CITY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8627, 17 October 1889, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last night, and was attended by the mayor (Mr H. Gourley) and Crs Kimbell, Fish, Haynee, Barron, Hardy, M'Gregor, Cramond, Swan, Cohen, Solomon, Sinclair, and Carroll.

COBaESPONDENCE. Sir Robert Stout wrote acknowledging tha receipt of a letter to the effect that the council thought it inadvisable to allow him to connect his drain with the London street eewer. He presumed the council was unaware that the house opposite was connected with the sewer, also that the dirty water from various nouses in Royal terrace and London street now fouud its way into the sewer. If the sewer was to bo kept for pure water, these drains, &c. should ba disconnected; for one citizen should not have a concession another was denied.—Referred to the Works Committee to act.

A circular was read from the committee of

the Railway Reform League, recentlystarted in Auckland, requesting the active co-operation of the council in carrying out thu objects of the league.—On the motion of Cr Kimbell, the circular was received.

Mr J. W. Brindley, chairman of the Otago Fire Underwriters' Association, drew the attention of the council to the high buildings either erected or in course of erection in the city, and pointed out that in the event of a fire iv the top Btorey of oneot these buildiDgs the fire brigade would be helpless, and would simply have to look on aud allow the fire to burn itself out owing to the present brigade's appliances not being capable of extinguishing a fire in the top storey. In view of this, the council was requested to purchase a suitable 6team fire engine.—Referred to the General Committee to report. Mr G. H. Mackisack, on behalf of residents o£ Upper Maitland street, applied for drainage connection with the Stafford street main sewer.— Referred to the Works Committee to report. Mersrs Harrison and Whiffen, managers o£ the Cromptqn Electric Supply Company of Australia (Limited), wrote from Melbourne as follows :—" We hear you are about treating for the supply of lighting your city by the electric light. Having the honour of lighting a portion of your coming exhibition, permit us to ask you to defer settling any arrangements until we can demonstrate to you the many advantages our system has over others. We have already erected stations for councils in these colonies, and are: therefore in a proper position to guarantee you every satisfaction."—The letter was received. . . MrT. C. Maltby, resident engineer, N.Z.R., wrote that the right of access to the railway by private siding at Wingatui had lapsed, but the Railway Commissioners were willing to allow the renewal of same under an agreement for five years if the corporation desired it. In consideration of the nature of the traffic it had been decided not to charge rent for the use of the siding.—Referred to the Works Committee to act. Dr Hocken, chairman of the Early History, Maori, and South Seas' court connected with the exhibition, wrote stating that the committee were much in want of some manuka wherewith to thatch a magnificent Maori house now on its way to the exhibition from Napier. He asked that they be allowed tojcut half a ton of suitable twiggy branches from one of the reserves. —Referred to the Reserves Committee to act. Mr J. N. Merry, Beach street, wrote calling attention to the inconvenience which he and other residents in Beach street are subjected to by having no proper way of getting to and from their houses.—Referred to the Works Committee to act. : James Duthie and Co. requested permission to erect a temporary wooden crossing from Manor street from Mr A. G.Watson's section, for the purpose of allowing their vans to cross with empty cases from the exhibition buildings. —Referred to the Works Committee to act. HANSOM CABDEIVBES' COMPLAINT.

The following petition signed by eight hansom cab drivers was received:— We, the undersigned, beg reipeotfaUy to protest against the remarks made by Or Fish and other members of the council at your last meeting, whilst the petition re the removal of hansoms was under consideration; and whilst we have~no objection to that petition being granted, we would point out that we have many of us our all invested in our calling, and such charges against vi jmust injure us in the eyes of the public, We are cut ,in all weathers and at all hours to cater for the public, and receive a great deal of annoyance and abuse from letters and otherwise, which we attribute not so much to our own conduct as to those who are allowed to congregate about the hansom stands; and wo respecttully submit that it would be much better for us and the public also, if you would place us in the centre of Princes street, from High street south. We feel satisfied that if we had laid our grievances before jou years ago, it would have been much better for us; and we would also point out that the hansom etandß in most towns are situated in the street centres. Hoping that you will grant a permit, say, for six months, for us to staud on the aforesaid portion, then, if not fully satisfied with the change being a benefit, you could relegate us to our old quarters, or elsewhere; but we certainly feel sure that if you grant this permit you will eventually make it a legal stand. Or Sinclair moved that the matter be referred to the Tramways Committee with power to act. He thought there was a great deal in what the petitioners said, and there was no doubt unnecessary blame had beeu thrown on them. Some of them no doubt were bad mcD, but as he had said before, and as he would say now, if these men did Dot behave themselves, properly their licenses should be taken from them, and they should not be allowed to disgrace themselves and their fellows by holding licenses at all. He thought there would be no harm in trying the experiment suggested by the cabmen as to changing the stand; it* ib was found that it was not suitable it could be shifted back | to its present position. Cr Caheoll seconded the motion. Cr Fish moved as an amendment—" That consideration of the matter be deferred." His reason for doing so was that he understood the General Committee, who had had tbe bye-laws under consideration, had drafted a bye-law fixing a particular stand for the hansom cabdrivers. He thought that the site suggested by the petitioners was a very unsuitable one indeed. Then with regard to the complaint they made about remarks which had been passed on them by councillors, he would say that any remarks a councillor made were not made against any one individual, but against them as a whole; and they should purge themselves as far as possible of the objectionable members of their class.—(Hear, hear.) He would reiterate that, as a whole, these men in charge of hansom cabs were very objectionable indeed, and anyone in the habit of passing in front of the post office could not fail to notice

