CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 10212, 14 January 1897, Page 1

CITY COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last night, when there were present—His Worship the Mayor (Mr H. Gourley), Crs H. 8. Fish, H. P. Hardy, J. Gore, R. Chiaholm, W. Dawson, W. Swan, P. M'Gregor, C. Haynes, C. W. Mouat, and A. Solomon. CONGRATULATORY. Before proceeding with the regular business of "the Council Cr Fish took opportunity aa an old member of the Council and as an ex-mayor to offer to Mr Gourley his congratulations on his accession to the office of mayor for the second time. v Tbe offiee was one which Mr Gourley's long connection with the Council and general knowledge fitted him to fill. He (Cr Fish) had no denbt that His Worship would do the work to the satisfaction of the Connoil and of the eitizena. It would be his doty and pleasure to afford fits Worship all the assistance he could in the carrying ont of the arduous duties of the office. His Worship was und ratood to thank Cr Fish for his kindly expression of opinion. ~THE LATE CR A. MORRISON. His Worship expressed the sincere regret of himself and of the Connoil at the loss of one of their members. When they were last together Or Morrison was amongst them in apparently the best of health, and he remained in harness to the last, being at the Town Hall right up to the time of the adjournment. Cr Morrison had been a most useful and active member, and his voice and assistance on committees would be very much missed. He was sure he was reflecting the feelings of the Council when he said they-all-deplored the suddenness of his (Cr Morrison's) death. He would move —"That a letter of condolence be forwarded to Mrs Morrison and family expressing the Council's sympathy with them in their sad bereavement." Cr Fish said it was peculiarly fitting that he should second the motion, and he would do so without comment. The motion was carried unanimously. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr R. Glendining wrote accepting his appointment as one of the City Sinking Fund Commissioners.—Received. Mr W. D. Snowball, M.R.C.V.S., wrote accepting his appointment as inspector of abattoirs, and stating that he purposed leaving Billarat for Dunedin on January 6. —Received. The Town Clerk of North-east Valley wrote stating that his Council had accepted the offer of the City Council to contribute half the cost of repairing the road slip on the Belt road leading to Pine Hill. It was to be distinctly understood that bis Council did not accept any responsibility with respect to this road, but was willing at all times to meet the City Council's views with regard to it in a spirit of fairness.— Cr Fish said he thought it would be a good thing to consider whether they could not get this road closed altogether and get a diversion made into the other road. Applications had recently been made for concessions to provide for cricketers playing on the reserve at King street. His opiniou was that this reserve should not be nsed for cricket at all; that to so use it was dangerous, and/would some day lead to a serious accident, as so many children were taken to this place. The road referred to, if closed, would make an excellent cricket ground.—Referred to the Works Committee to report. Mr W. A. Ewing wrote under date January 11, 1897, that it was his intention to use the streams which flowed through the Craiglowin Estate for irrigation purposes.— Referred to Water Committee to inquire and report, Cr Fisu remarking that this was a very serious matter. A oiroular was received from Stockton appealing for subscriptions towards a fund now being raised to be called the " Stockton Colliery Disaster Widows and Orphans' Fund," for the purpose of aiding the distressed bereaved relatives of the eleven men who lost their lives in the Stockton Colliery in December last.—deceived.

Mr H. North and others wrote agreeing to contribute £44 15* 3d towards the cost of laying a Sin sewer pipe in Vogel street— The town olerk was instructed to communicate with the[writers and inform them that upon payment of the subscriptions alluded to in the list submitted by them the work would be prooeeded with.

THE CITY TRAMWAYS. Captain Montagu Cradock, acting attorney for the Otago Syndicate, Limited, wrote under date January 13, 1897,.as follows : I note that the City Council are at present considering the question of mechanical traction in relation to the tramways of this City, and bo beg to bring under your notice the matter of gas motors. Thesegas motors have now been successfully at work in France, Germany, and England, and the results of the working of the Blackpool, St. Ann's, and Lytham tramways in the latter country have alone proved conclusively that they are eminently adapted for the varying traffic peculiar to tramway work, and I have no doubt that this method will be adopted almost invariably In the future in centres where a new system of haulage is to be introduced. Amongst many recommendations which could be mentioned I quote the two following special ones in favor of the adoption of a gas system of traction for a city like Dunedin—viz.: (1) That no material alterations would be necessary in connection with the existing tram tracks; and (2) that the supply for the motive power would be a source of revenue to the city. In adopting this system the gas motors would gradually take the place of the horses. Earn motor would require a supply of from 36 to 35 cubic feet of gas per car mile; and having ascertained that the present average day's running of the city tramways is 1,150 miles—a mileage that would be largely exceeded—you can under the new system appreciate the value of the motor system to the Corporation gasworks account I am aware that you have now before you the application of an electrical syndicate, but I beg to intimate to you that if your Council afford me the opportunity to transform the present horse haulage into a system of gas motor traction I shall be prepared to nesotiate with the Council for such terms as their judgment may approve; and in the meantime I say nothing about concessions, terms, or agreements. , • If you think the City Council will entertain this scheme, I should be obliged if you would give me an idea of the rate that would probably be charged for such a large supply of gas, as much will depend on this item, but I have no doubt that the Corporation will meet me in a reasonable manner under the circumstances. I may state that I have already approached the Tramways Company and intimated to them my willingness s to enter into negotiations for the purchase of their assets and concessions with a view of introducing the system of gas traction. I shall be pleased to give you any further information which you may desire, either regarding the system of traction I am now commending or the bona fides of my intentions. Mr Robert Hay is consulting engineer for the syndicate I represent, and he will also be glad to afford information. The letter was referred to the General Committee to report WORKS COMMITTEE. The Works Committee's report as published was read. Cr SoLOMON'drew attention to the necessity of putting down a proper footpath near the new Government Insurance Building, and also for renewing the kerbiog there. Report adopted. WATER SUPPLY COMMITTEE. Cr Dawson moved the adoption of the report of the Water Snpply Committee as published. Cr Swan objected to the clause granting on the usual terms a supply of water for domestic purposes to premises near the proposed abattoirs at Burnside. He thought there was a daoger of water being drawn from the high levels. He moved that that clause-be referred back for further consideration. Or Dawson said that what'was proposed could not have the effect suggested. The matter had been considered and the engineer's advice taken.

