CITY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8209, 14 June 1888, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL.

* pout le ordinary meeting of the City Council was still yesterday eveniug. Present—His Worship brou mayor (Mr W. Dawson), Crs Kimbell, j»mi rley, Barron, Hardy, Leary, Leo Smith, °®™ en, Sinclair, Solomon, Carroll, and Cramond. |? be the minutes. anm r Cakkoll asked whether the opinion of Ci city solicitors had been taken as to the was lityof tha deletion of a clause from the had utps read at the previous meeting of the e agc icil. The lie Mayor said he-had not thought it neces- till t to consult the solicitors; he thought the C; icil went too often to their solicitors. had r Carroll: The council cannot overrule B h ol bye-laws. goin SAEGOOD V. THE CORPORATION. ■ C he Mayor 6aid before the council pro- C led to the next business he should like to assu that he thought the council had every part ion to be congratulated on the successful W or! nination of the case Sargood and Co. v. the no!' poration.—(Hear). He had no doubt that C tte case been lest the corporation would had c been placed in a very serious position, and thei nust say that he thought the thanks of the ur g, ncil were due to their solicitors—(hear) — fj ) had worked up and conducted the case. 17 j jy should also not forget Mr Robert Hay, ce n 3 was a very valuable witness. There "iras w h( le talk of the case going to the Privy c mch1, but he hardly thought that tribunal tha lid go against the decision of Mr Justice WO i Iliams and of the Appeal Court. The c ncil, he thought, should be proud of -the <Jra alt of the case. inf< 'r Gocrley was glad the mayor had brought ex t i matter forward, heeause on the conclusion hea the case in the Dunedin Supreme Court a ( c of thanks was passed to those connected b[ a ;h the case on behalf of the corporation, and m \\ thought^ was through an oversight that Mr col j C. Haggitt had been omitted from that vote. g as i would move—"That the thanks of the agt incil be tendered to Mr B. C. Haggitt for the ( •ef ul and efficient manner in which he got up ma 3 case on behalf of the council, and conducted He to a successful issue." . ' Cr Hardy seconded tho motion. toe Or Lee Smith suggested that it would appear hai ridious if Mr Chapman's name were not in- on ided. re< Cr Gourley accepted the suggestion, and the i otion was altered to read "the counsel en- W8 ged in tho case." wi Cr Cohen remarked that it was rather early the day to pass such a resolution, as they to are not out of the wood yet. be CORRESPONDENCE. _. ■' .'. to John Marr, jun., wrote again calling attention i the state of tho footpath at the Union street on irnerof Cumberland street.—Referred to the rorks Committee. . •' \ Annie Loyden wrote asking to be relieved of ".' io lease of sections 3 and 4, block 11, East st aieri.—Referred to the Reserves Committee. ,in John W. D. Foley wrote stating that he was w. linkiug of opening the Sussex Hall as a popular be lace of amusement, changing its name to the ej ijouHall. He asked whether he could obtain it license should he do so.—Referred to the town st lerk. : pi The secretary of the Eovers' Football Club pi pplied for leave to play on the Town -Belt at [aori Hill.—Referred to the Reserves Commit- if se»to act. ■■ ■ U E. M. Manson drew attention to the unsafe c: ondition of the approach to Nelson Villa, Dow- tl ng street, at night, and asked that one of the ai imps should be moved to remedy the matter.— oi deferred to the Works Committee. ai THE TRAMWAYS ACT. .c: The Undersecretary for Public Works wrote tating that representations had been made to n he Government that Tramway Companies were Dsufficiently protected by the Tramways Act as J t stood, inasmuch as there was nothing to pre- • ent carriages being constructed and used on ramway lines of the same gauge as tramway larriages, though without flange wheels. The J government had been asked to support the in- " iertion of a clause preventing this in tho Tram- F vaysAct Amendment Bill, before Parliament, ' md the Hon. Mr Mitchelson desired to know s ;he opinion of the Corporation thereon. : The proposed clause, a copy of which was ittached, provided that eny unauthorised perlon using upon the rails of a tramway any vehicle having the gauge of all o* two of its pvheels corresponding or nearly corresponding with the tramway gauge so a3to be suitable to run on the rails of such tramway shonld. be liable; to a penalty not exceeding £20. Also that in * proceeding to recover a penalty under that en-; ' ictment the onus of proof should lie on:, the. ] defendant. , '■" . • Cr Solomon moved—" That in the opinion of j the council it was extremely undesirable that: the proposed addition should be.made to the j act." ■. ■ , i Cr Leary moved as-an amendment—" That \ the council approve of the clause, providing it ] shall not apply to any local authority granting tramway concessions or any vehicle not having j flange wheels." . ] After some discussion Cr Solomon s motion ; was carried. . : i BESERTES COMMITTEE. , The Reserves Committee recommended that the rauger and the inspector of nuisances bo . sworn in as special constables, and be instructed to use increased vigilance in preventing dam--ag«s and rude conduct on the Town Belt, especially on Saturdays and Sundays.