MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Southland Times, Issue 1544, 1 March 1872, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The Council met last night. Present— the Mayor (Mr Wood) and Councillors Garthwaite, Blackwood, Pratt, Lumsden, Tapper, Goodwillie and Boss. A letter was read from the Government, reporting that Mr D. M c Arthur had represented that no balance was due by him as lately acting clerk for the cemetery. The letter was referred Tor consideration by the Cemetery Committee A letter from' the Governor of the Gaol was read, stating that the prisoners had been sent to clean out the channels in Dee street. It also stated that the prisoners would be set to breaking road metal providing the metal was forwarded to the gaol. After being discussed, the letter was referred to the Public Wo?ks Committee. The following communication from the Town Surveyor was read and referred without comment to the Public Works Committee for consideration : — To the Town Clerk. Sib, — I have the honor to make the following suggestions, which you might be good enough to bring before the notice of the Council before any drainage scheme is definitely adopted by the Board of Works. In the matter of making the main drain in Spey-sfcreet, I see the following cogent objections. In the present unfinished state of this street, the drain will be next to useless, even to collect the storm- water ; and secondly, taking into : consideration how few houses there are in that locality, little good can come of it as a drain to benefit the inhabitants at large. : . ° It seems to me that the more essential- course to adopt is one which will answer not only. to carry away all surface water, but also' the sewage from the greatest number of houses. To _ effect this at the smallest cost, and at the same time in the moat immediately effective manner, might be to deepen the drain in Spey-street from Deestreet, or perhaps a few chains up Spey-ttreet, and let Dee-street be thoroughly drained into this as an outlet. Again let the Kelvin street drain be made between Tay street and the creek, and have as much of Tay street as the expense will allow drained here as an outfall. This system will of course entail a great expenditure, but on the other hand it will be of great practical benefit to the town, both as a surface system, and one which will greatly tend to prevent disease, which in my opinion will undoubtedly sooner or later prove a scourge if some means be not adopted for its prevention. There is also the advantage of two good outfalls, leaving an ample margin for any emergency. I understand there is a prospect of more prison labor being obtained, in which case a considerable saving can be effected. I trust, therefore, that before any system is ultimately adopted, the Council will duly consider the best and most efficacious means of doing the greatest good, I desire lastly to suggest that if it can be legally done, some bye-law should be passed to compel the occupiers of houses to take advantage in the manner prescrioed of any drain in their locality. — I am, &c, Edwin CinrHßßitT, Town Surveyor. The Mayor at some length mentioned a matter personal to himself. His name had been put upon certain committees, and in accordance with the practice followed in other places, he understood that it was hia duty to preside at these committees. That understanding had been disputed by one of the councilolrs, and he wanted the ruling of the Council on ihe subject. Councillor Lumsden explained that Mr Garth waite had been elected chairman of the committee out of no discourtesy to Mr Wood, but simply out of consideration that as a non-resident in the cown he was not at all times comeatable. The Mayor thought it was bad taste on the part of any councillor to refer to his nonresidence in town, seeing that in electing him the ratepayers did not look upon it as an objection. After the question had been further discussed , it was agreed on the motion of Councillor Blackwood, seconded by Councillor Pratt, that the Mayor should be permanent chairman of all committees of which he was a member.