MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 595, 29 March 1878, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The usual: fortnightly meeting of the Council was held last evening, at the Council Chambers. There Worship the. _Mayor Jk . Councillors Gibbs, Procter, Mainland,; Lidale;' Familtbn'j.. and Headland. -■ • ■

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondency read ai.d approved.

It was resolved that the Works Committee should inspect Wharf-street at its junction with Test-street, with a view of seeing what fencing is necessary. Permission was given for the transfer of the lease of section 14, bloek LXXXIX., from Mr. Joim Cpvmack to Mr, George Webb, subject to all arrears of louts being paid, A letter was read from Mr. J. H. Lowe, Resident Engineer, with reference to the railway siding to the gasworks, forwarding the form of application and conditions on which the siding would be granted, and also stating that the Government-could not agree to an extension of the time, Some discussion took place on the subjeet. during which the opinion was expressed "that it would be better to let the matter alone, an the advantages were not likely to be commensurate to the amount of money to be expended. It was eventually decided to refer the consideration of the matter to a committee of the wli'le Council, to moot at 11 a.m. on Thursday next.

A letter was also read from Mr. Lowe with reference to the dam at Messrs. Lees and Moore's. The whole of the correspondence on the matter was referred to the committee of the whole Council.

The report of the Inspector of Nuisances was read, drawing attention to the nuisance existing'at tho dam belonging to Messrs. Lees and Moore, and to the state of the open drain in Usk -street, which was both dangerous and unsightly. The matter complained of in UskrStreei was referred to the Engineer, witu power to act. A lengthy report was read from the Engineer with reference to the progress being made with the waterworks contracts, The report will be found elsewhere. It was decided to ask Mr, IT. Conn ell, the Corporation's Arbitrator, to supply the Council with reference to tho position in winch the whole of the claims for compensation for land taken for the waterworks stand.

A report was read from the T'ngine-T on the claim made by Mr. Barclay for extra work said to have been performed in the formation of the culvert iii Steward-street. The Engineer stated that he did not see his way, in the 2)re<ent circumstances of the case, to alter or amend the account in any way. At the same time he stated that lie granted that Mr. Barclay had expected to be paid for a greater length of culvert than he had been paid for, and that he had performed the work satisfactorily.—Some discussion of an irregular nature took phu c, Councillor Liddle remarking that it was a very strange thing tlm-t thoy should pay an i'ligincer L7">o a year to prepare estimates, plans, and specifications who apparently could not come within L(j() or L7O of the cost of a L2OO contract. It was eventually decided to refer the matter to a committee of the whole Council, the attendance of the Kngineer and Mr. Barclay to be requested. It was resolved to give a sealed authority to Mr. Heml'i-s n, the assistant Town Clerk, to sue for gas rates in arrears.

A letter having been rend from ilio Government with reference to the future management of hospitals, stating that it was

proposed to place hospitals and charitable aid under the direct control of the municipa'ities. some little discussion took place. It was decided to refer the letter to a committee consisting of his Worship the Mayor, Councillors Gibbs and Procter, to draft a reply. A lenathy letter was read from the 1 own

Clerk af the Tha-nm-s on the subject of the formation of a Municipal League, consisting of representatives fr< in the different. Councils to consider all matters affecting Municipalities.—lt v.-as decided to ieply that tli--(Y.uneil did not see its way at present to take any action in the matter. Councillor kiddie called attention to the f-ct of large droves of sheep being driven through the streets during the daytime, ami asked v> aether the Town Belt could not be kept open for the purpose. —It was decided to refer the matter to the llcserves Committee to report upon. Accounts to the amount of Lb"3 Ss, od. were passed for payment. On the motion, of Councillor Liddle. it was resolved that the footpath on the south-east side of Severn-street be finished by the day men. It was further resolved, on the motion of

Councillor liddle, after some discussion, that alternate tenders lie called for metalling or shingling 12 feet in the centre of Cross-. lane from Severn-street to Reed-street, from

Heed-street to C'oquct-street, and from Coquet-strcet to Thames-street. The Mayor and Councillor Mainland were

appointed to preparo ;i report as to any legislation necessary (luring the ensuing session of Parliament with reference to the waterworks. The Council then rose.