MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1268, 30 April 1880, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

; The susual fifctnightly meeting of the Council was held-lasfc evening, when there were present—His Worship the Mayor* Councillors Headland, Townsend, Mainland, Humphrey, Smith, Roberts, Otters,on, and Garland. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and approved. A memorial signed by 18 ratepayers was read praying that a foot-bridge should be placed over the Oamaru Creek at the outlet of Clieltner-street, upqn the road-line -through the Acclimatisation Reserve. The petitioners pointed out that the crossing is a direct approach to tflje town, that traffic is constantly increasing, and that there will be greater obstruction to foot passengers with the introduction of surplus water from the by-wash of the reservoir,—The matter was referred to the Public Works Committee.

Mr. W. H. Barnes wrote stating that he had lost vouchers Nos. 346 and 347, both for L 5, and asking that the Council would give him the money for was regolved thst the Council would pay the money at the end of the iponth, provided he gave the Council an indemnity. Mr. W. H. Barnes also wrote asking why the Council had rejected his tender for cleaning out the at LBSO, while a tender amounting to L 877 had been accepted. It was .decided to reply that the writer's tender was informal and that the Council was not bound-' to accept the lowest or any other tender. Messrs Cargills, Gibbs, & Co., wrote concerning an account for L 576 0"s 6d for freight and goods supplied. The letter was referred to the Finance Committee.

Mr. Henry Marshall wrotg asking for permission to lay two pipes across Teesstreet to - carry off surplus water from his tanks. Permission was granted provided that glazed pipes were used and the footpath restored. Mr. Jeter wrote stating .]that the'Councii would oblige by finishing-the fencing along the on his property, and also by defining what ground the Council require underneath the fluming, as he wished to make some improvements. The' matter was referred .to the Waterworks Committee with power to act. A letter was . read from Mr. Peter Aitqheson, on behalf of the Qeqrgetown Cemetery Trust, calling the attention of the Council to the unfinished state of the fence along , the . water-race near the Georgetown Cemetery, and asking that the fence might be completed- The matter was referred to the Waterworks Committee.

A long letter /was read from Mr. Leonidas W. Clarke with reference to hia contract, his account, the- want of materials, and other matters. letter was referred to the Waterworks Committee, with power to supply the materials and report. Mr. C. F. Roberts, Livingstone, wrote asking if the Council had for sale any second-hand wheelbarrows, and applying for particulars. —The letter was referred to the Waterworks; Committee. Mr. T. Brydone, on behalf of the New Zealand Land Company, wrpte, with reference to the land required for the waterworks on the Ardgowan Estate, stating that he believed that an award had already been made by Mr. Calcutt. —The matter was referred to the Waterworks Committee to make inquiries of the Solicitors.

Mr. G. Jones wrote intimating that in consequence of the magnitude of alterations made in the bye-laws after the contract for printing them had been partly completed, ah additional charge, amounting to the cost of the labor entailed, would be letter was received.

Mr. J. C, Gilchrist wrote asking that some person might be appointed to attend him to receive information as to the locality of the crossings and pipes promised to him in consideration of his granting land for the waterworks. He also applied for the payment of the price of the land.—The matter was referred to the Waterworks Committee, with instructions to confer with the Engineer and report, and to ascertain why the land claims have not been settled.

A memorial signed by eleven ratepayers in France's Block praying that a waterpipe sufficiently large for the supply of the inhabitants might be laid there was read. —lt was stated that the Council would not have sufficient pipes to comply with the request, and it was resolved to reply that the Council would take the matter into consideration as early as possible. _ Messrs. Bright Brothers wrote giving an explanation of a discrepancy of L 45 in in the cost of a scrubber for the gasworks, the estimate given being L 35, while the actual cost was L 45. The writers stated that the estimate of the cpst been obtained from Mi'. Genever, of the 3t>unedin Gasworks, who had failed to take into consideration the price of iron. The Secretary to the School Commissioners of Ofcago wrote stating that the Commissioners gfj.hered tp. their fprmer decision not to accept less than LIO per acre for the land taken for the waterworks.—The letter was referred to Mr. H. Connell. A letter was read from the Town Clerk of Ashburtori stating- that it had been decided to sell a number of pipes thp,t hafl been obtained for the proposed waterworks. ; Consideration pf the letter was' deferred until the price had been ascerr tained.

The Sub-Committee appointed to con- : aider''the advisableness or otherwise of ' adopting the whole of the Municipal : Corporations Act, 1876, reported recom- ' mending that steps should at once be , taken to Bring the Corporation under the provisions of the Act.—On the motion of Councillor Headland, the report was adppted, apd jt iya§ decided to take the necessary steps to bring thp Act into operation. The Gasworks Committee's report dealr ing with several patters of ctetftil was read and adopted. The principal- matter dealt with was that complaints had been made of inferior gasflfctings. The Committee therefore recommended that the rules and regulations adopted by the Dunedin Council for the guidance of gasfitters and form of license sjhoulfl be adopted by the Council. The tender of the Cfamaru Mail for printing the Rule? wag accepted as was that of tfre jfqrth for printing the Licenses, and |t wag decided to cliarge .a fee of §s for licenses. The Public Works Committee reported at some.length—First, with reference to the complaint from Mr. Amos of the nuisance existing in Wansbeck-street, that the nuisance was caused by dirty water running from Morris' buildings, and that power had been given to have a drain of earthen pipes put in outside the present channelling to connect with the sdwer in front of the Northern Hotel. Second, that the concrete channelling presented vast superiority over pitching, more particularly in steep streets. Third, that jn view of the increase of population a thorough system of sewerage would require the attention of the Council as soon as the water supply is completed. Fpurtli, the position of some of the telegraph poles in the borough was drawn attention to, one or twfl of Jihpm bejpg placed so near to the lamps that they apt 3s'complete sgreeng on one side, while to that at the corner of Itch.en and Tees-streets were attached strong iron stays placed in a dangerous position. Fifth, that the Engineer should J be authorised to have the crossings of the streets, when opened to lay pipes, shingled. Sixth, that the attention of the Engineer should be drawn tp tlie manner in which the agplialt is being replaced by the con 7 tractors where they have laid the service pipes aprosg the footpaths.—The repqet was adopted, and the jjngiiieer was instructed to take the necessary steps upon the several item?.

A memorandum from the Engineer with reference to some powder formerly belonging to Mr. Henderson, partly used by the Council, and claimed by Mrs. Hargreaves, having been read, it was resolved that the Mayor and Councillors Otterson and Headland should be a sub-committee to deal with the matter.

The Waterworks Committee reported upon a number of matters of detail, the principal items being a recommendation that applications should be called for for the office of foreman for timber work ; that the number of day laborers should be reduced to the lowest number possible, and that salaries should be paid according to the following scale :—9s, Bs, and 7s. per day; and that the Engineer had given the carting of materials to Mr. Hastie without reference to the Committee.—The report vrqs adopted. Accounts to the amount of L 2790 were passed for payment, and the Council adjourned until this evening. y?