CITY COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12649, 29 April 1903, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The last regular meeting of the present •members of the. City Council was held lost when there wcro present—The (Mayor (Mr J. A. Park), Crs Maitlnnd, M'Donald, Hally, Tapper Christie, Crust, Carroll, Goro, Scott, Draitlnvaitc. and Muir, 'An apology to received for the absence of Cr Lawrence. CORnESrOXDEXCF.. Mr D. Tahiiock, who has been appointed superintendent of the 'Botanical Gardens and the roaorvos, wrote; that ho expected to reach Duncdin in the beginning of June next.—Received. Mrs H. J. Walter,. on behalf of her husband, Mr Henry John Walter, wrote as follows:—"I am sorry that I have to appeal *o you, but as I am loft without anv means 1 would desiro to ask you wliethcr"ifc is in your power to allow mo tho salary of Mayor, of which I was deprived in tho year 1880. You will remember that in that year of ofiico I was not allowed eny salary. Tho usual salary then was £400. If I had not been loft without moans I would not have troubled you, Under ihn circumstances, •however, I hope you will see your way 'to grant me tho salary I earned, and of which I was unjustly deprive-d."—Referred to tho Finance Committee to report. Mr F.. W. MacLcan, district railway engineer, wrote, under date April 24, as follows: "■Would you kindly give me an approximate date when Ward street will be opened for traffic, as I wish to givo early notice to the public when Stuart street will bo closed. In order to avoid comulcto stoppage of the work-in connection with tho nW station building, I have made a deviation of Stuart 6troet.—Referred to the Works Committoo to act. Mr It. Langley and 20 others wrote drawing attention to the dangerous and unsightly condition of tho footpath and guttor fronting their homos in Serpentine avenue.— Koferrod to tho Works Committee to act. Miss H. R. Morrison wrote Hinder date April 27 drawing attention to tho condition of tho stops at the foot of Canongato street. They had been in a highly dangerous condition, for Eomo .months past, ami that nftw-

| noon her companion (Miss Wild) met with |ft serious accident. To what extent she had been injured had yet to bo ascertained. i —Referred to tho Work-, Committee to act, The Italian String Band wroto asking permission to play in tho streets of tho city.— Referred to tho Mayor to act. BEVOBTS. The report of tho Works Committoo was' read, and Cr Christio moved and Cr Brait-h----waito seconded its adoption.—Cr M'Donald brought up the question of concrete channelling in Athol place, Forth street, and Harbour terrace,—Cr Tapper asked what it would cost to continue tho tarred macadam down Itattray streot to the Railway Station.—Cr Christio said he could not tell what the cost would be. Ho. might

state that the Enslyn Tramway Company were paying half the cost of the work that was bciiiß done in Rattray street. In reply lo Or M'Donald, lie read tho following report from tho city onginoor: — "In compliance with tho directions of your Works Committeo, I have made an examination of Athol placd, Harhour terrace, and Forth street in connection with a proposal to construct concrete channelling, and I have the honour to report that tho existing gutters are, in some instances, in a most insanitary condition. The length of channelling alluded to is at present formed v.'ilh rough pitchers and cobble stones, in the in'crntices of which crmlo sewage stagnates. To obviate this insanitary condition, it is desirable to construct permanent coocreto channelling, tho cost of which will bo approximately £110."—The report was adopted, with the exception of the first- clause, referring to the erection of a retaining wall at the George street bridge, which was referred back to tbo committee to asosrtain the cost of the work.

Or Tapper having moved llw adoption of the Gas Committee's report, Cr M'Donald asked if it was true that tho expense in connection.with.the explosion at tiie gasworks would not cost more thin £600.— Cr Tapper: To that I can only say that tho wish i 3 (either to the thought.—Tho Mayor: la •thai saiti-Zaotory to Cr M'Donald?—Cr M'Donald: Yes, nuitc. The Water, KeservK, General, and Finance. Committees' reports were adopted. THE TRAMWAYS COMJUTTEB's KErOiiT. Cr Tapper, in tho alirenro of Cr Scott, who had left tho Council Chamber, moved tho adoption of the Tramways Committee's report. , Tho report itself, ha said, required no explanation, but he regretted that a foaro had been raised regarding tramway stable mat'tons. They would have read that thero had been a depreciation—it was reported, of £15,000, which must have bce.n a. misprint, for it was evident that. £1500 waa meant—in homei. The valuo of tho horsei? in ISO2 was £3654, and in 1003, instead of a depreciation, tho value of the horses was £4654. Therefore they would sco that the

value had not gone back. Cr Muir rose to a point of order. In moving the adoption of the report, he understood tho acting chairman of the Tramways Committee. wag referring to a speech mado by a councillor at an election mooting. Ho thought it was scarcely advisible, and that it was out of order, to criticise or refer to a statement mode by a candidate seeking a eeat in the council. If they started that sort of thing they might discuss the whole of tho speeches made.

Tiio Mayor said the position was that tho Tramways Committee's report was before tho council, f.nd Cr Tapper, a mombeof tho committee, took exception, ho presumed, to the committee being held up before the public as neglecting its duty. He wanted to put the council right in the matter.

