CITY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9163, 9 July 1891, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the City Council, held last evening, was attended by the Mayor (Mr John Carroll), Cra Gourley, Haynes Hardy, M'Gregor, Swan, Cohen, Cramondj Chapman, Solomon, and Toomey. COBBESPONDENCE. Dr Macpherson forwarded the following resolution, adopted at a meeting of the Ofcago branch of the New Zealand Medical Association, on the motion of Dr Colquhoun:—"That the attention of the Town Council be called to the serious inconvenience caused to the medical profession and to all classes of the community by tha absence of street numbering, and respectfully ask that steps be taken to remedy the deficiency."—Referred to the Works Committee to report. Mr Charles Carter, of George street, wrote complaining that the rateable value of his property had been increased by £6 a year, although he never received any notice from ,the corporation or city valuer of an intention to make any increase in the value.—Referred to the Finance Committee to report. The Town Clerk, Maori Hill, wrote, stating that the council of that borough declined to subsidise the proposed metalling of the Dundas •trcet belt road, but shonld the City Council provide plans for widening the road and forming the footpath, the Maori Hill Council would consider the advisability of «33isting financially to carry out the work.—Referred to the Works Committee to report. Mr A. Bathgate, hon. secretary of the Dunedin trad Suburban Reserves Conservation Society, wrote as follows:—" At tie request of Mr Robert Chapman, I beg to apply to your council for permission to erect at the lower side of the Octagon a monument to the memory of the late Rev. Dr Bums, who hes been fitly styled the Aaron of this settlement. I forward herewith a sketch and ground plan of the design selected by Mr Chapman, from which you will see that the proposed monument will be not only a fitting memorial of one of our pioneers but aleo a striking ornament to the city. I may explain that the height of the monument will be 59ft 6in, the base lift square, the lower column 7ft in diameter, and the upper column 4ft Gin in diameter. As Mr Chapman is anxious to have the work proceeded with as speedily as possible, and ki until the matter is settled the fencing must be delayed, I shall be obliged by your obtaining the sanction of the council at the earliest possible date."—Referred tpthe Reserves Committee to act. ...■.'*■ Biahop Moran wrote complaining of the state of the gutter in Dowling street, in the neighbourhood of the convent.—Referred to the Works Committee to act. Mr R. M'Cracken and four other propertyholders in Upper Regent road requested that instructions be given to clear the scrub, broom, gorse, &c. off the street line, the full width from Queen Btreet to the Town Belt.—Referred to the Works Committee. Messrs J. A. X. Riedle end Edmund Smith wrote requesting that steps be taken to construct an underground sewer, to be connected with the tunnel that wai now formed in London street. There was no doubt that as the season advanced the nuisance which existed in;connection with the surface drainage would prove a source of positive danger to the health of the residents in the neighbourhood. As an evidence of the importance they attached to the matter they had, as previously intimated, agreed to contribute materially towards the cost of the work, notwithstanding that they were of opinion that, if funds were available, they might fairly ask the council to bear the entire expense. They were prepared to pay one-half (£46) of the estimated cost of the works.—Cr Solomon spoko strongly in favour of the council tssisting those who assisted themselves, and moved — "That the request ba complied with.— Cr Toomet seconded the motion, but an amendment, proposed by Cr Haynes, referring the matter to the Works Committee-'to report, was carried. A petition was received from a number of owners of land on the south side of Dowling street, who prayed that a projection of 7ft of rock in Dowling street ba removed, and was referred to the Works Committee to report. THE PUBLIC! lIBBABT QUESTION. Mr Mark Cohen, hon. secretary of the Library Association, snbmitted the proposals that were formulated on the occasion of the joint deputation from the Public Library Association and the Athenaeum Committee as follows:— The Public Library Association, on their part undertake to raise by publio subscription the sum required (estimated at about £1500) to provide a new reading room and reference library on the site of the present Athensum. The Athenaeum Committee, on their part, undertake to submit to their members the question of drawiDg up an agreement, to be supplemented