TOWN BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 372, 15 January 1859, Page 5

TOWN BOARD.

A meeting of this Board was held on Monday. Present— Dr. Purdie, Messrs. Dick, Kilgour, Lambert, and Jenkinson j Mr. Carnegie in the chair.

The plans showing the gradients of Stewart and Rattray streets to the junction of the Halfway Bush road were laid on the table, upon which some discussion took place as to the beat live, when Mr. Dick proposed a resolution, to the effect that the Board considered the line by Stewart street the best; but after further discussion, in which Mr. Lambert suggested that the Wakari District Board should be referred to the Government for the information required, the resolution was withdrawn for the consideration of a fuller meeting.

The Clerk reported that the probable receipts for the year 1859 would amount to about £900.

Mr. Kilgour pioposed the following- resolution :—: —

" Seeing that it is expedient that street lines within the town of Dunedin should be opened up and made passable for vehicles, and that the funds now at the disposal of the Board are not now and may not be for several yeais to come adequate to the accomplishment of that object — Resolve, that this Board raise money on security of the assessment, by issuing debentures for such sums as may be necessary for carrying out the above object, not exceeding on the whole the sum of £1000."

Considerable discussion ensued upon this resotuion. Dr. Purdie was opposed to borrowing; the Government were drawing large sums from the sales of town land, and therefore ought to expend a proportion of the proceeds upon the side stieets in Dunedin.. .Mr. Lambert concurred in the Doctor's latter remarks, but desired to see the making of the streets left entirely to the Government, and the Board might keep them in repair. ..Mr. Dick was of a similar opinion, but wished the resolution postponed till a fuller meeting.. .Mr. Cavnegie was anxious that the Board should obtain a loan, so as to enable them to proceed with the improvement of the streets as speedily as possible ; and he was sure the Board would expend the money as judiciously as the Government could do, as the improvements which the Board had already made in Dunedin had not given rise to such general dissatisfaction as the works now in progress in tho town under the control of the Government had done. . .Mr. Jenkinson would have liked better if the resolution had asked £2000 or £3000. The Board had at present very little funds, and how was was it possible to carry on their works without funds? It was all nonsense for them to meet there to discuss in what direction a line of road should be taken, and what improvements should be made upon the streets, when the Board had not the means of doing either. Let them see about borrowing a sum of money first, to carry on their works, and if they could not obtain a loan, then there was little use for the Board. It was high time that something should be done to the streets, and done i while the weather was good.. .Mr. Kilgour thought | the Government, who were receiving large sums I from the monthly sales of town land, ought to give the Board a loan ; the inhabitants of the town were justly entitled ft) have a share of the proceeds expended in improving the side streets, to enable them to have better access to their properties j and he saw clearly, that unless some action was speedily taken in this matter, the streets would be impassable next winter. After some farther discussion, the resolution was put and lost by 3 to 2. The Board adjourned till Monday.