CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 11675, 6 February 1902, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last evening, and attended by the Mayor (Mr G. L. Demriston) and Crs Park, Christie, Tapper, MDonald, Lawrence, Muh\ Braithwaite, Scott, Crust, and Carroll. CORRESPONDBNCK. Mr J. M. E. Garrow, secretary to the Employers' Association, intimated that it had been unanimously resolved to recommend Saturday, March. 29, as the most suitable day for observing Anniversary Day. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals urged the desirability of starting all northern tram services from the top of the hill opposite Braithwaite's. "There could be no question," wrote Mr T. S. Graham, "of the boon it would be to the horses to be saved the great strain put on them with overloaded cars up that steep pinch."

The secretary to the Dunedin Amateur Swimming Club wrote objecting to the Logan Point Baths being vested in the Model Yacht Club and applying for reduced tram to members of the club using the St. Clair Baths. The Caversham Borough Council, in notifying the terms on which they would sign the new agreement, wrote that if the City Corporation were not prepared to concede the points in dispute, inquiry was made as to the terms on which Caversham would be granted a concession for twenty-one years to run a tram of their own into the City to the corner of Manse street—the present terminus. UCKE LOGAN. Mr T. Brown, secretary to the Albany street School Committee, forwarded the following resolution which had been passed by his Committee: —"That the attention of the City Council be drawn to the insanitary condition of Lake Logan-Baths, owing to the leakage from the cemetery and the sawage from the houses bordering on the lake finding its way into the baths. The Committee are of opinion that the health offi cer's recommendation that the baths be closed should at once be carried into effect, and urge the Council to consider the question of providing baths for the City." Dr Ogston, district health officer, wrote stating that, in compliance with the Council's request, he had visited the baths at Logan Point, and he had no.hesitation in saying that they were not onfy utterly unfit for use but their present condition rendered them dangerous to those bathing there. Apart from the Council's request, he considered it his duty to ask the Council to close the baths in the interests of public health.

Or Carroll, in moving that the matter be referred to the General Committee to report, pointed out that the Council had already ordered that the baths should be closed. He had mentioned the matter some months ago that Black Jack's Point would be a suitable place to establish baths. It was the only place that he knew of on the town side of the bay that would suit the purpose, and he said it was only about a quarter of a mile from Logan Point. Of course, there might be some objection <o the water being polluted with the sewage, but when the City was properly drained that would be done away with. So far as Lake Logan was concerned, it must eventually result in Its being filled up and formed into a recreation ground. It was not a suitable place for a lake. Cr Tapper, in seconding the motion, said that until they got proper baths in the centre of the Citv, so that they could be used day and night, the citizens would not be satisfied. He thought that the Woodhaugh Gardens would do as a makeshift in the meantime.

Cr Braithwaite said that, in company with Crs Maitland and M'Donald, he visited tho Woodhaugh Reserve and Lake Logan, and he was satisfied that the latter place for baths was out of the question. He did not think that they should construct suitable baths until they had the Waitati supply of water. So far as the Woodhaugh Gardens were concerned, it was simply a mud pool, and he was surprised at anyone suggesting such a place. Tho smell from Lake Logan was enough to kill a horse, let alone a human being. In his opinion, Black Jack's Point was too far out of town. Cr Park suggested that the letters should be sent to the General Committee, and that the matter stand over till the clubs interested came to an understanding as to what could be done. . Cr M'Donald spoke strongly against the present condition of Lake Logan, and said that it was a danger to the health of 'he. town. If the Council did not do something there would be an outbreak of diphtheria or fever. Cr Christie thought that the Lake Logan Baths should be closed at once, in accordance with the health officer's report. The motion was carried. At a'later stage Cr M'Donald suggested that the Works Committee should consider the advisability of preventing the draimge from going into Lake Logan. THK TBAMWATS COMMITTEE'S RKPCKT. Cr Scott, in moving the adoption of '■his Committee's report, said he would like to read a report which had been received from their officers in the tramway department. The report was called for in an article that appeared in the' Evening Star.' That article, he might say, waa quite uncalled for, and was not true. The report was as follows: Statement showing the increase in mileage from 1898 to 1901: December, 1898: 82 miles 39 chainsequal to 40 trips per diem. December, 1899: 110 miles 02 chains—equal to 54 trips per diem. December, 1900: 11.0- miles 02 chains—equal to 54 trips per diem. December, 1901: 130 miles 32 chains—equal to 64 trips per diem. The present time-table gives an average of one car passing a given point every jo minutes between the hours of 7.25 a-m. and 11.15 p-in. The average daily receipts for the, second week of December last were £5 9s 4d, adding 7s 9d per week for season tickets gives £5 17s Id, equivalent to Is 8d per trip rra. The cost of working for the half year ending September 30 last equals Is Id per mile over all routes, and w the Beach v iiq is two miles three chains in length, the cost per trip is 2s 2£d. This shows a loss of ojd per trip nm. The portion of the line between Ogg's Corner and the Beach has not paid. This was pointed out to the St. Kilda Borough Council when the late Tramway Company were trying to arrange for a renewal of the concession deed.

