CITY COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 111, 10 May 1879, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting was held last night. Present : Crs Everett (in the chair in the absence of the Mayor), Little, Hounsell, Cross, and Levien. A letter was received from John Stooe, the reservoir keeper, asking for an increase of wages on the ground that as he lived such a distance from town, the cost of the necessaries of life was greater than to those residing in the town, and that he had of late been compelled to have a doctor constantly in the house.— The Town Clerk stated that his present wages were £100 a year and a house rent _ree.-~Cr Little supported the application as he knew there had been much sickness iv the family.— On the motion of Cr Evreett seconded by Cr Little, it was unanimously agreed to raise the wages to £125 a year. A letter was received from Messrs Curtis Brothers, asking that proceedings might be delayed in selling sections 28 aud 33 until they had had time to communicate with the equitable owner in the Mauritius. Granted. A letter was read from George Jackson, the keeper of the Marine baths, stating that ,the gross receipts did not equal the rent he had agreed to pay, and asking for a remission

of three months' rent at £9 per month.— Cr Cross thought that the small attendance at the baths was partly owing to the fact that Jackson himself was seldom there, only a boy being left in charge.— Cr Little had neftfd many complaints of the want of cleanliness at the baths. —The further consideration of the application was deferred until iiext meetiug. _hefolb .ing letter was read from Mr Siiailfc'rass •-> " To His Worship the Mayor, &fcbti; "Sir— ln theEvENDiiJ Mail of Saturday, the 26th ultinio^appears a .report of a n.ee_ mg ot the City yoiincil, which' took place on the previous evening; ik which Councillor Harley is reported to have said, s|l4'jtKlng ou the question of prison labor:—' Mr Shallcras's had himself told him that they should not have the prison labor if he could help it.' "Now, Sir, if that newspaper has published correctly what Cr Harley said, I can assure yoti it is far from the truth. " Whatever Mr. Harley _ . motives were in perverting what I said to hii_,in the manner he appears to have done, I must, oi course, leave to himself. My object in troubling you with this letter is to set yourself and the Council right on the subject. " Since I have been gaoler, the prisoners, as you are aware, have done much valuable work for the Council, and, I hope, will soon he able to do so again; but during the last eight months the hard labor gang has been almost exclusively employed on extensive improvements at the gaol, and for several months an additional laborer was employed I to assist. Nevertheless, whenever an oppor- J tunity offered that they could be spared for j a few days they bave been set to work for the Council, and, during the eight months referred to, have done, altogether, forty-one days' work on their behalf. I quote this for the purpose of contradicting by fact as well as assertion what Mr Councillor Harley is reported to have said. " I have, &c, "ROET. SUALLCBASS, " Gaoler. "Nelson Gaol, May 1, 1879." Cr. Levien proposed that as the only Councillor who was likely to have any remarks to make upon the letter was absent, it should be read again at the next meeting. Agreed to. The report of the Public Works Committee recommended the making up of the footi paths in Gloucester street. Report adopted. I The City Surveyor's report was accom- , pauied by a plan of a four-stalled stable to be erected on the reserve near the Nonnanby Bridge. Resolved, that tenders be called I for. I The Town Clerk reported the quashing of the conviction in the case of Gnlly v. Fell. He was instructed to have a draft Bill prepared providing for the abatement of the gorse nuisance. The Town Clerk reported that he had been advised that before the Council could insist upon hawkers taking out licenses it would be necessary for them to define who were hawkers. He was instructed to consult Mr Atkinson in the matter. Applications from Messrs Hingston and Stanton for licenses to store kerosene were approved by the City Surveyor and granted. An application from Mr Patterson was refused, the Surveyor not being satisfied with the building, An application for a license for the Masonic Hall as a place of entertainment was granted on condition that the doors were made to open outwards. Cr. Little wanted to know whether permission had been applied for by Messrs N. Edwards and Co. to remove a boiler across the port road from their foundry. He happened to be passing at tbe time, and could assert that it was a most awkward object for a timid horse to meet.— The Town Clerk said that no application had been made. — Cr. Levien thought tint leave should certainly be asked for, though he did Dot quite see how that would make matters any better for timid horses.— Resolved, that Messrs N. Edwards and rv> b» adviaea Mat in future iney must apply for leave. Crs. Everett and Levien were appointed to confer with representatives from the Waimea County Council re charitable institutions, the latter body having decided to maintain a hospital on their own account. The Council then adjourned.