CITY COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 206, 28 September 1878, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Council wa3 held last night. Present, all the members. A letter was read from the Inspector of Police acknowledging receipt of letter stating htat a resolution had been passed modifying the by-law relative to vehicles left unattended, aud pointing out that tlie by-law remained in force notwithstanding the resolution. A letter was read from Mr A. ,T. Richmond stating that the Nuisance Bill introduced by him had been ruled to be a private Bill, and therefore could not be|i r*.iceededwith. He was, however, endeavoring to serve the same purpose by inserting a clause in the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill. His Worship said that he was aware Mr Richmond had taken considerable trouble with regard to the Bill, but hud not been supported by the other members.! A letter was read from the Inspector of Constabulary relative to an application from the Town Clerk asking for an addition to the police force, so that there might be a regular patrol at night as a guard against fire, and stating that the number would be shortly increased to ten. A letter was received from the Secretary of the Odd-Fellows applying for a remission of the water rates on the old Hall, and asking for exemption from all rates on their property in future. Referred, on the motion of Cr Harley, to the Finance Committee. A letter from Mr B. C. Roberts called attention to the sanitary condition of the locality in the neighborhood of the junction of Collingwood and Hardy-streets. The report of the Finance Commmittee was read giving the estimated receipts for the half year ending 3!st March, 1879, at £199G. The proposed expenditure was as follows: — Salaries £395, wages £800, horse feed £50, printing, advertisiug, &c. £90, petty charges £-10, balance of contract for widening Haven road £300, Selwyn place sewer £200, forming aud metalling Haven road £400, metal for other streets £200, lighting £200,' interest on buildings £35, contingencies £100, total £2810. It was estimated that the overdraft on March 31 would be £2429. The report of the Public Works Committee having been read, Cr Everett suggested that all expenses should be kept down as closely as possible, as the overdraft was likely, at the close of the current financial year, to he larger than ever it had been before. Cr Harley said that as Chairman of the Public Works Committee he must state that he had not been aware of the exact state of their finances, bnt as the town had been got iuto fair order now the labor expenses would probably be reduced. The Public Works Committee report recommended the laying down of concrete crossings iu certain portions of the streets. His Worship the Mayor suggested that great caution should be used in increasing the expenditure, and this proposal was one he thought that might be done without. Cr Harley did not think the Council ought to be ruled hy the Finance Committee. The Public Works Committee were those who alleviated the feelings of the public, and the Finance Committee were always coming forward and endeavoring to stop the works proposed. He wanted to see the town move ahead, and not go to sleep. Cr Everett said it was the duty of the Finance Committee to make their statement however unpleasant it might be. The Public Works Committee, either for the sake of obtaining popularity or some other reason were constautly proposing public works that they knew perfectly well could not be carried out in the existing state of the Corporation finance. On a division the motion was lost. Ayes* Crs Harley, Trask, Little, and Crewdson Noes: JThe Mayor, Crs Everett, Hounsell' Cross, Levien, and Johns. Tbe recommendation of the Public Works Committee that a 12-inch pipe drain be laid along Hardy-street from Alton to Trafalgarstreets was then considered. Cr Harley said that the financial statement having been made he supposed it did not much matter whether people died of fever or walked up to their knees in mud, if the remedy was to cost a few pounds. He hoped, however, recommendation would be adopted, as it would be of great service, and would only cost about £120,

Cr Everett tliotiglit this -was a work that should he undertaken, as part of a regular drainage scjierrle to be Carried out by bol-rowed itiohej 1 . Or Trask said that if they waited for" a proper drainage scheme they might have to j wait for a loug time. There had been much fete*.* and some deaths in the ucighbothood, j And He thought a drain wiis ui*f*ently reunited, j The (jity purveyor having been scut for I and questioned as to (he expense, the motion was put to the Council and carried. Ayes: Crs Harlej*, Trask, Crewdson, Cross, Hounsell, and Little. Noes: The Mayor, Crs Levien, Johns, and Ererett. The repairs in Russell-street were then Considered, but It wus impossible to hear what was said owing to the noise made by the rain on the roof. Ultimately the consideration of the matter was deferred uutil tile ouestion of prison labor was settled. The Coiiucil then adjourned.