CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 8565, 11 July 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

CITY COUNCIL.

The following was the principal business transacted at Wednesday night's meeting;— Dr Macpherson forwarded the following resolution, adopted at a meeting of the Otago Branch of the New Zealand Medical Association, on the motion of Dr Colquhoun: —" That the attention of the Town Council be called to the serious inconvenience oaused to the medical profession and to all classes of the community by the absence of street numbering, and respectfully ask that steps be taken to remedy the deficiency. l'—Referred to the Works Committee.

The Town Clerk> Maori Mill, wrote that that Council declined to subsidise the proposed metalling of the Dundaa street Belt road, but should the City Council provide plans for widening the road and forming the footpath, the Maori Hill Council would consider the advisability of assisting financially to carry out the work. Mr A. Bathgate, hon. secretary of the Dunedin and Suburban Reserves Conservation Society, wrote :—" At the request of Mr Robert Chapman, I beg to apply to your Council for permission to erect at the lower side of the Octagon a monument to the memory of the late Rev. Dr Burns, who has been fitly styled the Aaron of this settlement. I forward herewith a sketch and ground plan of the design selected by Mr Chapman, from which you will see that the proposed monument will be not only a fitting memorial of one of our pioneers, but also a striking ornament to the City. I may explain that the height of the monument will be 59ft 6in, the base lift square, the lower column 7ft in diameter, and the upper column 4ft Gin in diameter. As Mr Chapman is anxious to have the work proceeded with as speedily as possible, and as until the matter is settled the fencing must be delayed, I shall be obliged by your obtaining the sanction of the Counoil at the earliest possible date." Messrs J. A. X, Riedle and Edmund Smith wrote requesting that steps be taken to construct an underground sewer, to be connected with the tunnel that was now formed in London street. There was no doubt that as the season advanced the nuisance which existed in connection with the surface drainage would prove a source of positive danger to the health of the residents in the neighborhood. As an evidence of the importance they attached to the matter, they had, as previously intimated, agreed to contribute materially towards the cost of the work, notwithstanding that they were of opinion that, if funds were available, they might fairly ask the Council to bear the entire expense. They were prepared to pay onehalf (L 46) of the estimated cost of the works. —The water was referred to the Works Committee to report. A petition from a number of owners of land on the south side of Dowling street, who prayed that a projection of 7ft of rock in Dowling street be removed, was referred to the Works Committee, THE JFUBLIC LIBRARY QUESTION. Mr Cohen, hon. secretary of the Library Association, submitted the proposals that were formulated on the occasion of the joint deputation from the Public Library Association and the Athenteum Committee, as follows: The Public Library Association, on their part, undertake to raise by publio subscription the sum required (estimated at about LI, 500) to provide a new reading room and reference library on the site of the present Athecasam. The Athenseum Committee, on their part, undertake to submit to their members the question of drawing up an agreement, to be ,'mpplemented by legislative enactment) by which, conditional on tho foregoing buildings being erected and bonded over to the Committee of Management, and the City Council agreeing to levy a rate sufficient to cover a»y loss of revenue that may arise from carrying this undertaking into effect, to throw the reading room and reference library open to the citizens of Dunedin, and to give to the Olty Counoil tho right to appoint to the Committee of the Athenaeum ia proportion to the contribution the City may make to the funds of the institution. That the Atheiasum Committee will also agree to submit to the determination of their subscribers the question of handing over to the City the entire Institution on condition of the City Council undertaking the whole c st of its mamgement. The Library Association therefore respectfully reqnest that, In order that they may proceed with their canvass for subscriptions, and that they may enter into into further negotiations with the Athenaeam Committee with the gaining the assent thereto of the Athens*am subsurib-Te, your Council will t»ke thesi matters into consideration, and if the proposal-* now submitted meet with your approval take the Lecessary aotion for securing the approval of the ratepayers to a rate being Btruck for tha maintenance of a public library in Dunedin.

Cr Haynes moved that the matter be referred to the Finance Committee to report. It opened up a large question, and the members ought to have time to digest it.

Cr Cramond seconded. Cr Toomky suggested that the matter should be referred to a select committee. Cr Cohen said the desire was that the executive of the Association should wait on the Committee and threßh the matter out with them.

Cr Cramond hoped the Finance Committee would not put more burdens on the ratepayers. Cr Cohen assured Cr Cramond that no burden for this work would be imposed on the ratepayers for the next three years. The motion was carried. GENERAL. •

During Cr Fish's absence, Cr Haynes was added to the Finance and Cr Chapman to the Water Committees.

The reports of the various Committees were adopted. On Cr Toomey's motion, the reeolution of May 27 imposing a charge for using water for washing windows was rescinded. THI MUNICIPAL TONIERENOE.

The Mayor made a few remarks with referenoe to the Municipal Conference. He expected a full report of the proceedings in the course of a few days, and the Council would then be put in full possession of the business transacted. The Conference was a very representative one, there being delegates from almost every municipal council in the colony present. They afterwards waited upon the Premier, who received them with much cordiality. His Worship made reference to the good work accomplished by Cr Fish, who applied himself to the business of the Conference with assiduity;— (Hear, hear.) On the motion of Cr Hardy, it was reBolved—"That the thankfrof the Council be acoorded to the Mayor anti Gr Fiah for the important services ..rendered,* by them in their attendance at the Municipal Conference efc Wellington."