MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1042, 22 August 1879, Page 2

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Municipal Council was held last evening, : when there were present—His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Humphrey, Headland, Roberts, Smith, Mainland, Otterson, Garland, and Townsend. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and approved. A letter was read from Mr. John Frew, ' forwarding an account for L3O for damage done to his property by the overflow of ' water from the water-race during the late floods, and intimating that he was willing to submit the claim to arbitration. On this subject the Engineer reported that Mr. Frew had previously claimed only LG for the damage, which was caused through the breaking away of part of the unfinished race. He also stated that the claim of L 6 was about right, but that Mr. Frew was not entitled to L3O, inasmuch as no further damage had been done to his property since the first account was sent in. On the contrary, arrangements had been made to make good the race. It was resolved to ask Mr. Frew on what ground his claim had been increased from LG to L3O. The Secretary to the Hospital Committee wrote, again calling attention to the state of the road leading to the Hospital. It was resolved to reply that the road was being attended to by the day laborers, and the Mayor was requested to interview Inspector Thompson with a view of securing the use of prison labor on the streets. Permission was given for the transfer of the lease of section 2, block 6, from Mr. John Cogvin to Mr. W. D. Esther, and of section 5, block 7, from the Commercial Building Society to Mr. W. Shaw. The Under-Secretary for Lands wrote, intimating that the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin, had been instructed to prepare Crown grants in favor of the Council for several reserves in the town, formerly vested in the Superintendent. Mr. Michael Sheehan applied for a nightman's license, and it was de ied to grant the license, subject to the approval of the Inspector-of .Nuisances. The following report from the Inspector of Nuisances was read : To His Worship the Mayor and Councillors. Gentlemen, —I beg respectfully to bring under your notice the condition of Ousestrcet. There being a lagoon at the East end of the said street, foot-passengers find it impossible to pass to and fro, on account of the water which is now stagnant there ; and, should warm weather set in, the jslaee will become very offensive to the neighborhood. I may state that complaints are daily made to me relative to this.—l have, &c., Arthur Tojis. The matter was referred to the Public Works Committee for report. A report was read from' the Engineer witii reference to the removal of soil from a Government reserve, complained of by the Commissioner of Crown Lands. He stated that he had contemplated sowing the land stripped of sods with grass seed, and applied for permission to plough the land and sow it as stated. decided to leave the matter in abeyance until a reply had been received from the Commissioner of Crown Lands to the report, a copy of . which had been forwarded to him.

A report from the Engineer with reference to the Waterworks was read and referred to the Finance Committee.

The "Waterworks Committee reported that they had given the Engineer authority to arrange with Messrs. Guthrie and Larnach for the supply of 75,000 feet kauri timber, and of 60,000 feet from Messrs. M'Callum and Co., and had empowered him, in the event of being unable to arrange with these firms, to obtain the timber from others. The report was adopted. The Finance Committee reported suggesting that all accounts should be in readiness for their inspection at 5 o'clock on the "Wednesday previous to the meeting of the Council.

Accounts to the amount of L 255 19s 4d were passed for payment. Councillor Roberts then, in accordance, with notice given at last meeting, moved, " That a man be employed occasionally to level the ruts in Chelmeivstreet and Qrosslane to the Hospital, and to keep those streets in passable repair." He said that the road was greatly cut up by the traffic over it of drays from the quarry. If one of the surface men were employed upon it to fill up the ruts, the expenditure of a large sum in metalling the street might be saved. Councillor Smith seconded the motion.

Councillor Headland thought the principle would be applicable to many other streets, Eden-street, for example. It would be unfair, when so many streets required so much attention, to select one street for special attention. The matter might well stand over until they ascertained the result of the proposed interview between the Mayor and Inspector Thompson with reference to prison labor.

Councillor Otterson agreed with Councillor Headland, and said he observed that a number of men were employed in improving Coquet-street in an elaborate manner. This had not been authorised by the Council, and there were many streets requiring equally as much attention.

A lengthy discussion took place, during which it was pointed out that Coquetstreet had been greatly cut up through the traffic over it of drays laden with

shingle, and that the men employed upon it were the Corporation laborers, whom it was necessary to employ upon some work in the town. Eventually it was resolved, on the motion of Councillor Headland, seconded by Councillor Otterson, to refer the matter alluded to in Councillor Roberts' motion to the Works Committee for report.