CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 8611, 3 September 1891, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL.

Last night’s meeting was attended by the Mayor (Mr John Carroll), Crs Gourley, Haynes, Barron, Hardy, M'Gregor, Swan, Cohen, Solomon, Chapman, and Toomey, CORRESPONDENCE. The Town Clerk, Caversham’s, request for a free supply of water for the purpose of flushing out the Caveraham Council’s water mains was granted. The Auditor-General wrote, with reference to the proposed remission of charges for storage of kerosene in certain oases, that strictly speaking the Council should of courso adhere to the terms of any by-law imposing charges, and had no right to remit a charge in favor of individuals. He would therefore suggest that the Council should amend the by-law in favor of the smaller retail dealers ; and should they do so, he should not of course take any notice of any failure to collect the fees prior to the passing of the amended by-law. It was decided to affiliate with the Municipal Association. Messrs R. S. Sparrow and (Jo. complained of the frequency with which carters emptied their dray loads of clay opposite their works gate in Willis street, to the detriment of traffic, and asking that the Council would cause theso deposits to be removed and take such steps as were thought necessary to prevent a recurrence of the nuisance.—ln connection with tho complaint, the Inspector of Nuisances reported having taken steps to secure the removal of tho deposits.

Mr £. T. O’Connell and six other ratepayers and Corporation tenants wrote calling attention to the bad state of tho roads in the Montpellier suburb, and especially to the formation of the footpaths and channels. They suggested that tho channels should be asphalted, as the strong flow of water would carry away ordinary formation, and also that the footpaths should be covered with screenings, Tho rents and taxes from the suburb amounted to upwards of L3OO per annum, and the signatories considered it but their right to have the footpaths and channels mads, —Referred to the Works Committee to report. Mr George Bell drew attention to the steep gradient of the footpath on the southern side of Dundas street west. For several years past he had had occasion to point out the difficulty of ascending and danger of descending the hill, and more than ten years ago promises were made to him that the gradient should be reduced by the formation of a zigzig. Nothing had been done, however, beyond placing a handrail for a portion of the distance, which to a certain extent might afford support in case of slipping, but in nowise eased the difficulty of ascent or descant. —Referred to the Works Committee,

Mr W. Emery, on behalf of residents of Pino Hill, brought under the notice of the Council the bad state of the water table and road on the Town Belt, opposite Pine Hill terrace.

Messrs Stout, Mondy, and Sim proposed a settlement of the question of boundary fences between Mr W. Watson’s properly at Wakari and the Corporation waterworks reserve.—The letter was considered in connection with the report of the Water Committee, and it was resolved that the Council contribute half the cost of at once erecting a new boundary fence. Mr W. Reid, for the trustees of the Albany street Oddfellows’ Hall, stated that they considered the license charged for the hall was too high, having in view the accommodation provided in the hall and its position, Ihe Rattray street Hill, which was better situated and had much larger accommodation, was licensed at L 5 ; the Stuart street Hail, which also was better situated, and had equal accommodation, was charged much leas; while the Union street Schooltu'l, built by public subscription for specific uses (and they therefore considered was competing unfairly against them), was licenced at L2 per annum. He furnished a statement to show that the trustees wore not only deriving no revenue from the hull, but wore losing money thereby, and asked that the Council would considerably reduce the license fee.— Referred to the General Committee. Mr James Samuel, secretary to the trustees of tha Anderson Bay Cemetery, wrote that the trustees had resolved that, in the event of the City Corporation deciding upon the sandhills site for a cemetery, steps would be taken, if desired, to hand over to tho Corporation the district cemetery which adjoined the proposed site. If this offer were accepted, good ground of about seventeen acres in extent would be at once available.

Mr A. R Barclay drew attention to the fact that considerable damage was done to the graves in the Northern Cemetery by the trees on the north side, both from the litter caused by the enormous quantity of dead leaves and tho excessive dampness caused by the trees entirely shutting out the sun, Many graves indeed almost all—also, were being utterly disfigured and destroyed by rabbits. He suggested that tho trees should be cut down where complained of aud that the cemetery should be eucloied with a rabbit-proof fence,— Cr M‘Gregor mentioned taut the matter of catting down the trees was already iu the hands ef the surveyor.—Referred to the Reserves Committee.

