CUT COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6501, 13 December 1882, Page 2

CUT COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the City Council was held last evening, and was attended by the Mayor (Mr J? Gore), Cra Eliott, Pagan, Guthrie, Street, Scoullar, Blyth, Barnes, Ross, Carroll, Spedding, and Thomson. ' ' '•"

COBBESPOXDENTE.. j' . -~-, "W. Hendley wrote agreeing to keep thg Southern Recreation ground mown and otherwise in pood condition upon condition that lie was allowed the grass.—Referred to the, Reserves Committee .

Mensts Royxe, Stead, and' Co. suggested that as the city water supply was failing, it miglit be Sym-tli the Council's while -to cut a trench from the Leith iuto Ross Creek reservoir, and allow the water 'to flow iiitb the reservoir from Saturday night to Monday morning!; They did not use the water during that time for their mill and would not object, and no doubt other holders of riparian rights would bo equally agreeable. " : 'Or BakxeS thought that tjie thanks of tho Council were due to Messrs Rb'yse, Steady au'ij. Co. for their kind offer. At' the present tim'a the reservoir was of no use, and if the"Wn'Sont of the other parties' concerned could'be obtained, he would' bo strongly in favour of carrying out the suggestion.—Referred to thd Water Committee. . ■ ' .'.''''

Mr J. T. Mackorras drew attention to the want of a speedier means of exit from Regent «bad.—Referred tb the "Works Committee." '"'

Messrs Mijes and Co., Christchurch; ligents for the Gu'.e'hcr Electric Light, and Bpwep Compauy, forwarded iv slibrt description p'f tljfi Company's system, and requested permission to lay or erect wireß for service in the city,^ Referred to the Gas Committee to report ;

Forty-seven residents in Leith Ward petitioned the Council, urging the advisability of having a sewer constructed in Albany street, between Great King and Georgee streets.— Referred to the Works Committee to report. The lamplighters employed by tho Council applied for an increase of their present wages— Ss 2d per day—as their duties had during tho past lew years -been increased considerably.— Gr Pagan moved that the matter be referred to the Gas Committeo, expressing a liopo that it would receive due.consideration.—Cr Guthvns, in seconding, said he would use his influence to have-an increase of salary granted when the matter came before the Committee, as ho considered the present rate of wages too small.—Cr Barnes was glad to see councillors taking the interest they did in the matter, nnd hoped that when the report of the Committee came beforo the Council there would be no necessity to refer it back for reconsideration. — The motion was carried.

Captain Murphy, on behalf of the Dunedin Volunteer Fire Brigade, urged the Council to allow the existing arrangements in connection "with the horses and drivers required hy the Brigade to continue. It was pointed out that fov some time after the present contract was . entered into great inconvenience and loss of "time.resulted through want of practice on the part of men and horses, and that the samo would occur again if fresh men and horses were engaged.— Referred to the Fire Brigade Cpmmittce. Tho Harbour Board applied to have tho Corporation water-pipes extended down Jetty street.—On the motion of Cr Ross, the application was sent to tho Water Committee. Cr Ross mentioned that in the past the Board had obtained its supply of water from Burkes Brewery. If the pipes were extended as desired the Board would obtain the water it required from them, and it would be convenient for vessels in port to do so also. * A letter, in which the writer drew attention to the wretched state of tho Pelichet Bay baths, was referred to the Baths Committee. Dr W." M. Stenhouse brought under the notice of the Council ft plan by which provision could be. made for excellent swimmingponds at a very small expenditure of money. At the eastern end of tho Ocean Beach there was a cluster of rocks amongst which were several natural basins, which only required to have some ground rooks removed and weeds cut away to b& immediately converted into the most safe and charming swimming-baths in the world. A charge or two of dynamite, would bs sufficient to clear away:all obstructing rocks, aniif a few cartloads of sand were thrown in everything.necessary would have been dons. An iron bathing-house might also be erected at a small cost, and a lifebuoy hnng up for cases of emergency. He was willing to accompany any member of the Council to the spot indicated, and was satisfied that it would be conceded thatthe scheme was feasible, practicable, arid economical.—Referred to the Baths Committee. '. .... WATER SUPPLY. '■ The City Surveyor reported:—" The water in the northern reservoir having very nearly. given out, I have commenced to supply the high levels between the hours of 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. To obtain the pressure required the water must be wholly turned off from the northern end of the city during those hours. In case of fire the valves will be reopened immediately. Meanwhile I propose to allow the water to gather in the northern reservoir, and when a sufficient quantity has collected the South Dunedin junction can be made." Cr Barnes said he would like to know by ■whose orders the water wa3 turned off at the northern end of the town the previous night. He had heard nothing of the matter in Com--0111161!. His house and those of his tenants were left entirely without water, and the pipes were choked up with mud. If the same thing occurred • again he would refuse to pay his water account, preferring to bring the matter before a magistrate. He had been up at the northern reservoir in the evening, and found 30ft of water in it. There was not the slightest necessity to cut off the water. The Mayor said that the fact that the water would be turned off, as had been done, had been advertised for a week past. Cr Carroll considered that before the course was taken of cutting off the water, the Wntor Committee or Council should have been consulted. The previous evening the officer in charge of the pipes came to hire to ask whether he might not turn on the water about half-past 10 o'clock.

