MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 303, 13 April 1877, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

| —. * The usual fortnightly meeting of the Council was held last evening, at the Council Chambers. There were present : His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Gibbs, Mainland, Morton, Galbraith, Scott, Headland, Grave. minutes. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. outward correspondence. The outward correspondence was read and approved. BATHS. A letter from the Secretary of the Baths Committee (Mr. J. Hardy) was read, applying for a lease of a portion of the Esplanade, near Weir-street, as a site for the public baths. Councillor Mainland proposed, " That as the Council is advised that the plans submitted by the Baths .Company can be satisfactorily carried out on the site which the Council has already intimated its willingness to grant, and as there are objections to the baths being placed on the site now asked for, viz., upon the Esplanade, the Council does not see its way to accede to the request now preferred, but is still willing to assist the Company by carrying out the previous understanding." Seconded by Councillor Morton, and carried. addition to buildings. A letter was read from Messrs. Hay and Barr, stating that, finding that they would require a larger amount of accommodation for grain than they had at present, they intended building a temporary addition to their premises, and asking for permission so to do. A letter was also read from Mr. Toms, the Inspector of Nuisances, drawing the attention of the Council to the fact that Messrs. Kay and Barr had already been proceeded against for a breach of the byelaws in connection with the erection of these buildings, they having commenced building without having first obtained permission. After some discussion it was resolved, " That, as the matter of Messrs. Hay and Barr's application is at present sub judice in the Resident Magistrate's Court, the Council does not see its way to interfere in the matter." town crier. William Ward applied for permission to act as town crier.—Permission granted. transfer of leases. Mr. Arthur Toms applied for permission to transfer Ids lease of Section 15, Block XCI.Y., to Messrs. Edward Charles Buck and Alexander Cadell. Mr. Thomas Pratt also applied for permission to transf-r his lease of Reserve 8.. to Mr. James Nimnio. It was resolved, "That permission be aranted in each case provided that all arrears *.f rent be first paid." reduction of rent. Mrs Noble wrote, requesting the Council to reduce the l-ent of the cottage at the gasworks.—lt was resolved that the Council could not accede to the request. WATER. WORKS. The Engineer wrote, suggesting that the advertisement in connection with the water works should be re-inserted. —It was decided that the advertisement should be re-inserted twice a week in the Dunedin Daily Times and the two local papers. WATER WORKS PIPES. A letter was read from Mr. James Park, Melbourne, asking for particulars in regard to the tenders for the supply of water works pipes.—lt was decided that the Engineer should supply the required information. licensing court. Mr. Filleul wrote, requesting the Council to pass for payment sundry accounts in connection with the Licensing Court.— The accounts were passed. railway encroachment. The following letter was read : Public Works Office, Wellington, April 4th, 1877. Sir, —With reference to your letter of 23rd January, on the subject of an encroachment of the railway upon Tyne and Itchen streets, I am now directed by the Hon. the Minister for Public Works to inform you that the Government are advised that the laying of the railway on the road was a duly authorised proceeding, and that as similar action has been taken in other places, the Government do not feel they would be justified in giving special consideration to the Oamaru case. The Minister desires me to add, that if the inhabitants of Oamaru feel that an injury has been done to their town, the matter is one they may properly submit to Parliament, and appeal for relief.—l have, &c, Charles T. Bexzoxi, In absence of Under Secretary. His Worship the Mayor of Oamaru. The Mayor said that this was a most important matter. He thought the Council had a very strong case, and he thought they should take up the challenge thrown down, and appeal to Parliament to have the matter fully inquired into. There were several other matters which required to be inquired into, and he thought the best plan would be to appoint a committee to prepare the necessary petitions aud carry out other preliminaries. Councillor Headland moved—" That his Worship the Mayor and Councillors Gibbs and Mainland be appointed a Committee to consider and report to the Council as to what steps should be taken re matters to be brought before the General Assembly at the next session, and that the letter of Mr. Charles Benzoni be referred to the said Committee." Seconded by Councillor Scoxt, and carried.

STUFFED BIRDS^iW^'St A letter was read from ■ Mr. Smith, of Caversham, stating that he had a quantity of stuffed lairds for sale. The letter was ordered to lie on the> ,table. MEDICAL OFFICER. His Worship the Mayor pointed out that under the Health Act, the Council as the Board of Health were required to have a medical officer. He thought that it was necessary that such an officer should be appointed. One of his reasons for bringing forward the matter was that in his capacity of a member of the Hospital Committee it came under his notice that a. case of typhoid fever had occurred m the town, but no report had been made to the Council about the matter. At present the medical men of the town did not seem inclined to report cases of fever. He objected to this the more because as the Board of Health, they were called upon to furnish returns of cases of contagious diseases, and they were unable to do so through cases not being reported to them. After some discussion, it was decided to refer the matter to the Health Committee for their consideration, and to report as to any stens that they might deem necessary for the Council to take. WATER SUPPLY. His Worship stated that there was every likelihood of the land required for water works purposes being secured, the Survey Department having written to the Engineer for particulars. SEVERN-STREET FOOT BRIDGES. The only tender received for the construction of foot bridges in Severn-street was one from Robert Hewat, the amount beina £95 10s. 10d.—It was resolved that seeing that the tender was largely in excess of the Engineer's estimate, the work be not proceeded with at present. STRONG ROOM. The following report from the Works Committee vra? read : _ "Your Committee having consulted the Engineer re safe custody of documents, "plans, etc., of the Corporation, recommend that a strong room be built, in preference to purchasing an iron safe, as being more convenient than a safe, and would cost about LSO less." The recommendation of the rubac Works Committee was approved of, aid the Committee instructed to report es to the probable cost;. GAS COMiIITTEE. The following report of the Gas Committee was read : Your Committee report that they held a me<*t : n<r on the 10th instant, at which various from the Gasworks Manager weVe taken into ron-irteration, and it was resolved that the fo'lowimx proprsils be submitted to the Council for fieir approval: % 1 That the "rice of a srasholder oO feet in diameter and 16 feet in height be a- ce-tained from some British firm, the same to be sent out in pieces of several sheets riveted toother and to be fitted before leaving the manufactory, so that there should be no difficulty in crating it here. o That thres new retorts to replace those which were first lit up, and which are now becoming worthless for g.--—ki: be at once ordered from A ustrab: 3. That a few tins of procured. . .„ 4 That the manager be, a'lowed to sell the'coke as formerly from the termination of Mr. H. Munro's contract, and that the contractor he informed that the Council holds him responsible for the removal of all coke manufactured at the works, in accordance with his contract, and will allow him one week from date of notice to remove the same." The report was adopted. ACCOUNTS. A number of accounts were passed for payment. TJiiE-KTREET. Councillor Galbraith's motion, " That Usk-street, from Thames-street to Reidstreet, be formed," was next considered. On the motion of Councillor Mainland, seconded by Councillor Gibes, it was resolved that the Public Works Committee be directed to report upon the advisability of using asphalte on side streets, with reference, among others, to Usk-street. The Council then went into Committee.