CITY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2000, 28 May 1868, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL.

The members of the City Council met yesterday, in the Council Chambers. The Mayor (Thomas Birch, Esq.) was in tho chair ; aud thero were present— Messrs Carrick, Bagley, Thoncman, Dods, Wain, and Fish.

Tho Town Clerk (Mr J. M. Massey) read tho minutes of tho lasfc meeting, which were confirmed.

PUBLIC WOKKS.

Tlio following report of the Public Works Committee was read and adopted :— ■

Your Committee havo the honor to submit tho following report:—

Ist. The following permissions have been granted—To Mr J. W. Cochrane, to Mr Ewen, and to Mr J. Fijrley, to havo crossings laid at their respactivc premises. 'Jo Mi surs Hayman and Co., to form a trap-door fronting their premises, in High street. To Messrs Gillies and Street, to erect, a verandah in Georgo street. To Mr M'Cnndlish, to remove certain earth from Casfclu street. To Mr liassett, to remove earth from promises in Princes street;-and Mr J. Burnside, to take gravel from a creek on tho Town Belt. 2nd. Tho following matters have been ordered for attention by day mon—Mr Howell's crossing at York Placo ; and the footpath on woat sido of Great King street, between Hanover and Frederick strce a, as brought under notice by Mr Donald Hcudorsen. Notices to quit have been served on parties complained of Mr W. Buskin as occupying shanties on tho line of Maclaggan street. 3rd. The proposal from the Athcnamrot Committee as to fencing in the open frontage of tho property in Manse street.-t-Your Committee have replied thafc the necessary fence will be undertaken by the Corporation, tho expense being shared by tho Atheiwunm. and the Corporation equally. Tenders will, also be ca lea for erecting fences at several unprotected portions of tho street lines. 4th. Your Committee recommend that thelower portion of Rattray street, na mentioned in a lato report from the Inspector of Works, be metalled, out of ordinary revenue; and that tho remaining works proposed in the report be deferred for the present. sfch, Tho attention of the 'Committee has been frequently directed to many parts of the streets left in an unsatisfactory state by the Waterworks Coinpmy ; and your Committee recommend that, as soon as an estimate (now on hand) lip*- oeen completed, o£ what is necessary ib be undertaken, tbo Waterworks Company be required to place the several streets which havo been cut up in. tho same repair in which tho streota were prior to the Company's operations.

Mr Fisit called the attention of tho Works Committee to the state in wliich fche streets were loffc by tho Waterworks, Company. Wherever their pipes were laid down, tbo roadway was cut up, and not put. in the same condition again. The Alayou said that action was beingtaken by Mr Barnes in the matter. The directors of the Waterworks Companywere anxious to remedy any defect in this respect. j FINANCE. The report of tbe Finance Committee* was read. Ifc simply recommended iho payment of accounts, amounting to LI7U. Mr Caiiuiok, in supporting fche adoption of the report, asked that the Committee might be empowered to sign, cheques for payment of interest upon, bonds, &c. It was highly important thafc these payments should bo made with I punctuality, and thero wa« f sometimes a. delay, if the leave of the Council lr*d ten to be asked beforo the accounts wero passed. Permission was given, and tlio,. report was adopted. TiXOUTIISC-. COMMITTEE. The following report was xcad and adopted :— Your Committee beg respectfully ..to re> port having approved the amended- deed providing for "tho limitation of the duration of the Lighting Contracts *." and that, having been authorised by tie Council co ia do, they have duly executed the deed on, bohalf of the City Corporation. Under the new arrange ment, all threo. lighting contracts will terminate on Sl.st, August, 1870. KE/JEKVJS?. Tho report o£ the Reserves Comajitteet was, read :— Your Committee have the honor io, report: • having further considered the letter..luffl the Provincial Government, pi eporiiig to surrender to the Corpcratirn the fiontrge occupied by the Constabulary Depot,. Princes street south, in exchange for a portion of the Rccervc at tho Octagon, and from ing to it. Your Committeo recommend that the proposal of the Government be accepted, provided details can be ai ranged. The report was adopted, MABKEIS. Tho following letter from His Honor the Superintendent, wks read:— * Sir— Numerous representations have been, made to me by couatry,settlers ub to tha necessity of having a regular cattle xoarkufc, in or near Dnnedin. . You are probably aware that there j»A*

reucrve (!) acres) afc the top of Maclaggan atreet, close to the Town Belt, which J[in vested in me by Crown grant, for fche purpose of a cattle market, awdT/hich, 1 think, •■will be convenient both for buyers and sellers.

