MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1307, 15 June 1880, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Municipal Council was held last evening, when there were present—Councillors Humphrey (in the chair), Otterson, Mainland, Smith, Headland, and Townsend. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and approved. On the motion of Councillor Headland, seconded by Councillor Qtterson, it was resolved, '' f That the matter of the claim of Mr, J. Hendeison, of Awamoko, be left to the Mayor and the Chairman of the Waterworks Committee, with power to act."

Mr. James Markham wrote, asking that the valuation on his property in Thamesstreet might be reduced, the buildings (the Queen's Hotel, &c.,) having been destroyed by fire. It was resolved to reduce the amount by one-third. Mr. James Johnston wrote asking to be released from his lease of Munioipal Section 4j Block 85, Thames-street. It was resolved to reply that the Council could [ not entertain the request. Mr. W. C. Baudinet wrote, stating that in pulling down the Northern Hotel he had taken about fifteen yards of bluestoqe rubble fit for road jnetal, and asking if the Council would - purchase the same. The matter was referred to the Public Works Committee.

Mr. John Hardy, as agent for Mrs. Eliza Keenan, applied for permission to

roof in with iron and enclose the south end of the timber-built cottage on section 2, block 8, having already three sides, and for permissioh to put up a sign-board. The letter was referred to the Inspector of Nuisance for his report. Mr. Hardy also asked for permission to put in an asphalt crossing across the footpath from Thames-street to section 2, block B.—Referred to the Inspector of Nuisances for,report.

Messrs. Newton and Mirams wrote asking, on behalf of Messrs. J. and T. Jardine, for payment: of the sum of L6O damages for injuries and loss sustained by them through the flooding of their land by the overflow from the water-race.-Referred to the Waterworks Committee and his Worship the Mayor. ,

A letter was read from Mr. W. J. Steward, the late Mayor, as follows :

Observing by the published reports of the proceedings of your Council that'it is intended to hand to the new member for Waitaki the Bill drafted during my mayoralty, for the purpose of effecting an exchange with the Government—giving them a suitable site for public buildings in return for the vesting in the Council of the now vacant land on the west side of Thames-street, known as the Police Paddock, providing for the completion of the South School site, &c., —I think it my duty to suggest that, at the same time, stepa might be taken to secure the issuing to the Corporation of the Crown grants for the reserves lettered A to F, and also the municipal sections in various parts of the borough. Application has been made for these, and considerable correspondence passed between myself and the Minister for Lands on the subject—see inter alia letters at pp. 831 and 839 et seq. of letter-book 1877-9. The final outcome was the decision of the Government that, as regards the municipal sections, "the generality of the trust renders it impossible to say decidedly to which class of reserves under 'the Public Reserves Act Amendment Act, 1878,' they belong," and that it would be necessary to proceed by special Bill; and you will find, by reference to the correspondence (if my memory serves me), that, aa regards reserves A to F, a difficulty also occurs, which renders it expedient to deal with them by Bill. It must be most unsatisfactory to the Council that there should be no actual instrument of title in their possession in respect to either the municipal sections or the reserves referred to, and although it may perhaps be a question for discussion as to whether the present Bill should be enlarged so as to provide for these objects, or whether a separate Bill should be introduced, and, if the latter, whether such Bill should be introduced during this session or deferred until next year, it is, in any case, clearly desirable that a matter of so much importance should not be overlooked.

The Council will, I feel sure, forgive mo for venturing thus to bring before them a subject which is clearly one of great interest to the borough.

It was decided to thank Mr. Steward for his suggestion, and the letter was referred to the Legislative Committee for report.

Messrs. Julius and Balmer wrote stating, that the Council had not the power under the Common Lodging-house Ordinance to make regulations with regard to musia and dancing. The Inspector of Nuisances reported that on the 29th May he had given notice to the drivers of licensed cabs that on and after -that date their drivers' licenses would be cancelled if they were known to drive prostitutes in their carriages, and that on the 31st May Mr. Robert Keenan had been guilty of the offence. He gave at length his reasons for adopting the course he had followed, and referred tha Council to section 6, part 12, of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876. —Some discussion took place, during which it was pointed out that many of the drivers of cabs possibly did not know who were prostitutes and who were not, and it waa quite possible that this might lead to respectable women being insulted. It waa also pointed out that the Counoil could withhold a license from any man who did not conduct himself properly, and that this was quite sufficient to meet the case. It was resolved that the Inspector should be informed that if he oould point out any driver of a licensed oab who is an improper person to hold a license the Council will on sufficient proof being laid before them, refuse to renew or cancel such license.

The Waterworks Committee reported that the following tenders had been accepted :—Supdlying bolts, Messrs, W, Fraser and Co., 4£d per lb j ereotion of timber in the Landon Seotion, Mr. J. Bills, 5s 6d per IQQ feet.—The report waa adopted, Aooounts were passed for payment aa follow; General, L3B 6s lOd ; waterworks, L 789 7s 3d; gas, L 250 10s lid. The Council then rose.