MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 126, 15 September 1876, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting was held last evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Headland, Mainland, Grave, Scott, Booth, Morton, and Galbraith. MINUTES AND CORRESPONDENCE. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence approved of. PRICE. OF COKE AND TAR. The Manager of the Gas Works wrote, asking what price he was to charge for coke and tar.—The letter was referred to the Gas Works Committee. EDEN AND REED STREETS. Mr. O'Meagher wrote to the Council regarding the state of these streets. Councillor Scott proposed, and Councillor Galbeaith seconded, a resolution—- " That the letter from Mr. O'Meagher be referred to the Public Works Committee, with power to act in the matter referred to, as well as the other streets intersecting Reed-street."—Carried. carriage-way. Dr. Dale requested permission to make a carriage-way to hisresidence, Reed-street. —Granted. FOOTPATHS AND FENCING. Mr. Lowe, Resident Engineer, wrote to the Council, stating lie could not recommend the Government io undertake the fencing of the Esplanade, or the forming of the footpaths on each side of Wansbeekstreet at its eastern end—near the railway —as it was not necessary for the working of the line. bee's corner. The following telegram was read by the Mayor : " To the Mayor, Oamaru. " Interviewed Richardson several times ■re cornerTyne-street. Matter been referred to Lowe. " S. E. Shrimski. " T. W. Hislop." THE ENGINEER'S REPORT. "" Engineer's Office, " Oamaru, 14th September. " To His Worship the Mayor and Councillors. " Gentlemen, —I have the honor to report upon the works in hand as follows : " Contract Ko. 100 Steward-street, &c., is being carried on with all despatch; also, the most of the materials for building bridge at Lees and Moore's is on the ground, and the contractors will start building in the course of ten days or so. " The roadway from Ouse to Aln-street has been co3?menced, and will be finished within contract time.

" The Thames-street Bridge contract is finished. The trimming and gravelling of footpaths in Itchen and Wharf streets is being carried out in a satisfactory manner. "Tyne-street kerbing and channelling is not yet finished. " The asphalting contract has not yet been commenced, but I understand the contractor intends beginning the work next week. "The upper portions of Severn-street and Wansbeck street have been materially widened and improved by the day men.

" The lower part of Severn-street has been metalled in the centre, near to the junction with Coquet-sireet. " Part of T3Tie-street has been metalled in a proper manner. The remainder of tliis street and the lower part of Itchenstreet ought to be picked up and a thin coating of metal put on. "In Thames-street, from the Bridge to Coquet-street, the metalled portion is being slightly widened. This street is far too fiat, and ought to be rounded up and metalled by the beginning of next Avinter. "It would be advisable that Thamesstreet Bridge should be metalled for the full width as soon as possible. "A good deal of the old channelling along Thames and Tyne streets is very deficient in quality, and is much down at many places, notably at the crossings and right-of-ways. These crossings ought to be put right at once.—l have, &c, "D. A. M'Leod." The report was read and adopted. OUT OF WOSK,

A petition was presented by the Mayor from sixty-seven men out of employment in Oamaru, and praying that some work might be foiind them. It was resolved—" That tenders be called for 1,000 yards of bluestone, to be laid down in places pointed out by the Engineer. Tenders to be in by Thursday next, at noon ; the Public Works Committee to have power to deal with- the same, and that on the stone being delivered, the breaking of the same, for employment, be given to the petitioners at per yard." REPORT OF GASWORKS COMMITTEE. The following report was read : "Your Committee have the honor to report that, as directed by the Council, they have enquired into the cost of producing gas per thousand feet, and have also made up ari account showing the cost of management for a period of four months (say, seventeen weeks) on the basis of. the actual experience of the past four months. Also an account of the cost of the works and buildings. By these statements, which are subjoined, it will be seen that at the present rate of consumption, allowing 10 per cent, for interest and sinking fund on £7,500, capital invested, 3 per cent, insurance fund on £I,OOO, and for wear and tear and renewal of plant at the rate of £4OO per annum—as per the estimate of the Engineer for the first year, together with cost of material used and wages paid—the cost of gas per I,oooft. to the Council is jl7s. Your Committee, therefore, while recommending that the present price be reduced, cannot recommend the Council to make a greater reduction than 2s. 6d. per thousand feet ; which they advise should be done on and from ti%3Lsfr of the cur- j