that. Only the other day one of them— perhaps not one of those who signed tho petition—was brought up at the court charged with driving about the town two prostitutes who were drunk and riotous. He (the speaker) was inclined to think these cabs were used for that purpose a great deal too much, and it was the council's duty to put a stop as far as they could to that practice. If it became a common thing to use these cabs in that way respectable people would not use them, and thus those of the cabmen who were not given to that objectionable practice would suffer. Cr Kimbell seconded the amendment. Cr Solomon agreed with Cr Fish. He did not see the advantage of altering the position of the stand; he thought a more suitable site could not be found for the public than the present one. Cr Sinclaie had no objection to Cr Fish's amendment, but he held that that gentleman's remarks were unfair and quite uncalled for. As to the charge that these cabmen carried prostitutes about, he would ask what cab in Dunedin did not do that ? gome years ago the waggonette cabs were in just as bad repute as the hansoms were now.. Cr Fish remarked that the respectable men among the hansom cab drivers should report aay bad conduct on the part of their fellows. The amendment proposed by Cr Fish was carried without dissent. WORKS COMMITTEE'S BEfOBT.

The Public Works Committee recommended that a reply be sent to the Resident Engineer, New Zealand Railways, stating that the Corporation's tight of access by railway siding to the nightsoil depot on the Anderson's Bay road had not lapsed, and that, if necessary, the committee be authorised to interview the Chief Commissioner of Railways upon the subject. The city surveyor had been instructed to act with the chairman regarding the application for loan of two lamps and posts for lighting the entrance to the exhibition, and also respecting the application of the Kaituna Bowkiug and Lawn Tennis Club re diverting of water course on sections 13, 14, aud 15, Cattle Market reserve. Ho had also been instructed to act respecting the footpath aud kerbing at the breast work of the Water of Leitb, Castle street; the top-dressing of the footpaths at the Museum reserve; tho painting of the weighbridge office at Stuart street; the application of Mr F, Anderson ; and the employing of a man to overhaul and dean the corporation's engines. The The applications of Messrs Smith, Chapman, Sinclair, and White, C. B. Rainton, W. Simmons, Eden George, and E. H. Ramsay had been granted; while those of Sir Robert Stout and Mr Bernard Grey had been declined.

Tho report was adopted, with tho exception o£ the clause referring to Sir Eobert Stout's application, which was deleted. GENERAL COMMITTEE'S BEPOBT. The General Committee reported that the batbgal Logan's point were ready for bathers, and in first-class condition; that they had ordered the revised amendments of tho city by-laws to be printed and distributed amongst councillors; that the Fire Brigade superintendent had been instructed to hire or sell the old hose to tho municipal department ; that Mr E. Adams' tender for £?s 7s 6d to paiDt two fire brigade branch stations had been accepted. KESEBVES COMMITTEE'S BEPOBT. The Reserves Committee recommended that a site in the Octagon be grauted to the Macaudrew Memorial Committee for the erection of a memorial, subject to tho approval by council of the designs and plans. They reported that the city surveyor had been instructed to act with regard to the erection of wooden fences in tho Northern Cemetery, the widening of the footpath at the junction of the Littlebourno road with tbe Town Belt, filling in a hoiu in tha Museum reserve, and the construction of a brick vault ia tbo Northern Cemetery; that (he ranger had been instructed to prevent the destruction of trees on tbe Town Belt near Pelichet Bay, and tbo assistance) of the police had been requested with a view to stopping the continual destruction and theft of trees, and setting

fire to bush on tho Belt \ that the ranger of the Museum reserve had beon authorised to stop all games of cricket and football on the reserve 80 as to prevent damage to the trees; that the town clerk has been instructed to either remove the Otago Daily Times advertising hoarding in Princes street, or see th&t rent was paid; that permission had beeu granted to the Excelsior Cricket Club to play on the Town Belt near Montecillo; that the Heriot Cricket Club had been refused permission to use the cricket pitch on the Northern Recreation ground, formerly occupied by the Clydesdale Club. The report wa3 adopted without discussion. FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REfrOBT.

The Finance Committee reported having passed for payment the following accounts: — Municipal (No. 1 account), £287 Is lid; water (No. 2 account), £39 103 3d; aud gas (No. 3 account), £100814s lid. The report was adopted. OTHER KEPOBTS. The reports of tho Water Supply and Gas Supply Committees, which merely referred to p&ssing pay-sheets and accounts for payment, were adopted. THE TOWN HALL BTJILDINGS. Or Fish drew attention to the absolute necessity that existed of painting the sashes and external woodwork of tho Town Hall buildings. Tho work was, ha said, really perishing, and it would be folly on tho part of the corporation to •delay dealing with tho matter. He moved that it be referred to the Public Works Committee to have specifications prepared and to call for tenders. Cr CABitOLt, seconded the motion, which was carried, after Cr M'Gregor had expressed the opinion that the tower of the building required looking after, as he was informed that the internal part was falling down owing to damp coming through. THE -VISIT OP THB QOVEHNOB. Cr Solomon said .that before the council rose he would ask permission to bring a matter forward without notice. He observed that at Christchuroh the council had taken into consideration the question of giving a reception to the Governor. His Excellency would be in Danedin in a few weeks, and the speaker thought it was desirable that the council should appoint a committee to frame an address and consider what steps should ba taken in the matter of welcoming the Governor. He therefore moved—" That a committee to consist of the Mayor, Crs Fish, Hardy, Carroll, Cohen, and the mover, be appointed to take such steps as they may think necessary to welcome the Governor on his arrival in Dunedin." Cr Bareon seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The council rose at 8.10 p.m.