CITY COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 159, 5 July 1879, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting was held last night. Present: His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Crs Everett, Johna, HounseU, Cross, Harley, Trask, and Levien. ; A letter was received from Mr Campbell, promising to effect repairs to his mill lead as soon as he coald get the timber. * A letter was received from Mr Good, on behalf of the Committee for erecting a memoilal to the late Mr John Symons, asking for a site to place it upon, and stating that the Committee would prefer to erect it either in front of Messrs N. Edwards and Co.'s store or in front of the Post Office. The memorial is of cast iron, bronzed, and comprises a drinking fountain and four lamps. The Committee would also ask the Council to lay on the gas and water to it. Referred to the Public Works Committee with power to act. An application from R. Grant for an extension of time for the footpath contract on the Port Road on account of the state of the weather and of bis health, wag referred to the City Sarveyor. An application from Mr Earl to erect a barber's pole in front of hi* shop in Bridgestreet was refused. A letter was received from 'the Secretary for Crown Lands, replying to one written by the Town Clerk, asking whether the Government would have any objection to the Botanical Reserve being let for the purpose iof being planted, &c. The Secretary stated that so far from having any objection the Government were disposed to encourage this way of treating such reserves. He admitted, however, that there were difficulties 3n the way, and thought it would be best to submit a draft lease for approval, and enclosing draft forms. The Public Works Committee recommended that Brougham and Trafalgar-street south be formed and gravelled on condition that the residents pay half the cost.— Cr Everett thought they must be cautious, as the overdraft already amounted to £1600. A motion that the consideration of the matter be deferred was agreed to, Crs Harley, Cross, and Trask dissenting. A recommendation was adopted that 'the concrete footpath now being laid in Tra'fal-gar-street be continued to Bridge-street, toe owners of the neighboring houses to pay half the cost.— Cr Levien objected, on the ground that the ratepayers ought not to be called upon to pay for experiments Q f this kind, but that they should wait until the work bad proved itself to be efficacious.— Cr Harley objected to the term, "experimenting" being applied to the Public Works Committee who knew very well what thev were about. ! ' ■: . : " Tne Public Works Committee report stated that the City Surveyor had been instructed to deal with Mr Burford fpr SO or 60 tons of coal for the gasworks. In connection with the matter the following letter from Messrs N. Edwards & Co. was read :— Nelson, July 4th, 1879. Th« Town Clerk, Nelson. Sib — We beg to address you respecting the coal supply to the Corporation Gas Works. You will be aware that for a long time past, in accordance with an arrangement made on behalf of your Council by the City Surveyor, we have supplied the coal for your Gas Works. The terms and conditions of supply have been adhered to by lis 1 . viz the delivery by us in such quantities and at such times as to suit your convenience/ end of the quality, free from wet, from the particular mine you might prefer. We have had every reasou to. believe the meaner in which this has been done haa given entire satisfaction to your Council, audin pursuance of this arrangement we have/althodgh oftentimes in bad weather there has bean a scarcity, always^ taken care to keep you amply supplied ; with this view, (the running of our steamers having been somewhat interrupted by recent accidents,) we have just imported by a sailing vessel a cargo of the best Brunner coal, and with the consent of your Surveyor, were in ordinary course commencing to make delivery,, when the carts were suddenly stopped, a supply having, it was said, been arranged for elsewhere' thus throwing on our hands coal Imported for your special requirements. We must confess to not a little surprise and annoyance at this, for we scarcely think we have been treated fairly. If the Council desired any new arrangement, either as to manner of delivery or price, we think, considering the circumstances, we ought to have received some notice, and at any rote had the opportunity afforded of competing for it. Trusting you will bring this matter under the consideration of the Council, We are Sir, Yours obediently, (signed) pro N. Edwards & Co., J. H. Cock. Cr. Hartey said that the Public Works Committee was authorised to deal with all matters of this kind. Hitherto the City Surveyor had ordered coal as wanted from N. Edwards & Co., but an offer being made by Mr Burtord to supply it at a cheaper rate the Committee had accepted that offer. Cr Everett objected to any Committe©

en * e . ru » wto contracts without the sanction «. a Comm:tt ee» ipdeed it was illegal as tne Act specially prohibited any such contracts when the amount in question was over £20. He would- move, That tenders be invited for a coal supply for twelve months. Cr Harley would seond the resolution ; oat would flrat like to ask who had from time to time ordered the coal. Cr Everett : Tenders were called for but none were sent in. and the Council then authorised Mr Lightfoot to mike the bestf arrangements he could. ■; Cr Harley would like to krow whether there was any minute to that effect in tt:j books. The Gas and Waterworks Committee had a perfect right to get the coil where it was to be obtained best and cheapest. He thought that Cr Everett was grossly insulting the Committee, inasmuch as he appeared to have more confidence in the Surveyor, l ,* he ,H : _. a . erv ant,than in the members of the Gdaftntttssff wfcfrwere hfis *cWeagifes. : -TMf* being the cateiit waa <faite t&netbfere was % mmp^iin theCotincil, and hefor one wai| = "•* &W? tfraubiriif: ;to . be trampled on in '! this manner. ~Cr Eveifett fcalked abdnrftieir ' breaking the law— where, he would ask, did rtbe law provide for^he City Surveyor purI chasing coals when and from whoin y he s pleased?. ,'.; {;j }•; |i • ■.' - !.. \ | ;. r J Cr Everett failed to see cow by differing from their opinions he conld be said to be insulting ths Committee. He bad opinions of i his owq, anCmeant'to apeak them out boldly and plainly.' V ■•■■■>,■ In reply to a Councillor the Mayor said fte difference in price between Edwards' and Burford's contract was 13 per ton.— Cr Crosa : And labor. The Mayor then prciuced the minute book showing that the arrangement was sanctioned in June 1877. The coals bad always given complete satisfaction. - VA . Cr Levien said that there could be 80 doubt the firm of Edwards and Co:, had been ill-used. The Committee, possibly with the best intentions, had acted wrongly and he did not see what reply the Council could send to the firm's letter. Cr Harley said that once before Edwards & Co. were supplying Grey coal, but some of the Councillors decided to get Collingwood coal instead, probably because they were interested in the mine. ' The debate,. discussion, or altercation.no^. bifgatr-tovgeaw "fsst and furioos."-i-Tbii -Mayot expressed hia opinion that 'the "treatment Edwards and C3 had received was shameful, and suggested a reply to the firm's letter.— Cr Trask thought the Mayor had no right to attempt to lower the Public Works Committee in the eyes of the public. Why, i if such a letter were sent, the very {clerks would laugh at the members of that Committee and say, " See what the Council thinks of them!"— A suggestion that the tenders be for six instead of for twelve months was accepted, and the motion as amended was agreed to. ' On the Finance Committee's report being read Cr. Harley criticised generally the system of finance. The gas works account ought to be amalgamated with the general account instead of keeping two accounts, in one of which there was alway a debit and in the other always a credit. A diicuasion then took place which it was impossible to follow. After the Surveyor's report had been read, attention was called by Cr. Traak to certain works that required attending to, —Cr Levien thought the suggestion should come from the Public Works Committee, and then ensued a squabble between the Public Works and Finance Committees, the former complaining that the Finance Committee invariably opposed their proposals, and the latter replying that it was their duty to pay due regard to the financial condition of the Council. A most unedifying altercation followed. A special meeting of the Council was then held for the purpose of considering the new by-laws.