MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 407, 17 August 1877, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Council was held laßt evening at tho Council Chambers. There were present —His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Gibbs, Booth, Procter, Headland, Spence, Mainland, Familton, and Liddle. MINUTES. The minutes of the last ordinary meeting and of four special meetings were read and confirmed. MAYORAL ADDRESS. His Worship the Mayor then said it was usual to say a few words in opening the proceedings of the Council. This was the Becond time that he had been called upon to perform the task, rnd ho was pleased to have the honour of doing bo. He looked back with pleasure to the past year. The Mayor and Councillors had during that year worked cordially together, and from the fact that he saw around him well-known gentlemen with all of whom he had been previously connected in official capacities, ho felt sure the same cordiality would exist during tho year which had just been entered upon. He had no great programme of works to lay before the Council, but hoped tho Council would devote its energies towards the carrying to a successful issue of those large undertakings which had been initiated during the past year, the chief of which was the Waterworks. He was glad to say that this work was in a very forward state. He hoped they would be ablo to carry the Water-works out successfully, and that the town would reap all tho benefits from that great undertaking which they anticipated it would do. With respect to other works they would have to study economy, and not go in for any very heavy expenditures. They must bear in mind the old Scotcli proverb, " Creep afore ye gang." With regard to tho matter of salaries, which would come bofore the Council at a later pc-riod of tho meeting, he would have something specific to say. In the meantime, he congratulated those gentlemen who had recently been elected to occupy seats in the Council upon the positions which they occupied. He trusted the Council would work harmoniously together during the year which they had now entered upon, and with an earnest desire to forward tho interests of the town. OUTWARD CORRESPONDENCE, A quantity of correspondence was read , and approved. THE CONFERENCE OF MUNICIPALITIES. His Worship the Mayor then read a report of the doings of the Municipal Conference recently held a;- Wellington, and explained his own action thereat. On the motion of Councillor Booth, seconded by Councillor Headland, a voto of thanks was accorded to the Mayor for the manner in which he fulfilled his mission to Wellington. SALARIES.

The Council then went into Committee for the purpose of considering what salaries should be paid to the officers of the Corporation. On resuming, the following resolutions were reported and adopted : Engineer, L 750, with two years' engagement, being a reduction of L 250 upon the salary paid last year; Town Clerk, L 350, same as last year j Assistant Clerk, L 175, being an increase of L 25 a year ; Auditors, Lls, an advance of L 5 each ; Valuer, LSO, same as last year ; Inspector of Nuisances, L 1.82, the amount last year having been L 175. ANNUAL ELECTION OF COMMITTEES. The following Committees were then appointed for the year, his Worship the Mayor being a member, ex officio, of all the Committees :—Public Works and Reserves, Councillors Mainland, Familton, Gibbs, and Procter ; Finance, Councillors Booth, Headland, Spence, and Liddle ; Bye-laws and Legislative, Councillors Booth, Gibbs, Headland, and Procter; Gasworks, Councillors Mainland, Headland, Spence, and Liddle ; Water-works, Councillors Mainland, Booth, Gibbs, and Procter ; Health, Councillors Booth, Spence, Familton, and Gibbs. TIIE CREEK AGAIN. A letter was read from Mr. A Simpson, stating that the creek had again been diverted, and no adequate means provided for allowing a run of water to keep the pool fresh in his garden.—The matter was referred to the Engineer to report. TRANSFER OF LEASES. Permission was given for the transfer of the lease of Section 7, Block LXX., from Mr. Michael M'Grath to Mr. James Kain, and of Section 10, Block 38, from Mr. C. G. Moore to Mr. William Jones Smith, provided ail arrears of rents wore paid. TOWN CRIER. Leave was granted to Mr. Alexander J. Marshall to act as a town crier. A REQUEST. A letter was read from the Secretary of the School Committee, drawing the attention of the Council to the necessity of tho footpath being constructed on the Boutu side of Severn-street, from the stone bridge to Coquet-street; also, requesting the Council to form a footpath along the south side of the fence dividing the school ground from the recreation ground.—Tho matter was referred to the Public Works Committee to report upon. PERMISSION WANTED. A letter was read from Mr. Church, applying, on behalf of Mr. N. Campbell, for permission to remove some blue gum trees in front of Sections 6 and 7, Block H.—Permission was granted on the understanding that if any da mage were done to the street, the same should be repaired. PETITION FROM RATEPAYERS. A petition, signed by a large matnber of ratepayers and householders iu Reedstreet, was presented by Councilloi Gibbs, asking the Council to take into consideration the condition of that portion of Reed-street, between Torridge and Nen*

streets. —Referred to the Public Wor] Committee, w»th instructions to take ini consideration the condition of the strei from Torridge to Ouse-streets. TORRIDGE-STREET. A letter from Mr. "W. Christie, drawir the attention of the Council to the cond tion of Torridge-street, and asking that might be formed, was referred to tl Public Works Committee. DRAINS. An application from Mr. William Poi den for permission to make a short drai in Nen-street, and from Mr. J. Brace fc leave to put in a box drain in front of th yard in Humber-street, were referred t the Engineer, with power to act. TIN-KETTLING. A letter from Mr. J. Wansbrough, wit' reference to the practice of tin-kettling i: Oamaru, was ordered to lie on the table. WATERWORKS PIPES. A long letter was read from Mr. Jame Grave, conveying a report of great in terest to the Council with reference t< pipes for waterworks.—The letter was or dered to be acknowledged with thanks and referred to the Engineer. LATE FATAL ACCIDENT. A letter from Mr. T. A. Clowes was read, forwarding the verdict of the jurj upon the body of Louisa Tracey, anc drawing the attention of the Council tc the rider added by the jury as to the dangerous nature of the embankment ir Itchen-street. —The matter was referred to the Public "Works Committee, with power to act. A DANGEROUS HOLE. A letter from a number of ratepayers, calling the attention of the Council to a dangerous hole in Eden-street, was referred to the Engineer to report upon. WATERWORKS ARBITRATION. A letter was read from Messrs. Julius and Balmer, covering the deed of arbitration between the Corporation and Mr. Aitcheson, with reference to the amount of compensation to be paid to the hitter for land required for the waterworks, .and the appointmmt of Mr. Thomas Rainforth as Mr. Aitcheson's arbitrator was approved of. GARDEN RESERVE. A letter was read from Messrs. Julius and Balmer, stating that they had re-en-tered and taken possession of the Garden Reserve, in juonce of the breach of covenant by the trustee. WATEI'.V-i.RSS LOAN. A letter from tuo n:;v.?ager of the National Ba::k.'T»Tth rtyl- :vt:ce to the waterworks io;ir . -,va3 rttViTu.i io the Finance Commit D.x. LAM) FOR WATERWORKS. A letter -.as rend from Mr. J. Hyde Hains, intimating that Mr. Thomas Calcntt had made his award in the matter of arbitration between the Corporation and the New Zealand and Australia Land Company.—The letter was referred to Mr. Connell. ENGINEER'S REPORT. A report from the Engineer, setting forth the progress made by the contractor for the waterworks, was read. ACCOUNTS. A number of accounts were passed for payment. On the motion of Councillor Mainland, seconded by Councillor Familton, it was decided that all accounts should be referred to the Finance Committee, prior to being laid on the table of the Council, and notice to be given to all parties that accounts must be in three days prior to the Council meeting.