TOWN BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 171, 3 June 1862, Page 4

TOWN BOARD.

A meeting of this body took place yesterday afternoon, in the Offices in Princes-street, Mr. Svvitzer in the chair. The following correspondence was read :— " Office, Switzer's-buildings, " 2nd June, 1862. " The Chairman and Members of the Town Board. " Gentlemen, —A company having been formed to supply Gas to the city, I do myself the honor, on behalf of the Provincial Directory, to ask the permission of your Board to the opening, where necessary, of the roads and streets through which the Company's mains may have to be carried. This is, of course, asked upon the usual condition —that the streets shall be restored to the stute in which they may be found ; and that the work shall be performed with proper despatch, and under the supervision, and with the approval of your city Surveyor. " It being the intention of the Provincial Directory to inset in the course of a few days, for the purpose of allotting shares, and directing the operations of the Company, I take the opportunity of bringing the matter under the attention of your Board, which, I understand, will meet today. This object being one which will materially advance the town, I venture to express the confident hope that the Company will have the cordial co-operation of your body, in bringing the project to a successful and speedy result. " I remain, Gentlemen,. " Your most obedient servant, " (Signed) Martin Sjiorx, Secretary." It was resolved that permission be granted. The following letter was read from Mr. Jeremiah Harnett. " Dunedin, 2nd June, ISG2. " Gentlejcun,—On behalf of the Building Committee of the Wesleyan Church in this town, I beg to inform you that it is intended to occupy the Church in about ten days, and that they require you to oblige them, by early attention to the improvement of the access to the building, from Princos-street, which, at present, in consequence of the state of the Cutting, is almost impassable,—particularly for ladies. " I am, Gentlemen, " Yours respectfully, " (Signed) J. llarnett." It was resolved that a flight of steps be got ready, and if practicable, fixed temporarily. The following letter was read from Mr. Jackson : — "Dunedin, May 23, ISC2. "To the Clerk of the Town Board of Dunedin : " Sir, — I should feel obliged by your directing the attention of the Town Board to the present state of that portion of Albany-street, situated between George and Queen-streets ; the road through ivliich has been entirely destroyed by the cutting lately made for George-strcot. Owing to the steepness of the ground, the road can never be made available for horses or vehicles— it is, however, the bist means of communication for foot-passengers to block 25 and its neighborhood. A flight of steps placed against the bank in George-street, and :i metalled foot-path therefrom to Queen-street, would be all that is required, and this might be done at a trifling expense. To effect this properly, it would be necessary to direct into one channel the caurse of a spring which at present spreads itself over the surface of the hill, near to George street, into which it will, unless soon checked, carry clown with it some fifty fcefc of lull where the cutting has been made. I should be glad toy hear from you as to the probability of the Town Board doing anything in this matter. " I have the honor to remain, '• Yours obediently, ' . "(Signed) S. Jackson." Resolved that a flight of steps be fixed in Albany street; that the spring be diverted to the side of the street; and that the slope bo made to a safe gradient. The following letter was road from the Superintendent of the province :— " Superintendent's Office, Dune lin. « 19th May, 18G2. " Sir, —I replj to your letter of the 14th inst., I have to acquaint you that the sum of £1000 will be at the disposal of the Treasurer to the Town Board on that gentleman calling at this office. " I have, &c, " (Signed) J. lliciiaudson, " Superintendent. "P.S.—I would call the attention of thcßoard to the immense accumulation of mud on the street leading from the-Jetty to Princes street, more especially in the immediate neighborhood of the post-office." It was resolved that the road through Mr. Be r yjily's property be metalled according to. the origin-il agreement—the gradient reduced—that the work be done at once, and tenders be called for the work. It was further resolved, that tenders be called for forming and metalling the streets running from Primxs-street in an easterly direction from Walker-street to Maclaggan-strect, including Hope-street. It was also resolved, that notice be given to the owners of the laud along Princes and Gcorgestroe^s through the cutting, to build a retaining wall in front of their respective properties. At five minutes to five Mr. Switzcr retired, and Dr. Hulmc was voted into the chair. Mr. Reid, clerk to the Town Board, was authorised to employ laborers to scrape the roads during the prevalence of bad weather. The tender of Messrs. Tclfourd and Pittman for excavations at the Water of Leith, was accepted at the figure of £23 10s. The tender of Evans and Co., for constructing a culvert in London-street, at the rate of lfls. per lineal yard, was approved of. The tender of Colin Macdonald, for metalling the lower end of Manse and Higli streets,'was accepted at 7s. per cubic yard. ' ' It was resolved to invite fresh tenders for metalling from George-street to Harriet-row. The following accounts were audited:—David Proiulfoot, £5 12s. 6d.; Brown, £15 (this was the figure of the account, but it was resolved to tender him £12 cash); Hastic, £1 Bs.; Augustus Poeppel, £8 Bs. At half-past five the Board adjourned to next Monday, the 9th current.

llautts op tup/Sew,. — The mode the seal adopts when he discovers lie is frozen out of his element is curious in the extreme. Finding himself disturbed and the means of retreat cut off, he stands ns it were on his head, and, usin» the ibrc-iius or phrippcr as a motive power, whirls' himself round at an inconceivable speed. The mouth bein<* open during the rotary motion, acts somehow as an immense auger, and noon penetrates the five or six inches of new-formed ice on the surface of the blowinghole. — Recollections of Labrador Life. By Lambert JJe Jjoilieu.