CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 7614, 17 May 1888, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL.

The City Council met last night; present —The Mayor, Crs Kimbell, Gourley, Barron, Hordy, Smith, Cohen, Leary, Cramond, Sinclair, and Carroll. LEAVE OE ABSENCE. Cr Fish wrote applying for leave_ of absence during the Parliamentary session, which was granted, and Cr Gourley was appointed to take his place on the Gas Committee, and Cr vSinclair his place on the Finance and General Committees, A CROSSING REQUIRED, A letter was received from the Union street School Committee asking the Council to construct a crossing free of charge in the vicinity of the school.—Referred to the Works Committee, with a recommendation to grant the request. THE ST. KILDA CABS. Mr J. Gibbs and five other cab-drivers wrote petitioning the Council to reconsider their decision with regard to the removal of the St. Kilda cabstand from Princes street to Manse street. Communications were also received from Mr Walter Hislop and a number of business people in Manse street, protesting against the removal of the cabstand.—Referred to the General Committee, with power to act, TWO PUBLIC WANTS. The following communication was received from Mr V. Pyke, M.H.R.: “ There are two patent ‘ wants ’ in Dunedin, and the endeavors to compass them seem to flag. The one is a public market in a convenient central locality, to bring producers and consumers together. The other is of the nature of the proposed exhibition — a most desirable thing to stiffen the backbone of our people. Now it has occurred to me that these two might be made to work in with and assist each other. The necessary buildings for the exhibition might be so constructed as to serve for a market house afterwards. As to site,|there is none so suitable as the Triangle. Close to the railway, the wharves, the tram-car termini —in the centre of the City—the very situation would command success ; and I have no doubt that if the matter were properly represented to the present Government the Triangle would be given for the purposes designated. I ask the Council to consider the proposition at their next meeting, and I hope to have your support in the matter. I can foresee a grand success if my suggestion is adopted,” Cr Barron said that Mr Fyke’s idea was an exceedingly good one, and the Council should not allow the matter to drop. The site suggested was a very suitable one, and the Council should give' an expression of opinion as to whether they would assist the Exhibition Committee in getting it for an exhibition.

Cr Sinclair thought the matter should be referred to the proper Committee to report. Was Cr Barren prepared to ask the Council to purchase the building and utilise it for a n.arket if the Exhibition Committee succeeded in erecting a building? He did not sec how the matter was to be brought into practicable shape at present. Cr explained that he <lici wot wish to go into details at all. All he wanted the Council to do at present was to agree so far as they could that Mr Pyke’s suggestion was a wise one. Cr Cakrou. said he agreed with the last speaker, and added tiiat the Exhibition Committee wanted to make the Exhibition an international and not a colonial affair. He would move—“ That the matter should be referred to the Reserves Committee, and that a copy of Mr Pyke’s letter be forwarded to the Exhibition Committee.” Cr Cohen said that he did not think any good could come of the proposal, without the Legislature was induced to sanction the use of the reserve for market purposes. He thought that a copy of the letter should be forwarded to Cr Fish, so that he might test the feeling of the House as to how far the Legislature was inclined to hand the Triangle over ns a market reserve.

Cr Kimbell said he would move—“ That the letter be received.” He thought that Mr Pykc deserved the thanks of the citizens for calling attention to the matter, but he did not sec how any good could be gained by referring it to a Committee, as there was nothing to go upon. If, however, the Exhibition Committee made any proposal to the Council, he would be most willing to render what aid he could in their efforts to obtain a site for an exhibition.