CrFisn did not suppose there was any

danger aach as that suggested, but hj» tiwraght am shoald be token that kip term* on which the water was enppHed were sot more favorable than thote on which water was supplied for domwiic purposes within the Oily. Cr Solomon said the rate 16 be ftharged was 1« 61 per I.OOOgal. Cr Gore had opposed ao large a pipe being laid to the abattoirs, bat" the object of it now was apparent. He did not think anydifference to the pressure in town wonld be made by granting what was now proposed. Gr Fish thought it probable that as those who took the water at Bornside wonld only make nse of it from the Corporation pipes in the. summer months they would pay very little.' He thought they should not pay leas by metre than would have to be paid within the City on the ratable, value of the pro* perty. Cr Dawson mentioned that the price of water by metre in the City waa Is per wow. The amendment was negatived and the report adopted. REPORTS. The reports of the Reserves and Gas Committees, as read, were adopted Mm. die. GENERAL COMMITTEE. The Mayor moved the adoption of this, report, which baa been already published* The Town Clerk, in reply toaquesticfi by Cr Chisholm, read the correspondence with Mr Snowball, M.RC.V.B., re bis appointment as.inspector of abattoirs, and said Mr Saowball bad been fully informed aa to the date for the commencement of his services before leaving Billarat. Cr Hardy wished to know if the Council were standing in the way of the progress of the new Roslyn Tramway Company in any way. He was not aware that this was so, or that anything was being done to injure its progress, but there seemed to be an impression to that effect abroad, which it would be well to reracye. The Mayor said that certainly, so far aa he was aware, no obstacles whatever were placed in the way of this work. Cr Gore said that every facility waa granted to the company. Cr Solomon expressed the opinion that while the Corporation retained the £SOO deposited by the Dunedin and Kaikorai Tram Company interest should be paid upon it. The money belonged to the compiny, and the interest it was earning should be paid to the coirpany. Not to ao pay it seemed to him dishonest. * Cr Gore remarked that in that case the Corporation had been dishonest for a good many years, for it had not paid interest on the deposits—sometimes exceeding £l,ooo— we re lodged with it. Cr Chisholm thought it only equitable that in this case the interest earned by the money should be paid to the company. Cr Solomon moved that the report be amended so as to provide that interest on the .deposit made by the Dunedin and Kaikorai Tram Company be paid to the company. Cr Fish supported the amendment. He considered this oase was quite different from the ta3C of contractors who made deposits in connection with works undertaken for the Council upon which works the contractors expected to make profit. Cr Mouat would vote against the amendment unless it was made to apply to deposits generally. Cr B\yan agreed with Cr Mouat. The amendment, for which Crs Solomon, Hardy, Chisholm, and Fish voted, was lost, and the report was adopted unaltered. On the motion of Cr Solomon, seconded by Cr Fish, the services of Mr S. Morrison as inspector of nuisances were dispensed with in accordance with the terms of his engagement, and the General Committee waa authorised to advertise for applications to fill the vacancy. finasce. The report of the Finance Committee waa adopted on the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr HAYNEB. Cr Fish desired to express the opinion that the interest on the Corporation's overdraft ought to be very materially rednoed. They were paying far too muob interest. For an overdraft such as the Corporation's there could be no question that'B per oeaU was an excessive rate, and he recommended that attention should be given to this matter. committees: The Council unanimously elected Cr Fish to fill the vacanoies existing on the Water Sapply and Gas Committees. THE AHATTOIR LOAN. The Council went into committee to consider the tenders for the purchase of £5,000 worth of debentures—tin first issue of the second abattoir loan recently authorised. On resuming in opsn council, on the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr Fish, it was resolved to allot the £5,000 to the highest tenderer, Mr Arthur Allen, at a premium of £1 10s 6d per £IOO.