CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 9471, 16 August 1894, Page 1

CITY COUNCIL.

The regular meeting was attended last night by the Mayor (Mr Fish) and Crs Gourley, Hardy, Gore, Wales, Carroll, M'Gregor, Owen, Cohen, and Dawson. CORRESPONDENCE. Cr Swan asked for leave of absence- for three or four weeks, as he is attacked by influenza—Gran ted. Mr L. A. Nordin asked the Council to form the footpath fronting the quarry reserve in Maclaggan street.—Works Committee to act.

Two cases of typhoid were reported, one in Afthur street, attended by Dr Barnett, and the other in Constitution street, in charge of Dr Burns.—His Worship said that as several cases had been reported at last meeting he had taken steps to find out what dairies the persons affected received their milk from. This had been discovered, and the inspector having visited nearly if not the whole of these dairies would report in a day or two as to their cleanliness and so forth.

Messrs A. and T. Burt, Briscoe and Co., and the New Zealand Hardware Company wrote with reference to what they understood was the iutentiou of the Council to order direct a quantity of gas mains. The writers intimated that their buying capabilities were equal to those of any agents the Council could employ, and they asked that orders of this description should be open to public competition instead of a private outside firm being favored without competition.—Cr Cohen thought that if these local firms could tender they should have the opportunity. If, on the other hand, the person with whom the Council's orders had hitherto been placed represented a reputable English firm who could manage the supply at the low price stated, the Council should know the name of Die firm.—The Ma yob said that it was the firm of William Coward and Co., of London, one of the largest firms there, and. they were able to make most favorable terms with the manufacturers. The Corporation simply paid the firm's representative 2;V per cent, and got the whole of the discount, which was a larger concession than could be got otherwise. On all the plant imported the Council had only paid commission to the amount of £l2 odd.—Cr Dawson : Why should we not import direct from the manufacturers?— The Mayor said that if they did so they would have to pay 5 or 7i per cent, more than at present.—Cr Dawson: That is not my experience.—Cr Cohen: The story told me is quite contrary to that.—The Mayor : Then I am afraid you have not been told the correct story.—The letter was received. The Mornington Council wrote agreeing to the proposal that they should pay half the cost, amounting to £2l 10s, of putting in order the roads leading to the Mornington brow.—The Mayor explained that the work had been already taken in hand.—Received. Mr James Hislop asked permission to form a right-of-way 10ft wide from Moray place to the rear of Mr Napier's vacant sections in Stuart street.—Works Committee to report. Mr F. Cuming wrote stating that there had been a case of typhoid in Queen] street, and close to the residence of the patient there were three openings for emitting sewer gas. He asked that these be closed.—Cr Dawson thought that all these openings should be trapped.—Referred to Works Committee to report, the Mayor remarking that other openings might require to be attended to.

The Mayor read a letter he had received from Mr Sequah, who asked permission to travel a brass band through the streets. His purpose seemed to be to attract a crowd and give a lecture advertising a medicine.—Cr Dawson did not see why the application should not be granted, but the rest of the councillors were of a contrary opinion, and the request was declined. Mr R. Chapman called attention to the state of the roads leading through the Town Belt to his property.—Works Committee to report. The Maori Hill Council forwarded a petition from eiglteen persons requesting that body to urge the City Council to contribute five loads of metal for repairing the lower end of Newington road.—The Mayor said that it was becoming a serious question as to whether the Council should go to great expense over these roads, which were used almost entirely by persons living outside the City.—Referred to Works Committee to report. THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Mr J. Sherwiu, returning officer for Bell Ward, intimated that being ill he had appointed a deputy.—The opinion was expressed by two or three councillors that Mr Sherwiu should not delegate his functions, and the question was allowed to stand over. Messrs J. Taylor, J. S. M'lntosh, Thos.> M. Johnston, James Crawford, and John N. Merry were the applicants for the post of returning officer of Leith Ward, in succession to Mr Crcagh, deceased, and Mr Merry was appointed. THE TRAMWAYS BILL.

