CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4167, 23 March 1875, Page 5 (Supplement)

CITY COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the City Council was held in the offices, Canada Buildings, yesterday afternoon. The following members were present : —His Worship the Mayor (F. L. Prime), and Councillors J. Buchanan, W. J. Hurst, H. Brett, T. Macready, Cosgrave, and Daldy, and Mr. Errington, engineer for the waterworks. About sixteen gentlemen attended to learn the result of the tenders. TENDERS i'OK WATERWORKS. The Mayor stated that the only business before the meeting was to receive tenders for the Auckland Waterworks. The following tenders were then opened • It. Dixon—Deposit, £2000; amount of tender, £70,920. Memo. : In submitting this tender to the Council, I expect to be allowed twenty-one months clear for the execution of the work, and also, that the penal clauses shall bo so modified as to be more equitable to the contractor. —R. Dickson. Wm. Sims and John J. Hall, of Grahamstown—Deposit, £2300; tender, £92,232, including tramway sad public stations; or £89,019 excliu'.ve of tramway. Matthew Edgar—Deposit, £2350; tender, £92,000 for waterworks, exclusive of tramway, and for tramway £3WO: total, £95,100.

John Taylor—Deposit, £2100; tender, £82,151; less tramway, £2539; net, £79,612. Win. Cameron —Deposit, £2367 ; tender, £94,G72. 1. and S. Motrin—Deposit, £IS9I lis Sd; tender, £72,663, and £3000 to be added if the tramway is required ; making a total of £75,603. Owen Jones and Co.—Deposit, £2000; tender, £77,355. Thomas Henderson, jun.—Deposit, £2,200; tender, £86,554 including tramway, less £7000 if tramway is not required. Counc'Uor Cose;rave proposed that T. and S. Morrin's tender be accepted. Councillor Daldy said he should propose that the Council should take time to consider the matter, and to learn the engineer's estimate. Councillor Holdsiiip was quito agreeable that Messrs. Morrin's tender be accepted, but considered that they should take time to go into tho matter, and if everything was found right tho result would be the same. Mr. C'osurave delayed his motion until Mr. Krrington's estimate had been received. The Mayor recommended that the Council should not act too precipitately, because there might be compensating difference in the schedule of prices. It was then agreed, upon the motion of Councillor Daldy, that the Council go into committee upon the question. Mr. Erhisoton, the engineer, read the estimate for the work, which was £77,240; deduct tramway, £'2SOO ; net, £74,-i4O. Councillor Holdsiiip remarked that .the lowest tender seemed to be also the lowest right through the schedule of prices. The question was then adjourued, and Mr. Erringtou requested to consider the tenders and to give his report upon the schedules of prices. Councillor lloLDsmr then suggested that they should go into the financial question, in order to meet the tender. Councillor Da lijv made a calculation, the result of which he stated to the Board, and proved to be almost the same as one mado by Councillor Holdship. He stated that the financial position was, by his calculation, that when the preliminary and contingent expenses and amount of tender for the works had been paid, leaving the Jt'll>,ooo due on Motion's property to be paid ten years hence, there would be an unappropriated balance in hand of £237 from the city debentures. In reply to Councillor Cosgrave, Councillor Daldy said that in making the agreement with Low and Motion for the purchase of their property, they were aware of their position that they could not pay all at onco, and so made the arrangement to pay£lo,ooo of the purchase money ten years hence. Mr. Erringtou, having compared the tenders, gave the following report into the hands of the Mayor : "Sir, —Having carefully considered the tenders for the water supply, together with the schedule of prices for extras, iron piping, etc., I am af opinion that the tender of Messrs. T. and S. Morrin is the most eligible, aud I recommend the Council to accept the same.—(Signed) W. Errington." Councillor Cosurave then proposed, seconded by Councillor Macready, "That T. and S. Morrin's tender be accepted." This proposition was carried unanimously. The Mayor declared that the second lowest tender was Dickson's, and the next one Owen Jones and Co., which tenders will be retained by the Council until the bonds for the accepted one are completed. STREET TRAMWAYS. A letter was read from Messrs. Owen Jones and Co., which will bo found elsewhere, requesting to lay down tramways in the streets of the city under the Tramways Act, 1572. A similar application was received some time back from Messrs. O'Neil and Thomas, and it was 1 then reso'.ved the time had not come ! when tramways were required. Mr. O'Neil was present at the Council and renewed his ' a;njb,f.ui<m. v After some discussion the was, upon the motion of Councillor .\Sacivadv, referred to the Streets Committee.' '{:■ r information thereon, and reporr. t- tho Omneij. | T.hic comjile.';i'>t tWj business.