayor said he was about to appear in a new character, Mr Paddy having summoned him for having overcharged him 6s 6d for emptying hie nightsoil pans. [daughter.] He* had now before him a letter from Mr Paddy, asking that the Council would not press him for the balance of his rates until October when he would receive his remittances from home. [Laughter.] The request of Mr Paddy for the holding over of the rates was declined with thanks. A letter was read from Mr W. R. Mitchell, asking permission, on behalf of the committee of the Masonic ball to be held on Thursday next, to place an awning over the footpath. The request was granted.

A letter was read from Mr W. Hoßkins, asking for the patronage of the Council for the last time at hia benefit on Tuesday, the 29th inst., at the Theatre Boyal. Cr. Thomson said that he would move "That the patronage be given," as Mr Hoskins had always shown himself ready to assist any good work.

Cr. Gapes seconded the motion. Ore. Gherrill, Hulbert and Ayers supported the motion. After some discussion the motion wa3 carried unanimously. A letter was read from the Town Clerk, Bunedin, stating that the sub-committee of the Council had reported in favor of cortain amendments in the draft Bill re Hospitals and Charitable Aid, and had also requested their members to support the same. The surveyor's report was read as follows :

1. Messrs Harman and Stevens desire to have the Council's permission to make a right of way 12ft. wide through block No. 13 in the southeast ward. The right of way is not intended for frontages, but merely to be used to obtain access to the backs of the sections abutting on it. There is nothing in the Municipal Act to prevent the Council granting this, provided it i 3 made in accordance 'with the wishes of the Council. 2. On Friday last two charges of dyHamite were exploded in the Victoria street deep well, but a flow of water was not obtained. After the first explosion the rods wore put down, and it was found the well was not at all deepened, and after the second explosion the rods were again put down, but got entangled in something at about 25ft. from the bottom, and in trying to draw them up again the rods broke, leaving about 20ft. of rod in the well, consequently the well cannot now be utilised. It has been suggested to burßt the pipes at the upper water bearing strata with another charge, but this would be very unadvisable, as I find from the levels which I have taken that it would cause the water in the tank to sink to and stand at a lower level, which would render it useless for the principal purpose for which it is required, namely, street watering. 3. Mr J. L. Wilson has written to the works committee to Bettle his contract, and the committee recommend that he be paid his percentage, and that his deposit be forfeited in consequence of the non-completion of the contract. 4. The works committee recommend that .£IO,OOO should be borrowed to complete the channelling in private and public streets, and repay the deficiency caused by such work being paid for out of tho general account. Tho first clause waa referred to the works committee to report upon. Or. King suggested on the second clause that a second well should be sunk near the one which had been tried.

In reply to Or. Lambert, The Surveyor said that the coat cf tho experiment up to the present had boon £IOO.

On clause 3, Cr. Gapes stated in answer to Cr. Thomson, that there had been a delay in the delivery of tho metal caueod by the excessive demand made upon tho contractor mare than he could be expected to fulfil. Cr. Thomson pointed out that this was opposed to tho outcome of tho report, because the works committee now asked them, while Baying that the contractor had not been able to fulfil the contract, to forfeit the deposit. He would movo—" That the deposit be returned as well as the per centago." Cr. Gapes seconded tho motion. Cr. King was of opinion that the deposit of Mr Wilson should bo returned, as he thought , he had been asked to do what he could not carry out.

I In reply to Or. Taylor, The Surveyor said that they had had to pay 4i a yard more on 7000 yards through Mr Wilson not keeping up to time. He might also say that the works committee had paid Mr Wilson 3s 6d per yard, though his contract was for 3s 43. Or. England moved —" That the deposit be forfeited." Or. Xing seconded the motion. The Mayor and Cr. Cuff supported the resolution of Or. England, on the ground of it being necessary not to establish so dangerous a precedent. The motion of Cr. Thomson was put, and lost, only Ors. Thomson, Gapes, and flulberfc voting for it. The resolution of Or. England was put and agreed to. Cr. Gapes was proceeding to discuss the last clause in the surveyor's report, when Cr. Thomson called the Mayor's attention to the fact that the matter could not be discussed that evening, aa it was a money vote. His Worship ruled with Cr. Thomson, and Or. G-apes gave notice of motion for next meeting. The report of the [lnspector of Nuisances was road. Ho recommended the channelling of Victoria market, and also the re-engage-ment of the two Bweopers who had been discharged.

It was resolved that the Inspector be requested to take steps to compel the occupants of the market to keep their premises clean. Tho Council further declined to re-engage the two sweepers, as recommended by the Inspector. The report of the reserves' committee was read and adopted, and the committee authorised to rent tho Geraldine reserve under the Municipal Corporations Act. Tho report of the sanitary committee as to the conference with the Local Board of Health wa3 read, giving the details of the same, which appear elsswhere. Cr. Hulbert moved—" That the Council meet the Board of Health in conference on Tuesday, as requested." Cr. Oherrill seconded the motion.

After a lengthy discussion the motion was agreed to, 3 p.m. being the time fixed for the conference.

Cr. Taylor then moved—" That the Council go into committee at the close of tho gene/al business to consider what course they should pursue at tho conference." Cr. Lambert seconded the motion, which was negatived on the voices.

Or. Toylor brought up the report of the finance committee, asking that the committee should have power to make arrangements, subject to the sanction of the Council, for the yearly account of the Council. It was agreed to leave the matter in the hands of tho finance committee, to report next week.

Cr. Ayers moved—" That this Council take into consideration tho letter of the Tramway Company with regard to tho opening up of the Lower High street line to the East town belt, and decide the same on its merits." Some discussion ensued, and ultimately, on the suggestion of Or. Oherrill, it wbb resolved that the matter be referred to the works committoe, with a request to report at next meeting. A letter was read from Mr Milne, asking the Council to reconsider the decision arrived at in taking away his driver's license. It was resolved to decline the application. A similar application was received from Mr A. Walker, but was declined. Cr. Thomson moved —"That the works oommittee be requested to bring up a plan showing all tho existing lamps in the city, and where thoy recommend others to be placed." Cr. Ayers seconded the motion, which was carried.

Cr. Gapes gave notice of motion—" That the finance committee take the necessary steps to obtain a loan of £IO,OOO for the purpose of completing the concrete channelling of all the streets of the oity." The Council then adjourned.