rent month. It may be pointed out thai the consumption may be doubled without in any corresponding degree increasing the expenditure of the works, and, there:fore, with any large increase of consumption the question of reduction of prico could be again considered. "We beg to call your attention to the fact that the above statement is founded on the consumption during the four winter months, when the consumption is greatest. STATEMENT OF PROBABLE INCOME AND BX-j PENDITURE FOR NEXT FOUR MONTHS. Revenue. £ s. 4 Street lamps, averaging nineteen lamps, costing £l6 per month 64 0 0 Supply of gas, and meterrents (consumption of gas for four months, say 900,000 ft.) ... 939 17 6 Coke, say 35 tons, at 40s. per ton ... 70 0 0 Tar, say ... ... ... 25 0 0 Rent of cottage (one quarter) 16 13 4 £1,115 10 10 EXPENDITURE. £ S. 4 Coal consumed in four months 219 11 5 Lime ' .... 23 2fl Consulting Engineer, at £IOO per annum 33 6 8 .Wages ' 113 1 0 Manager's salary ... ... 59 10 0 Sundries ... ... ... 17 0 0 Clerical work (collecting) ... 42 10 0 Interest, at 10 per cent. ... 250 ofl Wear and tear, and renewal of plant ... 133 6 8 Insurance fund, 3 per cent, on £I,OOO 10 0 0 £9Bl 7 9 To credit 134 3 1 £134 3s. Id., equal to say 3s. per 1,000 feet. Councillor Mainland moved, "That the report of the Gasworks Committee be adopted." Seconded by Councillor Headland. Councillor Headland proposed, as t further amendment, "That the Council at its rising adjourn to Friday, at 11 a.m. to consider the price of gas." The other two propositions were with drawn, and Councillor Headland's motioi was then put and carried. finance committee's report. The Finance Committee's report ws read and adopted. ASSESSORS. It was resolved that applications be in vited for the office of Assessor for th ensuing year; the applications to be sen in by the next fortnightly meeting. > ACCOUNTS. Some accounts were passed, and th Council adjourned. THE PRICE OF GAS. An adjourned meeting of the Counc was held this morning at the Counc Chamber. Present : His Wors^^sth Mayor, Councillors Scott, ton, Headland, Booth, Bee, Graven an Galbraith.

The chief business of the meeting to consider the present price of gas. Councillor Headland proposed the fo lowing addition to the Gas Committee Report:— . "As notwithstanding the facts set fori in the report of the Gas Works Commi tee, the Council having ascertained that portion of the large consumers will sti i*efrain from using the gas, even when tl price is reduced to 17s. 6d. per I,oooft and have determined not to use it agai until the price is reduced to 15s they, the Council, have to consider tl effect such a secession from the rani of consumers would "nave upon the incon of the Gas Department, and cannot di guise from themselves the fast, that whe the total number of consumers is so sm) as it is at present in Oamaru, such a gre decrease in the consumption would ce tainly render the works not self-suppoi ing; while the price of 15s. per 1,000 ft would have the same effect if only t! same number of persons use the gas have already done so. The Council thus placed in this peculiar position, th the higher price will produce no more i come than the lower, but the lower pri will in all probability have the effect inducing more persons to use gas thi would do so at the higher price, and tin the lai'ger consumption would have tl effect of equalising the income and expe diture. Moreover, it would be to a ce tain extent, a hardship on those consume who have continued using the gas, to kef the price at 17s. 6d. if by so doing the r turns were no more than they would be the price were only 15s. The Cound therefore, in view of the foregoing c cumstances, resolve that the price shou be reduced to 17s. 6d., less 2s. 6d. f prompt payment, being 15s. per 1,000 ni and that the reduction take effect from tl first of the eurrent month." * Councillor Gbavb seconded the pi position. The Mayor suggested the report shot be handed in by the Committee, and 0 sidered as a supplementary report. Councillor Grave went into figures show- that the Council could not, at present consumption, supply gas un 17s. per 1,000 feet. The Commit thought that, as the public would not tsj sume gas at the rate now charged, tfc would, for the present, reduce the price 15s. per 1,000 feet. Councillor Gaibkaith : We don't wa a lengthy report like that. Let t Council resolve that the price be 17s. ft and 15s. for cash. It was moved by. Councillor Bee, a seconded by Councillor Galbbatj " That the Gas Works Committee's repo dated September 11, be re^ived/L^i: The supplementary report was tffSi J

-a a resolution*. It ww proposed by t'oanciKov Hha&casp, and ;hxi'U<U,'l by Or-vvk. After the resolution had hr.vu n-wi, CdUnoillor Worship t!i;i.. k . it w:v.' moiv IW m lender for Tic; IVLvU. 7 than <•:. ru.-."iueiou (laughter). Councillor FoOTif, after hen- i ■■ ;• wliat the Coancililiad said on the matter, begged to move, aa a resolution,. " That the price liu IJJB. per t r (W<;> less "> per cunt. cash, for three raoufcfi-vto ascertain whether it will ptty during that period,, or not." He felt sure if it was tried at that price for three months,, those persons who luwt now e«t uffi their gn» would ft§ain consume it. It would show the pttblie that the Council liiiil some desire to meet the wishes of consumers. i'ounciMor Otwvß thought if the Oatnaru public was not satisfied with gas at lost., lut them do without. They would soon oomo- round and use it. He considered that to*., was tlie very lowest rate at which tho ga» could be supplied. Councillor Btom seconded the amendment pvofwmfi* fcTounciltor Ihwra':* amendment was pttt anil lout. Tliw original motion was carried., and ilm Council adjourned.