TOWN BOARD,

Otago Daily Times, Issue 213, 26 August 1862, Page 5

TOWN BOARD,

A meeting of the-Tanm Board was held yesterday afbMmoßr there being present: &lessn.-Bw'itzer (in tho chair), Jcnkinson, Hardy, Car-i!!, Graham, and Dr. liulme. 'Hie. GlOrk read the minutes of tha last meeting which were confirmid, afrn* the Chairman had c "-' pi'«!s=c-.l ha Iwliui'that it would have been batter if the kerosene eontmsts made Li>t week, with Mcs-tj Stant..rd and Co., had bac-a for a term of three omoiilhi only, in of tor twelve months. - A lett-r-irora Mr. 8. Jackson, secretary of tlic Uman U.n-: o i Australia, tilled that ho would nd-Ta-ice A3i>yy .-id.iitiona!. as requited, upju the up lcr Btsoduijr;nat repayment wou;d 1)3 made puuctuallv in four inoiitiia from the 20th inst. i i\Me. S. Jones wrote askinsj that, as the wall betwcea twArcale &ad tho Oommarcial Hotel was n;.w flrtisua-i, t;i,« Bjard would cause tlu roadway to tended m a 5 soon as possible, it present condition bii>i S re:uly dangerous. It was ordered that the fiiiiii^-m ah mid be done at onecf. . TUB AT.BKUT STREET IMPROVES! RNT Sir. Joan CiiUholm, wiio had, ia a former correspou.'.c«ee, been re.jiic^ro:' to estimate the amount of damage uone to his house by the alteration in Albert street, now wrote that he fixed the amount, after due eaasi deration, at £90. H« found it difficult to let the house ior ~5 per cent, below the rent obtained fov ot-wp homos in the same place, not better-situated than liis own before the alteration.

The Ciiainnan thought that any man who built, did so subject to certain improvements for the geueral gojd.

The Clerk, in rep'.y to a question, said that Mr. ChisliVua came to the oiihs before building, au I ho thought that the level at which Mr. Chishohn built, VMS wha'j us was lad to believe would be the level of tl:e street. ill-. Jonsdawn sail that the property above Mr. Chkiiolm's hnd certainly iieen very much benefited by tiio recent improvement, however Mr, Chisholm'a had beua aUeeted. The Clerk sJO. that the Board marie an improvement ; tu-.-iv Mr. Chisiiolm. built his house. Afterwards thj G-over.auiur, without, consulting tiieli-jard rn.-i-.ie a. still iurtlier improvement; and hence Mr. CiliailOiUl'S cl:".iiH. The O.:iir-ua;i said that Mr. Chit-holm was certainly ciitificd to c-inpcnsiliun, if h<; was led by thn Board to heiiei'-i ih:is 1m \v«s placing hi.i building on a permriscri!- level lint tnU ci.-iim would beoome a precedent; in by uo niea-is .stood aon-j; ami it coui.i not l>e endured that the CK-vorriinout should interfere with ri>;vls ia th;: town, an.! saddle the Board wich ciiU'ii:- urishig out of" the alterations. The Ci/rk suited th:it Mr. Chisholm's claim liad hren rcfrrr.id to ihv Government, who liad refused to reooarnWe it. TlioUierk was ultimately directed to apply to the Boarl's letral ii'ivisur for his opinion on the general question of liability. WORK IN" ALB.VXV-STItSBT. Mr. Wh. ICirby add'-t-ssed a lons letter to the Board, .'Lskinic that he mi^-iit b«re'ea-ed from liU contract for work in Albany-street, or that in a Ivanee miirl.t he ui&na no sa to enable him to complete it. Ti>3 Olmivmsin thought that it was most important for the Boaiv. to snake a stand avramst in auy very favorinjr, or reV-asi'ig small eontrar*tors, who undertook work for which they hid not sufficient means, by tehder'r.i^ so low as to shut o-.it tho*- 1 who were able and dc&iious to do all for what thoy had tendered. It was resolved that Mr. Kirby ba held to the completion of h 3 contract. RSUOVAL OP EATITII IN STA?FOni>-STREi:T. Messrs. Lambert and Co., of Siaiford street, wrote asking for l-epaynujnt of L 3 for the removal ot 42 yards of earth in Stafford-street, at la. 6J. per yard, hs a^rewl to s>y the Board. The Clerk (in answer to a question),s«iid that it would not m:w be possiyl" to tes* the measurement, and he WA3 uira^teft to apply to Messrs. Lambert for the bill s«nt in by the excavator who did the work. THE ROADWAYS 15 DCS EDI Jf.

