CITY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1225, 30 November 1865, Page 5

CITY COUNCIL.

At tbe meeting of tbe City Council, held yesterday, tbe Mayor presided ; and there were present—Messrs Barr, Carrick, Griffen, Driver, Turner, Boss and Chalmer. _ The Clerk rend the report of the Public Works Committee, reporting the result of three of their meetings On the 16th instant, the Committee hael instructed the Clerk to advertise for tenders for work in Bell Ward, and referred to the Surveyor letters from residents in Cargill street, from the Inspector of Nuisances, and from others. On the 22nd, the Ctmmittee received the proposition of Messrs Hosiie and Wilson, to scarify, remove all metal, and spread the same, for L 9; and to quarry, cart, and spread 30 cubic yards of rough metal for L 6. •On the 24'h, the application of Mr R. Turner, to form a crossing in Hanover street, and to Mr ■ J. 11. Harris, for permission to gain accesa by horses and drays opposite Section 53, iv Block <?I, were granted. Mr Campbell's application, to erect a balcony at his hotel, was, upon the "■ urveyor's report, objected to. The Committee recommended that Mr A. Crawshaw's tender of LSOI 12s for works in Bell Ward should be accepted. The report was adopted. j The Clebk read also the following j report from the Finance Committee : — Ist. Your Committee report having; considered Mr A. Crawshaw's letter, applying for payment of LIOOO for works some time since completed in George street nnd London street; and are of opinion that the above amount is not payable until tbe beginning' of year 1866. 2nd. As to Mr ETenry Wilson's claim for extras on his contract at Royal Terr-ice and neighboring streets, under the L35,0(J0 loan, your Committee have recem-d explanations from Mr Wilson.and from the Town Surveyor, and have requested Mr Paterscn, C.E., to undertake to measure the disputed work. 3rd. Your Committee consider it advisable to recommend to the Council that aftir the 31st day of December proximo, the services of rate collectors bo dispensed with. 4th. Yonr Committee have considered the subject of the Fire Brigade, and very mue'i re-grct that any misunderstanding should exist between that useful body nnd the Ci!y authorities. The Council fully admit tbe great benefit tbe City ban derived from the organisation of the Brigade, otsd the Committee again recommend that their liabilities bo liquidated upon the same terms as con t lined in a previous letter from the Council. The Corporation desire no control whatever over the operation of the Corps, but merely to bolt! a power over the apparatus in trust for the citizens. Mr Ciialmeb moved the omission of the clause suggesting that ra'e collectors be dispensed with. lie considered such a mode of collecting the rates to hi usual and necessary. Mr Turner seconded the motion on the same grounds, and on the grounel that no reason was given for the change being made. Mr Barb explained that the opinion of the members of tbe Committee, based on experience, was, that the rates would be more efficiently collected by notices, ami by summonses after a certain number of day?, than at prepent, while a considerable saving would be effected. Mr Cabrick said that'the arrears, under the present s) stem of collection, would be about double the estimated amount, and he thought the plan adopted in Sydney and Melbourne in serving notice?, and enforcing payment after a certain interval, had many recommendation?. At the suggestion of Mr Tnnxua, the Clerk read the clauses of the Act, stating tho power of the Council in the matter, and Mr Chalmer afterwards withdrew his motion. Mr Turner objected to the last clause of ihat portion of the report having reference to the Fire Brigade, and moved that it be omitted. He considered the members of the Fire Brigade to be men of a str.mp who would not readily submit to what they had once strongly objected, and he thought that the preferable couisa would be to pay off their liabilities, and let the matter re.«t in the meantime. Mr Cakbick thought Mr Turner m:surderstood the intention of the Committee, whose object was rather to LdU out t;ie olive branch. The motion was not seconded, and, ou the motion of Mr Barr, the report was adopted. Mr Cahricic presented a petition from tbe principal storekeepers in Princes, H'gh, and Manic streets, praying tbe Council to make provision,for watering tbe streets; and on the motion of Mr Turner, tbe petition was referred to the Fimnce Coni-mitt-.-e—Mr Turner explaining that by the Ordinance it was competent for the Council to provide for the watering of certain streets, and to impose exclusively upon the inhabitants of these streets a email additional rate to meet the expense. The Ci/BRK read a letter from the Secretary of the Caledonian Society, accepting the Council's terms as to the erection of a permanent Grand Stand on the North DuneJin Recreation Ground, and stating particulars asked by the Council^ The Society desired to have the use of the stand for two days in the year, with the option of any other days on a month's notice being given; the charge to other societies to be LlO per day for the upper part of the stand, and L2O per day for the booths. The letter was referred to a Committee, previously appointed. An offer from Messrs Baines and Oliver for tbe occupancy of ground contiguous to the Athenaeum, on terms lower than those proposed by tbe Council, wa3 referred to the Athenseum Committee of the Council, it being considered that negotiations were not sufficiently advanced to admit of any agreement being entered into. On the motion of Mr Koss, that Messrs Hastie and Wilson's tender of L 787 for works in Rattray street, there was some discussion, in consequence of some miscalculations which had been made in the tenders. Mr Tdbjter moved that the matter he considered by the Council in committee, but on a division the amendment was lost, and the tender accepted. An offer by William Munro, of L2O a year, as rent for land nt Waihola, was referred to the Finance Committee, with instructions to enquire as to the character and value of the land in question; and the