MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 120, 8 September 1876, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The adjourned meeting of the Council was held last evening, in the Council Chamber. There were present: His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Sbott, Booth, Bee, Headland, Grave, and Morton. _ The first business was the reading of tenders for contract 107. After a long pause, during which the Mayor asked Councillors to bring forward some motion, Councillor Booth moved—" That none of the tenders be accepted." He considered that the amount of the lowest tender was much larger than it was anticipated it would be when the tenders were called for. Councillor Grave seconded the motion. He considered that in the meantime the outlay was far from being requisite, and further, that he did not think that such an expenditure would meet with the approval of t-e ratepayers generally. The street was suitable for present requirements. He would sooner vote for spending the sum of money in question in making a proper sewer from the National Bank to the bridge, which was really a want and a necessity. Before sitting down he would state that the action he took last sitting Was merely to allow the Councillors then absent an opportunity to vote on the subject. Councillor Headland wished to know if the mover would add to his resolution, " That the levels submitted by the Engineer be adopted as the permanent levels, t .ie work to be carried out as soon as the | Council is in funds." Councillor Booth would not agree to that course. He had been informed on very good authority that the levels as proposed by the Engineer, were not the proper ones. The Council should go in a body and inspect the street themselves. Councillor Booth's motion was then put, when the mover, Councillors Grave and Bee, voted for it, and Councillors Scott, Morton, and Headland opposed it. The Mayor, in giving his casting vote in favor of the motion, rxplained that as there were some Conncil crj absent, l.e had a right to assume that had there been a full Council it would have been settled by tne Council, and his vote would not ■ave been required. He should, therefore, vote on the side which would allow the matter to be re-opened. Councillor Headlastd moved, " That the levels of tire-street, as submitted by t le Engineer, be adopted as the permanent levels." Seconded by Councillor Bee. Councillor Grave moved as an amendment, " That the matter of the levels be referred to the Public Works Committee for report, the levels to be adopted if approved of by the Committee." Councillor Booth seconded the amendment. Three Councillors voted for the amendment and three against it. The Mayor supported the amendment, in order not to commit the Council to anything. contract 108. The following tenders for a roadway in Ouse and Aln streets were opened :

A tender for £43 15s. was rejected, the tenderer not having signed his name. The tenders of Heron and Co. and M. Steel being the same, a discussion ensued as to which firm should obtain the contract. It was at length decided to take a vote on the matter. There were three for Steel and three for Heron and Co. The Maj*or gave his casting vote for Steel. THE TRAMWAY BILL. The following letter was received from Messrs. Jnlius and Balmer : ' £ The Town Clerk, Oamaru. " Dear Sir, —lie Tramway Bill. The alterations made in this Bill do not materially differ from the original, except in matters of detail, and in giving more extensive powers to the Council than was originally intended. " Yours, &c., "Julius and Balmeb." It was resolved —That the Council approves of the Bill, as submitted, and that Mr. Hislop be advised accordingly. THE COUNTIES BILL. The Mayor informed the Council that Mi*. Martin, Clerk to the Associated Road Boards, had received a telegram from Mr. Shriniski, M.H.R., asking for an expression of opinion as to the division of Gtago into two Counties, or whether there shou'd be one County for North Otago, making three for the Province. The Mayor entered at length on the subject, and explained his views on the question, which coincided with those held by other members of the Council. It was resolved unanimously, 1. " That, in the opinion of the Council, assuming that the Province of Otago is to be divided into Shires, and brought under County administration, it would be very unsatisfactory that there should be only two Counties, the one naving J)unedin, and the other Invercargill for its town. 2. "That a separate County administration should be given to North Otago, the County to consist of the present Electoral District of Waitaki, together with so much of the country on the Canterbury side of the Waitaki as is included within the same watershed. lEON BUILDING. Mr. John Thompson requested permission to <. rect an iron building on Section 3, Block VJL—Granted, provided it be erected sixty feet back from the building line.

Mrmsoif. Councillor fJftASK presented a petition khii tin- ratepayers itv \are-sirt et, pro|l!lin , that a roadway he made t» fu U'ct eonnnntueaSi-'l'v r. if.» |ij ( , r parts oF the fc Rtfl'tUTed t(> V» Ofks f/«»UtttUfce« f H t" r ' aiH'Uft MtSt'TEH. '('lie potijgh minutes wcw react, and fcHe Miiicil a< l.ourned.

M. M'Grath ... . £70 0 0 John Burke ... - . 55 0 0 Eugene M'Carthy . 52 30 0 Wm. Costello . 50 0 0 Davicl Heron and Co. . 45 0 0 Matthew Steel . 45 0 0