CITY COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXX, Issue 210, 5 September 1896, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of tbe City Counoil was held last night Present: The Mayor iMr P. Trask) in the ohair, Crs Baigent, Akersten, Piper, C. Harley, Look, Askew, Everett, J. A. Harley. and llout. The re-elected Councillors, Messrs Rout, Look and Baigent mado the usualdeclaration. The minutes of the lasfc meeting were read and confirmed. Accounts. The following aooounts were passed for payment: —

£3006 18 8 £2022 19 2 Cr Akersten said that the gas oredit balanoe was the lurgest thoy had yot had. The Mayor said this was very satisfactory.

Correspondence, From "A Woman Resident," oalling attention to the disgraceful state of the footpath in Alton-street, and asking that it be asphalted.— Referred to Public Works Committee. -Cr Lock thought that no notice should be taken of an anonymous letter.

From Charles Bevell, complaining of the bad state of the road in Grove-street. — Cr Rout said it was time the matter was attended to.— Cr Askew agreed with Or Kout.— lD was deoided that the City Surveyor have the road improved as soon ns possiblo.

_ F ro ! v i ho Scor -atary of the Town bchools Committee, asking for a reduction of tire charge (£26 n year) for the water supply to the schools, Ifc was poiuted out that the water was only used for drinking and in the lavatories. There were no baths as at the Colleges. The Committee also asked that the new contract for scavenging be let at a reduced price, as the work required was less now,

Cr Akersten moved Ihat the letter be referred to the Finance Commitee.— Cr Everett seconded.— Carried. From Mr R. Kingdon asking the Council tn give street frontage to owners of property in Examiner-street.

The Oity Surveyor said it was a question of private boundaries.

' Or Akersten moved that the City Surveyor report on tbe matter. Cr Rout thought that the best course was to let the parties interested fight the matter out. He moved tbat no aotion be taken,

Or J. Harley seoonded.— Carried. From Messrs Look Bros, denying that the "smell" complained of oame from their bone mill.

The Mayor said that the City Surveyor had visited the bone mill, and was satisfied tnat the smell did not originate, there. From Mr J. A. Orsman and others, calling attention to the state of a by-street leading from St. Vincent-street Cr Lock said the petition was somewhat misleading, inasmuch as it led one to think tbat nothing had been done in St. Vincent street.

Referred to Public Works Committee. Pub ie Works Report. The PubUo Works Committee reported as follows : — 1. On 1 tter from Mr T. Hewitson (to aot.) That they cannot reoommend that this application bo complied with. 2. On letter from Mr W. Rout, junr : That this footway bo tarred in its tarn. 3. On letter from Mr James Bolanders and others : That consideration be deferred until the next ordinary meeting, the City Surveyor to report. 4. As to south side of Nile street j That this be cleaned up and gravelled. 5. As to repairing Vanguard street : That the trees in Viotory Square be trimmed and thinned ont. 6. That a driver's license (passengers) haa been granted to R. Jackson. The Committee, with other councillors, visited the Gasworks and saw tbe stone-breaker, which has been set up temporary, at work, the result being very satisfactory. Cr Piper said he thought something of a permanent nature should be done in Nile Btreet, wbioh was in a very bod condition, and that the water table should be scraped. The report was adopted. Inspector of Nuisances' Beport. The Inspector of Nuisances (Mr S. Jiokell) reported as follows : — " Seeing a paragraph in the news papers respecting a nuisance near the junction of Waimea and Hardy streets, I have made inquiries, and find that the nuisance complained of arises from a load of new gas lime at tho rear of premises adjacent to the Congregational Church, I have ordered the lime to be covered with soil, when the cause of the complaint will be abated^ I may say that the smell arising from this lime, although powerful and disagreeable, is not of a dangerous n&tare. " Recently there have been one or two industries commenced in tho city, which come within the Noxious Trades Act, and I would suggest that the Council take the matter into consideration, so as to comply wilh the Public Health Act. "There is a cottage in Collingwood street at present occupied, which is unfit for human habitation, and steps should be taken to have it closed. " A resident in the City is keeping pigs, contrary to the By-Laws, although he has been frequently warned not to do so. " The custom of throwing rubbish snch as garden refuse, hedge clippings, dead animals, fish,' etc., onthe streets and public places is becoming a nuisance, and I ask for instructions in the matter. I mention this in order to warn the public that it is against the By-Laws, as some persons seem to think it is the proper way to get rid of their rubbish, and so long as it is off their own premises take no further trouble in the matter. " In case of nuisances occurring in the streets or public places it would be a great assistance if residents aware of the same would kindly give information at the office."