Superintendent Robertson called attention to the imperfect state of the fire alarms throughout the City, as for some considerable time pist they had not recorded a tire in a proper manner. He had spoken several times to Mr Logan and Mr Roach, of the Telegraph Department, about the bad working of the alarm boxes, and in every instance they said that the boxes required replacing by new ones with latest improvements. The boxes had been up since 15S0, and in the first instance they were not truly made, but the system was a good one ii properly carried out. —A return was furnished showing that the cost of necessary repairs would be LSI I'J.i. — Cr Cohen said inquiries oa the subject had convinced him that if the indicator had been in good working order last vreek the fire in George street would not have proved so serious as it did. —Gr Solomon said that the matter was of urgency, as if the indicators were as bad as represented they should at once bo replaced by effective ones.—Referred to the General Committee. THE SANDHILLS QUESTION. The Town Clerk, Caversham, wrote stating that his Council had resolved to contribute the sum of L 259, being one-fourth of the amount required to carry out the plan of protective worts against the encroachment of the sea at the Ocean Beach, and requesting the assistance of the City Council in carrying out the work, The Town Clerk, South Dunedin, wrote stating that the Borough Council had passed a resolution approving of the formation of a board of works with power to rate up to Jd in the £ over Dunedin and suburbs.

In the course of a discussion, The Mayor said he believed the coarse that the City Council would be most willing to fall in with was the proposal to establish a board of works with power to levy rates on all portions of the community interested. He thought they must come to the decision ultimately. V> hat money was wanted now might be obtained from the Government on the understanding that a board of works would bo appointed under legislative enactment.

Cr Solomon observed that if the Mayor’s suggestion was carried out tho City of Dunedin would have to pay about seven-eighths ui me cost of the whole thing.—(Hear, hear.) The view that the Council hud taken of the matter was that they were prepared to pay L 250 if tho three suburban boroughs that were most interested would each pay a similar sum; but he thought it would be found a very difficult thing to get the Council to consent to pay three-fourths of the cost of forming an esplanade at St. Clair,

Cr Gourley said that the St. Hilda Council had agreed to vote L 250, and were agreeable to co-operate with the other boroughs in getting a Bill passed to give authority for the levying of a rate. He had no doubt that a contribution of L 230 from each of the boroughs would be sufficient to construct the protective works necessary to keep the sea out. Cr Hardy, while willing that the Council should pay L 250 or the interest on L 230, was opposed to tho levying of a rate on the citizens.

Cr Cohen did not feel disposed to vote L 250 for the improvement of the esplanade, with tho sure knowledge that in a short time another L 250 would be wanted. If the

work was to be performed at all it mast be on a well thongnt-oat comprehensive plan, which would ensure the work beiog of a permanent character.

Cr Haynes thought that in a sense the proposal that a contribution of L 250 each should bo made by the City and three suburban boroughs might bo said to be abandoned, as one Council had declined to vote the sum. He objected to the creation of a distinct body to deal with the matter and levy a rate, because the setting in force of the machinery to levy the rate would cost more than would have to be paid for the construction of an esplanade if money were obtained from the Government at 5 per cent. Ho suggested that the local bodies should nominate representatives to a board, in proportion to the amount of their contribution, and that the machinery should be worked from the principal body—the City Council—in the Town Hall, where the whole work could be done at a trifling additional expenditure. Cr Swan argued that the work was one which did not concern the City Council very much; but it was for the three boroughs on the Flat to take the question up and face it. The sum that these boroughs were willing to contribute wos L 750, which was half the estimated cost of the work. For his part, he was opposed to the Council contributing L3OO or L4OO, and he was opposed to the levying of any rate upon the City ratepayers to carry out the work ; but he would be agreeable to the City Council voting a sum not exceeding LI 50 towards the cost.

Tho Mayor suggested that the Council should adhere to their former resolution not to express any opinion until the three boroughs interested came to a definite agreement.

Cr Toomey contended that nothing would bo done if the mayor’s suggestion were adopted. As a great number of the people of Dunedin derived enjoyment from the esplanade, and as the City Council were the largest body, he thought they should take the initiative, and assist the boroughs interested as well as they could. Cr M’Gregor supported the mayor’s suggestion. Cr Barron moved —" That this Council agree to support a scheme in accordance with the motion passed by the South Dunedin Council, agreeing to the formation of a domain board to deal with the encroachment of the sea and the reclamation of the Sandhills.” If the Government saw that the boroughs were earnest in their scheme, they would advance the money necessary to get over the difficulty in the meantime, making the repayment of interest and principal a first charge on the amount raised by rate.

Cr Cohen seconded the motion, as he regarded it as the only practical way of dealing with the question. He had no sympathy with Cr Swan’s contention that Dunedin should not contribute. The esplanade was as much used by the citizens of Dunedin as by any other portion of the community, and he believed that a judicious expenditure of money on it would give to the public an esplanade second to none in the colonite. Cr Swan protested against tha Council being b.iudly led by the South Dunedin Council.