The Clerk said no answer had yet been sent to Mr. Chevannes, -who as requested, had given an estimate for ■ the-pitching'of Manse-street, he to superintend ths work. The original contract was for metaJiiug only: and the rou^h estimate oi the additionrd cost of pitching, was 34s 6d. a yard. Mr Jenkinson hoped the Board would adhere to their original contract.

The Chairman sni-I that Manse-street was short, but it vrnnid have an immen-*; amount of traffic, arid the e?:periment uf pitching could therefore be tried at comparatively .small cose, yet mo<t effectually. Although LL-.' *i> iard might mjt have the nt.oe*sary means at its credit just now, lie thought there would be no sliiaoulty In raising it. Dr. Hulia-- was decidedly in favor of pitching Maa-e-street. The first, expenditure might lo double that iict'esoary for merely metalling, but it would cv; liiuaii/ eIR-ct a great saving. It would enable t!ie road to be got into proper form at first, and if this vacnoiiion-2 —which he believed haduot b.-en the cisc with any oriC jet in Dunediu —speedy dislocation an>l coolly repu'is y.vuld follow. Mr. Jeakinsoa ! said that the raotilling i ha-i beea U'-ne under very great disadvan- ' ta.ge.-5. In ttinees ttreet it wns done under the wov.si possible civ-'aiu^tances. If Man.-,c-street could be piich--d in any reasonable time, ho shoi;:-l not object to the experiment; t>Mt, if a ;l-jh:y of weeks wa-j to !■•* necessitated, tbun he wouiii ur^e that the origin ii contract should be adhered t-i. Dr. iluhne said that they had been obliged to p-it a good, deal Of metal on during the frost. People iia/1 .been ci-kin; out, '* Whoever fj.\v metal nut down in the JiiU-.i aisd wet.:" But, if the Board had w.iited until tin1 r-.-sv-s became dry, they would have been absolutely irjp:isKible. y.v. (Jar^itl re.narked that there was a contract for meiiillin^ J.laii.ie-strect; but oue for pitching it ■wou'kl have to be ni'ide under t!ie conditions of the labor, market, requiting from the discovery of tho new digiiini'-s. Tho ultaircaj.il.—l believe we auar. have plenty of laboc lie re i". :v furrnightfrom this time. Dr.- llulrue —Oh, yea; there will certainly be a great ru's:i fr.jin Melbourne. In reply to the Chairman, The Ok'rfc ::;ii-.i. that if t!ie contract for raetil'.ing itvi ri Ji»p'3il, nn allo*'ance would have to be made to -tae cmiLract^r^; bu»- he thought they wouid be very gla i to &fct i"i J of the job. Mr. iiar-ir moved —" That Manse-street be pitched before mettil'linj,', on the plan .suggested by Mr. Che-vann'-s; that tenders be fortiuvith called for the Wjrk, and that Sir. Uhevannea be instructed to in-Bpc-js the same.*' Mr. Jenkins'>a doubte-'l whether there would be ad-yjnca.it.-3 fr> coiiipensate for tho <*03t3; but he did not vote "iivaiust the motion, which was unanimously agreed to. STAFFOItD-STRKET AND WALKER-STRSKT.

Mr. Giuliani raL-ed the que^tiuu whether notice should not i!ii giveu to the contvaoioi-s for these streets to st'»p the works until it ha,.l been decided whether pitjhi:ig ahouid h>: adorned. Itj.va-3 resolved that the original contracts (should be carried out in their inti-prity. 5. he Clerk wsis <:irected to apply to the Govern meut for titu p->j.i&wit oi'the b dance ofLIOOO.

