CITY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3686, 27 November 1873, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Conncil was held yesterday afternoon. His Worship the Mayor was in the chair, and the following Councillors were present: —Messrs Beck, Burt, Ramsay, Reeves, Walter, and Woodland. THE GAS. The following letter was received from Mr Genever, Engineer of the Gas Works : — Gas Works, Dunedin, Nov. 20, 1873. To J. ir. Massev, Esq., Town Clerk Sir-—Yours of the 17th duly to .hand. I bear to inform you that the quality of the gas supplied to the city for a considerable period lias been uniformly an average of 14 candles, i.e., 4 candles over and above the' Standard mentioned in our contract. With regard to impurity the quality is also good. Quantity.—With the unfortunate exception of {Saturday night, the Bth iust., when, owing to an unavoidable accident at the Works, the supply was very defective in the early part of the evening, in this pmticuliir also, the g.is is good.

! Respecting Consumers.—-If they will persist in fitting ivp the houses with, cheap, small fittings, and indifferent burners, set-.that the supply is defective, and the value, of the light deteriorated inconsequence, then, of course, the ,sjime cry of bad gas will continue, even although it were double tile illuminating power of the present supply. The same thing occurs in England, and Dunedin cannot be an exception; The Council have a photometer, and. I respectfully suggest that, the illuminating power of the g;is be regularly tested, which is only fair Irath to the citizens and oui selves. Requi'sting that you will make this explanation public, through the next Council mooting— I am, &c, C. Gknevkk, Engineer. Mr Burt could say confidently that the defective lighting on the Saturday evening referred to aid not arise from the bad quality of the gas, but was owing to an aeeidi-nt which occurred'at the works. He was present at the time the accident occurred, aud lie could say that every effort was made to reni' dy thf> accident.

Mr Walter said that Mr Genever's letter was very good so far aa it -went; but he would like him to explain, next time the cause of the perpetual corrosion of the gas fittings. He spoke from experience ; and it .was said, that this corrosion arose from the impunty of tlie gas. The letter was referred to the Works Committee. AX EQCIVALENT FOR THE FOURTH SCHOOL SITE. The Under-Seeretary acknowledged receipt of a letter from, the Corjioration enquiring whether, in the event of the Corporation placing at the disposal of the Duticdiu School Committee a site for a fourth district school,

