THE TOWN BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 238, 24 September 1862, Page 5

THE TOWN BOARD

The Town Botrd held its weekly meeting ye?terday afternoon, at the offices, Princes-street. Mr. Jenkinson was called to the chair; au<i there was also present Dr. Huhne. Messrs. Car^'dl, Switzer, and S'attmi. The miautes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, Tiia Cleric read a letter from Mr. Green, of Princes-street. The writer said that he would be the Ijiit ixsun in Duncdiu knowingly to commit a breach of th? law. As to his builiings, he considered them ornamental to the city; an.l now, although, it might be late, he asltM-ibr the consent of the Board to the continuance of the balcony. It was resolved iktt Mr. Green must submit a plan of tlif; balcony before tS:e Beard could consider the application. THE ASSESSMENT. The Clerk read the following letter : — " Dunedisi, 17th Sept., 1862. t' Qen'lr-ir en -—We had the honor to forward to the Board office on' Monday, the 15th inrt., our scroll retarn of the gross a.-Js<?ssed rents in the South Ward ; and we understand it is incumbent upon us to ex pre-s our opinion to the Board as to what should be the fair net rent rated upon. The practice, it appear? lias hitherto been to rate upon three-fourths of the valued rent of the bui!:!in»B, 'and upon the net valued rent of the lands. However well this distinctive system aay have answered when the greater par}, of Dui.tdai lay waste and unoccupied, we are of opirion thatto continue it lonirer would not only com-pli'-ate" the serving- excessively, but be found almost impossible to effect, the original scciions being now so much cut up ami subdivided into smaller portions in different occupations. We have, therefore, mall case* of I.uil-Jinsrs, assessed both them and the land in one \nm and rateable tij-on the occupant in every instance except tenants holding for a shorter term than a year- and wo would iespectfully recommend the Board for '.he future to' Charge the rate in one sum upon four-fifths of the lef-pective amount of gross rents returned m each case. "We are, &c. ' ' '" " TV. Lakglakds, ) "llobt. Fknwick, V Assessors." - '..•"■ " David 'Moss, ) Mr. Carpill moved "that the suggestions ot the assessors be approved and acted on. - • # " Mr. Switzer seconded the motion; and it was unanimcuslv adapted. Mr. Girfiiil cave notice that, as soon as the assessment roll wfis completed, he would move—" lhat the rate of 3s. 31. in the pound, recently agreed to, be re-coufcifiered." ■- , . THE PItOPOSED SITE OF THE I'IHE TOWER AND BELL. The TRey. Isaac Hardinp:, of the Wesleyan Chapel, wrote urjring reasons why a site other than that on the section adjoining the Wesleyan Church, in Pow-jine-strei-t, should be selected for the proposed tower and alarm bell. He considered that "if the bell were to sound an alarm during service, not only would the flonjrJegotiim' at once break up, but a rusn of a most excited arid dans.erous character might occur.") Therefore Jie sup-prested that it should be considered , whether a site could cot be obtained which would be I jeniutUv"coTiy«?nieht for the purpose, end be fn?e fr m ! 'the'intr«li"t'>Pt:*iiaa'lvauta^ c to a P°rt'on of the. public"; to which tie had drawn attention. * It \yas xesoived tluit it would be for the Rev. Mr. i Harding and the church which he represents, fco take | precautions against any such occurrence,

■ The Cleric read a letter from".Mr John Jones, 'drawing attentionto the badJstate. of the upper part «f Walker-street, and M Maitland-strqet, trom Walker sfje t south wards. He would contribute A7O towards the cost, if the streets were, at once farmud and nietalleo1, Mr. Jones-urged the.-necessity for footpaths being laid in the neighborhood mentioned. The Board ;favorably entertained the proposal; and Messrs Jenkinson, Oii-pill. and Shand were appointed a committee to report ns to the best course to be adopted.1-;;,, ;■;.. . ' ,;■ :,: Mr Switz«r submitted a report from the. Committee appointed tq .-;consider the clause.* of'.tho proposed Building Ordinance; and the resort'was received and adopted. ; . *

THE CATTLE MARKET AND OLD CEMETERY AI'HROpaiATiONS.