THE AS-ESSOIIS AKD THE " NEW IDENTITY." 3lr. Cargiil .said, that at the last Hireling, two assurors v/ere app'-inttid—Messrs. Hardy an.i Fc-n----wick To use a *:ai.g phrase, those jrer.tl.mun hilo)i"ed to the "uM identity," and he believed that those who had rjceutly arrive iin the colony .from Melbourne would be more satisfied if a gentlemau from that quarter was rnldcd us a third assessor than tiiey would l>3 if aii wiw done by two old residents. Although Messrs. Hardy and Fuiiwkk performed the duties most satisfactorily last year, and, he believed, the year before also, hi- was sure that they would f'.el themselves strengthened by such an addition as he had suggested. He would therefore .move "That a third a-ae&sor be appointed." JJr. Ilulaie seconded the motion. Mr. tiraliaia had no objection to a third assessor, but an old resident must b; j acquainted with elements • '-necessary to be considered iv making an equitable assessment, which could not he within the knowledge

© a new comer. Air. Jenkinson said that no reason was given why a third assessor was ni-eded, but the Board was asked, as a matter of expediency, to appoint one, and so to plei^e the " uew identity," lie was very much inciiubtl to favor the new comers, and To give them all sorts of information as to the value of property, but he Lelicvai the two old asses.-ois were in every respect competent to do the work again, and therefore he should oppose the motion. . . * Dr liulme had a very high opinion of Messrs. Ha-d'y and Feov/ick, but the time was come when it would be neees-ary to lay a very heavy rate, and lie tW'ht as. «o doubt, unpleasantness would result ?-o'u tliat fact, that it would be- better in every ■wav to "havo a third assessor. He did not doubt that thJv would tc able to secure the services of a gentie■mun quite qualified to judge as to the value of.pro■Pe"lr. Graham protested agaiast the proposed appoiatment, c.3 useless.

wouw ci ai t i a d4,° ot i!oabt that s°me »w Mood Si,Mv! V s" *IC assessors. fl«- there was unloub^uly a oertmu amount of feeling between the old 'andtlK~iuw identity." It it-did ao rafln? r, 1.*1^.-)1 Jhiwonm on the Board, lie had thf^V™l^ 1 or"- ou thnt paity feelin P ha(l led to t. »„.aOrtliJS ot fsivo!" Ul connection with the assetsmen,, and to stoi> that would bo a great advanfiae J»lr. C argih said tli.it he tfcsirod only to protect tlie who had no tender memories for the pa'-t, they would f-ecure an increased area of taxation, which was very much wanted just n«w. Mr. GrAhiim ivp^ated that a new comer must be ignorant of the re;..! w.Uie of property. Mr. (Jar ill believed »hm. ;t»r,on»;sc the professional men who lud been resi-;in ff here six or nine months, and to who-ie raaKs he would look for the third assessor—there were some who more truly understood the value of property in and near Dunedin, than did any ot the " old reside liters," Mr. Jeakinsou—Nn f no. Sir. Graham—l don't know where they are, then i m sure you'll see advertisements from anctione rs and surveyors, about land, from whbh you cannot •lenne any thiiijr. They don't know how to define the situation ot a single piece of property. Mr. Jenkimon said that for assessors they wanted not speciiiatora, but men of yood sound sense ami judgment. The IJlmirman. after putting tlie motion, said that it Bsemeit to bo lost, the numbera being—2 for and 3

i iie: i^rn .proceeded to take th» namrss, and found *or:—lhefjlnirman. Mr. Oargili, and.D,*. Hulmo. Ajwinst—M^i-s, Jeiik;n.:oii, Gi-aham, and Ilanly. ltieC.iainnan s»id that hh name illicit be struck out, it it w.-^ really correct, as decided nt a former aicf*uns. that he liad no casting vote. The Uk-vk said that the Caairinau undoubtedly liad a ca?itin«f vote. The Chairman—Tiien I give both for the motion, which will hi? carried. It appeared iron- au extract read by the Clerk al* to t.ie question of vytiug, thnt uo resoluliou of a former meet«n ? ot the Uonrd could be " revoked or adored" witnout nctico having been tfiven ; nnd it was now contended »>y Mr. (Jrilihiu that to appoint a third osses«ip would, he Jiivctly to "alter" the resolution conio to last week. Thdtßent!ema;i afcsr«Kirda trave notice tiiat ho would at the next mecthiir move to rescind the resolution now came to; nud .Mr Cn-"iil gave notice to name the gentleman to be appointed a-> a third assessor. RATES AND EXEMPTION?. It was agreed fiat tlio ns.se<soi-s he requested to report irenerailyon tlie part^ offc'i-j city to bu exe-upted from the rates ior cleansing and li^iuin" Asto the amount of mtcs to "be onle.v-d.it was r,'- 1 ??■% af yta'">S vute ' K3li hl tlu-'poniid, raised i.20J0; but no one would venture an o r >i.:ion on the present ratable value of property within th*