(Signed) SAMUEL JiCKBU,. Cr Piper: What about these noxioUß trades ?

The Inspector : One is a f ellmongery.

Cr Piper said many fellmongeries were carried on without causing a nuisance. In faot in England a fellmongering district was once singularly free from cholera which raged elsewhere. Cr Baigent said there were many old buildings in the city in a disgraceful condition and which ought to be demolished.

Cr Piper agreed. He knew of one such building in Collingwood-street.

The report was referred to the Public Works Committee.

The Mayor said the Counoil had power to make the owners of property fill up such low-lying pieces of ground as that ut the junction of Waimea and Bridge-streets, and he moved that this matter and that of disreputable buildings be referred to the Publio Works Committee,

It was decided also that the Works Committee and the Board of Health meet on Tuesday afternoon to go further into Ihe matters contained in the report of the Inspector of Nuisances.

Ordinary Business,

Cr Askew said the Port road wanted scraping— only thafc night a young lady had got bogged on the road,

Cr Piper thought the sooner tho stone* breaker got to work tbe better.

The City Surveyor said if he were allowed to get timber (birch saplings) quickly — he could have the maohine ready in 10 days.

Cr Look said in that case tenders for the supply of boulders should be invited.

Tho Mayor pointed out that the Council had deoided not to invite tenders for a month.

Cr Akersten said the roads were excellently kept in Nelson, and it was too bad for the people ' to worrit the life out of us " They would soon have the sun out strongly and the roads would dry. Cr Rout thought there was good reason for complaints as to the bad roads and streets. Lots of thinga wanted more atteniion than tbey received, A better scheme of carrying out required works was necessary, The Works Committee should take it into serious consideration.

Cr J. A. Harley said the streets were in fairly good order considering the weather they had had. The Works Committee bad done all it could with ihe means at its disposal,

The City Surveyor said that he and his foreman and the men at his disposal gave all the attention possible to the streets If more men were employed be oould keep pace with jthe works ordered. Crs Everett and Piper said want of mouey was the cause of the trouble. The Mayor said they could do all lhe works if they cared to raise the rates 3d in the £. Why didn't they buy a stonebreaker before ? If they had the streets would never have come to such a state as fchey were in at present (Cr Askew : Query) If the ratepayers were willing to have tho rates raised — (Cr Akersten : No j no I j Then tbey would have bettter streets.

Cr C. Harley : Do we keep within the £80 a fortnight ? The Surveyor : Yes ; fairly well. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr James Martin, of Wakapuaka, for his gift of native trees which had been planted on Haulashore Island. A vote of thanks was also passed to Mr Lightband fo.- a present of books on municipal insurance. The Council then adjourned. !

£ s. a. General Aocount .. 123 9 2 Gas Works Account ... 172 19 7 Water Works Account 8 18 1 Trafalgar Park „ 0 10 0 £305 1G 10 Hank liainncfs. The usual report showed the Bank Balances to bo :— Dr. Cr. £ s. (I. £ s. (1. General .. 300(3 18 8 Water .. 254 19 1 Interest .. 68 18 5 Gas.. .. 1498 19 0 Cemeteries .. 137 0 7 Contractors' Deposits .. 26 0 0 Trafalgar Park .. 37 12 1