The motion was, by consent, amended by tho omission cf the words “in accordance with the motion passed by the South Dunedin Council,”

Cr Solomon considered it undesirable to carry any resolution at the present time. He was agreeable to help the boroughs on the F at, but before they were helped those boroughs must help themselves. The preposterous position taken up by the South Dunedin borough shut it out from any claim for assiifaucs. He thought the position the City Council should take up was that, so soon as those boroughs determined to do something, they would help them : and it seemed to him that the resolution which the Council had already passed met the case. Assuming that a domain board were established, and leaving cut of consideration the question of the cost of the board, If they agreed to expend, say, LIO,OOO, and to assess the boroughs on the proportion of the rateable value of property contained in them to meet that LIO.OOO. St. Hilda would have a mere song to contribute in proportion to what the City of Dunedin would have to pay, and he did not think tho City should have to pay such a large proportion. Cr Toomey said that if the question were shelved now they would have it before tho Council ad h.JinUum. A definite decision should be arrived at, and the Council should contribute something, leaving the Domain Board (if established) to deal with the sandhills question afterwards. Cr Hardy could not see his way to support the formation of a board, because if one were formed the ratepayers in the City would bo the victims, and would have to pay through the nose. The Council should pay a fair sum—and ho regarded L 250 as reasonable—towards the cost of protective works.

The Mayor maintained that if a sum of L 250 were voted by tho Council, that only meant patching the breaches up, Cr Godrlky submitted as an amendment —“ That this Council express its willingness to assist in the repairs required at the sandhills and St, Cle.ir esplanade to the extent of L2JO, inaccordar.ee with plana adopted fcy the suburban boroughs.” Cr Chavman seconded, but

The Mayob, on a point of order being raised by Or Solomon, ruled that the amendment proposed an alteration of the course which the Council had already agreed to adopt, and was not in order, Cr Barron’s motion on being pat was lost, only the mover and seconder voting for it. The letters from the Caversham and South Dunedin Councils were then referred to the Finance Committee. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTSTho reports of the Public Works and Water Supply Committees were adopted without discussion. On the report of the Reserves Committee, Cr Solomon asked by what authority the Committee employed Mr Hay to report oa the proposed cemetery site at Anderson Bay. The city surveyor’s report, which was of a very exhaustive kind, had previously shown that the land was most unsuitable. It seemed to him to be a great stretch of authority for the Committee to employ another surveyor without consulting the Council.— Cr M'Greoob, chairman of the Committee, said the additional report was obtained because it was thought the Council would not be satisfied with only one report.—The Mayor took tho responsibility of employing another surveyor, but said he consulted about eight members of the Council before authorising Mr Hay to make a report.—Cr Swan had strongly opposed the Committee’s action in taking steps to test the sandhills to ascertain their suitability for cemetery purposes, because the city surveyor’s report left no room for doubt as to the inadvisability of having a cemetery there.— Cr Couen accepted his share of the blame, but thought that the urgency of the matter was a valid excuse for tho proceeding. Speaking to the General Committee’s report, which was adopted, Cr Cohen expressed his doubt as to the wisdom of the Council relaxing the by-law respecting the storage of kerosene in the way that was proposed. The by-law had not been long enough in operation to warrant the Council iu taking such a step.— Cr M'Gregor also protested against the recommendation of the Committer. THE FREE LIBRARY QUESTION.

Cr Cohen moved the adoption of the recommendation of the Finance Committee that the Council should take steps to test at the next mayoral election the feeling of the ratepayers respecting the advisability of striking an Athenreum rate not exceeding in the £.

Cr Chapman seconded the motion, which was supported by Cr Solomon. Cr Swan proposed as an amendment that the matter should stand over for six weeks.

The motion was carried, Crs Cohen, Chapman, Toomey, Solomon, and Gourley supporting, and Crs Barron, Hardy, M'Gregor, and Swan opposing it.

THE CEMETERY QUESTION. The manager of the Perpetual Trustees Estate and Agency, on behalf of the owners, offered the Connell sections 101, 102, and 103, and part of 100, Wakari district, comprising thirty-two acres, more or less, as a site for a cemetery, for Ll,500; also that if the site of forty acres at St. Leonards, recently offered by Mr Henry Skey for cemetery purposes, were thought suitable, the price could be considerably reduced from the original offer of L4O per acre.—Referred to the Reserves Committee,