Mr (). Moore, by order of the chairman of the Select Committee on the Tramways Bill, forwarded copies of the Bill and asked the Council to send an expression of their views thereon in time to be considered on the 20th inst. —The Mayor suggested that a reply be Bent to the effest that he (Mr Fish) would be in Wellington on Monday, and would attend the Committee. He might add that the town clerk and himself had been through the Bill and found that the majority of the provisions were such as seemed to be reasonable. It was drafted very well indeed—much better than most of the Government Bills. One or two amendments, however, seemed to be called for. He would move that a reply be sent in the terms suggested.—Carried. Messrs Duncan and Macgrcgor wrote pointing out the difficulties connected with the making of tram lines across the Town Belt, and suggesting an amendment to the Tramways Bill now before the House in order to facilitate concessions in that direction. The amendment the writers would suggest wa3 this: —Paragraph 1 of section 4, Part I. of the Tramways Bill, might be made to read thus: " Tramways may be constructed in any borough, town, district, or county, or over or upon any town belt, domain, or recreation, or other public reserve when authorised in the second schedule provided hereto." Cr Dawson thought that the matter should be looked into pretty carefully before the Council gave away any rights in connection with the Town Belt.

The Mayor thought the Council should have more power than they had at present, but the proposed clause might give them power to do what the citizens objected to some time ago—viz., to erect a fever hospital on the Belt. If the Council would leave the letter in his hands he would take it to Wellington and bring the matter before the Committee of the House if he found it was advisable to do so after making inquiry and consulting with the solicitors' representatives in Wellington. Cr Cohen suggested that the letter should be at once sent to the Council's solicitors to see if there was any harm in the proposed clause.

The Mayor said that perhaps that would be the safest course to adopt, and the suggestion was agreed to. REPORTS. The Works, Water, and Reserves Committees' reports were passed without comment.

The Gas Committee's report coming up for consideration, the Mayor said it baa been found since the report had been prepared

1 that there was not sufficient room available for the/lectures on cookery arranged to be given by Mrs E. B. filler, and he would ' therefore propose that the clause dealing with that subject be referred* back to the Committee. The matter would have to be left over until the Council -had more extended premises. Cr Cohen pointed out that if the Council applied to the Technical Classes Association they would grant them the use of a room with the greatest pleasure. , The Mayor replied that while the Council were willing to give lessons in cooking tho main object was to sell their cooking stoves, and for that purpose to have the lectures giveu ia their own rooms. Cr Cohen thought it was absolutely necessary to the sale of the stoves to get a practical person to use them. , „ The Mayob* said, he was pleased to be able to state that the Bales were steadily increasing. Ce Carroll thought it should be gerier- . ally known that at the reduced price of gas for heating purposes it was as cheap as coal at 30s a ton. Some said as cheap as coal at 255, but he was on the safe side in fixing the equivalent at 30s. Cr Wales thought it would be an advantage if the Committee could contrive some means of using the services and meters that were set up for lighting purposes, and equalise the price. Id that way, by saving the cost of extra fittings, sales of cooking stoves would be increased.

The Mayor: My experience of these fires, and we have four of them, tallies with Cr Carroll's. The expense is very little and the convenience marvellous.

Cr Couen : It costs me as much to make the connection as to buy the stove. The Mayor said tnat if the financial scheme now before the Council were adopted, perhaps it would be possible to carry out Cr Wales's suggestion. The report was adopted, with the exception of the clause mentioned.

lir moving the adoption of the General Committee's report, the Mayor alluded to the clause referring to Inspector Morrison bciug cenßured for asking to be served with drink at the Otago Club. He said that the inspector practically admitted the facts, and deserved censure, but he (the mayor) did not think the inspector had any bad motive in his action. Some persons seemed to think that the inspector had been setting a " plant" in regard to the sale of liquor, bub that was not shown by the facts. Cr Gore asked whether the inspector had any business at the club. The Mayor said that he went there under the pretext of looking at a drain. He was accompanied by a man named Duncan. When the liquor was asked for the steward very properly refused to serve it. The report was adopted. The Finance Committee's report being presented, the Mayor explained that Cr Solomon had been asked to make inquiries as to the case of William Winthrop, whom it was proposed to give an allowance of three months' wages, and an answer received was that the information was not quite satisfactory, and that the matter should therefore be. held over for the present. Cr Gourley thought that the man was fully entitled to the payment, and the report was adopted.

TUE HAWKERS AND PEDLARS BILL. The Mayor moved his motion, which has already been published, with reference to the Hawkers and Pedlars Bill now before Parliament.

Cr Couen seconded the motion, which was carried.