BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 15 October 1880, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening, when there were present—His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Blair, de Lautour, Hardy, Headland, Hassell, M'Combe, Otterson, Prooter, Smith, Sutton, and Townsend.

The minutes of the previous ordinary and special meetings were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence read and approved. Some discussion took place on a claim by Mr. Thomas Flaherty, contractor, for a balance of LBOB 12s 3d, in respect of contract for waterworks, particulars of which ha,d been furnished.—lt was decided to offer a voucher for the amount.

Mr. Peter Aitchison, on behalf of the Georgetown Cemetery Trust, wrote asking if the Council would sell seotion No. 19, adjoining the cemetery.—Referred to the Waterworks Committee to report.

The Clerk to the Waitaki Road Board wrote requesting that the Council would have the approach to the bridge over the race in Horse Gully, Papakaio, fenced to the full width of Coal Pit Road. There is, the writer pointed out, an unprotected drop of about 9jx from a road much used to the bottom of the race. The Council would understand that it would be held responsible in the event of accident. He also pointed out that the over-bye at this plaoo shoots the storm-\\ater to the centre of the road, and that the spoil from the race had been deposited at the entrance to the culvert on road-line. —Letter referred to the Acting-Engineer far immediate attention.

A letter wa,s road from the Rev. J. Steven, Chairman Lower Waitaki Church Committee, re manse land taken for waterworks, stating that they did not understand whether it was intended to adhere to the understanding that a pipe should be given for the land required.— The letter and tli© general question of giving pipes, was referred to the Waterworks Committee and the Finance Committee to report, A letter from Mr. A. M'Auley, of Georgetown, was read, claiming L 45 for damage alleged to have been sustained through the flooding of hi 3 land by the breaking out of the Oamaru water-race in or about the month of June, 18,79; and 1880. —The matter was referred to the Waterworks Committee for report.

The report of the Gas Committee was read, dealing- with the following matters (1) In connection with it, and incorported as a portion of it, was a letter from Mr. W. H. Gledhill, manager Oamaru gasworks, suggesting that an exhauster should be ordered tending to a saving of from 15 to 2ft pep oent. in the manufacture of ih& gas, as considerable loss is sustained on account of back pressure from the gas-holders, &o. An exhauster to pass, say, 2000 feet per hour would be ample for the present. The writer suggested that the gas on§Jne and pump be sold. The cost o,f an exhauster, with engine and boiler complete, to pass 2000 cubic' feet per- hour, is from LBO to. LIOO in London. The scrubber has worked satisfactorily for the past six weeks, and acts as a secondary condenser as well. Before a large cargo of coal is taken in, it will be necessary to do something to the gable end of the <xv*l stores, as a shock of earthquake five months ago threw them I back from the main building, and a strain might throw them down. This letter was recommended for adoption on the understanding that only an exhauster be ordered froixi Home, and the water engine be ob- : tained here. (2) The report contained a resolution that, in the event of the gas manager being at any time unable to obtain the advice. the Gas Committee, he be empowered to reject any cargoes of coal no.fc stupplied according to contract. (3) Messrs, J", and T. Meek's offer was accepted to deliver on the railway trucks at the gasworks a cargo of fully 100 tons of screened Greymouth coal at LI 13s 9d per ton.—The report was adopted. A memorandum from the Acting-En-gineer, accompanying a tracing of sections at Georgetown belonging to the Corporation, and stating that several settlers desired to lease the portion of this property between the water-race and the main road, was referred to the Waterworks Committee to report. The Actihg-Ungineer reported with reference to the progress of the waterworks, that the headworks, Black Point, a,nd Awamoko sections, and down to the 10mil6"pegj or about 12 miles from the settling pond, the works are in excellent permanent order, excepting the crossing at Georgetown, owing to water entering the race from the gully in time of , rain storms ; that here an overbye and bridge will be constructed in preference to proposed floodgate ; that all over this stretch of race o.verbyes have been put in where necessary, and the grass 3howa marked signs of establishing itself o$ the slopes and spoil-banks ; that oil the Papakaio section some 80, Pftall overbyes have been put in during the last few weeks, and aljpni' as many, more will "be: required '; that durlng the, last 'week "the flow of

water has been augmented to 18ijj c i that on the Landon section the race"''•' first-class order, but the earthwork is 1,1 and requires watching ; that Mr. HulV*' will finish the pitching at the resorvoj ■ a few days. c 111 The Engineer reported as follows as the number of men employed oath Waterworks and the rates of pay 9 (a) On the upper section of the rann t intake to Coal Pit Creok five men arc ployed, of whom throe are to be permi e,n " men, and two are employed temporlyf putting in overbye at Georgetown. Til 1 ? rates of pay are—For Fraaer, who i • charge of the whole section, and also k' the headworks in order, going down the tion twice a week, 10s a day; the other fT"' Ss per day. Ur > (b) On the Papakaio section, two men manently : and during the past fortniW four men have been employed temporarii putting in small overbyes. These will C required for the same work for another ft»+ night. A carpenter is also employed mak box overbyes by the piece. Total numb" 8 employed, 7. Pay—one man, 8s; the otluT 7s per day. . • (c) On the Landon Section, the work being now nearly completed, all the m have been discharged, with the Patterson at L2 10s per week, and one n at 7s per' day. At the reservoir, Jam" Hamilton, mason, has been employed tin tr!i the present overseeing Miillins' contract ami the concrete work in Day's contract also doing such odd jobs in mason's work n might be required. His duties will cease i' a few days, on the completion of contract. Pay, 12s a day. 5

(d) Mr. Kirby continues to exercise general supervision of the works, especially of the Papakaio section. Wages, L 4 ]n per week, and engaged from week to week* (e) Total number of men presently em" ployed by the Corporation in all capacities' 16 ; and working contractors and their er»! ploy«s, 7 ; grand total, 23. 2. As to overseers, there is no man on the race who is an overseer pure and simple with the exception of Mr. Inspector Kirby' Particulars of men in charge of sections with pay, t&c., given under sec. 1. ' 3. As to estimated cost of maintenance, I would estimate the number of men to keep the race in order for the t\rel*# months after completion as follows, vix. 1 Man at head works to go down the. race as far as Coal Pit Gully once a week, at 50a per week £l3O o 0 2 Men from Black Point to Coal Pit Creek, at 7s per day 218 8 ft 2 Men irom Coal Pit Creek to Tunnels for first 6 months, and 1 Man for second 6 months, at 7s per day ... 163 16. q 1 Man for Reservoir and Landon section 13Q o q £642 4 0 As to any extraordinary repairs that might be rendered necessary by rain atorms or floods, of that of course I can mako no estimate. Accounts to the amount of L 478 4ssd were passed for payment. It was decided to write to Mr. ,T. O. Gilchrist with a view to arranging a meeting with the Waterworks Committee for the consideration of his claim.

Nine applications for the position of accountant were opened, and Mr. John Locke was appointed. . The following notices of motion were given :

By Mr. Hardy—That it is desirable, that, during dry weather water may bo supplied to lay the dust in Tees-street, Itchen-atrect east, and in Thames-street from Eden to Itchen-streets, and also hydrant-stand ami hose, on condition that the cost of labor in applying the water be borne by tho occupier® on the said streets ; the mode of raising the: necessary funds from the said persons to bt fixed by the Waterworks Committee. By Mr. M'Combe—To move at next meeting of the Council that the proposition granting concessions to the Baths Company be re-opened for discussion.