CITY COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 219, 15 September 1877, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The first meeting of the new Council was held last night, the. Mayor in the chair. Present, all the members except Cr Hooper His Worship congratulated the Councillors on their election, especially those who had beeu members of the late Counei!, on ,'fcho evidence they had received of retaining 'the confidence of the ratepayers. Au application from the Secretary of the Local Committee for a water supply to the Port school was granted. A letter was received from Messrs H Adams and Son in reference to the excavation in the hill at the eastern end of Bridgestreet, and threatening on {behalf of Mr Sharp to take legal proceedings unless the work was stopped. Cr Everett causidered that as the spot referred to was part of a public road the Council had the full right to deal with it as seemed best to them. After considerable discusaion the following resolution was proposed by Cr Pickering, "That the matter be left to the Public Works Committee with power to act, and that the letter of Messrs H. Adams and Sou be referred to the City Solicitor for his opinion thereon." This was seconded by'Cr Gray, and agreed to. ' A letter was received from Messrs Curtis Brothers and Mr G. Harper, offering to convey 10 feet on the south side of section 2.3 to the Council to allow New-street to be widened. Ihe offer was accepted. A letter was received from the UnderSecretary expressing regret afc the delay that had taken place in preparing and signing the lease for the site of the baths, and stating that the reason was that the Law officers' time was so fully occupied just now with Parliainenfcacy work. Cr Gray thought that $ stpoijg remonstrance with regard to the delay should be forwarded to the Government, as the contractor had been waiting for six months to commence his work. It was resolved that Mr Sharp be written to and requested to push the matter on aa speedily as possible. The report of the Finance Committee was read. It recommended that a rate be levied ior the si? months ending March 31, 1878,

equal to one shilling in the pound per annum. With reference to the gas and water-* works the following recommendations were made:— l. That the works be valued by two valuers, one appointed by the Government and the other, by ;the Council, aad iu the event of their disagreeing that they should appoint an umpire, each party to pay the costs of his own valuer. 2 That the corporation pay the Government the amount of the difference between the amount raised under the Nelson City Loan Acts of 1871 and 1875 (£35,900) and the value of the Gas and Waterworks ascertained as above provided, subject to the consent of the ratepayers being obtained to the raising of a special loan, as provided by the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876. 3. The Government to execute such conveyance or deed as may be necessary to vest the works in the Corporation free from any liability in respect of the principal or interest of any loaus other than those above mentioned, and the Corporation if required, to indemnify the Government against any claims in respect of the principal or interest of the above-mentioned loans. With reference to the financial position, Cr Everett stated thafc afc the end of the present month there would be an overdraft of £901, which by tha end of March next would be increased to £1052, as the estimated receipts for that period were £1968 and the expenditure £2119. The completion of existiug contracts, and keeping the streets in repair would be the whole of the work that could be performed in that time. The City Surveyor'3 report showed that during the mouth of August 49 tons 2 cwt of coal had been carbonised at the gasworks yielding 503,790 feet of gas. The consumption had been 476,000 feet, and the loss by leakage, tec, 27,490 feet. Brunner coal with a small quautity of Collingwood had been used. Tha following Committees were appointed!—Finance j Crs Everett (chairman) Little, Levien, and Pickering; Public Works, Crs Gray (chairman), Bathwaite, Hooper, Tutty, and Webb ; By-laws, The Ivfeyor (chairman), Crs Hooper, Levien, Pickering and Wabb. , • Tenders for the proposed work in Waimeastreet were received as follows!— W. Lloyd earthwork £144, gravelling footpath £28*, total £172; M. H. Thomas, earthwork £118* gravelling £50, total £168. Tt being the opinion that the tenders were too high, both were rejected. Cr Pickering said he had received a lette* from Mr Sharp, M.H.R., asking for an expression of opinion with regard to an increase of the police force. It was resolved that the Mayor should write to the City members askiug them to assist in raising the force to an efficient strength. Cr Levien having called attention to the very bad condition of Russell-street, the matter was referred to the Public Works Committee. On the motion of Cr Gray, it wa3 resolved that the City Surveyor be instructed to furnish a return of the coal carbonised and gas manufactured during the year ending 31st of August last, with a statement showing the amount used for street lighting, passed through consumers' meters, and lo3t. The Council then adjourned.