CITY COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 301, 5 September 1874, Page 2

CITY COU NC IL.

Friday* September 4.

Present : all the members. The minutes jof tbe previous meetings were read and confirmed.

Mr Fell stated, on behalf of the lessors of the old Examiner office, that the sum of £50 was to be spent in repairing the buildiog before letting it to the Council. ft L •' Hl^ Worship the Matoe laid on the table a statement of the gas accounts from the commencement of the works to tbe 31st July, which, be said," did not look promising, showing, as it did, an actual loss of £152 6s in seven months. He bad at a previous meeting accused the Government of mismanagement ia connection with the works, for which he had received a severe rap on the knuckles, but he felt that be had been perfectly justified in making use of the expression. It appeared from a conversation he had had with Mr O'Conor that there was no chance of anything being done in tbe direction of tbe works being handed over to the Council until the return of the Superintendent, and he was surprised to find tbat in the meantime the Government had made so large a redaction in the price of gas. He was sure that at the rates now charged the works could not pay, and it was tbe duty of tbe Council to consider not only tbe consumers, but tbe ratepayers. The works here bad cost much more than in other places where a larger supply was furnished, and he believed tbat the gasometer would be found to be much too email, holding as it did only 12,000 feet. Tbe price of gas in other towns was in Grey mouth, 16s; Wellington, 14s; Hokitika, 16s; Auckland, 12s 6d; Christchurch, 14s; and he thought that had it it been reduced here to 14s it would bave been quite low enough. The receipts for gas from tbe lst January to tbe 31st July were £511 10 Bd, equal to 639,000 feet of gas at 16s per thousand. Tbe amount paid for coals was £293 ls 6d, which was equivalent to 163 tons at 365. Now according to his calculations, based upon information he bad received which showed tbat Greymouth coal yielded from 9.000 to 11,000 feet per too; 163 tons of that coal ehould produce 1,467,000 feet. The amount consumed at tbe Provincial buildings was not taken into calculation, and there were £110 of arrears to be collected, equal to about 138,000 feet, thus leaving 690,000 feet unaccounted for. The statement furnished by the Government for seven months showed a loss of £152 6s, jet in the manager's report a balance was shown of £163 9s. In the same report tho expenditure was put down at £562 per annum, yet according to the accounts supplied, tbe cost for seven months was £374, which would leave £188 only for the remaining five months. He thought the charge for labor was extravagant, amounting oa it did ia July to £50, which meant at least four men at£2 10a per week, whereas two good men, with one outsider, should be quite sufficient. In Canterbury there was a working manager at £150 a year who looked after the plant, took tbe meters, and collected the rates. If anything went wrong, of course an engineer was called

in. He was sorry to learn tbat the manager thought that he (the Mayor) had a down upon him, and was trying to take the bread out of his mouth. He had no such feeling towards him, bat was only doing what he considered bis duty to the public, and bad no desire to cast the blame upon any particular individual.

A conversation ensued, from the tenor of which ir appeared that the Councillors generally were of opinion that the charge of mismanagement was perfectly justified on the Government's own-showing.

On the motion of Councillor Fell, it was resolved "That a deputation from the City Council wait dpon the Superintendent and Executive Council upon the earliest day which can be arranged for the purpose of settling the terms upon which the gas and waterworks can be at once handed .over to the control and management of tbe Corporation; such deputation to consist of the Mayor, Councillors Percy, Burn, and the mover."

The appointment of an Inspector of cabs was deferred until next meeting, the Mayor suggesting that the office might be undertaken by their own surveyor.

A letter was read from Messrs Fell and Atkinson stating tbat Mrs Barnett would bold tbe Council responsible for an accident which occurred to her. whereby her arm was broken, owing to the neglect of the Council in not keeping a grating in Waimea-street in proper repair. The Councillors expressed tbeir sympathy with Mrs Barnet.,. and directed the Clerk to acknowledge the receipt of tbe letter.

Io reply to ao application from Messrs Sedgwick and Gowland, for leave to establish a tannery near Mr Bettaoy's on the Maitai flat, it was stated lhat leave would be given on condition that no nuisance was caused to residents in the vicinity.

The following tenders were received for constructing the sewer in Waimeastreet:—Charles Blecher, £187; Robert Carter, £190; TB. Macdonald, £241; D. J. M'Rae; £262 10a; John Taylor, £291. Tbe first-named was accepted, the Mayor stating that the work previously done by Mr Blecher had been most satisfactorily -executed.

The miscellaneous bye laws were formally confirmed.

On behalf of the Horticultural

Society Mr Fell wrote to the effect that the Society had applied to the Provincial Government asking for the right to control the Eel-pond reserve in Bridge-street for the purpose of converting it into a botanical garden for the use of the people. As tbe whole of the reserves would probably be handed over to the Corporation shortly the Government were desirous of learning their opinion. It was agreed that no objection should be offered to the application.

The Council then adjourned.