the Government -would foe prepared to give the Corporation an equivalent in the shape of: reclaimed or other land. In reply, it -was stated that in the event of a school site being found by the Corporation the Government would relinquish any claim it might have in. respect to the 33 feet of land between the Princes street Reserve and the sections fronting Bond street belonging to the Corporation. STREET SWEEPERS, A letter was received and read from Mr J. A. Ewen, London, furnishing informatioa respecting two kiiids of Btreet sweeping machines in use at home—namely, Whifc- ■ worth's street sweeper,.and Smith&and Sons*, of Barnard Castle. Mr Ewen strongly re- - ': commended the latter machine, in preference to Whitworth's. The Council resolved thai a telegram should be sent to England, ordering one machine of each kind. THE WATER WORKS COMPANY AND' THE COR*FORATION. The Water Supply Committee reported, that the Town- Clerk had replied, under date 25th November, to the communication front the Directors of the Dunedin Water Works Company, dated1 November 3rd, 1873. The Town Clerk's reply is as follows:— . . r City Council Chambers* Dunedin, 25th Nov., I 87& Sir—l have been directed by the Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of date as per margin- (Noy 3), enclosing copy of n, certain resolution of your Directors, as submitted to a meeting of the shareholders of the Dunedin "Water Works Company, held on. the--27 th October, also-enclosing copy of three resolutions submitted to, and passed by, the Company on that date. Stripped! of surplusage and certain objection:- - able expressions, which probably are not irt.tended as surplusage, your letter may shorHy be read thus-: —"That neither the Council nor the citizens, nor the shareholders of the Dnnedin "Water Works Company, are or have been is : a position to form' a proper estimate of- the valua of the Company's "Works. That, when, in June--1872, the Company, by a resolution supposed tot be bona fide, agreed" to sell at Lls- per snore, aar per a draft agreement; and that, when in Sxam course you, by letter dated 26th Juue, 187^. conveyed sucn resolution to the Council^ there was no serious intention to complete the bar- ' ' gain.'-' - - »• The Council is justified in. this assumption, seeing that you now state that in- the past theCompany ha* not in- any sense- t>oen> bound by the resolution to which I have referred. Ifc would indeed seem to be true, probably, thafc the Council "is unable"" to-form, a correct: opinion of the Directors' idea of the value of the Company's Works; and certainly the Council i» unable to estimate very highly the Directors? • - sense of honourable dealing, latterly, as regards their negotiations with- the Corporation. Ifc was certainly with the hope that tbe- shareholders would have-1 been thereby dissuajXeXfrom adopting the Directors' recommendation' its to proposing! arbitration, to.the Corporation*, that the Council passed and forwarded' to-yotE ' a resolution declining to agree, at this late period! of the long- standing negotiations, to refer 'the. matter of price to arbitrators.. Possiblyarbiiratioa • might not have been regarded by the- Council with disfavour some two years ago, when tine negotiations were commencing',- and' when the* Company's shares were quoted at, or under par.j but to suggest that method of a settlement now, , after tbe price has been long since agreed upon, and after, through the alone offer of 'the Corporation of Dunedin in making the almost profligateoffer which it has made, the Company's shares - ■ are at their present quotations, is regarded by the Council as lacking in straightforwardness and honest dealing. •*',-' '. The Directors- of th'o Dunedin' "Waterworks . Company are aware of the followingLfacta:— (1.) That on.August 21st, 1872, the draft / agreement as prepareo. by you for the sale of the ', works to.the Corporation at LTS per' share, was by letter confirmed by the Council. ■■ ' ' From that moment there-whs a contract Be-" ' ■ tween men of high principle, though,,- as £he>. agreement was not sealed" by - the Company-, there was none between the two Corporations (2.) That through the action of the GentraZ " Legislature, by what means brought' about need not now- be inquired (probably your Directors know), the Council was subsequently,- at tha clo^e of last year, rendered unable to issue fifty years' bonds—thirty years'bonds could onlyb* issued. That so soon as the error which the Government had allowed in the Act wa*. discovered, it was placed before your Directorsu* -- '■ an ingenuous manner, and promptjsteps went •• taken to rectify the same. That the -Govern— . , ment did, without tardiness, enable the .Council, to issue fifty years' bonds, whereupon the Corporation announced its readiness to' issue the bonds accordingly, and to complete the purchase. As indicative of the insincerity with wbicb. latterly the Directors of the Company .have pan- . - .sued the negotiations with the Corporation^ notiie may be taken of the fact, of which, youxr Directors are not in ignorance, in, making tiioproposal for arbitration, that the Council basnet ' . - the power, had it even the disposition, to->bra& the Corporation to such an undefined .liability, as arbitration possibly might incur. , 1 Before closing this reply, it is. impossible *• refrain from 'allusion to your extraordinary argument that as—so it is stated—certain.' ©£ ■< your Directors had given one or more members of the Council information of the Directors? n*-, tention to call upon the shareholders of that-, , , Company to support a reference to" arbitration,. . and as,' forsooth! such member or members of Council had not made any " serious, remoit- - strance " thereon, that therefore the arbitration, proposal was to pass,unchallenged. . Did ever st . public company reason in so unbusinesslike a, fashion? What need of Boards or Councils i£ private members of either side are to conduct ■ the shareholders' and citizens' business by wont of mouth at street corners ? Rather, ifc ought to have seemed to your Directors, if auy Councillor had unluckily expressed an individual opinion to them, that such expression wasgiverv in confidence, was entitled to receive con&» dential treatment, and not to be placed to the - ' unworthy purpose for which ifc found a use.

