CITY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12603, 5 March 1903, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the City Council, held; last night, was attended by the Mayor (Mr J. A. Park), Crs Carroll, Gore, Soott, Braithwaite, Muir, Lawrence, M'Donald, Tapper, and Christie. Crs Hally, Maitland, and Crust wrote apologising for their non-attendance. DEPUTATION. A deputation ,of residents of Belleknowes, Roslyn, waited on the council in the matter of securing a track from Anderson crescent, Eoslyn, to connect with Russell 6treet, Duncdin. Mr D. Tindlay, on behalf of the deputation, said their object was to get a track from the Town Belt t(> the town boundary adjoining the Roslyn boundary. Their reason for coming to-the council was that the Eoslyn Borough Council did not see its way to take the initiative, the whole of the part effected being within the town boundary. There was much necessity for the path, there being very bad access, and the residents living in the centre of the borough had some of them to traverse half a mile. The projected track would be from the Town Belt, a little above York place or Russell street, ti Anderson's crescent, in Roslyn. Xho cost should be from £30 to £40. It was suggested that. the Eoslyn Council should pay one-fourth, the residents, one-half, and the City Council one-fourth, the work to be done, by the latter body on that basis. Tho Mayor suggested that the Town Belt was being riddled with footpaths.—Cr Tapper pointed out that the use of one good track would .prevent the destruction of the bush by the use of a number of small ones.— The request of the deputation was referred to the Keaerves Committee for consideration. , COKBESPOXDEKOE. Twenty-five ratepayers and 1 residents in Castle street, between Albany street and Frederick street, petitioned the council, stating that they were very much surprised at. the action o£ the Works Committee. About _ a fortnight ago the men started cementing the channel, and had only dono the portion in front of Spatz's Hotel end the house adjoining. They would like to know the reason why the work was stopped, —Cr Lawrence said: tile channel was in a very bad condition, and should be attended to at once.—Referred to the Works Committee to act. A number of ratepayers in High Ward drew attention to the dangerous state of the steps on the right-hand side of Maclaggan street, leading from Serpentine avenue.— Beferred to the Works Committee to act. The Town Clerk, Mornington, wrote, nndcr date February 24, as follows:—' "Owing to the misfortune which has overtaken this borough through the destruction of the tramway sheds it has become absolutely necessary to make temporary arrangements for some of the traffic with drags, and I . am'therefore requested to approach you for permission to allow them to stand at tho High street tram terminus until a temporary tram service can be again, installed, which the council anticipate will be in a few weeks."—The Mayor suggested that permission be granted, provided the drags stood at i Cargill's Monument.—The letter was referred to the General Committee to act. Six property-owners in George street wrote calling attention to the injury that would be done them by the projected raising of the roadway and footpath leading to the new George street bridge across the Leith, in tho way of damage to property and its depreciation in value, and stating they must hold the corporation liable for damage and depreciation.—Referred to the Works Committee to report. The proprietor of the Fernhill Coal and Sand Company wrote in the matter of the Fernhill coal pits and the Silverstream water raco. The water race having broken away in the past had flooded the pit, and ho had been, promised' tho loan of pipes to syphon it out, but had not received them. If the corporation did not have the water drained off he would hold them liablo for the value of rails, etc., under , the water. The corporation had also promised to attend to the old matter of the leakage of tho race, but had not yet done so.—Referred to the Water Supply Committee to report, Cr Scott atating that 18 months ago the council had consulted their solicitor, and had, on liis recommendation at the time, distinctly refused to supply any pipes. works covuittse's bepokt. Tho Works Committee's report was adopted, Cr Christie, in answer to a question from Cr Scott, stating that it was to the be6t interest of the council to secure a new* weighbridge.—Or Braithwaite drew attentiori to Young street, and hoped that the drain in Richardson street would be jointed in cement.—Cr Lawrence contended that the money voted for Leith Ward ■was not spent there, and instanced Forth, St. David, and Howe streets. BFSERVES COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Reserves Committee's report was adopted, with the amendment that the clause dealing with the appointment of valuator in respect to certain sections be referred back to the committee for consideration.—Cr Muir pointed out that Mr Wright, the valuator appointed, was in Government employ, and it became a question, whether or not he was entitled to act on behalf of the corporation. The Water, Gas, General, and Finance Committees' reports were also adopted. TENDERS. A number of tenders were referred to the committees to act. It was resolved that the General Committee should report upon the tenders for printing and stationery. NOUS BROS. AND MR NOBLE ANDERSON. Messrs Noyes Bros, (per M» W. G. T. Goodman) forwarded a lengthy letter in reply to a report by M. J. T. Noble Anderson on the Lee Stream as a source of power for Dunedin. The report was presented to the council in August last, and owing to Mr Goodman's absence from the oolony no reply had been sent until a few days'ago. Messrs Noyes Bros.' reply makes reference to certain pages of the pamphlet containing Mr Anderson's report, and can only be properly understood with these pages before the reader. The portion of .Mr Anderson's report referring to Mr Goodman were not contained in the summary which was supplied to and published by us. Tho Mayor said the letter referred to a matter tliat concerned Messrs Noyes Bros, and Mr J. T. Noble Anderson—the council had nothing to do with it. If they interfered at all they would become the medium of a wordy correspondence between two engineers. He suggested that the letter be returned to the writers with the intimation that the reference to Messrs Noyes Bros, in Mr Anderson's report was not read to the council or considered by them. Cr Tapper moved—"That the letter be received and handed to the nress for publication if they think proper." Cr Carroll seconded the motion. Cr Christie moved—"That the letter "be received and sent to the Tramways Committee to report." Cr Braithwaite seconded the amendment. , , After a brief discussion the amendment Was lost and the motion carried.