CITY COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 9154, 8 June 1893, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL

The ordinary meeting of (he City Cmni'-'l, held last evening, was attended liy lli.-t Worship the Mayor. Crs Gourley, n.irtvu. Hardy, M'Gregor, Owen. Swan, • 'oht-n. I-'i-b, and Carroll. niu!;Ksi-iiNh!-:N( i:. Mc—i-.-; Shand, Mason, and Co. intimated that t'.e delivery at the London docks of an improved tour-wheeled telescopic (ire-ladder ami escape, to lie capable of reaching to a height of OOft, would cost f-J-J.'i. ~ The town ■ •lerli was authorised to remit an additional t'li.'t for the purpose of providing for the payment of the ladder. Application s by the Fanners' Agency Company and the Salvation Army for the i.-re-tion of lamps were referred lot he Works ' 'oininitt'.'c to report. The Hon. W. H. Reynolds's application tor a private crossing over the footpath in Melville street was referred to the Works ('oininittee to act. KKI'OKTS. The reports of the Gas, General, and Finance Committees were adopted. In connection with the Works Committee's u-poit, C'r Cohf.n said that he was pleased lo see that the Committee had resolved to repliive the lamp in Hie Triangle with a inure useful one, but lie thought it was to be ivgretted that the site was not changed. It would be much better to have the lamp at i-itbei- end of the footpath, and if the Coinniiitee would accept the suggestion he would move that the clause relating to tlie lamp be i.-i'crred bade to the Committee for further i-o.iMderatiou. -- The suggestion was aei•■■pted, and the report was adopted with the rveption of this clause, which was remitted to the Committee for further consideration.

When the Reserve Committee's report was road, C'r H.uiDV expressed regret that the Committee could not see their way to expend a small sum in making the triangular piece of ground at Hillside dog-proof. Considering the services the Conservation Society had rendered to the City, lie 1 bought that if they could meet the society in any reasonable way they should do so. He would also like to see the Southern Market Reserve made info a garden if that were possible. —Cr Cohen denied that the Committee had thrown cold water on the suggestion of the Conservation Society, whose ••ll'orts to improve the City reserves had been recognised over and over again by the ( uuneil. All that the Committee asked was that their plans for beautifying the Southern Market Reserve be placed before the Commit t-e before they gave a final direction lo tiie Council. -- Cr Bakuon thought that if the Council had power to make the Southern Market Reserve into a garden they could let it and obtain a revenue from it. If it were made into a garden by the Conservation Society and a demand for a market again came mi the money spent on it would be wasted.—Cr Fish 'did not think the Market Reserve could lie handed over to the Conservation Society i.o deal with it as suggested. They could lease it to be built on for the purposes of a market, but had no power to alienate the reserve from the special purpose for which it had been granted to the City. He understood that the members of the Fernhill Club were anxious to get this eyesore removed, Suit he did not see what good mere fencing would do or w-here the money would come from. To do what the society wanted at Hillside would cost about i'loo, and the Council had not the money for the purpose. -The report was adopted.

The Water .Supply Committee recommended that tenders ho invited for seven v.:ars' grazing leases of the lands in the Silver Peaks district, etc., recently vested in the City Corporation for water purposes, and that it he referred to the mayor, the .•hainnaii, and the town clerk to arrange the condition*, 'tc. They also recommended that, the application from Mr John M'lnnes, jnii.. for pcrmiswion to plough about seven ■i. !-c.t of Hcction 40, block 4, Dunedin and Ku'. Taieri district, leased by him from the i 'oimcil, be declined. With reference to the i-ni! of the Corporation v. Mitchell, the Committee reported that negotiations with Mr Mitchell were still pending, but they hid not vet resulted in an arrangement .satisfactory to all concerned. Pay-sheefs

and accounts amounting to £66 17s 2d had been passed for payment.—Cr Hardy, in moving the adoption of the report, said that the case of the Corporation v. Mitchell had made a little progress during the last fortnight. The city engineer and himself had attended the Maori Hill Borough Council, and had met some of the borough councillors at Woodhaugh. There were many conflicting interests at issue, and though progress was necessarily slow, ho had hopes of an ultimate settlement. The report was adopted. THE CEMETERY QUESTION. With respect to the report, already published, on the question of cemetery accommodation, Cr Cohen said he did not agree with the proposal to temporise with this question. They ought to see if they could not obtain some suitable ground within a reasonable distance of the City. He should oppose any proposal to carry "it a considerable distance into the. country. It seemed to him that they could acquire a suitable property, and could make provision for paying for it within five or six years. They should again try to obtain the extension of the Northern Cemetery. They had carried the Bill in the House, where the representations of the citizens had been given etl'ect to, and although it had been lost in the Council circumstances had altered in that body since the matter was before Parliament two years ago. Failing the carrying of the Cemetery Extension Bill they should acquire a property within a reasonable distance of town. Cr Fish wished to say that within the last fortnight he had been waited upon by people, who complained bitterly that certain reserves in the Southern Cemetery set aside for footpaths were being appropriated for the purpose of burial, lie had a good deal of sympathy with those who, having bought their sections years ago, complained of the changes that were now taking place. He agreed with Cr Cohen that they should face the question by purchasing some new ground, and perhaps the sooner the better. He did not know exactly how they would get the money, but if a special loan were required he was inclined to think they ought to apply for it, and that the sooner this was done, and the necessary land bought, the better.

Cr M'Ckkiior explained that the footpaths, portions of which had been utilised, were lift wide, intended as main paths but not required. Cr Owen warmly approved of his colleague's suggestion to get an extension of the Northern Cemetery. They should be up and doing at once, and if necessary a conference with members of both branches of the Legislature could be held before Parliament met.

Cr Fish said there was a simpler way of settling the difficulty. A piece of ground, fit only for the purposes of a cemetery, had been cleared by the Council, and they should simply use it. The Mayoi: was of opinion that, as tliey had sufficient ground for some years, another attempt should be made to obtain an extension of the Northern Cemetery before purchasing laud. He could not say the Council was in a position to finance for the purchase of land, and under the altered circumstances referred to there might be a chance of securing the passage of the Cemetery Extension Rill.

Cr Al'Cukuok explained that the Reserves Committee had had the matter under consideration, but the majority were of opinion that it would be premature to take action this session.

Cr (tOiusi.KY said that if they got the addition to the Northern Cemetery there would still be a deficiency in the Southern one. If they could get suitable land at the south end of the town at a reasonable price he thought they ought to buy it, as it would pay very well. Cr Cakroi.i, thought the only question was whether it would be better to appeal to Parliament during the coining session or in the following year. Cr Swan moved as an amendment to the report—" That the Reserves Committee be instructed to report to the next meeting of the Council as to the advisability of introducing the Cemetery Bill next session." Cr Fish expressed the opinion that it would b«,> wise to defer the appeal to Parliament till after next (ieneral Flection. He was also of opinion that the .Jewish community might generously and cheerfully contribute their piece of ground in the Northern Cemetery, seeing that their rei|uirements were provided for fully in the Southern Cemetery. The report was adopted, with the addition proposed. n;s incus. Tenders for grass-etitting and grazing rights were referred to the Reserves Committee to accept the highest or most eligible.