In conclusion, I am directed to say that it fit necessarily impossible to concur in your proposal for arbitration. * The Gouncil in reluctantly compelled to conclude that your Directors even, have not seriously believed it to be practicable that the Corporation can arbitrate, and ventures to hope that even yet your Board may see a^vray to retract, with conciliatory feeling, this late unhappy proposal.—l am, &c,

J. 31. Massey, Town Clerk. Mr Thos. Dick, Secretary Dnuedin ( . Waterworks Company. ' * The report and letter were adopted. WAGES OF CORPORATION DAYMEN; . A letter was received from, some of til* daymen employed by the Corporation, complaining that while others of the daymen^ received 8s a day, they, were only paid 7s. The Mayor explained that the men. signing the memorial were extra hands, -who were at .once dispensed with when work bec.une slack. They were only receiving seven shillings a day, but they were now following suit with the regular staff employed by the Corporation, who some time since had* then- pay increased to 8s a day. It was decided that all the men in tfi«. employ of the Corporation should receive Ssa day if reported to be efficient. ' , A NUISANCE IN STAFFORD STREET. A communication was received from tfie Inspector of Nuisances, drawing attention tothe state of a section in Stafford street, the property of Mr F. l<\ilton, which is a grea& ' nuisance to the neighbourhood. 1 It was resolved that the W-.rks Committee should deal with the matter at once, with ;«ower to act. WIDENING OF PRINCES STREET SOUTEL The Reserves Committee reported upon: the above subject as follows :— "As to clause 1 of Committee's report, under date 29t& October, 1873, re widening of Princes street; south of Jetty street: Your Committee wish. to report the recommendation that the Council should agree to refer to arbitration the que-tion of the amount of compensation, to be paid by the Corporation to the tenants int. the Manse Reserve whosa property woultt be affected by widening Princes street to l.| chain."

Mr Reeves protested against the widening of Princes street as a thoroughly useless work.

A discussion ensued, - some Councillors speaking against the proposed work, but all agreeing that some dcmiite conclusion should, bo arrived at.

On the above report lieiny put to the votev Messrs Beck, Reeves, and Woodland voted, against its adoption, and Messrs Burt, Ramt.ay, and Widter in ita favour. The Mayor gave his casting vote for the adoption of the report, which was therefore carried.

Mr Reeves asked that his protest against the adoption of the report should be recorded. ■ SITE TOR THE I'ItOPOSEIi FOIV-TH SCHOOt»

The Reserves Committee repjned :—"Ax to letter from Provincial Govemnuut, undeir date 13th November, 1873. agrt eing to waive any right to the 33 feet of 1-ml betwein. the L'rmcrs stn-et Reserve and bond btreet, on. condition that the Council provide a mutable: site for the proposed fnurl.i scnool : Your Committee recomnuiuh tnat an offer be made to place at the disposal cf the Goveiimimt sections 45 ami 46, I lock L, Wharves and Quays Preserve, at a nominal rental of Is per aiii^uc. aud that the Couiicil a-ree to caucii the existing leases of sections 44 and 47, in <>rtkr that a complete arta of lai-d snty b-j hantf'-d over as a site for t"e sclkk-1, on t!»e unr trntandingf that the <ji.v«?rr.in' lit vniJ uiid> ri-kof»muke arrangements with the t\»o t«nams who may

