CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2055, 6 December 1869, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Council was held this afternoon to consider the gas question. Present —His Worship the Mayor, and all the Councillors. The following report from the Gas Committee was read : “Your Committee beg to report having very carefully re-considered their recommendations as presented to ttye Council at the last meeting, as also the plans and specifications forwarded by Mr A. K. Smith, and the general subject of gas supply. Your Committee recommend as follows : “1. That it is expedient for the Council to call for tenders for the erection of new gas works for the Corporation of this city, and that tenders be called for accordingly. “ 2. That advertisements be inserted in the Melbourne Argus, the Melbourne Aye, and the Ot'ujo Daly Times newspapers, inviting tenders, to be addressed to the Town Clerk, Dunedin, all Melbourne tenders to be posted not later than the 15th January, 1870—the contract to be advertised for one month. “ 3. That the minor amendments in the specifications for the works, hereto attached, be approved by the Council, and submitted to Mr Smith, with a request that if he considers it advisable to embody them in the specification to be submitted to tenderers, he will do so ; but if he considers such a course unadvisable, Mr Smith to be at liberty to call for tenders subject to his own specification.

“4. That the time required by any tenderer for the completion of the contract shall not exceed twelve months. _ - '>■- “ 5. That Mr Smith be reminded as follows That the flagging required for part of the bottom of the gasholder tank is not included in the specification, though it is shown on the plans ; that the quantities of cement and sand required for the gasholder tank are not shown; that the pipes an 1 bricks required for drains are not included in the specification. “6. Your Committee have requested the City Surveyor to furnish Mr Smith with the permanent reclamation levels of St. Andrew’s street, and to report as to the nature of the foundations of the proposed site. ” On the report and the addenda of the City Surveyor being read, The Mayor stated that he had taken on himself to write a letter to Mr Hutchison. Mr Fish at once rose and condemned the action of the Mayor in writing the letter without first consulting the Council, as being indiscreet. He continued to state such conduct led him to the conclusion that there was some one working or wire-pulling behind the gsccnes of which the members of the Council w'ere not cognisant.

A scene followed, during which the Mayor called Mr Fish to order ; and the latter replied that ho had said nothing to be called to order fur. On order being restored, Mr Walter condemned the course taken by the Mayor, and Mr Carroll defended it. [Left sitting.]