Mr. Graham said tliat tin Board wuld not excT-od -2 d . vi. in tlie pound, including any special

Mr. Car-ill thought that they should act upon thu pnn-.'ijue ot mating the general rate a% li"ht as po*;ih!e. °

Dr. IliUmo : If we be.zin with a rate of Is. C I. we can then, if necessrry. have a deficiency rate of Is. whidi will !>a up to the extant of our power.-?. ' Tliti Cle-.k. snid that there anight be sj>e^ifil rates for zsw*™ and io:- water ; Imt w.ikt for ihva muat bo paid for out of the genera! fnnil. Mr Urnhaui w-Mld -ivc n-.tioc to move, next week, tint tfo g«neral rate \m Is. in i!ie pound. Dr. Hulm1 *: \V« lri%'e -.imicipated the coming ritt9 to the amount of £5000, I sunnuse ] The Vievk : Ye?. Dr. II ;i!iae: Then I give notice to move a rate of Is. GJ. in the pound. T(i(; Chairman (\[r. Switzer), Dr. flulruo, an.-! Mr. Can;ili were anp -iated a Committee to report upon the question of t!ie uecessary new hve-laivs, ami to draw up a scheme. Mr. Graham said he would, next week, move thy appointment of a Jisse-sor ior each of the wards, as defined by the new Or- ;na:ice, Tliis would secure a quicker asses-»muut thiui would otherwise he possihlf, and lie believed the ]Am would he altogether satisfactory. V/ATEH SUPPLY AND TIIK IT.OPOSEI) VOLCNTEEIt FIBK BRIGADE. The (Jliairmansaid that many of the inhabitants had recently taken f^rtat interest in the formation of a briirade to assist in checking fires ; but those efforts could only be sui!c-e-ful if fii^re was a good supply of water piven, whidi he: thought was the least the Board could do in ihe matt-r. A deputation was t« have waited upon tho Hoard t'natday ; and as he had takfii much interest in the matter, hit ha i raise 1 the question of what should be done by the. Board. Air. Jenkinsou would leave the matter to the Bonrd to bo eleetud under thu new Ordirtanc •. He regarded the present iioard as called upon only 1o y.t the Ordinanct* into work ; and lie nntidpated that ln.-mv of tho prcst-nt members would not be on the new Boar i.

Mr. Cargi.'l proposed tJi.it Mca«rs. Graham and Jenkinson should wait upon the to enquire what were the intentions of the (Jovernium.t a^i to the water supply; seeing that the Ilnrd rould only .ict in the matter " with the approval and con>ent" of the SuperintendenN Mr. Graham thought it woull be bet1 or to allow the matter to bo taken up by a |)riv.ite coaipany. Ultimately, the motion was withdrawn. NUISASCES. Inspectf.r of Nu'wfinci'a w:u directed to report uprm The enforcing tlit; exihting provisions a,s to the erection of water-cio.setH.

Air. Gi-ah.irn. n-iio moved tho resolution, complained of the iiuir^i'ict- onj.'itci by the occupiers of tent*. T!ie Clurk wt\.< i!ir>-ote«l to give notice tiiat tlie manure dejiut on the rf'.'.-jiinj), was now closed ; that those in Caverahrai v,vA f,\-, Nortii Kast Valley were op *n ; and to c<u-;e to be posted cautionary notices with regard to the placing refuse othfcfH'ise thin at the appointed d-pofc-1.

Mr. Hardy cr.t-'."d attenlir.n to the use, in connection with woo'U-n Liiil.tir.^, of chiiiiu*>ys wholly of tin. Th-jre wtre some in the neighborhoud of Princca-stic-t, and thf-y w«.';>.» c<iii&idered wi dangerous that a.lj^f.ent property c >uld not be insured.

Mr. Jenkin^on doubted whether tiie Board could prevent the owners of land allowing a tent to be erected thereon.

Mr. IIar:!y : The Board has power, I should say. A. tent is a '' buildini; " within the terms of the A.ct' The subjet waa dropped aft-ii- a su^rcstion tliat tho Solicitor to the Board slioul 1 be consulted.

Mr. iiardy c;tliod attention to tho dangerous state of the cutting in lligli street. As tho contract had lapsed, it was agreed that tiie Hoard should cms*.' a fence and some st.'ps to be erected, and a light to be provi led. Some accounts were orcJei-ed to be paid ; "and the Board adjourned to Monday jioxt.