by legislative enactment, by which, conditional on the foregoing buildings bring erected and handed over to the committee of manrgement, and the Oity Council agreeing to levy a rate sufficient to cover any loss of revenue taat ma; arise from carrying tbi» undertaking Into effect, to throw the reading room and reference library open to the citizens of Dunedin, and to give to the City Council the right to appoint to the committee of the Athenseum in proportion to the contribution the olty may make to the funds of the institution. That the Athemeum Committee will also agree to submit to the determination of their subsorlbers the question of handing over to the city the entire institution on condition of the City Council undertaking the whole cost of Its management. The Library Association therefore respectfully request that, in order that they may proceed with their canvpis for subscriptions, and that they may enter Into further negotiations with the Athenseum Committee with the object of gaining the assent thereto of the Athenseum subscribers, your council will take these matters into consideration, and if the proposals now submitted meet with your approval tike the necessary action for securing the approval of the ratepayers to a rat i being struok for the maintenance of a publio library in JDunedin. Cr Hatnes moved that the matter be referred to the Finance Committee to report. It opened up a large question, and the membsrs ought to have time to digest it., Cr Cramond seconded the motion. Cr Toomet. suggested that the matter should be referred to a select committee of the council. Cr Cohen said the desire was that the proper' officials of the associations should wait on the committee and thresh the matter ont. Cr Cbamond hoped the Finance Committee would not put more burdens on the ratepayers. Cr Cohen said he could assure Cr Cramond that nothing would be wanted for the next three years. The motion was carried. VACANCIES ON COMMITTEES. <• On the motion of Cr Goubley, Cr Haynes was added to the Finance Committee; and on the motion, of Cr Solomon, Cr Chapman was added to the Water Supply Committee—in the absence of Cr Fish, M.H.R. BEPOBTS. The Works Committee's report, a summary of which has already been published, was adopted without discussion. The Water Supply, Reserves, and Gas Committees' reports were also adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Finance Committee recommended, inter alia—'1 That a sum of £23 9a be added to his Worship the Mayor's salary for the current year to recoup him for expenditure as delegate to the Municipal Conference at Wellington, and for sundry expenses of the council on the last visit to the Silverstream water works." Cr Cohen moved the adoption of the report. He did not know if it were necessary for him to makeanyreferencetothe clause recommending the addition of the sum of £23 to his Worship's salary. The circumstances in connection with one item were well known, and also that relative to the expenses of his Worship as a delegate. The council would agree with him (the speaker) when he said that excellent work was done at the conference.—(Hear, hear.) The motion was seconded and carried. THE MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE. The Mayor then made a few remarks with reference to the Municipal Conference. He stated that he expected a full report of the proceedings in the course of a few days, and the oouncil would then be put in full possession of the business transacted. The conference was a very representative one, there being delegates from almost every Municipal Council in the colony present. At the termination of the conference, when they waited upon the Premier and laid before him the result of their deliberations, they wore received with much cordiality. The Premier thßuked tha conference for the assistance they rendered to the House in respect of the important measures dealing with municipal matters. In conclusion, the Mayor made reference to the good work accomplished by Cr Fish, who applied himself to the business of the conference with assiduity.—(Hear, hear.) Cr Habdy moved and Cr Solomon seconded — " That the thanks of the council be accorded to the mayor and Cr. Fm'a for the important

services rendered by them in their attendance': j at the Municipal Conference at Wellington." J j CHABGE FOB WATEB BOPPLY. '- j Cr Tooitar moved, in accordance with; ' I notice—"That the resolution of the council of- ' 27th May 1891, adopting the report of the' Water Supply Committee of that date, which : i recommended that a charge of £1 per annum / be made to all parties obtaining a supply of '. water for washing windows, &c., be rescinded," : Cr Solomon seconded the motion, which wa.v ■ carried unanimously. . ;. -