CITY COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 183, 2 August 1879, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting was held last night. Present, all the members except Cr Everett. Ou the accounts being read, Cr Harley objected to the item of £60 14s for coal from Messrs N. Edwards and Co, on the ground that there was a large stock on hand, and it was quite unnecessary to get any more for several weeks. He wished to know who was to hava the ordering of the coal. Wa3 the Surveyor to do as he pleased in the matter, or to take his orders from the Public Works Committee? Cr Cross agreed with Cr Harley. He thought the Surveyor was over-riding them altogether. The Mayor was of opinion that the Surveyor should only order coal when instructed by the Public Works Committee. The account was passed after some discussion, Cr Levien arguing that the Council was responsible for the action of its servants. , Crs Harley, Little, Cross, and Crewdsou ' voted against passing this account. An application from the agent of the Darrell Company for permission to placard the walls belonging to the Council was refused. Mr Job Munday wrote a9king the Council to make a road to his shed. Referred to Public Works Committee. Letter received from residents in Trafal-gar-street south asking for the road and path to bemade up and gravelled. Referred to Public Works Committee. The following letter was received from Mr Thomaß Harley:— "Please invite Councillors up to Mana-street, being impassable." Referred to Public Works Committee. The Works Committee recommended that the petition of the residents in Washington Valley and Russell-street, with reference to laying on the gas and erecting two lamps, be acceded to. Cr Harley complained that the Surveyor had only just told them that there were no pipes, and would not be for some months. The recommendation of the Committee was adopted, the work to be carried out as soon as possible. The Works Committee, in their report, caMed attention to the low level at which the railway crosses the road at Saltwater Bridge. The Town Clerk said that he had taken advice, and was told that the Public Works Department could take the line as they pleased. Cr Harley maintained that they had no right to interfere with the roads. He was sure if the Engineer-in-Chief were here he would see the impropriety of putting the line in a ditch. Cr Little also called attention to the encroachment of the railway on the road near Lukins\ It was proposed that the Surveyor see Mr Blackett on the matter, but Cr Harley objected on the ground that the contractors had themselves told him that the levels had been given by Mr Blackett. He thought they should write to head-quarters. The Public Works Committee were instructed to take action in the matter. With regard to the Marine Baths, Cr Harley said that Mr Young at the Port had offered to rent them, but he would not tender. They should take some care in dealing with this subject, as owning these baths added greatly to the respectability of the Council. It was agreed to call for tenders at once, several of the Councillors objecting to letting the Baths privately. On the Surveyor's report being read, Cr Harley objected that the City Surveyor ignored the Public Works Committee, and repaired the roads when and where he pleased. They would have to take aome decisive action with regard to Mr Lightf oot if he went on as he was doing now. The Mayor said that the Surveyor was called away from one job to another, and did not know what he had to do first. Cr Harley said that he had told Mr Lightfoot the other day that the dam had silted up, there was only 4ft 6in in the reservoir and consequently a very slight pressure, but he had pooh poohed it. He proposed, and Cr Cross seconded, That in future the Surveyor take his orders from the Works Committee in all matters connected with gas, water, and public works. Agreed to. In reply to Cr Harley, the Mayor said that no money had ever been paid out of the general rates to meet any deficit on the gas account. In reply to Cr Harley, the Mayor said it was the duty of the Surveyor to order gas or water pipes when likely to be required. Cr Harley presented a petition from the Licensed Victuallers asking the Council to assist in getting a law passed appropriate to the whole colony, and making the licenses uniform, for whereas in Dunedin, where there was a far larger traffic, the license fees were £25 for twelve o'clock and £20 for ten o'clock licenses, here they were £50 and £40 ; also that Clubs should be made to pay licenses, as it was a great injustice to allow them to be free of snch charges, and so to interfere with the traffic ; hotels had to close at certain hours whereas Clubs might always be open, tickets were purchased from the stewards and were paid for liquor instead of money, and strangers were invited to participate in the benefits of Ciubs to the detriment of the publicans. Having read the petition, Cr Harley went on to say that was a source of great annoyance to the publicans who paid heavy taxes that a few leading people should be permitted to act so contrary to justice. These gentlemen were principally J.P.s and others who had to deal with the laws and to check any breach of them, but when a question of this kind touched their ideasttaey pooh-poohed it. But the time bad arrived when the people beneath had risen to know different, and to teach them to be ruled. The Government of the country consisted of the aristocracy, and the working class had placed them there through their own bad judgment. A poor oysterman's shop was entered by a detective, and he was taken before these people and fined for selling liquor. It was most unjust to the publicans, and after hearing such a petition could they help supporting it? The publicans paid their revenue to the Corporation Fund and looked to the Council to support them. These people at the Clubs purchased tickets from the managers and paid with them for liquor thus evading the law which they knew had no hold on them. They bought their liquors from the wholesale tradesmen and retailed it to themselves. Publicans had to find suitable accommodation, and stabling, and to keep a light burning, aud were under the surveillance of the public, while Clubs could keep open and gamble all night, and carry on as they chose. When the people saw that the public of Nelson were stirring in this matter they would come forward to support them all over the colony. He would move —That this Council co-operate with the County Council in petitioning the General Government to bring in a Bill compelling

Clafaa wher6 spirituous liquors are Supplied to pay a license the same as hotels. The resolution was put with the following result :— Ayes- Crs Harley, Trask, Cross, Little, and Grewdson. No— The Mayor. Crs Trask, Hounsell, and Levien had previously left the Chamber. The Council then adjourned