MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1292, 28 May 1880, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Council took piace last evening, when there were present—His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Smith, Mainland,. Townsend, Otterson, Headland, Garland, and Humphrey. The minntes of the previous meeting and of a special meeting were read" arid confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read ! and approved; A letter was. read from Mr. John Henderson, of Awamoka, calling the attention of 'the Council to the fact that his claim for land taken for waterworks purposes had hot been settled. .It .was resolved that an award of L3O per acre, for land taken, and ft spepial sum of L3O for drainage be granted. Charles Murphy applied for a driver's license; and it was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the inspector to deal with. A letter was read from the Town Clerk of Ashburton stating that the sale of water pipe 3 had not yet been agreed upon. The Clerk of the County County Council wrote with reference to the footbridge at Black Point, also as to the state of the, road in the cutting at Wharf-street. It was resolved to call the attention of the Engineer to the foot-bridge, and that the road would be attended to.

Messrs. Bight Bros., wrote stating that 31 kegs of blasting powder had been delivered tp the ijngineep by 2sr. Leßjan, and requested payment for the same. The matte}' was left in thp hands of the Mayor for inquiry; Mr. George guippter roada application that gas be 'at once laid on to the mill leased by Messrs. Anderson & Co." Referred to the Gas Committee.

Permission was granted, to Mr. John Mainland to make certain alterations to wooden premises in Teds-street. The Secretary of the Fire Brigade wrote askings the Council to pay their liabilities, amounting to L4Q, asking for SjOQft. of hose suitable for- the "new hydrants belonging to the Corporation; Should the Council agree to this, the Brigade offerod to vost 'the whole of -their plant in the Corporation.~Some discus r sion took place on the matter, and it was referred to the Finance Committee for

report. Messrs. Hislop and Creagh wrote requesting settlement of. a> claim of L4O 13s 4d for wages due to Robert West.—The matter was referred to the Waterworks Committee. ' Periaission'wp granted lor the transfer of section Q, block 11, from Mrs. Townsend to James,. Ferguson, provided the usual fee and all arrears of rent w§p§ paid up. -• . - - • . Messrs. Anderson and Co. wrote stating that- they considered the. price, contemplated to be charged by the Counoil for water power, viz., Lls, was far too high. They, considered L 7 103 quite sufficient, and hoped the Council would see their way to reducing the figure.—lt was resolved to inform the writers that the matter was still under the consideration of the Council, v

The Clerk to the Kakanui Road Board wrote , with reference to the transfer of part of section 42, blcick 6, necessary to complete road-line to Totara Quarry.—lt was resolved thai, the Council inform tl/e Board that they are prepared to. parpy put their original agreement- . .. . The Secretary to the Stone Company, wrote relinquishing the Company's title to that pprtion of tljeJ'ptara Quarry Reserve -vyhiph pngroaphps on tfye rqacl fading to the Tqtara "railway sidjpg. The attention of the (fovjnpjl was drawn by jir. to danger to waterpipe and bank of earth through flood water near Cross The letter, was received. the v Reserves Committee's* report dealing with several matters was read and: adopted.. ... i„.. .. : : The following from the Engineer was read :

" I have the; honor to report, with reference to the Waterworks, that although there has recently been so much rain, and t^e : Maergwhenuft Riyep jn heavy flood, there has not bppft apy flange done to the works. -:v ' _ ■ " Collins' and' Brown have finished all their work in, Ross' paddock. Flaherty has a good gang of inen on, and estimates he will be finished within six Weeks, Barnes would have completed all his (jqut tracts this week if thp weather had held up. - At ; the Big Rock, Pay has all the timber framed, and"partly erected. "In tunnel work Messrs. Ritchie Young and Co;, have finished their con* tract; Their work will be finally inspected on .Tuesday first. At the 2S(-chain tunnel, Mr. Fprd has finished, with fhe exception of some pitching. At the reservoir, towpr will kg finuifcefl week.

" The earthwork is all but done, the principal portion wanting being the puddle on the inside Blope. The pitching of the slopes is getting on fast, and there is now about three feet of water in the bottom of the reservoir, the water being brought in the race from Grant's tunnel.

"In pipelaying, Messrs. Burt, and Messrs. Barraclough and Walsh have made exceHtot" pro'greSs---'--rj4r progress: tracing is sent herewith, showing amount " The fencing contracts that have ,been..begun 3 the materan^airbelng^upbn'the'ground. " Mr. Bissettrhatf aasunled hia duties as inspeetor .of . timber, works. As to the footbridge across; the, Oamaru Creek at the head of Ckelmer-street,." the work is to be done by Mr. John Bain, carpenter, who will probably vcomraence. it tomorrow."

A letter was Tread from Messrs. Juliijs and Balmer re Grant's arbitration, stating that Mr: Grant l had recovered L 415 daWa'ges; and: Lll ; lis .costs of the award (meaning Jjhe costs of the solicitor preparing it and the umpire). The award ordered each party to pay its cost of the reference,- some, discussion, it was decided to pay the award. Mr. Otterson wished to luring under the notice of the Council the adyisableness of leasing .the unlet sections in the town.— The matter was referred to the Reserves Coinmittee. 1

i The-Mayor, stated that while in Dunedin he had hada con versation with. Mr. Blair, during which' the new railway, station site croppedup. Mri Blair had told him that ;the best position for ..the > new railway station was where the gasworks at present stands. Mr. : Bliir "saiid that a number of surveys had .been made, and in fact Mr. was at present in Oamaru for the -purpose of making , fresh surveys. ■The Mayor.hadj.since hii return,- spoken ;tp Mr. Gledhill, manager of the gasworks, with reference to . the: matter, and he said that, owing-to the' cutting-eclose to the | gasworks,;the:gasometers.were inconstant danger of- gettingJ out of order. So far as the cost-was" concerned, it was estimated that it would- be about li4ooo, which,' of course, would have to be defrayed by theGovernment. -

After a few remarks from Councillors, the subject dropped. : On the motion of Councillor Garland, it Was decided to call the. attention of the Engineer to the pipe tracks in the streets.

Acoounts amounting, to L 2544 17s 8d were passed for payment. The Council then rose.