THE TOWN BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 250, 8 October 1862, Page 4

THE TOWN BOARD.

The weekly meeting of the Town Bojyrd was held yesterday afternoon at the offices, Princes-street. Mr Hardy was called to the chair, and the other members present were—Messrs Switzer, Cargill, and (to wards the close) Dr Hulme.

pitching of manse-street. Mr P. H. Chevanues, inspector of this work reported upon the letter of Mr Ross, the contractor, as read at the last me. ting. Ah hough not all in accordance with the specification, "the work as rubble pitching w well laid and strong, and when thoroughly spawled will be a good job." As Mr Ross said that he could not get stone from existing qu uries, to work in accordance with the specification, Mr Chevann-s recommended that permission to go anywhere where suitable stone could be got, should be given to Mr Ross, the stopping up of the street being a creat public inconvenience.

It was agreed that Mr IL.-* might'get stone from any quarry belonging to {-,-■ B;>.ml. A letter from the Proviia-i I Secretary, stated that the Government consented t. Nimon,'the Nuisance Inspector, remaining a member of the police force, tbe Board paying over the amount of his salary Mv G. 0. Driscoll wrote, asking that he might be allowed to lay down a footway of blue gum, 6 by 3. the kerb being of blucstone, along his property in Hope-street, and that if possible the same permission should be extei.ded to bis Princes-street frontage He bad 80 feet frontage to the latter, aud 176 teetto the tormer, but the quantity of land covered by his budding was relatively very small, so that the question of cost was important to him. The Clerk was directed to inform Mr Driscoll that he might lay down tho wood pavement in Hope-street, but that stone or a^phalte must be used in Priucesstreet.

Mr ty. Greenlaw, contractor for tbe footpaths in George-street, wrote, proposing that they shmld be covered with three inches of fine gravel, which was necessary to render them really firm and good the soil being clay, and the weather wet when the paths were formed. The Board declined to entertain the proposal.

Ihe Clerk reported that, the contractors for Hopestreet and Walker-street, had abandoned their contracts, and forfeited deposits.

Tt was ordered that Ll 19s 6d be repaid to Mr. H Nathan, of Stafford-sLreet, for removing earth according to agreement. Mr H. Howorth applied for an allowance of Is 6d per yard, for removing 420 yards ot surface earth, in Hope-street and Walker-street.; but, as the work had been done without the Board' being consulted the application was declined. '

MR KIRBY AND HIS CONTRACTS.— ATTACKS ON TIIE EOARD. The Clerk read the following h?t.ter :— . " Dunedin, 3rd October, 1862. Sir,—l am instructed hv Mr Kirby, to inform the Town Board, that it is his intention to proceed with the metalling of Albany-street, notwithstanding the intimation he his received from you to the contrary, and that he will expect to he paid for the work in accordance with the terms of his contract. " I remain, &c, " George Cook. "Charles Reid, Esq., Clerk." Mr Cargill, before the letter was considered, wished to draw atteution to another matter, with regard to which he much regretted that tliere w;is not a full attendance of the Uoard. This same contractor had heen in court, and Mr Cook, as his solicitor, was, no doubt, bound to do his best for him. But Mr Cook seemed to have gone beyond the license usually accorded to solicitor.*, and to have stepped out of the wayfor the purpose of abusingthe Board. He (Mr Cargill) had heard from several" pc-sous who were present that Mr Cook's statements were somewhat extraordinary, and even the newspaper report, which he was .told was milder than the reality, showed that Mr Cooke went far beyond the license to wliich he might be entitled. He (Mr Cargill) thought that the magistrate should not have allowed any solicitor in opeu court, to run a muck against the credit of I public body. There were two leading statements made by Mr Cook—one that Mr Kirby could not get money, although it was certified to be due by the Board's inspector, Mr Diack; and the other was that the Board seemed to be iii a state of insolvency. He regarded these statements as libels, and he was not disposed to rest under th-jin. ..•■•■

Mr Switzer wished there had been-ra full meeting that it might have been considered whether there was not some mode in which the Board could protect itself from such insults.

, The Chairman said that he meant to have brought the matter forward had no one else done so. He could state positively, as treasurer, that during the last week or ten days every provision had been made - that there had been nothing like check or hindrance to the immediate payment of any authorised bill or account.

Mr Cargill said that there was a statement in the Times report, that Kiiby produced a certificate from Mr Diack, the inspector, for Ll2O, as due for metalling George-street and Great King-street. What were tlie facts 1

m The Clerk said that the certificate was unadvisedly given by the inspector, who afterwards told him (the Clerk) not to pay it at present, as the amount would not be due to Kirby until the broken mi tal had been spread on the roadway. It was certainly given unadvisedly, the object being to enable Kirby to get money to pay his men. it was never contemplated that it would be at once presented to the Board. MrSwitzersaid it was most importantthat no officer of the Board,should act from a consideration of ihe private position of a contractor. No such accommodation should have been given. But look at the facts, lu&tead of ..being unfairly dealt with, and kept out of his money, Mr Kirby had a bill given to him that could be drawn against, although the work was not really done. The fault arose from an over-desire to accommodate the contractor. He thought that Mr Cook should be called upon to retract the statements he had made.