As this is a matter which appears to belong specially to the Municipal Council. I "shaU be glad to know whether or not tliat Ixxly would be disposed to take charge of and administer the reserve in question. In this cane I might venture to suggest thafc perhaps it would be well to have a standing Market Committee, which might undertake tho necessary arrangements for oatablinhitif; and properly conducting the market.—l have, kc,

James Macanw'kw, Superintend'-nt.

MrCAiuticK admitted tliat the establishment of a Cattle Market was a necessity, but ho could not agree with the Superintendent as to the" site. The reserve in question was inaccessible, and was not in any way suitable. Mr Fish moved that a Committee, consisting of Messrs Griifen, Dods, and the Movei*, be appointed for tho purpose of inquiring into the practicability of erecting market sheds, &c, on the Southern Market Reserve, and to report thereon.

Mr Bagley seconded the motion, which was carried; and ifc was resolved that His Honor the " Suporintcndfcnt's letter should be referred to the Committee so appointed. ..--.

COREESPON DUNCE.

, The Provincial Secretary wrote atating that tho Government would bear half the expenr-e incurred in removing and reelecting tho water tanks. A letter was also received from him, stating tliat the Provincial Solicitor had prepared an Ordinance for submission to tho Provincial Council, which, if passed, would amend the Cattle Trespass Ordinance so as to include the Town Belt.

In reply to a letter, enclosing a statement of the balance alleged to bo duo by tho Government to the Corporation in 'respect of salary paid to tho Inspector of Nuisances, the Provincial Solicitor wrote, stating that the Government would place - ono year's salary on the JSstimatcs. Ho also pointed out that, under the 380 th clause of the Municipal Corporations Act, part of wliich would bo extended to Dunedin, all lines and penalties recovered under any of its provisions would be paid to fche Corporation. They would then bo. able to defray the salary themselves. A letter was received from Mr J. W. Hutchison, stating his willingness to pay half tho law expenses incurred in recent proceedings. Ho also wrote explaining the cause of alleged deficiencies in the supply of gas.

Mr Tare wrote, calling attention to the state of a footpath in Moray place. It was ordered that tho repairs needed should bo' dono. Letters from Messrs ■Hislop and Wright, calling attention to drains in Moray place, and asking permission to erect « verandah in George street, wore referred to fche Works Committee, Letters from Mr Flynn, asking permission to remove gravel from a creek rnniiiug through the Town Belt; from Mr Simpson, asking permission to lay down a temporary crossing ; from Goldstein and Moellor, respecting their buildings, were similarly dealt with.

Mr W. Mason wrote, offering to give up the portion of the Town Belt leased by hira. Tho offer was accepted. Michael Scanlon's application to be allowed to transfer his lease, was referred to the. Reserves Committee.

A letter from tho Inspector of Nuisances, reporting that certain Btreet lamps had not teen lit, was received.

WATBKINO THE HTKRKTS.

Mr Fish moved that tho Mayor be requested to mako an oiler of L 175 per annum to the directors of tho Waterworks Company for the supply of water to the city. Mr-Wain seconded tho motion, and it wob adopted. HIGH WAKD. , ' ! On tho motion of Mr Carrick, seconded by Mr Fish, the following reso- , lution was'carried:—" That the question of the sum required to furnish the necessary works in High Ward, in excess of the sum allotted to thafc Ward, be referred to the Public Works Committee, and that thoy be authorised to proceed with tho samo works, if they are of opinion that they are required." MTSCELIiANKOTJS. Mr Bagley presented a petition from ■ residents in Castle streefc, praying that the locality should receive some attention. It waa referred to tho Works Committee, with power to act. Mr Bagley also called the attention of the Council to tho state of the pump in Filleul street; and Mr "Fish suggested the advisability of placing a lamp in Walker streefc, between Melville and Hope streets. Both matters were referred to Committees. The Mayor asked that tho Finance Committeo might he authorised to sign cheques for payment of wages to day-laborers. Permission wns given. The Council was adjourned until Wednesday, the 10th- of June.