CITY COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 123, 24 May 1880, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting 1 was held last Friday night. Present — The Mayor, and Crs Crewdson, Everett, Hounsdl, Little, and Trask. A letter was read from the Town Clerk at Dunedin regarding the proposed stoppiug of the subsidies, in which it was pointed out that the Financial Arrangements Acb 1876 provided that the subsidies should -be paid out of the consolidated fuud for five years; also that arrangements had been made by the municipalities upon the strength of this understanding. The letter concluded by suggesting that the various bodies interested should call upon their representatives to oppose the withdrawal. It was resolved to request the City members to offer all the opposition in their power. la reply to a letter from Dr Monckton it was staled that the appointment of Health Officer rested with the Government, and not with the City Council. A letter from Mr J. T. Catley called attention to the state of the road from Nilestreet bridge in the direction of Brook-street Valley. It was resolved that the requisite repairs be made. A complaint having been received from Mr D. C. Tennent regarding the lower part of Victoria-street, the Surveyor was instructed to have the road gravelled. In reply to a letter from Mr S. B. White, suggesting that the unemployed should be set to work on the land near the railway station to prevent the water running over it, the Town Clerk waß instructed to reply that there are no funds available for such a purpose. The City Surveyor's report was then read. It included estimates of the coat of laying a I fifteen iuch drain in Colliugwood-street, of cutting a channel above vhe reservoir, and of forming Wellington-street. It also recommended that the kerosene tin drain in Colliugwood-street from Mr Johnson's to Mr Bray's should be replaced by 12 inch drain pipes at a cost not exceeding £10. The recommeudatiou was adopted. The following tenders wera received for cutting a straight channel above the reservior : Avery and Roberts £18 10s (accepted); Mr Hurley, £25 12s 6d; Collins and Hunter, £31 10s; Mr Dagan, £35; Davis and party, £35 10s ; Mr Merrick, £50; R. Carter, £52 5s ; Ricketts and party, £60; P. Harris, £61 10s. The following tenders were received for forming and gravelling in Bronti and Wel-lington-streets :— W. Lock, £34 15s (accepted); R. Carter, £41 11s; W. Taylor and Ricketts and party, £48 each. On the motion of Cr Everett, seconded by Cr Trask, it was resolved to make a footpath in Washington Valley. On the motion of Cr Everett, it was resolTed to form a footpath trom the Hospital to the City boundary. On the motion of Cr Crewdson, it was resolved that the Surveyor be instructed to prepare plans and specifications for forming a footpath in Vanguard-street. Cr Trask proposed that as there were so many men out of work just now they should be employed in making the cutting in Ruasell-street, which he thought could be done at the present time for at least £200 less than when labor wag more scarce as he felt sure that men would prefer to work for the Corporation instead of going on the Pelorus road at 3s 6d per day. The plans were all ready and he thought that tenders should be invited at once and a special meeting called for opening them. The Mayor, who suggested that it would be advisable to let the work in several sections, was requested to consult with the Surveyor, and to call a special meeting at an early date. Cr Trask suggested that a few poun should be expended upon planting trees on the reclaimed land between the railway and the Port road, but Cr Everett thought that there were so many useful works required that there were no funds available for ornamental ones. The matter then dropped. The question of laying drains in Colling. . wood-street was referred to by Cr Little, but deferred until the next meeting. On the motion of Cr Little it was resolved to gravel the footpath on the north side of Bridge-street from the Evening Mail office to Trafalgar street, and to make up the path in Vanguard-street from Hardy-street to Dr Williams' cottages. Cr Little complained of the beams on Nonnanby Bridge, and the Surveyor was instructed to make an improvement in the carriage way. Cr Little in referring to the concreting of the footpaths said that Messrs McGee. Chisholm, and Pratt were anxious to have the work done in front ot their premises. The opinion was exj rested that those who wanted their footpaths concreted should apply to the Council direct. Cr Little called attention to several places in the streets in the Wood that required patching, and to the state of Wellingtonstreet near the Congregational Church. The Surveyor was instructed to make the necessary repairs. On the motion of Cr Trask it was resolved that a proper ford be made at once through the Maitai river in Collingwood street. The Council then adjourned.