Cr Ross said that in the absence of any explanation it seemed to him extraordinary that the water should have been turned off, considering that there-was 30 feet of water in the Ross Creek reservoir. There was certaiuly.no need for it.

' Cr lagan agreed that the Committee should have been consulted before the water was turned off.

' Cr Babnes produced a note from the reser-voir-keeper showing tlie depth of water at 20 minutes to 7 o'clock the previous evening to be 37ft 3in. He maintained that there was no necessity for cutting off the water. If the h're which occurred at Mr Pym's had not been extinguished so soon as it was, the house would have been burnt down for want of water.

The Mayor said the matter was purely a departmental one, and that the surveyor, in his opinion, was justified in his action. Cr Guthrie was of opinion that some officer of the Corporation must be neglecting his duty if the statements of Cr Barnes were correct. Cr Street thought it was the duty of the engineer to have ascertained the depth of water in the reservoir, and consulted the Water Committee or Mayor before he acted as he liad done. At his house, on account of the turning-ot! of the water, tho bath was filled, and the. result was that a deposit of three inches of mud was left at the bottom of it, . The matter was allowed to drop without any motion being proposed. ... BUILDING BYE-LAW, It >was. decided to hold a special meeting, after the ordinary meeting of the Council on the 9th of January, to consider draft bye-law XXII;- relating to the division of the city into inner and outer areas. WORKS COMMITTEE'S EEPORT. The first clause of the Works report, relating.to "an application by Mr A. Mollison, was referred back to the Committee ; and it was decided to discuss the clause relating to the wages of employes at the time the Finance Committee's report was being dealt with. — The remainder of the report was adopted. \WATER SUPPLY COMMITTEE'S EEPORT. A lengthened discussion took place with reference to the first clause of the Water Supply Committee's report, relating to the calling for - tenders for the supply of 14rinch pipes, which are to be laid from the Caversham tunnel to Kattray street. Cr Carroll considered that the course it was proposed to adopt, of calling tenders, was uu wise, as there was a risk of the pip:s supplied being unsound. If the Council imported through Messrs Bright Bros, and Co. thoy would be cure of obtaining properly-tested pipes. • The Mayor pointed out that it was totally impracticable to ciyrry out the resolution of the Council. .The pipes were to be delivered at the wharf, and the Council would have to take the responsibility of all broken ones. Cr Spedding said his motion provided for the pipes being delivered iv sound condition, lie had since the' meeting had commenced, in common with other councillor.-), received the following communication: — Town Hall Buildings, 12th December, 18S2. To the Town Clerk. Deir Sir,—You ask me for my opinion as to. the ■ relative advantages of tendering- for water p'.ant and indenting same thiMUgh an ngsiit. Ever since t?)O Corporation purchased the waterworks they have co.ilii.ucd tho system of indenting plant which they found to be in operation under Sir M'Orei'or. C. & The » aterworks <;o:npany had tried both method.', and foui;d unmistakably that a better class of gooijj woj obtijued by indenting than by tenTarn informed .that the pipes at Cayersham;concerning which that borough has oppressed 80 mud; dissatisfaction, were supplied by