MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 78, 21 July 1876, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Municipal Council was held last evening at the Council Chambers. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Sinclair, Headland, Mainland, and Grave. ■• MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. The outward correspondence was read and approved of. CROSSING. Mr. Swanson asked permission to lay down a footpath, gravelled or metalled, to his property in Eden-street. —Granted. TRANSFER OF LEASE. Mr. Alexander Copeland was granted permission to transfer the lease of part of Municipal Reserve L> to Mr. W. Copeland; also permission to transfer the lease of section 10, block XCII., to Mr. John M'Farlane. GREYMOUTH COAL. Mr. F. J. Jeffreys offered to let the Corporation have forty tons of coal. It was jre solved that Mr. Jeffrey's letter be referred to the Gas Works Committee, with power to act. LAMP POSTS. Messrs. Keid and Gray wrote stating that the extra cost for the alteration to lamp posts would be 30s. a post. Referred to Gas Works Committee, with power to act. RIGHT-OF-WAY. Mr. J. Church wrote on behalf of Mr. William Rayner, asking permission to make a right-of-way for a dray or express from Humber-street to his (Mr. Rayner's) premises (the old brewery). It was resolved that Mr. Church's letter, on behalf of Mr. Rayner, be considered at the next meeting, and that the Engineer be requested to furnish a report of the probable cost of making a bridge across the creek, from Humber-street to Tyne-street. TEES-STREET SOUTH. A letter was read from Mr. Weedon, regarding the retaining w r all erected on his property in Tees-street South. Ordered to lie on the table till the next meeting of the Council. POWDER MAGAZINE. The Secretary of the Harbour Board wrote, informing the Council, that the Board had decided to construct a magazine in the cliff beyond the Breakwater. Resolved: That the Harbour Board be thanked for their courtesy in the matter, and that they be asked to construct the same as soon as they conveniently can. SUBSIDY TO THE BRIDGE. The Secretary of the Harbour Board wrote, enclosing a cheque for £750, being the sum voted by the Board for widening the bridge in Thames-street, to the full width of the street on the east side. STOP WORK. The following petition, signed by propertyholders in Coquet-street, was read : To His Worship the Mayor, and Corporation of Oamaru. Gentlemen, —We, the undersigned, pro-perty-holders in Coquet-street, noticing that tenders are being called for kerbing, channelling, and asphalting of Coquet-street, from Thames to Humber-street, would respectfully request that these works should be deferred, as we cannot at present see the necessity for such expenditure, but would respectfully bring under your notice the necessity of forming the street to its permanent level, and putting down some metal. Councillor Headland proposed, and Councillor Grave seconded, a resolution—" That the request of the petitioners re non-kerbing of Coquet-street, be acceded to."—Carried. RESIGNATION OF MR. COURTIS. Mr. H. Courtis wrote, tendering his resignation as Engineer to the Gas Works, on account of ill health. It was resolved on the motion of Councillor Headland and seconded by Councillor Sinclair, that the resignation of Mr. H. Courtis, the Gas Engineer, be accepted, and that the Council hereby expresses its extreme regret that the state of his hearth will not allow him to continue in the occupation of an office in which he has given the most unqualified satisfaction to the Council. And that the Gas Committee be requested to confer with Mr. Courtis, as to the future management of the Gas Works. It was resolved that a bonus of £25 be voted to Mr Henry Com-tis. A LETTER FROM MR. SHRIMSKI. Mr. Shrimski, M.H.R., wrote drawing the Council's attention to certain provisions contained in proposals of the Government. The letter was ordered to lie on the table for consideration at next meeting. TENDERS. The following tenders were opened for the forming and metalling of Coquet-street:— £ s. d. Michael M'Grath 352 0 0 B. Battersby 290 0 0 D. Heron and Co. 33111 0 Watson and King 435 0 0 Rasbatch and Co. 319 15 0 R. Hastings 273 10 0 H. Munro 352 0 0 It was resolved that none of the tenders for work in Coquet-street be accepted. ASPHALTING. Tenders for asphalting