CITY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6791, 20 November 1883, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the City Council was held in tbe Council Chamber,' Town Hall buildings, last evening. There were present: The Mayor (Mr J. B. Thomson) and Crs Carroll, Munro, Barnes, Murray, Scoullar, Fagan, and Robin. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from Mr R. A. Lawson regarding plans for buildings on the Southern Market reserve, requesting that the plans be forwarded to the Governor for his Excellency's approval. The Town Clerk of Caversham wrote objecting to the water-pipes being allowed to lie so long on the durface of the Main South road. —Referred to the Water Supply Committee. I'UBLIG WORKS COMMITTEE. The Public Works Committee reported infer alia recommending:—That drain pipes bo laid, from the culvert under the main road, Town Belt, tit the rear Of Royal terrace; to the culvert under the main creek, in order to' remedy the nuisance complained of by Mr R. Wright. The cost of the pipes will be £7, and tbo work could be done by the daymen. Me motion ,920—That the BUburbau Borough Councils—viz., St. Kilda, South Dunedin, Caversham, Mornington, Roslyn, Maori Hill, and North-East Valley—be invited to appoint two delegates each to confer with your Committee as to the best permanent draiuago schema for the city and suburbs. On the motion of Cr Cakroll, seconded by Cr Babnes, tho report was adopted. WATEB SUPPLY COMMITTEE. The Water Supply Committee reported having authorised several small works, and having passed accounts amounting to £128 8s 2d. —The report was adopted nem. con. TUBS SURVEYOR'S REPORT. The City Surveyor reported that very little damage had been caused in the city by the heavy rain on Saturday, the principal damage being done to the Pitt street channel. About £60 would, the surveyor thought, make good all existing works. Mr Mirams also reported that to two sections of tho Waterworks no serious damage had been done. The state of the third section had not, however, been reported upon. Cr Carroll remarked that it had been rumoured in town on Saturday that the reservoir had burst. His Worship said there was no truth whatever in the report. Be had heard the report, and at once went to the reservoir and found that it was perfectly safe. Cr Barnes said that he had heard that both reservoirs had burst, and visited them on Sunday. He found that the reports were entirely without foundation, and that the reservoirs were as good as ever. Cr Carroll said that the Inspector of Works (Mr Davys) had acted with great vigilance. The inspector went out to the reservoir at Ross Creek on Saturday night, and by his exertions had probably saved the Corporation from heavy loss. Cr Murray had much pleasure in bearing testimony to the vigilance of the Waterworks Inspector. Cr Fagan considered that Cr Barnea' exertions were also worthy of commendation. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Einance Committee reported as follows :— Your Committee beg to romind Council that in consequence of tbe largo overdraft at tbe Bunk strict economy is necessary in a.l tbe departments. Tbe greatest caution sbould bo exercised in ordering new works and adding to Council's liabilities, to meet which moneys have not been appropriated and sUrplua funds do not exist. Accounts have been passed for paymont as per warrant attached, amounting to :—Municipal No. account, £.122 10a 3d; water No. 2 account, £i 74 16s 3d ; gas No. 3 account, £1120 11s 3u-;-total, £2123 17s 9d. The Mayor, in moving the adoption of the report, said that though the Council's overdraft was somewhat larger than it was this time last year, the ordinary expenditure of the Corporation had been kept within moderate bounds. The expenditure in connection with the Massey frauds, the fact that numerous claims for compensation in connection with the waterworks had come in, and that a contract had been accepted for the supply of pipes for a new main, would account for the overdraft being heavier than usual. Gr Fagan seconded the adoption of the motion, which was carried. ■ GAS COMMITTEE. The Gas Committee reported as follows :— With reference to clauses 1 and 2 o! your Commit-t-e's report, November 5,1883, referred back for reconsideration, your Conimittse begs to report hay ng deferred final consideration till after a minute inspection of the Gasworks haa been made. A complete plan of the works has been furnished by the engineer, and is receiving your Cominitteo's closest attention. Cr Barnes was surprised that such a report had been brought up by the Committee. Ho regarded the statement that the Committee wanted to again inspect the work as a lame excuse. The reckless extravagance of the engineer, he thongbt, should be checked at once, or the liability of the Corporation upon the Gasworks would be greatly increased. He repeated that tho engineer was ordering castings without any authority from the Committee or the Council. Cr Carroll agreed with what Cr Bainea had said. The matter was a serious one. Hundreds of pounds were being thrown away on experiments. There was extravagance in this department, while the expenditure in other departments was kept within^ very narrow limits. He regarded the report as a mere evasion, the intention of the Committee being to allow time for the engineer to make the alterations that had been objected to. Cr Muneo rose to a point order. The _ Mayor _ ruled that Cr Carroll was wrong in imputing motives to the Committee, and in suggesting that tho Committee evaded their duty. Cr Murray thought tho time for further consideration deemed necessary byr the Committee should be allowed without discussion. Cr Munro 'repudiated the suggestions thrown out against the Committee. He remarked that the proposal to take the evidence of subordinates upon tho management of the works, which had been made at the previous meeting, was almost equivalent to giving the engineer notice to quit, as no right-minded man would submit to such treatment. Cr Robin thought that as the Committee had reported that further consideration was necessary, the report should be accepted, and the time asked for granted. Opposition to so reasonable a request appeared to him to indicate personal feeling on the matter, such as should not, and he hoped did not, exist. The adoption of the report was put and carried. NOTICES OF MOTION. A notice of motion by Cr Barnes in favour of amalgamating the offices of Inspector of Nuisances and Ranger, was referred to the Baths and Sanitary Committee. Cr Street's notice of motion that a footpath be formed through the Town Belt from Duncan street to Roslyn road lapsed.