CITY COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 49, 26 February 1881, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting was held last night. Present — The Mayor, Crs Johns, Levien, Trask, Greier, Graham, Hounsell, Little, Everett, aud Harley. A letter was read from Mr Sunley, of the Waimea Road, stating tbat when he agreed to pay double rates for the water he did so on the understanding thot he was to get enough for household purposes and for use in hia vineyard. Since December last he had only boen able to get a sufficient supply on Sundays. He therefore asked that the additional rate be remitted. It appeared tbat the only additional rates were £1 9s lOd from Mr Sunley, and 18s 4d from the Bishop of Nelson. It was agreed to remit tbese rates. A letter from Mr Chittenden asking that a hole opposite Lis gate in Puriri-street be filled up was referred to the Works Committee. A letter was read from Mr Orsman, stating that he bad on a previous occasion written to the Council complaining of the road near his property being closed, but thot no notice had been taken of his letter. The City Surveyor was instructed to see that the fences be removed. Cr Harley voted against it, stating that the property was his, but he bad let it, and did not know whether a notico had been served on the proper person. A letter from Mr J. King asking that Russell street be put in a proper state of repair before the winter was referred to the Works Committee. A letter was received from Messrs Watters and O'Brien asking that the gorse might be grubbed up, on the road near tbeir property. It was proposed to refer the matter to the Works Committee, but Cr Harley thought the whole Council ought to deal with it as all the letters coming from lhat part were the outcome of spite and jealousy. For his part ho would rather not take any notico of ifc.— Cr Trask was of the same opinion, and said that bo had gone up there onco or twice, and bad only got blackguarded i'or hia pains.— Thc letter was ordered to lie on tho table. A letter was road from S. Newport, Cassell, and Co*, oflVrfng to supply road metal (aomplo Buppliod) anywhere to tho oast of the Saltwater Drßlgo or Poatboy Jlotol for

7s a yard, and to always have a heap ready for breaking if the Council wished to set men to work, — Referred to the Works Committee. A letter was received from Mr D. Johnston asking that tbe drain in front of his house on the Haven Road might be covered. Ordered to he on the table. A letter was read from tbe Chairman of the Waimea County Council, enclosing a resolution passed by the Council refusing to contribute to the maintenance of tbe Hospital or charitable aid. Cr Everett said tbat knowing the resolution of the Waimea Council was about to be forwarded he had prepared a resolution to the same effect, which he now moved. This was seconded by Cr Trask, and agreed to. A letter from Mr Raikcs, asking permission to plant Ngatitama-street, was referred to the Works Committee. Leave was granted at the request of Mr T. Harley to the Hopgrowers 5 Association to hold a meeting in the Council Chamber on the 9th March. A petition was presented by Cr Harley from certain residents in Waimea-street, asking that the hill between Mr Touet's and Mra Snow's be lowered. — Cr Harley spoke in favor of the work being carried out, stating that although the funds might be at a low ebb, money was generally forthcoming for works of much less importance.—Referred to the Works Committee to report upon at the next meeting of thc Council. The following recommendations of the Works Committee were adopted :— That the coutracts for the drain in Shelbourne-street be deferred, as pipes are not yet obtainable ; that the time for receiving tenders for totara and birch for the Collingwood Bridge be extended to the last meeting of tbe Council in April, and that the timber be delivered in August i that tenders for iron bark be called for at once. ■ The following recommendations were made by the Gas and Water Committee ':— - Tbat the gas supply be not extended to Captain Olouston's } that the new Inspector of Nuisances be instructed to continue to take steps to prevent the waste of water ; tbat during the dry lyeatber the water at Symons Memorial be turned off wnew !' he lam l! s *™ lighted, and turned on again when tbe mu^were extinguished, — Cr Levien proposed that spring taps be fitted to; the fountain instead of the water being allowed to be coi Stan tly running*— Cr Little called attention to the filthy state of tbe fountain.— Cr Levien's resolution Was agreed to. The Committee's report stated thafc (he new inch pipe laid on to the Asylum had produced the effect of increasing the supply there. — Cr Graham was of opinion that the new pipe had nothing to do with the increased supply, but that it was entirely owing to the praiseworthy action of the Mayor in goiug round himself to so many of the houses in town and insisting upon tho wasLc of water being stopped. It was resolved tbat it was not desirable to empty the reservoir fcr the purpose of cleaning during the present dry weather. Upon the section of tbo report being read stating that tbe Committee had ordered taps and valves from Dunedin, Cr Graham argued that no Sub-Committee had the right to order a new class of goods, and to insist upon the ratepayers using tbem. Iq addition tb objecting on principle he further submitted that tbe taps and valves were very defective, and that on tbeir being taken to the Public Works Office it was found that those already in use were superior to the new ones. Cr Trask stated that the Committee had visited several premises in town, and found there was so great and incessant a waste of water going on that they felt fully justified in taking immediate steps to stop it. Cr Graham insisted that no Sub-Committee had the tight to order such a radical charge in the existing order of thing $ The City Surveyor reported that the Hardystreet Bridge was much decayed, but that it might be repaired at a cost of from .