— Adopted. TVORKS COMMITTED. . The Works Committee reported that the city surveyor had been instructed to act. with the town clerk as to making terms, subject, to approval of the council, for .the sale or hire of one of the corporation stone crushers to the Public Works department. The committee had requested the mayor to telegraph to Mr Fish, M.H.R., to see if he could prevail on the Government to pay 30 or 40 deserving married men of the "unemployed," who cannot possibly leave town, on the excavating work in Dowling street.—Adopted. . :. r " . OAS COMMITTEE.. ... . ■ The Gas Supply Committee recommended that the application of the North-East Valley: Borough Council that the charge for the public lamps in that borough should bs the same per. lamp as that recently fixed by the council for the city lamps be acceded to; but that it lie intimated to the North-East Valley Borough that, as the price at present charged to the borough is not equal to the cost of the gas supplied, any: application for additional lamps by the borough will "render it, necessary that the question of charge for all public lamps be reconsidered. Daring the fortnight ending Bth inst. eight applications for new supply were received.— Adopted. ■-.'.: - .-.■■'..: ■. -. • FINANCE. ■-■.■ '.-■_,', The finance Committee recommended with: reference to the application from the HanoVet street Free Reading Room Committee for supply of gas free of charge, that a rebate of 50 per cent, on the net price of the gns consumed, and not exceeding £10 per annum; be granted on condition that the reading room is open to the general public free of charge. Accounts had been passed for payment amounting to i 1375 2s 3d.—Adopted. ...--.- : WATER COMMITTEE. • !. . ; . The Water Oommittee reported that accounts amounting to £73 6s Id had been passed for payment. An application by E. F. Lawrence for renewal of a water supply to an engine on . his premises, George street, had been granted without any guarantee for a constant supply all the year round ns'requested by him.' The report was adopted. ..• ".. . PEUCHET BAY STATION.- ---' The City Surveyor forwarded a report regarding the extension of the Pelichet Bay railway station. He said an addition 14ft by 12ft, was being made to the present station buildings projecting over the Albany street footpath, and a platform on the same lino was to be constructed to allow of luggage, &c.: being placed on it direct frcm the street. He found that there would be no interference with the facilities for crossing the railway line, co that the I convenience of the public would not suffer from the alterations. As respects the occupation of | a portion of the street he had to report that on the record map of the city Albany street did not extend beyond Harbour terrace, the portion ot the street lying eastward of that point being part of the original area of tho wharves and quays reserve. The land had been taken for railway purposes by proclamation, and the street line was closed on the plan and also taken for such purposes. The present station buildings were only temporary, and as such he could scarcely see any grounds of comp am S , but he would suggest that.steps be taken to obtain the consent of the Government to the extension of all the Btreets across the railway reserve that, might be thought desirablo for properly utihsinG the reclamation area. * James Allen, M.H.R., telegraphed as fo lowfrom Wellington:—"ProposedextensionPelichot Bay station encroaches on street. Does cornoration object?. Is that part of tho road yours? Plan forwarded. Reply." ..; The council, after some discussion, resolved to object to the encroachment. ■■'■'■-. LEAKAGE IN THE OAS MAINS. Cr Sinclair moved—"That tho Gas Com-; roittee be requested to report the cost of, testing gas mains throughout the city, and also explain how they have entered upon such an expensive work without first obtaining the sanction of this council, as required by a distinct' resolution, duly passed and entered lii tho proceedings of this council." -, Cr Cohen seconded the motion. ■-. ■ The Mayor said as chairman of the committeo ho might give an explanation of the matter, that would be satisfactory. It was first brought under his notice by hearing that 15 men wero employed opening up the mains and rejoining them. He thereupon rang up the gas engineer, an I nskeil him why the men had been put on without consulting either the committee or himself. Cr Cramond interrupted the mayor with some remarks, but they could not be heard owing to the cries of " Chair, chnir!' that were, raised by