footpaths were opened as follows : Thomas Kerr, 3s. peryd; repairs, 3s. 6d. per yard. John Chalker, 2s. 9d. per yard ; repairs, 3s. per yard. John M'Menemin, 3s. 3d. peryd. J. Hegarty, 3s. s£d. per yard; repairs, 3s. s|d. per yard. W. Blackly, 3s. sd. per yd; repairs, 3s. Id. per yard. Jas. Markham, 3s. lid. per yd. It was resolved that Mr. John Chalker's tender to asphalte the footpaths and do the repairs be accepted, excluding Coquet-street. THE ENGINEER'S REPORT. The following report was read and received : " Engineer's Office, "Oamaru, 20th July, 1876. "To His Worship the Mayor and Councillors. " Gentlemen, —I have the honor to report on the various works in hand as follows : "Humber-street is finished; as, also, the fencing in of the Gas-works site. "Tees-street, Dee-street, and Glen-street road will be fiaished next week. " Widening Thames - street is . nearly finished, less gravelling. "Thames-street Bridge, Tyne-street kerbing and channelling, and the formation of Eden-street will all be completed in the course of next month.

"Contracts have been entered into for works .* in * Steward-street, Medway-street, Eight -of - way, Oamaru Creek diversion, Bridge over creek at Lees and Moore's, and metal supply for Severn-street on favourable terms, and works will be commenced next week. "Tendershave been invited for asphalting footpaths in Thames - street, Tyne-street, - Wansbeck-street, and Coquet-street. Also, for other works in Coquet-street. " With reference to the petition handed in by Councillor Falconer from ratepayers in F.xe-stroet, as to forming that street, I find that the cose of making it up to its permanent level would he about £4OO. "Re Water Supply.—The course of the aqueduct has all been pegged off, and the land survey will be finished within a week. " The deposit plans are neai-ly completed, and the book of reference is made out in draft. " I have the honor, &c, " D. A. M'Leod, "Engineer." | BALANCE-SHEET. The Clerk read the balance-sheet for the hali'-ve-r ending June, 1876 : £ s. d. Deposit in K Bank, Dec. 31... 12,000 0 0 Rates 1,964 18 5 Licenses under Otago Revenue Act £827 12 10 Bye-law penalties 52 1 6 Subsidy from Government ... 191 11 7 Poundage and weighbridgefees 140 0 6 Sundries ... 82 12 6 ' Interest on deposit 442 10 0 Kerbing 552 1 0 Rents 643 6 0 Overdraft at Bank 410 4 10 Cheques outstanding ... ... 20 19 11 £17,328 0 1 By balance, Dec. 31, 1875 ... 2,19115 5 Sinking fund... 300 0 0 Int. debentures 351 15 0 Fever ward ... 300 0 0 Int. on overdraft ... 88 2 9 Salaries 429 14 0 Ordinary expenses 61S 11 2 — 1,048 5 2 Contracts 4,863 14 3 Day labor (wages) 508 14 0 Gas supply 4,305 0 11 Water supply 298 1 0 Cash in hand 72 11 7 Fixed deposit 3,000 0 0 £17,328 0 1 ACCOUNTS. Several accounts were submitted and passed for payment. THE MAYOR'S VALEDICTORY ADDRESS. At the conclusion of the ordinary business of the Council last evening, his Worship the Mayor made the following remarks : His Worship said that as that would probablybe the last time he would occupy the Mayoral chair at a general meeting of the Council, a position he had always coveted himself, and which he esteemed as a high one, he desired to thank the Councillors for the courteous manner they had always treated him when sitting at the head of that table. Although sometimes his rulings might not have coincided with the views of some of the Councillors, they were given impartially. He expressed his regret that during his tenure of office he should have suffered so much from illJiealth. On the very first day that he accepted office he met with an accident, which had prevented him from attending to his duties with that energyas he would otherwise wish to have done. It was for that reason, and in the 1 - hope that his health would have improved, that he should have desired to occupy the chair for another year, so. that he ,'might have done more justice to- himself and to the town; but it had been willed otherwise, and he had declined to.