CITY COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 279, 24 November 1877, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting was held last night. Preseut : All the members except Cr Levien. Letters were read from Captain Wahnsley complaining of the short supply of water in Kawaii-sjtreiet j frpm Mr H. Newport and others, offering to make a road in their locality upou certain conditions { from Mr J. Newport, respecting a fence erected in the street. These were referred to the respective Committees. A letter was read from the Wellington Town Clerk, statiug that the Fire Police in that city were organised under the Armed Constabulary Act. The report of the Finance Committee recommended that the valuation for the ensuing year be made on the same principle as last year; also that arrears of rates to the amount of £24 13s lid be struck off the books as bad debts. .Report adopted. The report of 'phi Public Works Oornmittee recommended that by way of experiment the footpath between the Trafalgar Hotel and My Darby's be asphalted. Agreed to. Also that tj>e Church-street drain should be undertaken, provided the ftnances permitted of it. This gave rise to a long discussion, Cr Everett pointing out that there was already an overdraft of nearly £1100. This might be raised to £2000, but he thought that if drainage works were to be commenced, Selwyu Place had a elajm to be considered first. Eventually it was decided on the motion of Cr Pickering seconded by Gr Gray— That the finances of the Corporation do not permit the construction of the work at present. A further recommendation that the water be extended to Mr Eatwell's premises upon certain conditions was agreed to. Tenders for cutting pipe trenches at the Port were received from the following :— F. Atkinson, 14s per chain j C. Haslem, 17s; !

T. Lynam and Co, 18s 9d. The latter tender was informal, and Atkinson's was accepted. Cr Pickering wanted to know whether it was true that some of the day laborers had been discharged and others taken on iv their place. The City Surveyor said that one man named Davis had been discharged because he was no longer wanted, and his place had not been filled. Two men who had been temporarily employed in cutting gorse had been discharged, and two others in a destitute condition taken on in their places. Cr Pickering was not satisfied with explanation, and moved that the matter be referred to the Public Works Committee, but after some discussion withdrew his motion, having in the meantime succeeded in obtaining an expression of opinion from the Council. The Mayor thought that some steps should be taken towards letting the saltwater br.ths, but the consideration of the matter was deferred until next meeting The Council then adjourned.