The Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JUN 23, 1876.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 54, 23 June 1876, Page 2

The Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JUN 23, 1876.

It appears that even Borough Councils are affected by the weather, for, last evening, we noticed a very poor attendance at the Civic Board. At one time it looked very much as if the evening of June 22nd woutd ta a blank in the Municipal records of Qamarct, as up to 7.45 only three representatives of the citizens had put in an appearance. Thanks, however, to the exertions of »tte Councillor who was well prepares! for the weather, a general hunt tip was made for a fourth man to form a quorum, and at last, after the moat indefatigable r exertions, the long-looked-for gentleman- arrived. Business was then promptly commenced, with Councillor He.vi>l.\Kp in the chair. We have no intention to cast reflections on those Councilors* who were not present, but it was certainly quite refreshing to notice how promptly the work before the Council was got through on this particular occasion. Whether it was the wretched weather, and the Councillors were suffering from cold feet, or whether it was that the four gentlemen present were all of one mind, we cannot for a moment pretend to say: but the unanimity which prevailed last evening was something quite I>r. \\ att'.h like, for it was "quite a happy thing to see a little family agree." The first item was a letter from the Treasurer of the Hospital asking the Council for the subsidy.voted for the Fever Hospital. This amount, of course, was ordered to be paid. Then came tenders for works in Steward, Dee, and Cften-streets : the lowest in every case tbeinsj dlMy accepted. The Public Works Committee's Report was read ;*bnt as there was such a small attendance of members, Councillor Galbrajth veiy wisely suggested that the report stliotdd stand over till the next ordinary siUkig of the Council. In this he acfed wisely, for the report contarns some recommendations of a most sweeping nature, and should-only be con-

sidered at a full meeting of the Council. It will be recollected that a fortnight ago we commented on a motion by Councillor Headland, that an uniform style of verandah should be erected all through the town. It was moved by Councillor Grave that designs should be called for, and the most suitable one selected. This motion, however, appeal's to have been thoroughly ignored by the Public Works Committee, for in their report they suggest that all verandahs in the town should be done away with, and none erected. To our mind this appears an extremely unwise step, and it is fervently to be hoped that the Council will not see its way to adopt this report. In our opinion a handsome verandah in front of a shop is a very great improvement, and adds considerably to the general apj pearance of a street. The next suggestion in the report is one wliicli it would be well |to act upon as soon as possible. "We i alltule to the removal of the Powder Magazine from the Gas Works site. ! Close proximity to a gas wox-ks is I scarcely the proper place for a powder | magazine. One explosive elemont is quite j sufficient in one place, -anti, therefore, it \ would be as well to remove gas and gunpowder as far apart as possible. We do not wish to create any unnecessary alarm in the minds of residents in town, for as a matter of fact we believe that the pow- • der magazine is now empty. It is satisfactory to notice that the Select Committee lias at last decided that the Council should appoint itself a Public Board of Health, and also that a Health Officer be appointed, at a nominal salary, to carry j out the Board's instructions. This was I certainly the most important report brought j before the meeting hist evening, and it was well that its consideration was postponed till the next sitting of the Council. We shall watch anxiously the discussion 011 this subject.