Cr Tapper, resuming, said ho had done with tho horses. He had clearly proved that if there was any depreciation at all it was only small, and (Jut tho valuo of the hor-ses had gone up a little over £1000. Another matter was tho chaff. A councillor had stated that they had paid £4 5s for chaff when a fteblekeeper in town was paying from £2 15s to £3. To malto himself sure -ho had looked up tho paper, and ho found that the market price of "chaff at that time was £4 5s to £4 10s. Thai was for prime ehaff, and a lijtlo later it went up to £5 and £5 En, There had beon some trouble about tho chaff, but the matter was notified by tho council's own man—not by an outsider. Ho Jiad brought samples, and on iproduoiug they, found the matter had been rectified. Mr Eggleton had reported that the chaff was not up to quality, and was getting high. Such statements going out to the public did not do justice to the committeo, .who did its duty well. Tho Mayor said ho knew the committee lad 50 to 80 tons of old chaff in hand, which ho did not think was to be found in anv other stable.

Cr M'Donakl thought tho Tramways Committee should sift tho matter to the bottom, because if Mr Raoon was paying what Cr '•Lawrence said,, it was,time the council held ■an inquiry into 'the working of the' committee, or the workings of the gentlemen in charge of tho stables, and find out who was to blame for not reporting tho matter to the council before. Councillors should bo in ft position to substantiate charges like ; thcee, or not make them at all.

Cr Crust said that at the time the committee was paying £4 5s he was paying from £4 Ea'to £4 iOs for chaff, and it coukl not bo bought chenpor. Cr Goro would like a little more, information from the committeo than it gave. In Monday's newspaper they found that the steam plant was on its way, and the council had no information about it.

Tlio Mayor said tho chairman or the Tramways Committee was not present. Thero was no official intimation to the committee.that tho steam plan was on the sea.

The report as published was then adopted. toe exkixkkr's TJEIMRTMFAT!.

Tim Special Committee reported: " Your committee regrets its inability to finish in time for this meeting of council the business for wtiioh it was appointed. The whole of the evidence so far as Ward street is concerned is nearly complete, but the crossexamination of witnesses by the city cngi;

ncer has still to bo undertaken. It is oxpecfod that this will bo completed in a, few (lays, whon a report on Ward streot will bo submittal. y o ur oommitteo recommend that it bo empowered to fill vacancies on the committee as thoy occur." The Mayor moved, and Cr Braithwaite seconded, the adoption of the report. Cr Goro: Does that empower the committee to fill u;> vacancies on the committee?

The Mayor: Yes.

Cr Goro objected to that. However, it made no dilfcronco, as the committee expired that night. Cr Muir rose, to a point of order. 'Ho submitted that all committees eeasod to exist when the councillors went out of office. Now committees would 'have to he appointed by the incoming council, although the majority of the councillors might bo returned. The present council could.not legislate, for the next council. • The Mayor: All committees hold office until now ones are appointed. Cr Gore said that tho council and the committees were- virtually defunct that night, and tho only way out of tho difficulty was for tho next council to set up a committee to deal with the Question. He would move' iu an amendment—" That the last clauso of the report bo doloted." Cr Christie seconded the amendment. Tho amendmont was carried, and the report ns amended, was adopted.

in reply to Cr Muir's point of order, tho Mayor said that after tho new council had boon elected he would call a special meeting to appoint committees. AN ATFEAI, COMMITTER. Cr Tapper moved—"That a special committee, consisting of tho chairmen of tho various committees, be appointed, to which any aggrieved employee of the corporation shall have tho right to appeal." To adopt the proposal would merely bo falling in line with the course- adopted by the Government, and it would be tho means of ridding councillors of worry to which they were now subjected by dismissed employees. It was possible that men wore discharged by mist'ako at times, and if so it was right that they should have the opportunity of bringing their cases before some tribunal. Cr Muir seconded tho motion pro forma. Ho would vote against it, however, though lio would support it if elected to the next council. His reason was that the committee if appointed that night would only continue during tho existence of tho council. Cr Braithwaite moved as an amendment— "That tho matter bo adjourned for consideration by tho incoming council." Tho amendment was not seconded, and the motion was carried. GREATr.n ncsEDis. ; Cr Tapper moved—" That a special meeting of the council be called at nu early date to propound a scheme for amalgamation of the city and suburbs, somewhat on the following lines; such schemo to bo submitted to tho several adjoining boroughs, with a request that they consider tho same and meet the City Council in conference:—(l) The city and suburbs to keep 'thoir own assets and liabilities; (2) rates collected in individual boroughs to bo spent in such boroughs, loss a certain amount for joint administration; (3| each borough to participate ill tho management of gas, water, tramways, electric light and power, and abattoirs; m each borough to pay a portion of the cost of upkeep of tho Town Belt and reserves, also roads and footpaths through tho Belt; (5) the present town clerks of boroughs to be officers of their respective boroughs; (6) each borough to bo represented in the ' Greater Duncdin' Council according to its population and rateable value." All tho motion asked in tho meaii-

timo_ was that tho council should hold a meeting to discuss this important matter. If that wore done the council, ha was sure, would propound such a scheme that would be suitable to lay before tho council with the addition of borough councillors and outside representative men. '

Cr Hally seconded the motion,

O Gore thought it would have, been better to leave this matter over for the next council to deal with. At the same time, he would not oppose the motion.

Cr Braithwaitc thought it was very unwise in the dying hours of tho council to bind another council to an important matter of the kind. Ho was thoroughly in favour of the motion, and was, therefore, sorry to have to propose as an amendment —"That nil the words in the motion.after 'city ana suburb's' be deleted." Or Muir seconded the amendment. After a brief discussion, the amendment was carried. TENDERS. Tenders for tho supply of sand, coal, regulating and maintaining clocks, tho supply of cement, and earthenwaro pipes were referred to the Works Committee to act.