t>e deprived of their leaseholds ; or if these sections are regarded as not suitable, the Government may suggest some: other site in Bell Ward. »\. u ~. - , .- :.., After a short .discussion the report -was adopted. ... ~ APPLICATION. TO LEASE PART OF MARKET RE- ..-.." : SERVE DECLINED.: :- The Reserves Committee recommended that the application from the Vestry of St. Paul's Church to lease or occupy the strip of land abutting on the north side of the Church property, being part cf the Market Reserve, be declined. Recommendation adopted. A NEW CRICKET GROUND. The Reserves Committee reported :■. —" As to application from the Rev. E. G. Edwards, on behalf of St. Paul's Church Young Men's Association, for permission to level a portion of the Town Belt below Mr JRattray's; house, to be used as ■& :cricket ground : Your Committee have granted permission during pleasure, on the understanding that no claim is to be had to the ground." EARTH CLOSETS., . •. The Bye-Laws Committee, recommended that the draft of the proposed bye-law .No. XII., relative to cesspools, &c., published in the newspapers, should- be considered and passed by the Council. ",.-•:.". ■• ? Mr Begk moved that the report be referred back. He was at first in'.ifavoiur of having earth closets, but he, found that-.the public were oppqsedto their "adoption, owing to the •expense. He had also heard indirectly from Canterbury; tbatthe use of :earthpans there did not answer. >At the-same time/ he thought that as so many new buildings were goingup, there should be more improved plans adopted for closets. Hethought the subject should be thoroughly ventilated, and would propose that it should be postpoiied for a fortnight, in order that it might be more fully advertised. ~ . ; ; ... > ~..: Consideration of the bye-law' was postponed until nexff meeting. ..,','.'■ ; ; ; ■XAi-r.:'- .-PINA3TCE.'-:-, ■ .y..: ;■..-. :' •■ The Finance Committee "repPrted.^as. follows :—"II -AY td letter from ProVincial Government, 29 th October, 1573, submitting a claim made by Sergeant Nimon for se'r : .geant's pay : Your Committee recommends that a reply be forwarded to the Government to the effect:that the Council cannotvary Mr Nimon's salary, which isa matter of arjrangeinent between Mr JSfimon and the Council alone, so long as he,is.in,the, employvof; the Corp6ratiQn..,.riadeed"]fc'jiNimon;. : Jna^eß; no claim on -the Corporation.fin this- matter.; 2. As to letter from Provincial" Government^ 4>th November, 1873, requesting tbatthe half cost of salary of; Mr Lumb, Revenue, Offi^i cer, be paid into the Treasury;. by the Corporation. Your Committee recommend, that one half of amount of Mr Lumb's salary be paid by the Corporation as..per previous; arrangement,, as ivom. Ist April, 1573,,.the. datelM? Mr Lumb's appointment. : 3, :i?e; Cost oi Kerbing at Churches. '~, Your. Com-, anittee recommends an allowance to each Church up to £25, on condition that any balances be paid within one month from present date. 4. As to proposal to credit.'jßell and Leith Wards allocation accounts with a j .fixed amount in fespect = pf ; cost p£. kerbing,;, channelling, and asphalting,! already /laid, down aroundtthejcity reserves within-those;; Wards, y6ur"Committeet recommends that; the charge be against itiLe/generaLreveuiieiV 5. As to keeping;^horse at the LV&F.B.I station, your 'Committee'; recommends. that this matter be held over until, a permanent site for the station'be.fixed upon." The report was.adopted. i PUBLIC WORKS.'"; ' ' ""'"]~/'': *\ The Public Works Coirimrfctee reported as follows: — . ~.- _, ~/ ~.,■;''.."".; ,-.!'., -■'..:■■■ ,-U-y,\. As to mempriiii underj date. October -15,1873,. from ratepayer^in Leith, Ward, asking,to havexir third bridge erected across ihe Water -of . Leith to the new Botanical Gardens^ your Cpmmittge,: feeling that :tlie^want'bf a bridge is much' felt. irT the locality referred to in the memorial, nave asked the .Government to join- the; Council in erecting a rus.tic bridge for .foot passengers,' andliave offered to place at the disposal, of:. the' Government a quantity of wire suitable for the work. JBe letter from Congregational Church.—lnstructions -have, been .given to have View street cut close onto, the line of the Congregational Church' property;; in order to have the, adjoining, footpath fornied'to the full width. ■ '■"''" Instructipris'^haye also been given to have. Princes street swept regularly once a week. Be moving Manure Depot. -That attew site be1, selected for the dep&t, numerous bomplairits having been made regarding the present site.; The lessee has in.the-Tneantime been'en joirie'dto strictly comply with bis specification.' : '. ; ":.;,< As to letter of November .13, 1873, from D.W.W. Go.','--Be laying water pipes:—-That in future xhe Water Company-be; required^toifpply for and. obtain the consent of the' Council, to .jlay water pipes';'otherwise they wiU'lie liable for. breaking up' thV'streets, without^ying.the.nptice specified in this Act. ; '[~, ~ v Re Queen-streg€Work':UTlVat;the mbtinft for; improvements at Queen, street-from ..Forth place to Duke streej;,*be< allowed tp}lie.over. - .;■; As to Councillor ]£eeves's' motion, submitted at last meetnigt'l'e standrfor w^bd-carts :"That ■ one place in;ea'ch;tif-the foiir Wards be appointed as a stand for v/ood^carts,-viz r-BiLeitlrWard: At the top of "Albany- street; between Great King and George streets. In South Ward: At Princes street South, pprosite'Missrs»lT.