THE CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 7287, 11 August 1887, Page 2

THE CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the City Council was held last evening. There were present: The Mayor (Mr R. H. Leary), Crs Fish, Gouriey, Murray, Barron, Lee Smith, Hislop, Esther, Carroll, Fagan, Dawson, and Cramond.

CORRESPONDENCE. Dr Stenhouse wrote applying for payment of fees, amounting to L 8 12s €d, for reporting cases of fever.—Cr Fish said that he noticed that Dr de Zouche had obtained judgment against the Corporation for a similar account. The amount recovered was small, but the principle involved was important. He thought the Council should take the case to another Court if they had the power, as the decision, in his opinion, was bad. Hb moved that Dr Stenhouse’s account be referred to the Finance Committee, and that consideration should be given to the case of de Zouche v. the Corporation with a view of appealing.—Or Carroll seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr J. M ‘Donald forwarded copies of analyses and testimonials of his locally manufactured cement, with a request that the Council should give instructions for its use on Corporation works. As the half of the crossing at High street made with the cement had turned out so well he applied for payment of its cost according to agreement. He complained that he had been most unfairly treated by the Corporation workmen, who had, in connection with some channelling work, taken special precautions to protect imported cement from the frost, and left the colonial material, which had been laid alongside for experimental purposes, to take care of itself. Or Carroll moved that the letter should be referred to the Works Committee to report, and spoke in favor of the use of Mr M‘Donald’s cement. Some disparaging remarks had lately been made in consequence of some cement not setting well at the Old Men’s Home in connection with the Benevolent Institution ; but he thought some allowance should be made. for want of uniformity in material turned out from works at their very initiation. He had every confidence in Mr M‘Donald’s cement, and thought that the Council should encourage contractors in eveiy way possible to use it.—Or Lee Smith seconded the motion, remarking that the complaint made by Mr M‘Danald was a most serious one and should be thoroughly inquired into.—The motion was earned. Thirteen Corporation tenants in EastTaierl district petitioned for reduction of rents.—Referred to Reserves Committee.

G. Adams wrote asking for a reduction of rent on three Corporation leases, one in Princes street south and two in Adam street —Referred to Reserves Committee.

S. Korner, Mosgiel, wrote asking for a reduction of rent. —Referred to Reserves Committee. The Rev. Dr Stuart and Dr Hooken wrote on behalf of the Otago University Council asking that about half-an-acre or an acre iu the Botanical Gardens should be set aside for the cultivation of plants having a medicinal or economic value. They pointed out that such a provision would not only be of the greatest use to certain lecturers and to their students, but would also prove of great interest to the public generally, who would derive pleasure and instruction from so attractive a feature.—The letter was referred to the Reserves Committee to report. REPORTS. The Public Works Committee recommended that the application from Mr A. A. Finch and five others for the erection of a gas lamp in Dundas street be declined, but that the footpath be made safe. The Committee repor ed that the City Surveyor had been instructed with regard to seventeen small works involving a cost of L 57, and that they had accepted Mr B. M‘Kewen’s tender for supplying screenings at 5s 7d, 6s fid, and 6s 4d per cubic yard, according to the district of delivery.—Attached to the report was a return showing that the amount available for works was L 4.387, as per annual estimates for the year ending March 31, 1888. The amount expended from Ist April to 29th July was L 1,372 2s 8J; the liabilities from 29th July, 1887, to 31st March, 1888, amounted to L 2,617 5s fid ; estimate of works authorised and recommended in report, L 57, balance unexpended, L 340 11s lOd.—The report was adopted. The Gas Committee reported having considered the advisability of supplying gas for lighting, cooking, heating, motive power, etc., through one service, and charging a uniform rate of 7s not per 1,000 cubic feet. They considered that it was not at present advisable to interfere with the existing arrangement of prices or with the method of supply. The Committee recommended that the price of tar be raised, and reported the acceptance of Mr John MTntyre’s tender for excavating gas main trenches at North-east Valley and South Dunedin for LlB 6s.—Adopted.

The Finance Committee reported the passing of accounts for payment amounting to L 2,097 lls lOd—municipal, L 1,237 2s 7d; water, Lll6 14s 8d; gas, L 743 14s 7d.—Adopted, The Reserves Committee reported that the City Surveyor had been instructed to act as regarded an application from the Jubilee Park Committee for a few notice boards to place in various portions of the Victoria Park.— Adopted. THE COUNCIL’S FINANCES.

The following supplementary report of the Finance Committee on ways and moans was read:—

By instiuotioo of the Council, your Committee have reconsidered their former report In view of the opinion of the City solicitors upon the method of determining the Council’s statutory limit, as regards bank overdraft and other liabilities, and have the honor to report as follows; X. They adhere to their former report and the recommendations contained therein, with this qualification—namely, that the amount of the estimated liability at March 81,1888, will be diminished by the refund of a portion of the sinking fund paid in previous years in respect of loans not chargeable with sinking fund. The Court has ordered a re-valuation of the securities held by the Sinking Fund Commissioners with the view to deducting any loss on investments from the amount to be refunded, and also a calculation to be made of the amount that should be in the hands of the Commissioners in respect of loans legally chargeable with sinking fund, reckoning interest at the average rate earned by the productive investments. It is expected that the difference between the amount so ascertained and the reduced value of the investments will be refunded to the Corporation during the financial year. It will be seen that the sum to be refunded will depend upon the revaluation of the securities and the report of the actuary appointed by the Court to make the calculations referred to.

2. The City Solicitors advise (a) that none ot the income of the water department, and only that part ot the income ot the gas department derived from the sale ot residual products, can ho reckoned as part of the ordinary income ot the Counoil; (5) that the several accounts at the bank must be treated as one, vie , that of the “Borough fund ” ; (c) that the liabilities of the Corporation on account ot the municipal, water, and grs departments, exclusive of debentures, must be limited to the amount ot the ordinary income for the preceding year. 8. The ordinary income for the year ending Uarch 81 last (including that from the sales ot residual products in the gas department) amounted to LSD. 950 12s ad. which is the Council’s statutory limit of liabilities for the year ending Uarob 81, 1888. The Mayor moved and Or Esther seconded the adoption of the report. Or Fish thought that the solicitors* opinion was not reliable, and that the departments could be treated separately, so far as the overdraft was concerned. He thought that the report was brought up at the present time in order to influence the proposals in connection with the Silverstream water race,

Or Babbon moved and Or Gouklby seconded —‘‘That the Finance.Committee be empowered to get the opinion of another solicitor.’’ Crs Esihbe, Lee Smith, and Mubbay opposed the amendment. The amendment was lost and the report was adopted. ■