councillors. ; . Cr Leaby, when Cr Oramond had resumed his seat, said he thought such an interruption was extremely unbecoming. Tho Mayor then resumed his remarks, stating that the engineer had girai as his reason that there were several heavy leak 6in the mams. Ho also said the work would take two or three weeks, and the sooner it was done tho better. Tho committee thereupon agreed to let the work be. finished. He might mention that the portions where the leaks were had been laid under contract, and the work seemed to have been slummed over. The work done was a work that was practically •i necessity, because some of the citizens bad threatened to take action. So bad was the nuisance that some people.nearly had to l«ive tueir bouses while it existed. Thn leaks were. in some places so great that they were equivalent to 50 ordinary lights, end ho understood that Mr Emery's family had been laid up in con-

lence of one of them.. They might even se explosions that would cause thousands_ of nds damage, and even involve loss of life. 1 he held that the engineer should have ught the matter under the notice of the imittee.—(Hear, hear.) The leakage had n reduced from !)£ to 7j per cent, in eonne:uce of these works at a cost of £260, and saviug to the city would be £360 per mm. .. ' !r Goubley said it was evident that the work i highly necessary..- It was only that day he> I seen a large leak where some workmen were;oged at the corner of Olark and High streets, ay should, he thought,, continue the work , they found out every leak in the city. Jr Solomon pointed out that the committee 1 done nothing -wrong, but the engineer uld first have consulted the mayor before ne on with the work. . _ • Jr~ Kimbell spoke in a similar strain. 3r Carroll said he objected to any. person ■ umiug tho functions of the committee. This •ticular committee had lost control of the cks they should keep in , cheek.—(" No, > Lee. Smith pointed out that these leak* J been in existence for several years, so that; ire could be no excuse on the score off ;ency. . . ' . Jr Oeamond said the escape was originally* per cent., but it had been reduced by 10 per it, and the Gas Committee or the engineer or soever it was should bB commended for this. □r Barron said the only fault seemed to be it the committee did not report that the irk was being done. Cr Cohbu recommended Cr Sinclair to with- . aw his motion now that his worship had given formation on the point. He said it seemed an traordinary thing that the council had not ard of the work till after its initiation. CrSiNCLAißin.reply6aid he thought grave sme was attachable to Mr Graham. Thecomittee should also have given notice to the uheil. The committee should not allow the s engineer td'run outside their control. He ;reed to withdraw the motion. ;, Cr Gourley explained that two years ago the ains had been looked after at great expense, c .thought this.fact should bo known. The Mayor explained that when Mr Graham iok office the leakage was 17$ per cent. He id reduced it year by year, till last year it was ily 9£ pet cent. Lately he had succeeded in iducing it to 7J per cent. Cr Kimbell rose to move an amendment, but as ruled out of order. He then objected to ths ithdrawal of the motion". Cr Cohen explained that the only course open i the council under the circumstances (Cr Kimell' having objected) was to allow the motion 3 be put and negatived. . . ' The motion was then put, and declared lost, nly Cr Kimbell voting in favour of it. , :■-■■ ,'■< motions.■•■•.•■■'• . .V:\ • * Cr Cohen moved in accordance with notice— That the town clerk be requested to obtain a tatement for presentation to the council, showng the cost of repairs and additions to the gasrarks during the.past 11: years." He did so iecause an impression seemed to exist that the ixpenditure had reached large dimensions, and t would.be satisfactory to have it definitely v tated what-amounts had!.been spent on imnrovements and renewals! and what.on new jertnauent additions. j '■■'■■''•; '. i Cr Gourley said he would second the motionl f Cr Cohen would consent to alter : it to read as 'ollows:—"That a return showing the money sxpended on the gasworks and reticulation of ;he city during the last 11 years be prepared md laid before the council;, details to be given )f how much, has been expended out of capital md how much out of revenue, and the dates oft jxpenditure from these two sources." Cr Cohen assented to this alteration, and the: motion was carried unanimously, Cr Cohen obtained leave to postpone hislmotion re a gratuity to officers for the preparation of the burgess roll. .■■: ■.-':■ TENDERS. ■'..■. Tenders were received for tho supply of 2000' yards of bluestone metal, for painting and paperhanging lit the fire brigade station, and for the . purchase of burnt scrub on the' Town Belt, and were referred to the Works, Genera), and Beserves Committees respectively. _ !- The cnuncil then went into committee.