£8 to £10. The surveyor was instructed to get the work done. The City Surveyor reported that he had seen Mr Warren about the ditch and floodgate in his paddock, and that Mr Warreu declined to contribute anything towards the cose of doing anything on tbe west side, but would pay half tho cost on the east side. Tbe total cost would be from £20 to £25. On the motion of Cr Graham seconded by Cr Levien it was resolved, That those persons whose water taps aro found to be perfectly tight be not required to substitute others for them, but that tbose persons who are found to havo leaky taps be summoned forthwith. The following applications were received for tbe office of Inspector of Nuisances :— Henry Hargreaves, George Tew, 11. House. Robert Carter, J. E. Green, T. Anslow, W. Elton, J: Taylor, J. P. Goodman, W. U. Cator^ G. 11. Miller, H. Beattie, 11. Dwycr, A. Elliott, J. Biggs, J. Bartlett, C. T. Renin, G. Witney, J. Armstrong, T. R. Oxley. Tbe method adopted for voting was that each Councillor having made a list of the applicants struck out all the names but tbe one of him whom he intended to support. The choice fell on Mr Oxley who was duly appointed. Cr Graham moved that on and after tlie Ist March next all concessions made and perquisites granted by tho Corporation to its officers as additions to their fixed salaries should cease, and they will thenceforward be required to pay for gas, water, and every other requirement in the same manner as other ratepayers, excepting the person who resides in the cottage attached to thc gasworks as foreman of the works. He said tbat thia was one of tbe unpleasant duties that occasionally devolved on those who undertook a public position. It was simply on public grounds that he moved the resolution, and on account of thc ratepayers, who had to pay the salaries of the public officers out of their hard-earned wages. There was a very widely-spread feeling that such payments ceased, and bis reasons for moving in the matter were : (1) that ifc was wrong in principle for any public body acting i'or thc ratepayers that tbey should pay their officers an uncertain salary, as tho ratepayers should know exactly bow much they paid ; and (2) that thc officers already received good salaries, and therefore the perquisites could not be advocated on the ground of a reduction having been made in their salaries. It was unanimously agreed that reductions were necessary, and one way of reducing was by making their officers pay for that which thc Council now presented to them. A statement had been published stating that the borough of Nelson was not much more expensively managed than other boroughs, bufc he might state thafc afc Inverr argill where the disbursements were .-£15,000 a yea*, the salaries amounted to £555 a year, while in Nelson they were £12,000, and thc salaries £1200. High salaries were paid here, and he felt sure tbat if tbe present City Surveyor should resign and the somewhat ambitious title done away with a good man might be obtained to do the work afc a much less rate of pay. They had had thafc evening an instance of tho number of applicants that came : forward even for a menial office. He would ; move the resolution standing in his name. The Mayor asked whether Cr Graham had any idea of tho very small sum entailed in ; those perquisites. Cr Graham did not care whether ifc was fivepence or £5. He objected to thc principle of perquisites altogether. Thc resolution was then put and lost. Ayes— Crs Graham, Little, and Harley. Noes— Tho Mayor, Cm Levien, Trask, Greig, Hounsell, Johns, and Everett. Cr Lifctlo moved that a pipe drain be laid in Collingwood-street to connect with the Bridge-Hired, sewer. This was petitioned for two years ngo and refused, and recently a similar work hud been authorised in another pari, of tho town. Ho thought that asked for first nhoeM havo been the first to be undertnlum. Tim Miiyor mild hu had ascertained that there went l',i punphi Inte'-'eslt'il in this matter. Of l.lumo ills I't'l'iirit'tl to dm In into it if constructed. iuivi-.it \vtu'(» dniiUM'til, and only six consented, The nuil.hiii whu put nnd lout, Cr Little being fche only ene v»'linp; In favor of it. Ou the motion ol' Of l.uiV if wmi resolved that tho Surveyor pp httiirueteil to furnish a return BlmwhiK upmoMmuhdy iho quantity of water used by tho w«(«»' engines in (ho town. It was decided tlia* tho loose big Btones le removed from tho Walmoa Road, aud Unit the water cart Bhould bo used ou the fool--1 paths where practicable. The Council adjoumed^at 10.15 p.m.

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