->re-offer himself as a candidate for the office. His Worship then alluded to the important works which had been commenced during his term of office. One of the most important was the completion of the Gas Supply Scheme. HethoughtMr. Courtis was entitled to great creditforthe satisfactory manner in whichhe had carried out the work entrusted to him. As the price of gas had been talked about, and also alluded to in the Press, he thought it was but right to state that it was the wish of the Council—individually and collectively—to reduce the price of gas to the lowest possible limit, so long as it would provide for payment of working expenses, interest, and sinking fund. One other great work, was the introduction of a water supply, and the scheme proposed seemed to be a good one, and if carried out for the sum mentioned by the Engineer, would be a cheap work and a very satisfactory one. He tliought that a good supply of water would be a great boon to the citizens. He did not think it would be out of place to mention that the Council had waited upon the agent for the gowan property, and had every reagon to believe that a satisfactory arrangement woidd be arrived at. Another work which he thought had been of great benefit to the town, Avas the construction of the Thames-, street bridge. The great responsibility? laid with him as to its being constructed to ■ the full width of the street, and depended on his casting vote. He did not shirk the responsibility. He thought it had been a great improvement to the town, and had met with the approval of the Council, and the citizens, more particularly, as part of the expense had beenborne by the Harbour Board, and had. been to the mutual benefit of both bodies.? He would suggest to the Councillors present, and to the'incomingCouncillors, the desirability of obtaining some revenue from the west side of the bridge in the same manner as the Harbour Board had

done with the east side. Referring toi Garden Reserves, he said that thovwh a small beginning had been made improving the reserves set- aside for D J health and recreation, he hoped ft only the commencement of a work I would tend greatly towards the impJ nient of the health, and pleasure of tw habitants, and would help to make f town a resort for visitors. His ty OR i then drew attention to the import. changes in legislation* with regard municipal bodies, and with due defers to Councillors who entertained di%, views, he considered it was advk for the Council carefully to coiS these changes, as they materially aCj their interests and that of the dirt! generally, changes which he tW were not as at present contemplated 1 gether for the benefit of the Before sitting down, he wished to ejJ his satisfaction at the way the office, the Council had carried out their di* and the courtesy with which they fc always been willing to supply hkj j information on various matters engag the attention of the Council. again thanked the Council, and tooii seat amidst applause. The Mayor then vacated the chair t Councillor Sinclair was voted Chains . Mainland, as one who fc been in the Council for sis yean j eluding Mr. Sumpter's term of office, ig express his great regret that theysij lose the services of the present Ik He felt certain that all the membgj the Council would join him in ujs that Mr. Sumpter's health would»; improve that on a future occasion would again be able to offer himself Mayor. He thought the Council uu be congratulated on the mutual goodi ing and harmony which had eas between Ms Worship:.and the Council and this was owinsfiri a great nieasm the Mayor. He then moved the follot resolution, which was seconded by (J cillor Headland, and earned ns mously :

"That a vote of thanks be recorded k Worship the Mayor, George SumpterJ in the minute-book of the Council, f« impartial and courteous manner in whid has discharged the duties pertaining it office duriug the past year, and to eij the extreme regret that this Council that owing to his ill-health he has beeni pelled to decline to allow himself to ben nated for the office again, the more espeg as the great and important works thati inaugurated will possibly suffer for tlti of his large and extended experieaa management. This Council, in biddim; well to his Worship, trust that it is i temporary separation, and that ini months his health will be sufficienil stored to permit him to resume .his pa as our Mayor again. It must, howere very gratifying to him in so much till ing his term of office lie has assisted! inauguration of the most important e tensive public works that have been u taken in our Municipality, includiii| successful carrying out of the Gasworq commencement of the present water tij and the bridging of the Oamaru Creel,' The Coimcil then adjourned. i