In reply to a question, the Clerk said he had never known a cheque of the Board to be dishonored. It was agreed that, as a first step, the Clerk should write to Mr Cook, asking hira whether the published report of his remarks was correct. Mr Cargill said that Mr Cook's letter on behalf of Mr Kirby was certainly an extraordinary one. Mr Kirby was simply setting the Board at defiance, and yet, when he was goiug to do just such work as pleased himself, and not that which the*' Board pleased, he still " would expect to be paid " for it This was a case of •' great expectations " ihdeed. The letter was such nonsense, that to reply would be a mere beating of the air. Let Mr Kirby complete hia contra^ tand he would be paid. 7' The Clerk said that the contract was to metal at so much a yard, not for any particular length. Mr Cargill said that having been made during had weather, Albany street had settled unevenly. But because some parts required re-metalling, the Board were not to be told that all of it should be done, and they must nay for it. The Clerk was directed to reply to the letter, cautioning Mr Kirby not to. work beyond limita pointed out by the inspector.

ELECTION OF CITY ENGINEER. Mr Cargill reported tliat the committee on the appointment of City Engineer, had examined several applications tliat -had come to hand, in addition to the nine opened at the meeting last week; and th?iihey had concluded that according to the best infornj&ion ohtamable, tfae^ man most Qualified for the olmcp was Mr Sydney bmith, of Melbourne, whose appoiutment they accordingly recommended. The salary would be £600 a-year. - *

The report wa3 unanimously adopted. In reply to a question, the Clerk said that Mr Swycr, who had some authority from Mr Smith, had stated that he was prepared to recommend Mr Smith to accept the office. THE CATTLE MARKET BITE. Mr Switzersaid it would not do to lose sight of the question of tbe Cattle Market site. Had anything been heard from the Government? Dr Hulme' thought it was a pity an arrangement could not be come to for another piece of land. This particular site was within the town belt, and therefore not suitable for a market. Mr Carerillsaid he was assured by practical men that the site was the most convenient to be found in the nebihb'iihood, because cattle could be driven to find from it, in almost every direction, without entering the town. But the great thing was now to get hold of the land which the Government was attempting to appropriate. Afterwards would be time enough to talk of its appropriation. He held that not even the General Government could pass an Act taking ths land from the people of Dunedin. It was set apart by the New Zealand Company for public use, and nearly all the land had been sold subject to such appropriation. Dr Hulme knew there was an idea that the Provincial Council could pass an ordinance so as to acquire the land, by exchange or otherwise. Mr Cargill, if such was the ca?e, would have the Board, as .the representatives of the people, meet the Government directly upon the issue. _ Mr Switz^r said he certainly would not allow the site to pass out of the hands of the town without a fight for ifc. Mr Cargill thought the substance of the matter was just this :—The land belongs to the town, and we will havo it. The Clerk was directed to write reminding the Government that a previous letter on the subject remained unanswered. WATER SUPPLY. Mr Switzer asked what was to be done on this question. Mr Cargill said that it was specially a matter to await the arrival of the engineer. Mr. Switzer believed tbat if an inducement was held out to a private company, that they would be protected, and allowed to break the streets, a good auppiy of water might be obtained in a very short time. THE PRTNCES-STREET CUTTING. The Clerk read the following letter from Mr. H. Farley, of Maclaggan-street:— "October 7th, 1862 "Gentlemen,- I should be glad to know if the Town Board would be disposed to contribute Is per yard towards the cost of removing the embankment of eartli opposite section 25, Princes-street cutting. The estimated quantity belonging to the Town Board is about 2,000 yards, and the cost to me would be at least -2s per yard. If tbe Board are disposed to entertaiti this application, it would facilitate the completion of that part of Princes-street. I would bind the contractor iv a penalty of L 5 per day, exceeding 60 days. -Your early reply will much oblige, " Yours, &c,

"Henry Fjlrley "

Mr Switzer would decidedly uree the acceptance of tbe proposal, if there was nothing to prevent it in Mr Barnes's contract with the Government. He was satisfied tbat Mr Reynolds would come into the arrangement; and that being fo, the cutting could be at once widened through on the westerly side, tYre being a guarantee that nil sbould be done in sixty days. The offerers were Melbourne contractors, and Mr Farley would make the general arrangement with them.

Mr Cargill thought that Mr Barnes's contract, while seemingly of no good to any one, had rcaily nothing in ifc to prevent the acceptance of the present offer.

The Clerk : Would you go to tbe proposed new level 1

Mr Switzer: Certainly. The Clerk said that as this would be afc parts seven feet ,below the existing level, a fence would be required.

• On the, motion of Mr Cargill, the offer was accepted, and the Clerk was instructed to carry out the arrangement.

The Clerk was directed to get the necessary transfer of the section in Dowling-street, near the Wesleyan Chapel, on which the fire tower and engine house are to be erected.

The Board adjourned, at a quarter after four o'clock, to Tuesday next.