CITY COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 207, 23 October 1880, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting was held last night. Present: The Mayor, Crs Greig, Everett, Hounsell, and Lsvien. A letter was received from the gaoler stating that for the future prison labor would have to be paid for at a rate to be determined by the gaoler, which would be as nearly as possible 75 per cent of the ordinary rate of wages; accounts to be paid monthly. The Mayor thought they should not for a moment entertain the proposal. It would be an act of gross injustice to those who were out of work. For his own part he would not employ the prison labor even at 50 per cent discount. It was uninimously resolved that the Town Clerk be instructed to reply that the Council declined to pay for prison labor. Leave of absence was granted to Cr Trask. A letter was received from Mr J. Kitching resigning the office of pound keeper. Mr James Thompson was appointed in his stead. A letter was received from Captain Johnston stating that the Government declined to move the pilot boat shed, as it was on the foreshore, and that the Council had no right to reclaim from the sea without special legislation. The Mayor said that the Council had been treated with great discourtesy in the matter, theletter having been written to the Government in July and the reply only just received, three months later. The Town Clerk was instructed to write, pointing out that the shed was already' encroaching on the road, and asking that, the matter might be reconsidered. A letter was received from Mr Hunter Brown, asking that the hours for ladies bathing in the marine baths might be altered to four to Bii on Wednesdays and Fridays. Agreed to. Cab driver's licenses were granted to Edward Woodward and John M'Cormick. The report of the Gas and Waterworks Committees recommended that the reservoir keep.r be instructed to keep a book, and enter therein the dates on which the reservoir was cleaned out. Also that the present one inch water pipe in Hampden-street be utilised for gas, provided that a sufficient number of householders apply for it. Agreed to. The Mayor said that the reservoir was cleaned out yesterday, and he went to 6ee it aud found that there was a little green vegetation at the bottom, which with the reflection from the hill gave the whole of the water the appearance ascribed to it by Cr Ilarley on a recent visit. The City Surveyor's report on the gasworks stated that the amount of coal carbonised during the quarter ended the 30th September last was 264 tons 16 cwt, which yielded 2,845,020 cubic feet of gas, being at the rate of 10,747 feet to the too, with an illuminating power of 19 5 candles. The consumption of gas as compared with that of (he corresponding period of last year Bhowed an increase of 436,600 -feet. The Mayor said that the whole of the works were in excellent condition, and would -compare favorably with any in the colony. Alettcr was received from the Bishop of Kelson, asking that tbe memorial obelisk constructed for the.) recent .ceuteparyucileV bratiori might be erected i.n ; the. rT eel .p^nd reserve, certain-trustees undertaking to keep it in! repair. T Leave was granted.- -. ;: The- ordinary business being concluded, the Mayor stated that notices of motion had been given by Crs Harley an.d^LGv^en^lput.as neither of them were' present ! they would lapse.

Cr Everett said that he had prepared an n amendment, but as the original motion was not brought forward he would give notice of it as a substantive motion for the next tneete iug of the Council :— That this Council d declines to sauction any expenditure in i- repairing the old Collingwood-street bridge. That the construction of a new bridge is necessary, and that it be placed on the site , l- of the present one. That the plans and specifications drawn by the Surveyor, and submitted to this Council be accepted. That it be an instruction to the Surveyor to order, in proper season, the necessary timber and material, and, as soon as convenient after the 11 delivery of the same, tenders be called for the erection of the bridge. That the ra- - quired amount to carry out the work be taken >■ from the general account.