CITY BOARD.—Monday.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3209, 29 October 1867, Page 4

CITY BOARD.— Monday.

The usual monthly meeting of the City Board was held yesterday afternoon. Present : The chairman (Mr. J. W. Bain), Messrs. Morgan, Bell, Greenway, George, Macready. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

PETITION. A petition was received from certain residents in Graham- street requesting that the street might be taken over by the Board as a public street. A letter was also received from certain residents in the same street protesting against the present taxation, on the ground that "It has been ignored by the Board as a public street, on application for metal and scoria for footpaths, and from the first levying of rates the Board has not spent a shilling on it for sanitary or other purposes. The street remains now in a most deplorable state except on one side of the footway, the cost of which has been entirely defrayed by the owners of the property along its line." Mr. Maceeady thought, according to the Act the Board, could not take over this street. Mr. Bell thought differently, as the Act did not prohibit the Board taking private streets over. It merely gave them the option of so doing. There were other streets under the operation of the Act which did not comply with the conditions as fully as this street did. He would move that the street be taken over. Mr. Geeenway seconded the motion. Mr. Finlay thought they ought not to go too fast in taking over private streets. He thought it would be better that they should refer the matter to the Foreman of Works, who no doubt would do all that was required. He would therefore propose that the street should remain for the present as it was. The motion, having been duly seconded, was carried.

HABDINGE-BTBEET. The Secretary read a letter from certain of the ratepayers, calling attention to the dangerous state in which the street remains, and asking for a remedy of the evil. Mr. Finlay moved that the matter be referred to the Streets Committtee. — Carried. STALL COBNEIt OF QUEEN AND VICTOBTA-STBEET. A letter was read from Mason Brothers, asking for a reduction in the rent of their stall, in consequence of the badness of the times and the difficulty of obtaining reasonable prices for their produce. On the motion of Mr. Finlay the rent was reduced from 255. per week to 20s.

EA.TES COLLECTION. A letter was read from the Provincial Secretary reminding the Chairman of the Board that no payment had yet been made in respect of the fortnight ended Monday, the 14th inst., to meet the arrears of interest and sinking fund to be liquidated. The Secretary explained that there were no funds available to pay it with. The rates collected since last meeting amounted to £560 11s. 2d.

MARKET RESERVE. Mr. Ridings's rent in the Market Beserve was reduoed to 505., on the motion of Mr. FINLAY.

DBAKE-STREET IMPBOVEMENTS. Some discussion took place relative to the balance of amount due to Mr. Kawdon, the contractor for this work. A claim was put in by Mr. Macdonald, a sub-contractor on the work, asking that this money might be withheld until such time as the contractor had made an affirmation to the effect that all employed on the works under the contractor had been paid. It was resolved that the cheque should be held until the opinions of the law officer had been taken on the subject.

NOTICE OP MOTION. Mr. Finlxt gave notice of motion to the effect that the lighting and repairing of the lamps, &c, be left to public competition. This concluded the business, and the meeting dissolved.