Mr. Cargill moved that, jthe Cierk l>e instructed airairi to' write to the Government with respect to the Cattle Market site, pirt of which it wa3 proposed to take for the erection of a Lunatic. Asylum. It was most important that the land should be used for the purpose for which it was originally set apart. The Clerk said that there had bc^n a reply to the effect that the Government would apply for a Crown grant of the land, and hand it over to the Town Board lor its legitimate purpose. t ' < "Mr." Cargill would press for further coinmunihition. There-.was at ofiuy a great want of a cattle market, and it wouicl bu still greater shortly. Dr. tlulme said he know that the "Provincial Eugineer had taken levels upou the site, for the purpose of au Asylum ; and he (Dr. Hulme) h:ul sent in a statement of the number of patients it would be. necessary that the asylum should accommodate. There was a question whether the Board had any greater right to this portion"of the cattle market nin than they had to the part of the old cemoltry site, which had been chosen for a fjaol and also jbr a hospital, and which was not a portion of Town Bolt any-more than the market site. He had iu> authority to say anything in the matter ; but lie thoughtthe Govern in unt appeared inclined to adhere to the site selected for the asylum. Mr. Switzer thought that the Government were takiug too much upon themselves in appropriating whnt nad been de.licated to the town. Every holdi-r of laud was interested in having these dedications adhered to. There were.no doubt many who bought while in England, simply from a p!an which they had before them. Here they would see " CemetnV' marked ; there " Town link," ami in a third plaeo " Market," pnrchasers would thus be influenced find eyt-ry holder of a piece of town tex.d was iuteivintd in tlie matter It w&a a queition wfjether the jProrincial Government could deal with such land at; all. l)r. Ilulmo: So eveiy man inny he said to bo indirectly interested in the erection of a s^ioi, and land for it must be found. ,

Mr CavgiSl i>e!ieved that there was no power in tlio Assembly to take away what was the public's of right. To hold that because* the Govurmnimt frml claimed the power to appropriate thirteen acres of »h.j old cemetery &ile, therefore "they could take part of the cattle market site for an u>y!um, wa'i simply to hold that two wrongs could make a right. "The cemetery land way taken on the ground that it was not well suited for the original purpose, and that a more appropriate site- in the Town JJelt was selected. It was something very like an exchange. If the Government minted land, thty were in the tame position as any public body or private individual They had funds and could go into the market and purchase. If the Governmentliaii neglected to make reserves it. was th«-ir own fnult • and it wan abauni f () suppose that becmso they had mi reserves they could take l.mds belonging to the citizens. ILwould hereafter nrgu actiou with regard to the cemetery nm to which the Government had no right ; but lor the present- he would confine himself to the question of the cattle market site.

Dr Huline «a!d that the selection ns regarded the lunatic asylum was the work of the'^fruvincial Council, the Government selected a site el-ewhcre. After some further Couvcrdulion, Mr Uargill'a motion was seconded and carried.

The Uiak read a letter from the Provincial Secretary, stating I hat as far as tbt: Government hai any .control over the site* JuniieaUil tv appropriate tor the erection of urinals, they would be moht willing to assist the Town Hoard iv the matter.

It was directed that the works should be commenced aa speedily as possible.

rUB SAI/AttV OK THE WUIrUJfCK ISHPECTOB.

A letter wa* read from the Provincial Secretary, in continuation of tlnj correspondence respecting tin payment of the salary of Constable Ninion, the inspector of Nuisances.- It was still the intention of the government (Mr. Dick wrote) to introduce an Oniiuanci to nmeud' the Improvement Ordinance, iiiul they would propose to tbe Council u> pay over to the Town iioard, the 15n<?>, itc, received in connection with the nuisance department, as originally contemplated. The vote could, however, only bo from session to session, aud the payment- to the Board woald be liable to the contiitggucks of such a raode of procedure.

Dr. Hulme thought the Board ought to hive the fine:*, but that it wa* csrtunly the duty of the Board' to py tl;e salary of Nirnon, v/Uo was now o( very little usa to the constabulary.

Mr. Car-gill s-iid it would nevertheless, l>e in many ways most beneficial to the operations of the Hoard, that Nimoo should remain a member of the conbtabu lary force. H.< believed there would be no objection to this plan on the [art of the authorities ; and there ooulii be no difficulty about the Board paying over the amoiint of the s.Uavy, The Clerk was direcud to confer with His Honor the Superintendent on the matter. Mr..-Hardy's notice of motion with respect to the .sorrowing powers under the n<sw Ordinance, lauwd, that gentleman not being present.

Some accounts were ordered to bo paid, and the Board adjourned to Tuesday next, at tw-j o'clock.