fender, while on tho other haid all the plant indented by me d .ruiji tho past sis years has bscn of first-class quality. .Tne advantages of obtaining the plant by indent appear ti me tv bs: — Ui. Th.t we deal direct with the ma ufactU'crs through our accredited agents. Tha'. we are well known to these manufacturers, and they a-o anxious 10 please and nvjet our requirements iv cvi r.y w»y. 2nd. That our agents call for tenders at llollie liom well-known roannfuc urern, and no by competition obtain tlie lowest market price rulinjr at the time. 3id. .That '*c pay a small known cotumisdion to a trade expert for tne advantage of his trade knowledge in buying and shipping; for us, in the same w.iy in which trade experts are emp'oyed to purchase all other tfew of gcod=. 4th. ■> hat we avoid paying tbo profit o! a middleman, who, in submitting a ter.der to u-s. mint, hiioolf go to a manufacturer and obtain a price irom him. Tnis we do ourselves, through our agents. oth It is better to pay, say on £5000, a commission of I', i»er cent, (or £U2 10»), than the unknown profit whicn the intervening importer must necc-asaiily etlil By indenting we are sure to get tbo pi nt nt lowe.t market prices obtained by competition. Mi the other hand, I think it would be' imp issible fur the l.'puncil to teU whether the lowest of a series of tenders' showed the lowest market pri-2e we ou^hti to pay, depending a? k does upon a few shiliiiigd uer ton known, only to a trade expert. An agent secures us these advantages. . 7tb. Experience has proved that we are certain to get lirst-cta plant by indenting, while the same experience shows, that wo are very likely ta i-et uifeiior ma'criaU i( supplied by tender. This U the mesS important point of all. To have guo'l pipes that will be no exptnae in the future \i of More consequence than a email saving per ton, even il it could be demonstrated ibat tendering is chcape' than indinting. The bursting of only one pipo may cau=e so much inconvenience, and be so disastrous in its consequence?, tbat I cannot but favour a ineihod which has produced tho bet rcsu'ts. Sth. If you ink what I would recommend, I should ray either accept fiibbs, Bright, and Co.'3 rSer to indent fo^il per cent.; or call for tende.s lor induMtin^ at per cent, on the invoice! and charges. •■ • (»i/n»d), S. H.MiKAiiS, City Surveyor. He considered .that Mr Mirams' action in drawing up such a report looked us if he was trying to lVsit" on tlie Council. He would like to know how it was the report came before Ihem. It' seeiriccl to him its object simply wits to try to coerce'councillors. Why was the repent addiesscd to the .Town Clerk*.and why tlid the Town Clerk address it tv him ?

' Ci-Fagan said he also desired information as to how the Council became favoured with such a report. The Mayor said he himself had oiily seen the report that evening. It was' the duty of the surveyor to' give what information he could tb thb Council. -

"Cr SeeddiNo : You have not anawored my question: ' ''The Mayor: Tho city surveyor has acted without iiistruetiona. ' '

'" Ci Tkojisos was under tho impression that in the course of some interview which took place with Mr 'Miming ho was aAed hi.i opinion as to which course was thu best to adopt. . 'Cp I^agaN could not remember any sueii guch thing taking place in Committee. At any rate, Mr Mirams was too lalo with his expression of opinion, and it certainly looked aa if ho.'was endeavouring to intimidate the Council.- . ~,,-■, . . „„. Ct Gptiibib would have preferred peeing ;8m

