CITY COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 228, 24 September 1881, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

earth was left there by Malone, and as soon as the Surveyor heard of it, he had it spread. J Cr Harley moved that the large gnm tree J in Selwyn place at the foot of the Cburch Hill be cut down, as it was likely to lead to j an accident. j Cr Bunny spoke in defence of the tree and a lively discussion followed resulting in the i' following division :— For cutting down the tree, Crß Harley, Grabam, Little, and Hounsell; for sparing it, The Mayor, Crs Bunny, Bunny, Trask, and Johns. The Mayor gave his casting in the same direc.ion as his deliberative vote, and the tree's life was saved. On the motion of Cr Harley the Surveyor was instructed to place a few loads of gravel in Franklin street near the Asylum. On the motion of Cr Trask ifc was decided that during the summer months the water cart should be sent round at 6 a.m. Cr Graham was appointed a member of the Works Committee. Permission was grantei, on the motion of Cr Little, to the Nelson Gun Club to shoot in a sparrow match on the mud fiat on Wednesday next. The Town Cerk was instructed to proceed agaiust those whose rates were still unpaid. Cr Trask gave notice that he should move at the next meeting of the Council that tenders be invited for the supply of bricks for a culvert leading from St Vincent street to the tideway, and for the sewer in Collingwood street. The Council then adjourned.

The Council met Ust night. Present. The Mayor, Crs Trask, Bunny, Graham, Harley, Hounsell, Little, and Johns. Letters from Messrs G. Newport offering to supply stone, H. Newport applying for ■water, Schoefield and others regarding Mount street, and Vercoe with reference to the filling in in Washington Valley, were re ferred to the respective Committees. An extension of 14 days waa granted to Mr Price for tbe completion of his contract in Toi Toi-street. On the application of Mr FeH and others it waa deoided to erect a lamp at the junction of Collingwood and Brougham streets. A letter from the Rowing Club with reference to the proposed erection of & shed on tbe harbor entrance side of the Piiot station was referred to the Works Committee. The City Surveyor reported that he had found J. Andrews a licensed hackney carriage driver, in a Btate of intoxication. A letter waa received from tbe driver referred to expressing regret for what be had done and promising not to offend again in a like manner. Cr Trask said that the man referred to was on the whole a very careful driver, and he suggested that bis license be not cancelled, but that he be reprimanded and warned tbat he would lose his license if he oSended again.— Cr Grabam expressed satisfaction tbat tbe complaint had been made by the City Surveyor, and remarked that Andrews was not tbe only offender He would Hopport Cr Trask's suggestion, and hoped that what had been said would act as t. caution. The Ga3 and Waterworks Committee recommended that the extension of the water main to Mr Wilson's house in the Maitai Valley be granted on condition that he paid £4 per annum for four years, after which the ordinary rate would be levied. The Committee reported everything working satisfactorily at tbe gasworks, and recommended that the Surveyor be sent to Wellington to purchase the plant for the manufacture of asphalte if he were satisfied with it.— ln reply to Cr Trask the Mayor said tbat the plant was being disposed of as ' the owners had no further use for it on account of the Corporation having decided to manufacture their own asphalte. — Cr Graham had no objection to the purchase being made it it were ceriain that the Surveyor understood the manufacture of asphalte and could make it better than some tbat ban been laid down on the footpaths. The City Surveyor's report stated that Malone had thrown up bis contract in "Waimea-street and that the next lowest tenderer, Gillifoyle, had offered to complete tbe work as left by Malone for the sum he origioally tendered for. It was decided to accept this offer, and, on the motion of Cr Graham seconded by Cr Trask, to pay the two men who had been employed by Malone for two or three days their wages, which they were unable to get from bim.— Cr Harley said that he should move at a future sitting tbat all tenders should be accompanied by a deposit as a guarantee that the work be completed. The Inspector of Nuisances reported that on a recent toar of inspection he had found the town in a satisfactory condition. A telegram was read from Alessrs Brooks and Goodsir of Newcastle stating they they could get no vessel sailing for Nelson direct to take the timber for Collingwood bridge and asking if they should send it via Wellington. The Mayor considered that they had been exceedingly neglectful and he thought they had good reason for cancelling the purchase. In reply to Cr Bunny, the Town Clerk read the specifications, which stated that the timber was to be shipped in a vessel sailing for Nelson not later than June last, in which month tbe contractors wrote to say that the timber was ready, bnt the Malay sailed three weeks after tbe date of the letter, and it was found that the captain had never even heen asked to briog tbe timber. Cr Harley proposed that the order be rescinded, and that the Works Committee obtain New Zealand timber instead. — This was demurred to by some of the Councillors, and ultimately it wag decided to telegraph again to the contractors asking if the timber had been shipped, and statiog that if the reply was not satisfactory the order wouid be cancelled. In the event of the latter course being necessary, the Works Committee were instructed to advertise for tenders for the supply of other timber. Councillor Harley waß about to move that the Committees be differently constituted, the Gas and Water and Works Committees to be amalgamated acd to consist of Crs Everett (chairman), Bunny, Harley, Little,and Trask, and the Finance Committee to consist of the Mayor, Crs Graham, Hounsell, Johns, and Levien. The Mayor, however, roled that notice of motion must be given, and this Cr Harley did for the next meeting. Tha following tenders for the grading and forming of the road at the Fort beyond the Pilot Station were received ;— W. Taylor, £125 (accepted) ; J. McLean £134 9a ; Gribble and Roberts £137 IOs ; D. McDonald £154. Cr Harley said tbat complaints had been made of a heap of rubbish beiog left on the footpath near Mrs Betts' in Hardy-street, and tbat an accident had occurred there which Bsight lead to a demand upon the Council for compwuitfon.— lt (vat explained tba* tbo