CITY BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1055, 2 April 1867, Page 6

CITY BOARD.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the City Board of Commissioners was held yesterday at their offices, Canada Buildings, Queen-street; Mr. J. W. IS ail l j chairman, presiding. There were present. Messrs. George, Maeready, Slater, and Stranson. . , The minutes of the last meeting or the Jsoara were read and confirmed. There peti tions and 110 correspondence for the consideration of the Board. The Secketaey announced (hat tne rates collectcd during the week were £221 16s od. MARKET LAMI'S. The Seci!F.ta;:y informed the Board that representation had been made through the Inspector of the necessity for increased light m the market square 011 'the Saturday nights, when there was a greater attendance thaD usual. The Gas Company lias promised to lay on the pipes, and the expense of the lamp would not exceed 30s It was different from an ordinary street lamp iuasmuch as that it would he kept burning only a few hours on the Saturday night for 52 nights of the year instead of 3(55. Mr. Mackeady : How about putting it out ? The Secretaky said that Inspector Bcilly would i:i all probability attend to it, which involved nothing more than turning off the tap. A meter could be placed in the square. Mr. Swa>-son said that he felt disposed to move that what was required should be done, providing that care would 1 1 e taken that it should not he left burning all night. . The Chaiiimax thought that the Board might very properly place itsell in the position ot a landlord adopting any improvement that would benefit his tenant. The market people were in the jjosition of a tenant, and he thought the request a reasonable one. Upon the motion of Mr. Swan so?; the lamp was osilercd to be put up.

BABHACK-STItKET AND V.\EI.LKSLEY-STKEET SEWEi'.. During the proceedings two workmen entered the Board room and inquired as to paymc-iit of wages due to tliem from the contractor, J. S. McCormiek, who had undertaken to construct ihe above sewer. The contract was dated 13th of October last; and expired some time towards the Jailer end of January 7. The contractor had given orders upon the Beard for £7S, and £'20, and claims for wages were in the Lands of Mr. Anderson to the amount of between £10 and £50, some of the claimants having obtained judgments for their respective claims. A deposit of £30 had also been made, according to the terms of ihe contract, bj" the contractor, as security for tlie due performance of the work. This deposit was now claimed by a person who alleged that he lent the money to MxCormick, and MeCormick himself that £'25 out of the £30 belonged to the person claiming.

The Seci:v.ta ky, in reply to several questions put by members of the Board, said that McC'ormick was under a penally of £'2 a-day for every day the work was unfinished beyond the time provided for by the terms of the contract, also that the money could be retained for two weeks after the completion of tlie .job. Mr. Anderson the Foreman of "Works, had certified for the work done, and there was a sum of L'!)l coming to the contractor. But the sum due to tlie contractor, including the amount of deposit money, would not be suilicient to meet the claims for wages, and the orders together. He, (the Secretary), Lad not accepted these orders, but they had been sent in to the cilice. There was a clause iu the .-let. bj- which the Board was empowered to pay all workmen their wages who had obtained judgment for the amount due io them in a Court of Law.

Mr. Swassos thought that the £30 might be retained, and that payments should be made to to the workmen and others having just claims on McCormiek, as well as those who had supplied him with and materials, as far as the

moftey would, go. Tlie Chatmiax said there was nothing iu the Act giving power to the Board to pay persons irho had supplied the contractor with materials. Mb. Swanso?." : Neither is there anything in the Act which says that tlie Board should pay the money or cash lent to the contractor to enable him to take up his tender.

Mb. Macready did not see that the Board had any power over the £30.

said that the Board could not travel out of the four corners of the contract, a written document.

Me. Slater thought that the money for wages should be paid to the men who had obtained judgment.

The Chairman : Is there enough money to satisfy the claims of ihe men and the penally. The S.ecbetaey : Hardly. The penalty was two pounds a da}' over tlie time for completing contract, and more than two months had elapsed since the time expired. After some conversation it was resolved that the claims for wages of such workmen as had obtained judgment against the contractor should be paid, and the balance be held over until next meeting da}- with a view to the consideration of the question respecting the penalt}-. Several accounts were passed by the chairman and the business tei minated.