-.Bobin-: son and Co.'s. .In High.and Bell Wards :,Roadv way in Octagon..:,- ,■;:■ *.-.■•■■ \ ■■■><■-.\ :-■■■:'■■."/:; ■• That instructions he. given. for the completion, of tke kerbing,' channelling,. "apVl; asphaltin<j,,, the new premises of Messrs George Gisiy ■ Russell and Cor, in Bond, Water, andCrawford .streets.- ■-<'> U! w- S:Vy . "'"n "V"; /'' :'' :<7, 'A ■' The application'- of Mr W.-Eilirfdnd toremove .20 loads <if-rockfrom=the'south end of" ilaitland adjoining the i Kerosene Boiid/! has .been i •declined.- .-.■•-,;■■■•■ ,:' •.--.-. . ''. :i^; . ■•■-■■' •■■" "-■ ; As to the .letter..'from r, Mr. CL K. Cliapman, Novemlier 12', 1873', re .drainage of section 3£, ; block XVr.j Great King street: a reply has been :f orwanled "to Mr Chapman, to the effect that the -Council cannot interfere^ the ;di;ain' in question being on private^ property not Hiiiafer^heuiana^e- t iment of the Cdrporation: i: :'•■■?. •<1 •'-••' A letter -lias been forwarded to -Mr M'Kehzie, •Government contractor for works -at'; Queen •street, vvarmnff him to. desist from filling in. sections at the: resxr t>f,vther Distillery premises in.. 'Castle street, without making prpper proyisiou ; . for caiTying.^'dra"l through .the land referred;to; •otherwise he witi be responsible to the owners of prb.per^for sinv : diunage which ,niay.. -ensue from'thestPppage'of:water. \ ' , V.. A.s to nifthidrial'uhclor .tlate October 29, from" .residents in Maitlitod; street, regarding alterations in building Jlines,:your -Committee recom-' jagnrH that: the: subject be allowed to-right itself.' As toMters f rom, Air C M'K, Gol^^on,iapply-; ,ing for a sum of £6; jand from Mi1 C.., Begg, ap-, plying for £1,0, for their. consent to .allow the. Council to slope the Smith .street^.oninaukiiieiits onto their property"• your Coimuittee recom-'. ■anends thatPa;sum of £5 be offered'to' each, l;y ; , way of compedsationy for .cost of reinstating then■gardens, r" '*"'■"*.'■'. ';, ; '''■''.""' ' ."" .... As to defen-ed clause of report: re motion - f^r •watering streets :■ your Committee, considering that the watering of: the .streets .is at present •commenaed at 6.o'clock a.m., still thinksJt imi possible to have the work completed by 8 o!clock As to the letter from Mi- James Beadle, Oct. 51, 1873, re'drainage of section 29, block XXI r Mr Beadle has been informed that he must fill aip his section to r the street level in order to • get rid of the drainage complained of.- ' : Your Committee recommends' that the newly j made roads in ; the South Dviuedin KecreationGround be properly metalled with gravel and metal. "..,. ~ . • ; ; •. . With the exception of the clause referring to the memorial of residents in Maitland stree— which was. postponed till next meeting—the report; was adopted. ■■■ THE OCTAGON. . ,' Mr IJeeves would like to know, if apy r thing had been done by the Works Committee in the way of carrying put the i»roposed improvement of the Octagon. , : The Mayor said he believed some recom-; mendation had' been made by the Works Committee. The Engineer, however, hadhadsp much to do lately that the work had not beeu carried out. ~•.-,■-,:■■ Mr Ramsay said that the subject had occurred to him, and he had made enquiries of the Surveyor. The latter said it was his intention to put a gardener to work at once. THE DISGRACEFUL STATE OF CASTLE STREET.

Mr Beck called the attention of the Coun--cil to the disgraceful state of Castle street. He had had numerous complaints made to him respecting the way the contractors were filling up the street. ; Mr Woodland said he thought a letter .should be sent to the Government upon the matter. . THE BOWLING STREET STEPS. Mr Reeves proposed that his motion affirming the desirability of improving the appearance of Dowling street, abutting on.the west side of Princes street, should be referred to the Works Committee. Agreed to. RECEPTION OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR. At the suggestion of His Worship the ft Mayor, it .Vas resolved that a Committee, f consisting of all the members of the Council, should bl appointed to make the necessary Srrangements for receiving His Excellency the Governor. . The Council adjourned for a fortnight.