CITY COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 195, 16 August 1879, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting was held last night. Present— The Mavor, Crs Everett, Hounsell, Harley, Crewdsou, Trask, Levien, Little, and Cross A letter was read from Mr Clark stating tbat the watercourse on Beachville road rendered the building of a culvert necessary, and asking the Council to find the labor if he supplied the material. Referred to Public Works Committee. A letter was read from Mr Henry Hargreaves asking to be appointed Inspector of meat. Referred to Finance Committee. A letter was received from the Town Clerk at Greymouth asking for information relative to the wharf dues.— Some of the Councillors spoke of the fees that were charged, stating that complaints were frequent of passengers being charged for such trifles as carpet bags carried iu their hands.— Cr Cross thought there was a mistake about these charges, which were not made.— The Mayor quoted his own experience in support of the assertion.— Tbe Town Clerk was instructed to reply, A letter from Mr Haddow calling attention to tbe water tables in Washington Valley was referred to the Public Works Committee, as was one from Messrs Neale and Haddow complaing of the state of Collingwood-street between Bridge aud Hardy-streets. The report of tbe Public Works Committee contained the following recommendations which were agreed to:— That the Surveyor prepare plans for the uecessary work in Trafalgar-st reet South, Bronti, and Brougham streets, and that the prison labor be employed on it; that Mr Jackson be immediately sued for arrears of rent for the baths; that a side valve be placed in the baths; that the Surveyor be instructed to attend to the drainage of St. Viucent-street and Victoria Crescentthat the crossing at Hardy and Collingwoodstreets be repaired. The recommendation that twelve inch mains be ordered at once to replace the 7-in. main in Brook street Valley as far down as Mr Edwards' gave rise to some discussion.— Cr Levien thought it should be referred to the Fiuance Committee.— Cr Crewdson said it should be attended to at once. There were £1700 to the credit of the waterworks and the cost would be £1237. They had no right to keep the ratepayers' money locked up. If they did not spend it, they should reduce the rates.— Cr Little thought the matter bad been put off too often already, and no doubt many of the pipes now down were getting faulty.— Cr Trask agreed with Cr Crewdson There would be numerous complaints of the want of water in the summer months, and they could not take action too early.— The Mayor ruled tbat this came under the head of extraordinary business, and could not be dealt with except by notice. Tbe following tenders were received for the lease of the baths:— ll Young, £5 per month; W. Johnson, £6 10s per mouth. The latter was accepted. Cr Harley called attention to an item in the waterworks account of £171 for interest, while on the other hand they stated that there was a surplus. He could not understand how the accounts were manipulated. Cr Everett produced the Bauk book showing the accounts aud stated that the interest was ou debentures. Iu all tliey did, tbe Finance Committee simply carried out the instructions of the Couucil. The matter then dropped. The Mayor stated that arrangements would have to be made for the election of three Councillors, as Messrs Everett, Levien, and Hounsell retired by rotation on the llth September.

Cr Harley read the petition from the Licensed Victuallers which he had presented at the last meeling, and said he should not speak to it until he had heard the opposition of those who, unable to hear the truth, had left the Chamber on the last occasion. Cr Everett said there wns a «;ood deaf in , the petition that lie agreed with] A.s an old hotel keeper he felt that an injustice was done to the publicans hy Clubs, hut he doubted whether the petition would be agreed to as a large majority of the members of the Assembly were Club men, who would he iinwilHng to give up the comforts they derived from them. He could heartily support the clauses asking for uniform licenses throughout the colony at lower rates. lie supposed tbe Club iu Trafalg-ir-street w-is the one aimed atJu the petition, but he did uot think that injured more than one or at most two houses. What the publicans really had to fear was tbe establishment of Working Men's .Clubs, as tbat would seriously affect them. - - -Crs Levien aud Hounsell stated that they bad left the Chamber on the previous occasion, because they were wearied hy the talking otthe Councillor who introduced the petitiou which, so far as it related to n uniform license, they were quite willing lo support. • Cr Little thought Clubs should contribute like public houses to the revenue. If the petition was not agreed to by tho Assembly they would find that the publicans would turn their houses into Clubs, and then the Government would be driven to act. Cr Cross thought Clubs should be licensed. Cr. Harley thought they should express their fee ings iu strong language, and if the members of the House did not attend to their wants they should put t!:eir foot on them. The petition was then adopted, the Mayor and Cr. Levien voting against it, the latter on the ground that some of the clauses it contained were most objectionable and im pertinent. His Worship was then requested to forward the petitiou. The Council then adjourned.