Continuing, Cr Scott said that it would- be

seen that they had been very liberal so far | as St. KOda was concerned. | Or Tapper, in seconding the motion, said | current report had it that the Roslyn tram- , way was for sale. He suggested to the Tramways Committee to-take into consideration whether the Council could net see its way to make the purchase. The service could be bought cheap, and it could be- worked by the Corporation without difficulty. It would be a *ery good investment. Or Braithwaite thought that the latter speaker's suggestion was an excellent one. He thought that the papers before they made an assertion of any kind J , particularly on a question of fact, should first communicate with the Tramways Committee or tie chairman of that Committee. The report was adopted. cr muir's charges. A good deal of the Council's time was taken up in a discussion over Cr Muir's letter (which has already been, published) in connection with his complaint in regard to the tramways question. Cr Lawrence moved that the letter be received, and this was seconded by Cr Braithwaite. Both councillors spoke warmly ou the subject, and said t£at if Cr Muir had stated, when the matter, was discussed at the all-night sitting of* the Council, that such overtures were made to him not one councillor would have voted the way lie did. Cr Braithwaite could not understand why Cr Muir was afraid to trust the Council in regard to an inquiry into the charges. Cr Park moved that the letter go to the Special Committee appointed to inquire ihco the matter. Cr Scott seconded the amendment.

Cr Carroll thought the whole thing was founded on a misconception, and that there was nothing in it. He believed that Cr Muir had arrived at a misconception of what certain parties had said. After several of the other councillors had spoken, Cr Muir said he still felt convinced that the Council were not the proper tribunal \o adjudicate in this mutter. He felt that there were two parties—there were 8 votes to s—and nothing he would say would alter those votes. The reason he did not bring the matter up the night they had the long sitting of the Council was that it was only that afternoon that the proposition was made to him, and he was not certain at that moment bow far the person was authorised to make the proposition to him. He had not wished to implicate any person in the matter, if the person who made the proposition was acting entirely on his own behalf. He did not mention it at that meeting, but he had dropped a bint at that time. He had said : "If I could only tell you something that is in my mind at the present time you would be astonished." If an inquiry did take place he could bring out some very important matters, but he did not want the public or his fellow-coun-cillors to think that he had said one word' affecting the honor of his brother councillors.

The Mayor said that that part of Cr Muir's letter which began "The resolution is based upon misconception " was a little childish. Anyone must know agaitisfc whom the councillor's charge was levelled. Cr Muir had agreed to submit the matter to a tribunal of his own choosing, but, as he (the mayor) had said before, that course would be distinctly derogatory to tho dignity of the Council. It was not at, all likely that a firm of Noyes Bros.' standing were going to allow matters involving their honor so closely to be adjudicated upon by a private tribunal. It would ruin them. Cr Muir now said that no matter what lie had said it would not have altered the opinion of the Council. To that he (the mayor) wished to give a distinct denial. He had nob made up his mind on the occasion of the all-night sitting, but the fact of Mr Goodman having waived 2£ per cent, had a great effect upon him. He unhesitatingly said that if Cr Muir had privately or publicly said what he since had the result of tho vote would have been entirely different, because he never would have given either his deliberative or casting vote in favor of a firm whoso integrity he had begun to doubt. He would have voted for delay, which would have made it six votes to six, and he would have used his casting vote in the same direction. He wished Cr Muir and the public to distinctly understand that Cr Mnir had said he #rould not plead before a tribunal of the Council, and as far as he (the mayor) .was concerned he should not plead before any other. Rather than let tho matter fall to the ground he would go to the length of supporting that Cr Muir should himself select a committee of the Council, and if he (the mayor) were appointed a member lie would give his decision most impartially. He had no personal feeling in favor of Noyes Bros., and if he sat on such a triubunal the fact that he had voted the way he did would not affect his judgment one whit. The amendment was carried.