MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 849, 4 January 1879, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The following Councillors were present at last night's special meeting :—W. J. Steward . (Mayor), Headland, Mainland, Gibbs, Familton, Spence, Humphrey, and Liddle. His Worship, before taking up the consideration of the Waterworks question, called the attention of the Council to a letter which had been received from Dr. Garland, asking permission to place a red light in the street corner lamp. Resolved that the permission be granted, provided he erect another lamp on the opposite corner, to be connected with th& street main, and that he pay for the gas consumed in both, and further that the lamps be the property of the Corporation. The consideration of the question for which they had met together was then entered upon. His Worship read the following suggestions from the Council's Engineer as to how the works should be carried out. 1. That Messrs. Jebson, West, and Kirby be appointed Clerk of Works, Timber Works Inspector, and Inspector of earthworks!;: tunnels, etc., respectively. These gentlemen were highly recommended by the Engineer as efficient, trustworthy men. 2. That the rock portion of the Black Point section be made tight, and finished at once, and a separate account to be kept of the expenditure thereon. 3. That the Awamoka section be finished by the end of this month by day work. 4 That the cutting of the race downwards from Henderson's, be executed in mile lengths or more by piecework. 5. That the tunnel driving on Landon section (28 chains) be let to Walter Knight; that the remainder of race cutting on this section be let on piecework in suitable lengths, by tender; and that this be done at once, so as to bring in water from tunnels for puddling purposes. 6. That the reservoir embankment should not be filled in until this portion is finished.

7. That the large aqueducts be let, if possible, to the present sub-contractors (labor only), and that all the other aqueducts be similarly let as Boon as timber can be put on the ground. 8. That the 11-chain and 28-chain tunnels be lined, and fronts built at once by tender. A large amount of discussion took place in the consideration of the above suggestions, his Worship favoring the letting of the work by tender as the fairest mode of dealing with it, Councillors Headland, iFamilton, and others coinciding with | him. It was decided that in some cases day work should be employed as above specified. The Engineer recommended that the pipe tunnel be let to Walter Knight, as he had all the necessary materials required on the ground ; aWo, that jt vauld be better if Henderson's sub-contractors were allowed to finish the timber aqueducts, if they would be willing to do so at labor only, Mr. M'Leod informed the Council that all the material required for the 11 and 28 chain tunnels was quarried. He further recommended, and the Council concurred, that the staff should consist of Mr. Jebson (Clerk of Works), at L 6 10s a week; Mr Howarth (Resident Engineer), at Xi 6 10s a.week ; Mr. West (Inspector of Timber Works), at L 6 a week; Mr. "Kirby (Inspector of Earthworks, Cuttings, &c.), at L 6 a week, including all travelling allowances. Staffinan, LlO a month; chginman, LlO 16s a month; all to be under a month's notice on either side. The question was mooted re the inspection of the waterworks by an outside engineer, for the satisfaction of the ratepayers and general public. Cr. Liddle thought that there was no use in calling in any but a first-rate engineer, such as Mr. Gordon, of Melbourne, who would not come over for less than £SOO. Other Councillors expressed their conviction that such » course was

I needless, as it was impossible to please [everyone, and that no notice should be taken of the opinion of persons who made haphazard remarks upon the works, who only possessed a vague knowledge of what they were talking about.