TOWN COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 280, 16 March 1877, Page 2

TOWN COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of the Town Council took place afc the Council Chambers last night, there being present—His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors .Gibbs, Booth, Mainland, Morton, Headland, and Grave.

Mr. J. Mainland applied for permission to lay a box drain through the Wharfstreet footpath, to carry off waste water. Granted.

The lease of section 1, block 95, was determined. Permission was given for the erection of new premises for the Colonial Bank in accordance with plans submitted by Mr. Lemon.

A letter was read from Mr. Martin, Clerk to the District Road Board of Waitaki, asking the Council to join in putting down permanent culverts in the drain along the street line dividing the town from Landon snb-divisi:;n. —iieferred to Public Works Committee.

In reference to public lodging-houses, it was resolvtd, '"' That application be made to the Colonial Secretary, requesting that his Excellency may be phased to appoint the Corporation the body to execute tiie Common Lodging''Houses Ordinance, in !Ccor.l;!-:;cj with the provisions of sec.iou i, his iionor the Lite Sup- rintendeut of •■_) -ago, in extending the of the Uniin.-;ii'je io Gam am, havjng omitted to make such appointment. An applicarion from Mr. George Bruce for t!ie permanent levels of Tyiie-street, opposite section 2, block 1, was referred to the Engineer, with a request to furnish levels, if adopted, and if nob, to prepare plans of the permanent levels of Test and Tyne-streets, for the approval of the Council. Permission was granted to Mr. E. Rowland to erect buildings at the rear of the Star and Garter Hotel, as per plans antl specifications submitted. It was resolved that the matter of preparing by-laws for the proper regulation of licensed theatres be remitted to the By-laws Committee to report upon ; and that the Town Surveyor be requested to report to the Council on the means of ingress and egress to the different buildings in town used for public entertainments. Mr. lloxby was appointed collector to the Corporation, under the Bating Act, 1876. It was resolved that the rate be struck at Is. 6d. in pound for the year ending March 31, 1878, and that it be made payable on the Ist May, 1877. A report from Mr. Toms, the Inspector of Nuisances, was read, and dealt with as follows :—With reference to a nuisance on a vacant section at the corner of Coquet and Hnmber-streets, and nuisances on section 10, Block Y., and section 5, Block VII., it was resolved that the Solicitor be asked, to advise the Council whether it is empowered to compel the abatement of the nuisances, and if it be found that the Council is so empowered, that the necessary steps be taken.—The Engineer's attention was directed to the fact that there is no slope on either side of Weir-street, and that the water consequently does not flow off the sections. The Inspector also reported in reference to unregistered dogs as follows :—" They are becoming a great nuisance, and extremely dangerous to equestrians. I would also- suggest the advisability of providing the owners of all registered dogs with collars, as is done in Canterbury. This would greatly facilitate the detection of those who neglect to conform with the requirements of the law ; the cost of the collars would not exceed one shilling each." —It was resolved that where the owners of unregistered dogs cannot be found, and in case where the owners cannot be sued for the fine, the dogs be destroyed. The Public Works Committee submitted their report. The various matters contained in it were dealt with as follows : (1). It was resolved that the Engineer be instructed to prepare a plan for the-pur-pose of turning the water of the Oamaru Creek into the original channel, and bringing it down therein to the lane between Blocks LXXI. and LXXIL, thence by.the cut on the creek side to near Severn-street Bridge. —lt was determined to deal with the nuisance complained of by Mr. Black, in reference to water collecting on various sections, by referring the matter to the solicitor for his opinion as to whether the

owners of the sections could hot be compelled to fill them iap.—lt was resolved to expend £ls in the extension of a wall at Messrs. Lees and Moore's bridge, and for the purpose of effecting some slight repairs to Thames-street bridge. The matter cf erecting footbridges across both creeks in Severn-street was referred to the Engineer, with a request that he would report as to the best means of constructing same, utilising as much as possible the material of the old Thamesstreet footbridges. Several notices of motion, moved by Councillor Gibbs, for works to be done in Severn Ward, were referred to the Engineer for him to give an estimate of the cost of carrying out such works. It was resolved, " That persons using crossings over the footpath to their premises be required to make such crossings to the satisfaction of the Engineer, and either to pitch, metal, or shingle them, as he may direct, and that where the street is not kerbed and channelled, they be required to lay down box-drains in the water-tables.

The Gas Committee recommend that the Council should dispense with the services of the Consulting Engineer for Gasworks at the end of his current year, such services being no longer necessary ; and that as regards Messrs. Meek's application for gas, they could not recommend that the request be granted, as the expense of carrying the gas to their premises would be, in the meantime, too heavy.

Tt was ordered that tenders be called for carting, and, after the usual compliment to the chair, the Council adjourned.