mains being obtained, but the Council could only afford 1-1 in one's at present. No doubt in about four years' time, with the increase of population that would take place, tho Council would require to order pipes of not loss than ISm, or probably 2-lin. Ho disapproved of heads of departments sending such a dictatorial statement as Mr Mirams', with tho apparent objuct of coercing tho Council into a thing against their inclination. Cr Ross; moved, and Cr IYauan seconded— " That consideration of the clause be deferred until next meeting." Thia was, however, ultimately withdrawn, and the report was adopted. The Mayou said he had dono his duty in calling the attention of tho Council to flic unwise course decided upon. It would cost the Council £2000 more for the pipes if they were supplied by tender instead of being obtained in thn manner previous supplies had been. Ho had noticed that the Hobart Corporation had recently invited tenders for a similar supply, and the tenders received ranged from £10,000 to £14,000. 2\ow it was found that by placing themselves in communication with the manufacturers they could obtain the supply for £2000 or £3000. He must enter his protest against the action of the Council. Or Carroll also desired to enter his protest. Cr Spedding said that if the amount of the lowest tender was found to be more than that for which the pipes could be imported under tho oW system, tho Council need not accept it. Cr Pagan pointed out that it was quite competent for tlie Council, within the two months during which tenders wen: to be invited, t« rescind the motion passed. CAS SUPPLY COMMITTEE. Cr Eliott moved, and Cr Barnes seconded,. thp adoption of the. Gas Supply Committee's report. Cr Spedding moved, and Cr Street seconded, as an amendment—" That the recommendation contained in the first clause .should be modified, so that bonuses would bo payable to Mr Whittington and the three foremen stokers only." This was lost. Cr Pagan moved, and Cr Carroll seconded, as a further amendment—" That clause 1 be referred back to the Committee." This was also lost, and the motion was carried. FINANCE COMMITTEE'S BEPOBT. Ths Finance Committee's report, with the exception of the clause referring to the increases of employes' salaries, was adopted. i This, together with the clause of the Works Committee's report relating to the same matter, waa adjourned for consideration at the next meeting of ths Council. THE COUNCIL'S EMPLOYES. Cr Gt'THRIE brought under the notice of the Council the fact that two of the employes of ths Council were members of the Maori Hill and Mornington Borough Councils. The member of the former held a, position in the water department enabling him to be possessed of information ' which might be used against the interests of the Council should any negotiations for a water supply be entered into with the borough of Maori Hill, and he had been connected with deputations which had recently waited upon the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. It appeared to him that the Council should not allow any of its employes to occupy positions of this sort. The Mayor and Cr Barnes mentioned 'that they were unaware that any employe of the Council was a councillor in any other borough.

Cr Scoullar thought the matter was one in which the Council should not interfere.

Cr Ross considered the Council was justified in interfering if, in the performance of his duties as councillor of another borough, an employe occupied office hours. Cr Gctheie asked if there was not a minute of the Council prohibiting an employe occupying any such position. The' Mayor and the Town Clerk were unaware of any. Cr Guthhie said he would make further inquiries into the matter. SOUTHERN MARKET EESERVE. The Mayor stated that Mr Lawson's plans for the utilisation of the Southern Market Reserve were on the Council table for inspection. DOB REGISTRATION. The dog registration fee for the ensuing year was fixed at 10s. WEIGHBRIDGES. Oti the motion of Cr Sooullar, seconded by Cr Guthkie, it was resolved—" (1) That in the opinion of this Council the time has arrived when is is desirable to make a change in the mode of managing tlie city weighbridge at the Southern Market Reserve, and the Stuart street weighbridge. (2) That the work can be more satisfactorily performed by persons appointed by and responsible to the Corporation, at a iixed salary, than by annual leasing. (3) That the tenders received b3 not accepted, and that his Worahip the Mayor bo authorised to select suitable persons to take charge of tlie Southern and Stuart street weighbridges." MUSEUM 11ECBKATI0X-GKOUXD. On tlie motion of Cr Bakxes it was resolved—" Tliat the. recreation-ground adjoining the Otago Museum, temporarily closed for protection of young trees, bo now thrown open to the public." REGENT ROAD. It was resolved that a footpath five feet wide be formed by the Corporation daymen on the siding at Regent road. BATHS. It was resolved, on the motion of Cr Barnes—" That the Finance Committee be requested to consider whether the funds at disposal will admit of the expenditure of £1000 in removing the old baths to the new site for baths granted by the Otago Harbour Board to the City Corporation." - TENDERS. ■ Several tenders were received, and roferred to the Committees for consideration.