MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 6, 28 April 1876, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Municipal Council was held in the Council Chambers last evening at half-past seven. Present : Councillors Galbraith, Falconer, Headland, Scott, Sinclair, Grave, and the Town Clerk. Councillor Galbraith was voted to the chair. The minutes of the previous ordinary and special meetings were read aiuj confirmed. COMMUNICATION FROM THE MAYOR. A letter was read from his Worship, apologising for non-attendance, through illness. correspondence. Mr. M. J. Chennells applied for permission to transfer the lease of municipal section 31, block LII, to Mr. F. H. Townsend.— Granted. . . From Mr. H. Boxhall, for permission to transfer the lease of municipal section 4, block LXXVIII, to Mr. W. M'Clure.— Granted. • , , From Mr. R. Hastings, stating that lie was unable to take up contract i)o, as he had made an error of £IOO in making his calculations. . . From Mr. C. Galbraith, asking permission to lay a pipe from his saw-mills to Humberstreet, to convey clean water from his premises when required. —Granted. Work to be done under the superintendence of the Town Surveyor. From the Manager of The Evening Mail, soliciting a share of the Council s advertisements. —Councillor Falconer moved, "That The Evening Mail receive a fair share of the advertisements of the Corporation."—Councillor Sinclair seconded the motion, which was agreed to. . # From Mr. Alex. Willis, Provincial UnderSecretary, in reply to one forwarded by the Town Clerk, asking his Honor the Superintendent. to set apart a portion of Reserve A, as a site for a powder magazine. Air. Willis wrote —"The reserve in question having been by the Crown for a specific purpose, his Honor has not the power to alienate any portion of it for any other. At the same time I am to suggest that, as the ] [arbour Board has suitable sites at its disposal, it might be applied to to erect a magazine, and take charge of it in the same manner as is done by the Otago Harbour Board at Dunedin and Port Chalmers." —Councillor Headland moved, " That the Clerk forward an extract from the letter to the Harbour Board, and ask that body if they will agree to set aside a site for a powder magazine, to be under the control of either the Harbour Board or the Corporation." ITCJIEN-STREET EMBANKMENT. The report of the Committee appointed to confer with the vestry of St. Luke's Clmrch with regard to the drainage of the embankment on the Church property, was laid on the table, stating that the Committee, on behalf of the Corporation, had agreed to contribute £5 towards the expense of sloping the embankment. A letter from the Vestry of St. Luke s was also read, acbepting the offer on the understanding that* the; slope is not made more than one-intwo,- and that the Town Surveyor afford theVfestry every information required for the calling of tendei-3 for the work. Councillor Headland moved, "That the request be acceded to, and that the Suiveyor be instructed to forward to St. Luke's Vestry all necessary information." Councillor Falconer seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE. The Clerk read an approximate estimate of income and expenditure of the Corporation for the ensuing municipal year. Councillor Scorr moved, "That the estimate read be adopted, and that the same be forwarded to the Provincial Government for publication in the " Gazette." Councillor Falconer seconded the motion, which was agreed to. DRAFT LEASES. The Corporation Solicitor forwarded the draft leases for the Market and Slaughterhouse Reserves. —Read and adopted. THE ENGINEER. A draft of agreement between the tion and the recently-appointed Engineer was read and approved of. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. Your Committee begs to report>" That as the proposed alterations suggested by the Engineer for strengthening the Thames-street bridge would cost about £4OO, your Committee do not think that, under the present circumstances, they would be justiiied in spending so large an amount of money, as a cheapcr°method has been suggested by the Engineer, which, although not so reliable, would in a great measure tend to obviate the danger referred to by him, and not cost more than £IOO. Your Committee have, therefore, authorised the Engineer to carry out the latter work suggested by him, at a cost not exceeding £IOO. The report was ordered to be considered in Committee. REPORT FROM THE ENGINEER. A letter was read from Mr. M'Leod, enclosing a report of the works in course of construction. He suggested the report should be considered in Connniltee. ACCOUNTS. Several accounts were passed for payment. TENDERS. Tenders were ordered to be called for ker'oing and channelling the footpath in Tync-street. COMMITTEE. The Council went into Committee at 9.15, to consider the Engineer's report, and the representatives of the Press then retired.