LAST NIGHT'S COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 123, 27 May 1870, Page 2

LAST NIGHT'S COUNCIL.

- — r-o — — Leave was granted to the Provincial Solicitor to bring in a Bill to amend the Patent Slip Act. The question of granting exemption from tolls to ministers of religion, and vehicle^, carrying her Majesty's mails was referred to a Se[ect Committee. Mr O'Conor asked the Provincial Secretary whether the Government was . aware that the contractors for providing stone for the works at Westport were not proceeding with them according to specification; whether the Government intended to cancel the • contract; and whether the Government were aware when accepting the tender that "the contractors were not likely to complete the work specified ? Some discussion then ensued as to the propriety of the last question, some of. the', members being of opinion that it was a direct insult to the Government. The Provincial Secretary thought that the question was*an objectionable one but at the same time he was willing to reply to it. With regard to the two first he would say that the Government were ay/are that the works were not beiug carried out as they should be, and that therefore they had cancelled the contract. The best reply to the last query would be found in the telegrams which he held in his hand, and which were as follows: Four lowest tenders Eaton and Winter, ss. IOd.; Eugene O'Conor, 63. Bd.; Courtney, 6s. 9d. ; G. Miller, 7s. per yard. (Signed) Dobson. The reply from the Government was — "Accept lowest tender if satisfied with contractors," to which Mr. Dobson answered "Lowest safest of four." In reply to a question from Mr. Macmahon, the Provincial Secretary stated that the Eugene O'Conor mentioned in the telegram was the member who had just put the questions. Mr. Collins moved the second reading of the Board of Works Debenture Bill and, in doing so, said that the matter was one of the highest importance, and he hoped to induce the Council to take the same view of the matter as himself. The object of the Bill was to enable the Board of Works to obtain a loau of £4000 for drainage purposes, such expenditure beiug required most urgently at the present moment in Hardy-street which was a perfect pest I spot and must be productive of zymotic

diseases which, if obce tbey broke "out, would not ba confined to that particular spot, but would soon spread though the whole town, and thu3 Nelson would be deprived of the prestige she enjoyed of being one of the healthiest towns in New Zealand. The Bill simply sought to allow the people to tax themselves for health purposes, and he considered that if the Council refused to pass it they would be laying themselves open to blame, not only from their contemporaries, but from posterity. The ratepayers were only asked to contribute a very small sum, for even if "the whole sura were borrowed at once, which was by no means necessary or probable, they would only have to pay aa extra half-/arthing in the pound on the value of assessed property, and even this would be annually reduced by one twentieth, as it was proposed to pay off the principal iv twenty years, a sinking fund "for that purpose to be raised bya special rate on the properties in those streets which were specially benefited by the sewer. Nelson had already taken the lead of other towns with her waterworks, and he hoped to see her do the same in providing efficient draiuage. This proposed work had an advantage over the waterworks which should not be lost sight of, namely, that the whole of the money would be expended in the province. The Provincial Secretary seconded the motiou, at the same time saying that he could not vote for the Bill as it stood at present, but as the Provincial Solicitor proposed to insert a clause to the effect that the money should only be raised with the assent of the majority of the ratepayers he should vote for the second reading. Mr Luckie thought the Bill should be referred to a Select Committee. In a measure of this kind he should have looked for some degree of accuracy in the statements made, but instead of such being the case he found that the preamble contained a direct contradiction of facts, as wa3 shown hy a numerously signed petition against the Bill becoming law, having been presented by the inhabitants of Bridge-street. He wished the mover had been prepared with statistics showing the number of houses occupied, or otherwise, included in the area which was directly benefited by tho proposed sewer, which it seemed to him was to be made for the special purpose of remedyiug the nuisance created by a large brewery — a nuiaance which should b 3 put down at the expense of the creator of it. The Provincial Solicitor thought that the Board should have ■ power to borrow mouey when necessary for the purpose of drainage in the town but, although no one was more anxious "than himself to see a thoroughly efficient system of sewerage carried but, he thought it was a matter of time, and that the present was not an opportune moment for the undertaking. The Bill should be sent to a Select Committee, and the preamble modified; he also proposed to insert a clause providing that the consent of two-thirds of the persons who should represent one-half of the rateable property in the district more immediately concerned should be obtained, and also that the whole of the inhabitants of the town who were materially interested in the scheme should be consulted. Mr. Baigent in looking back upon the past history of Nelson had observed that undertakings such as this had always been put ofi" until the people in their own interests had been compelled to adopt what on first being proposed had met with the greatest opposition, such for instance as the waterworks, and the Trafalgar street sewer. Thinking as he did that it was far better to take these matters in time and not to wait uutil the injurious effects of neglecting them had been felt he should support the Bill. Mr Wastney spoke in favor of the Bill and Mr Collins having replied, it was read the second time and then referred to a Select Committee. The Provincial Solicitor moved the first reading of the Executive Government Bill which, he stated, had been drawn up, so far as lie was aware, in accordance with tbe wishes of the Couucil with one exception, no reference being made in it to the appointment of a member to represent the goldfields. He had not inserted a clause to this effect because he did not exactly know what it was that was wanted. He should like membeis to state definitely what it was they wished for. The Bill was then read a first time. After going into Committee oa the Standing Orders, ths Council adjourned until this evening.

An extensive robbery has been perpetrated at the shop of Mr. Warmoll, Albert Street, Grahamstown. Says the Thames Advertiser: "It is supposed that entry was effected by a window in Davy-street, which was only fastened by a catch. At all events the upper sash was found open by Mr.'Warmoll's assistant when he came in the morning. The robber or robbers had evidently proceeded in a leisurely mauner, for goods were taken away to the extent of £300.