CITY COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 292, 20 December 1879, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting was held last night. Present : All the members. A letter from Messrs Cookeey, Twist and Gay, and Armstrong, complaining that while they were prevented by the by-laws from carrying passengers in their express waggons cabmen were permitted to carry packages and merchandise. After some discussion the Town Clerk was instructed to warn the cabmen against such a breach of the by-law. A letter was read from certain residents in the neighborhood of Gloucester-street complaining of the damage done to their properties by the inability of the culvert to carry off the water. Cr Tra§k moved and Cr Levien seconded, that the letter be not received on account of its threatening and disrespectful character Cr Harley moved, and Cr Little seconded, that the work be done at once. After some discussion Cr Barley withdrew

his amendment on the understanding that by doing so the prosecution of the work would not be interfered with.— Resolution agreed to. The Public Works Committee's report contained a resolution to the effect that tenders should be called for. to be opened last Wednesday, for cleaning streets in the Wood, and other work. The time had been extended to Friday, and Cr Levien said that he did not admit the right of the Works Committee to call for tenders. Cr Harley explained that the reason was that the Committee were desirous of getting the whole of the sheets cleaned up by Christmas, and this would also be a good opportunity of contrasting contract and day work. The specifications were then read for four different works and agreed to. Resolved that Hardy-street from Tregea's to Patterson's corner be gravelled. The luspector of Nuisances reported that he had examined the chimney at the Soho Foundry and considered it a nuisance, but that it might be abated by raising the chimney ten or twelve feet,— Resolved that the Mayor see Mr Moutray on the matter. It wa9 resolved that the Surveyor be instructed at once to undertake the necessary work for protecting the sewer in St. Vincent street. Cr Crewdson called attention to the fact that the gorse was all growing again in the streets, and suggested that the matter should be attended to at once.— The City Surveyor was instructed to prepare specifications for cleat ing it. The following tenders were opened for clearing the gras3 from the footpaths :— No. 1— W. Roberts £18; Wells and Co. £15 17s 6d ; Ricketts and Co. £15 17 ; Bray and Mitchell £7. No. 2— Hesketh and Co. £9 193; Bray and Mitchell £10; Wells and Co. £14 4s9d; J. Gribble £1C 13s 9d; Ricketts and Co. £24 7s. No. 3— Bray aud Mitchell £12. No. 4— Hesketh and Co. £23 13s; Bray and Mitchell £26. On the motion of Cr Harley, seconded by Cr Levien, Bray and Mitchell's tender for Nos. 1 and 3 were accepted, and Hesketh and Co's. for Nos. 2 and 4. On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr Trask, the sum of £3 was voted for a Christinas dinner for the prisoners. A letter was received from Mr J. Moorhouse objecting to the levels in Brougham street. It was agreed that the levels be adopted. The Mayor moved. That the present staff of day labor men engaged on the streets be reduced, and that all works which the reduced staff are unable to do be done by contract. He was in no way dissatisfied with the men, but thought that by reducing the staff one half, and letting more work by contract they would get it more cheaply done, and give a chance of obtaining employment to a greater number Cr Harley secouded the resolution, which was agreed to. Cr Trask moved that a month's notice oe given to those to be discharged, instead of a fortnight, as was the usual thing. Ayes— Crs Trask, Crewdson, Little, and Hounsell, Noes — Crs Harley, Levien, EVerett, Cross, and Johns. The Mayor moved that with a view tc reorganising the Committees of the Council the present Financa and Public Works Committees be discharged, and fresh Committees appointed. He thought that the present Works Committee was overworked, and would suggest that three Committees be appointed, namely, Finance, Works, and Gas and Water. Cr Levien seconded the resolution. Cr Harley moved as an amendment, thai oie member be taken from the .Finance Com mittee and placed on the Works Committee which would make matters more equal, anc remove the jealousy that now existed. A: it was. the whaf arguments were brought forward or the opposite side. The Works Committee, on the other hand, were very different, being always ready to give way when shown to bt wrong. He would like to see Cr Everett or the Works Committee. Cr Little seconded the amendment. Cr Everett thought three Committees would work better, and suggested that th« Mayor be exofficio chairman of all three Committees. He wa3 not aware of any jealousy existing between the Committees. Crs Little and Crewdson thought that witi three Committees there would be a difficulty in getting a quorum. Cr Harley thought it would be a verj wrong course to adopt. If what they wanted was to get rid of the Chairman of the Worki Committee he was perfectly willing to resign. The amendment was put and lost, only Crs Harley and Little voting for it.

The original resolution was then pat, with the following result :— Ayks: The Mayor, Crs Levien, Everett, Johns, and Hounsell. Noes: Crs Trask, Crewdson, Cross, Harley, and Little. The Mayor gave his casting vote with the Ayes. The following Committees with the Mayor tx-officio chairman of each were then appointed :— Finance : Crs Everett, Levien, and Hounsell. Gaa and Water : Crs Johns, Crewdsou, and Trask. Public Works : Crs Harley, Little, and Cross.