Cr Gourley agreed that Cr Carroll’s motion was a proper one. He also thought that a copy of the letter should be forwarded to Cr Fish. The matter was eventually referred to the Reserves Committee to report, A NOVEL COMPLAINT. The following letter was received from Mr John Bowie “ I wish respectfully to bring under your notice a grievance which I and others suffer in tije amount of noise and hilarity displayed fay the men employed to clean and repair the streets during the night. This morning, shortly after three, I was awoke by an unusual amount of talking, whistling, and dancing; and, after bearing with it for over an hour, I put on my clothes and went down, and found four men standing against the window shutters. When I asked them to make less noise, one of them told me to go to . I then went over to the station for the sergeant, but on returning they had gone ; but about five o’clock they returned, and as they worked their way past the corner they seemed to excel themselves in all speaking to the horse at one time, and whistling a good lively tune, Idon’t object to the moubeingin good spirits these dull times, but I respectfully submit that from three to five in the early morning is not a good time to exhibit it in such a noisy boisterous manner. Trusting you will be able to restrain the parties referred to in a small degree —I am, respectfully (signed) John Bowie.”— The matter was referred to the Works Committee. THE FIRE ESCAPE. Mr R. Robertson, superintendent of the Dunedin Fire Brigade, wrote as follows “Will you kindly call the Fire Brigade Committee’s attention to the faot that in the present state of the fire escape it capnqt be taken to a fire. It will be necessary for them to consider if it is worth mending or condemning. It will be necessary to take immediate action in case of fire and the fire osoapo should be wanted.”—Referred to General Committee, APPLICATIONS FOR FREE OAH AND WATER.

Mr Alex. Meggett, hon. secretary of the Hanover street Free Reading Room Committee, wrote asking the Council for a supply of gas free of charge.—Referred to the Finance Committee to report. The Caveraham Council wrote asking for a free supply of water to flush the mains in the borough. —The request was declined on the motion of Cr Cohen, who remarked tfaafc if there was a plenitude of water the citizens of D un pdin should get the benefit of it.—Cr Smith seconding the motion said that this was an inopportune time to flush the mains.

REPORTS. The reports of the Works and Finance Committees were adopted as published. The Water Supply Committee recommended that a seven years’ farrp lease of the Corporation land at Whare Plat, containing about 132 acres, be offered at auction at an upset rental of LlO. —Adopted. The Inspector of Nuisances reported that during the quarter ho had succeeded in

abating 175 nuisances, and nine other cases were in abeyance. Only eight summonses had been issued, resulting in six convictions, while one was withdrawn.—The report was received, Crs Sinclair and Gourley pay-, ing a tribute to the inspector for his zeal and efficiency. On the reading of the Gas Committee’s report Cr Carroll, in moving its adoption, referred to certain discourteous remarks that had been made by the engineer when the sneaker and the Committee were on a recent visit to the works. Mr Graham, speaking in a loud voice and in hearing of a number of his men, remarked that he could do a number of things only tiiat he had so much ignorance to deal with. The Mayor administered a severe reprimand, and the speaker was not going to move a resolution on the subject, but merely brought it forward for the information of the Council as an occurrence that should be prevented in future.—The report was adopted. THE STREET HERRINGS. Cr Sinclair said that a great portion of the kerbing of the City streets was in a dangerous condition, the stones being decayed, and that possibly some accidents would occur for which the Corporation would be liable—Cr Cramond said the Works Committee had had the matter brought under their notice, but had not the requisite funds for repairs at present.—The Mayor said that the Council could not deal with the matter, as having no money to spare they could not afford to do the work. He also thought that the general conditions of the roadways here compared very favorably with those of any other New Zealand town.—The matter then dropped. GLOVE FIGHTS, Cr Cohen moved the resolution standing in his name, as follows That it be a direction to the General Committee to frame a by-law with the object of suppressing glove fights and similar exhibitions in public licensed places in the City.” In doing so he said that when he tabled the motion he had no idea that the matter would so soon engage the attention of the Legislature, but still thought it was one that the Council might fairly take into consideration. They were to some extent the guardians of the public morals, and if they thought the interests of the citizens required that attention should be directed to the subject, they should give it attention. It appeared that a wave of pugilism was extending through the colony, and anyone looking at the Press reports must see that such exhibitions were becoming unpleasantly numerous. The Government had decided that they did not call for legislative interference, but those who had attended the exhibitions referred to must have been struck with the fact that they were largely patronised by the youth of the cities, and that the general surroundings of such affairs were demoralising—if he might not even say disgusting. He thought it would be well if the Council enacted a by-law, and gave owners of licensed places notice that their licenses would be endangered by allowing such exhibitions. There was a strong feeling in the direction indicated, and if a petition was desirable on the subject he was sure a largely-signed one could be obtained.

Cr Cramond seconded the motion. Cr Kimbell said he would move as an amendment—“ That the Council proceed to the next business.” Boxing was lawful, and what authority had the Council to forbid lawful exhibitions or entertainments. He objected to the Council being converted into a debating club, and to the tabling of motions for the purpose of inflicting weary platitudes on councillors as appeared to be the practice of the proposer of that motion.

