PORT CHALMERS BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8075, 10 January 1888, Page 3

PORT CHALMERS BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The Port Chalmers Borough Council held its regular meeting yesterday evening. The members present were: His Worship the Mayor (Mr E. G. Allen), Councillors M'Kenzio, Millar, Cook, Watson, Schumacher, Gardner, Murray, De Maus, North, Putnam, and Pullar. connraroNDEXCE. From Mr J. C. Gavin, secretary to the Colonial Treasury, intimating that it was the intention of the Government next financial year to cease making payments under “ The Crown and Native Lands Rating Act 1882,” and that this timely notice was giveu to local authorities interested to guard them against incurring liabilities in reliance on a continuance of these rates.—Received, From Mr J. A. Crawford (secretary Port Chalmers Football Club), Mr J. M'Kiunon (secretary Cricket Club), and Mr F. W. Platts (secretary Rowing Club), asking the council to reconsider its decision in leasing the gasworks site.—lt was decided to consider the letters in connection with a petition about to be presented. REPORTS. The Finance Committee in its report recommended the payment of sundry accounts amounting to £lO2 13s. The state of the funds in the bank were as follows : —January 5: Debit

general accounc, Tt-OG Jo 4.1, creiuu water account, £7Ol 9s 3d; accounts for payment, £lO2 13s 3d; total debit, £207 9s 4d. The receipts from December 10, 1887, to January 5, 1888, amounted to £337 13s 7d. —Adopted.

The Water Committee reported that 1035 tuns of water had been supplied to the shipping during December 1837.—Adopted. The Works nnmnnltss that X quantity of metal had been spread on Ajax road; the rubbish depot in George street had been levelled, and the drains leading from it cleaned out in order to abate as much as possible the nuisance arising from it. The paths in the East Ward and those leading from the District School to the junction of George street and Wickliffe terrace had been attended to, and the staff of men under the inspector of works had been engaged in other necessary works. The road leading from the Upper Blueskin road to Mansford Town had been completed by the contractors to the satisfaction of the corporation’s inspector. Mr A. Perry’s tender for carting during the year ending December 31, 1888, had been accepted by the committee.—Adopted. Tl£E RECREATION GROUND. The following petition signed by 33 ratepayers ■was read :—“ We the undersigned ratepayers view with alarm the intention of the borough council to dispose of the gas site at Mussel Bay, as by so doing the town will be deprived of the only piece of level land available for recreation purposes, and we therefore venture to hope that the council will not only reserve the site in question for a recreation ground, but will secure from the Dock Trust a small portion of land adjacent thereto, so as to enlarge it to a size suitable for cricket and football purposes.” His Worship the Mayor, who presented the petition, spoke strongly in favour of its being entertained.

Ct Millar stated he had been instrumental in procuring the piece of ground in question for a gas site, and he protested against it being used for any other purpose. Cr De Maus, while sympathising with the petitioners, considered it the duty of the council to guard the interests of the ratepayers, and he was in favour of remitting the matter to a committee for further consideration.

His Worship the Mayou stated that in a few days the engineer of the Otago Dock Trust would supply him with a plan of the trust’s endowment, which adjoined the gas site. Cr M'Kexzie would not be averse to granting the petition if the matter lay iu the hand- of the council, but it appeared that another body—the Otago Dock Trust—held land adjacent, and he considered it would be very bad policy to allow any such body to offer their laud for sale while the council’s land was lying vacant. Ho was in favour of leasing the gas site, and afterwards the council could make arrangements with the Dock Trust for leasing a piece of ground for recreation purposes. Cr De Maus moved—“ That the matter be referred to a committee taken from each of the various sub-committees of the council, with his Worship the Mayor as chairman ; to take the whole matter of the site into consideration and report at next meeting.” Seconded by Cr Murray. Cr Schumacher considered it would be unwise to grant the petition. He thought the gas site should be leased. Cr Cook asked if his Worship the Mayor would, iu the event of the council handing over the gas site for a cricket ground, guarantee that the Dock Trust would not sell its reserves in the vicinity.

His Worship considered that the trust would lease the council a portion of its endowment r.i the upset price. Cr North asked how many tenders had been received for leasing the gas site. He was quite in sympathy with the petitioners. His Worship the Mayor replied that one tender had been received.

The Mayor said, in dealing with the question, the council must not look at the present aspect of affairs, but to the future, and endeavour to secure a piece of ground suitable for a recreation ground. It was most unlikely they would ever havo a more suitable site, aud at any time if it became necessary the council could resume possession of the land. He should proceed to put the motion.

Cr Schumacher moved and Cr Millab seconded the following amendment“ That the petition be referred to the Reserves Committee for report.” Two votes were recorded for the amendment, and seven for the motion of Cr De Maus, which was carried. Cr M'Kexzie moved, and Cr Schumacher seconded —" That the tender received for leasing the gas site be opened.”—The motion was lost by seven votes to three. WATER SUPPLY. Cr M'Kexzie moved—“ That after Monday next the water supply in George street be cut off between the hours of 12 and 1 in the morning and 5 to 8 in the evening daily.”—Cr Millar seconded the motion, and both councillors spoks in strong terms of the injustice imposed upon tho residents of the upper levels, who constantly sulfered from want of a fair supply of water. Cr Cook moved and Cr De Maus seconded as an amendment—“ That the hours be from 12 to 1 and 5 to 6.” Cr M'Kexzie withdrew his motion, and the amendment was carried. Cr North called his 'Worship’s attention to the great waste of water ilhich took place in the borough, aud moved—“ That the inspector be authorised to take legal proceedings against any persons found wasting water.”—Seconded by Cr Murray and carried. The council then went into committee.