Cr Cohen : May I ask, rising to a point of order, if Cr Kimbell is reading his speech ?

Cr Kimbell : No. Cr Cohen : By the set phrases he is using, I certainly thought ho was. Cr Kimbell went on to say that if the proposer was graduating as a member of Parliament, and practising in the Council the manufacture of laws for the remedy of imaginary evils, that was not the proper place for such experiments. Did Cr Cohen imagine the Council to be above, the Legislature, and clothed with the despotic powers of a newspaper editor ?

Cr GOURLFA' seconded t.\te amendment, saying that the Council had no power to give effect to the motion ; they had no power to make such a by-law.

Cr Cramond remarked that the motion asked that such power should be given. Cr Gourley asked if Cr Cohen could point out where the Council had authority to make such a by-law. It was quite clear that recourse must be had to the Legislature before the Council could act in the matter.

Cr Sinclair said that he sympathised with Cr Cohen in his attempt to put down an undesirable thing. Most people agreed that boxing was u healthy and legitimate exercise if carried out in a proper way, but when it became a business and assumed such a form as it had it should be put down, Cr Smith said he was sorry that Cr Cohen had brought forward the motion, for ho must disagree with it. The matter might be one for the Legislature to deal with, but he agreed with Lord Palmerston that it was far better to tolerate any shape of boxing matches, or even out-and-out fights, as displays of endurance, pluck, and British courage, than to run the risk of the nation degenerating and descending to the use of the bowie knife and stiletto. It was the business of the police to interfere if glovefights degenerated into improper or disgusting exhibitions, and he dreaded anything which might lead in the end to a maudlin sentimentality.

Cr Barron said it was seldom he could agree with Cr Smith, but on this occasion he must remark “ Them’s my sentiments.” One of the privileges of Britons was to he able to defend themselves with their fists, and ho would encourage exhibitions of the noble art so long as they were carried on in a proper manner.

Cr Cohen, in reply, said he would merely treat the personal attack of Cr Kimbell with the contempt it deserved. Most councillors knew him well enough to he sure that if he brought anything forward it was only from a desire to do what he considered right. A.,s to the powers of the Council, similar action to what he advocated had been taken at Wanganui, and the authorities of this city had interfered some years ago in the case of an exhibition that was thought to outrage public morality. He did not ask the Council to discourage fair exhibitions of skill, hut only the holding of exhibitions for profit solely, and not for the good of the public. The motion was then put and lost, only Crs Cohen, Cramond, Sinclair, and Hardy voting for it. TENDERS. One tender for the sale of an engine was referred to the Gas Committee to report; and tenders for printing the burgess roll to the Finance Committee, with power to accept the lowest. THE UNEMPLOYED. The Mayor said that a deputation of the unemployed had waited on him that morning with reference to getting work; and, seeing that the Corporation had got to reduce some sections in Dowling street, he was considering whether it would not be wise to reduce them by unemployed labor instead qf calling for tenders for the work. Cr Sinclair said he did not think the Corporation should undertake the responsibility of reducing the sections. He thought it would certainly be better to let some contractor take the whole thing in hand, for then he would bear the whole responsibility (f any accident occurred. Cr Carroll quite agreed with the suggestion of the Mayor to have the sections reduced by unemployed labor, for no matter who did the work the Corporation would be responsible for any accident. He thought the matter should be referred to the Works Committee to see how far the Government would assist the Corporation in the payment of the men.

Cr Smith thought it would be a very wrong step to take to have the work done by unemployed labor, for in his opinion it would have the effect of creating more “'unemployed.” If people wanted work they must take the ordinary course that other people took of looking for it. It was entirely a matter for the Government to deal with, and not the Corporation. The ratepayers were a great deal burdened now to meet their payments without their being burdened with additional expense. If the proposal were adopted the cost of reducing the sections would be far in excess

of what it would be if tenders were called for the work. Cr Gourley thought the Mayor’s suggestion was worthy of consideration, and added that he would like very much to provide work for the There were plenty of competent men looking for employment who were quite willing to work if they were only provided with food, and he thought it was the duty of the Corporation and also of the Government to find work for the unemployed. After some further discussion, the matter dropped without any resolution having been arrived at.