TOWN BOARD

Otago Witness, Issue 559, 16 August 1862, Page 5

TOWN BOARD

The usual weekly meeting of the Town Board was held on Monday. Present— Mc-isrs Switzer, Cargdl, Jenkinson, Hardy, Mollison, Slund, Graham, Dr. Huline. Mr. Jenkinson iv the Chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

Correspondence was read from the inhabitants of High-street, Manse-street and other streets in the immediate neighbourhood, deploring the state of the roads. The following resolution was then proposed by Mr. Graham, seconded by Mr. Hardy, and carried:— «■ Resolved that Mr. Barnes be allowed two months from this time to complete his contract for the cutting of Highstreet, upon condition of his forfeiting Ls°for c.ci day during which the work shall be incompleted; further, that Mr. Barnes be allowed to ay down a tramway, for the purpose of facilitating his operations."

A letter waß roa.l fro 11 the Secretary of the Duneilin Atheiucum, stating that in the present state of the funds of the institution, they could not nt 1 .resent erect the retaining wall in question. It was resolved—" That a retaining wall be built iv Manse-street, a!ou£ tlie Athenamm ground, and that tlie work be proceeded with at once."

A deputation then waited upon the Town Bo ml, consisting of Messrs. Kittray, Ticklo, Li/, irus, Cleve, Kt-ynoLls and a number of other c 11 lemon, beaded by Mr. Cooke. The memorial, •igK'd by nearly nil the residents in WJkerMre •c.;St:ifiijrd-street, and Hone-street, was handed m and read by the Clerk to tho Board.

Mr. Jwikiiibon, in unt-wor to the various queslious in the memorial, stated that every progrt-s was beinp, mr,de with tho tt.^t-, in questioii°eon1 tent wrh the «tute of the weather, uiid t'r:l Mr U id. <h:< ••'■•r- viu''l l>o m -I hnppv to »ne th > ii'i.ii'ii ,1 lut ul' 1 c':s» .!•> in^nin.it! m.

M<. i i.,> O'< Ac : rm. .luestiuiii ar- e.n'.u lied mti '_• in 1. •. )!. n

:.L. Switzer tlu-isiiit th.'v Mr. Jenkinson had be'tcr dutl with t! ■ flections sen'urim

Mr. ilunvy Coo <. . i'lie firstq lotion was as to what the nutuiv and term.-, of the contract was.

Tlie Clerk t!.t 1 read tlie following panicutars: — According to contract, Walker street w;h to have been completed 31st nit. -, iStafiVd street was to be completed August 1 8th. No penalty was attached, but the contractor had to make a deposit of 10 per cent, on the amount of contract which was to be forfeited in case of breach or non-fulfilment. The contract for tiie three streets amounted to L 660.

Dr. lliilme : What would the deputation recommend ?

Mr. Henry Cooke : They were of opinion that the work should not be allowed to stand over till the fine wenther set in. They would recommend pi' cbing the streets in question, when the work would at once be proceeded with. Mr. Switzer: The three streets in --question were newly made streets, and for the most part not cut out, and having a firm foundation ; but a large quantity of stuff had been laid on, aid required at least one winter to get properly settled.

Mr. Cooke : Since the contractor had failed io fulfil his engagement, did the Board nuiin to call for a new contract ?

Dr. Hulmt! : They couM '(>: a \ flic ron; : o to put metal on such a Mnvt ,v it-. prooiK s awThey had no control over the elements.

Mr. Ooukc: Wulker-st eet was, totally im-pa>.-,able ; was it to remain so for an indefinite perio.l? Iv si very shore time the traffic would be greatly increased, and the difficulty would then become much more serious.

Mr. Jenkin«.on: If Mr. Cooke were the sole proprietor would heat once proceed with the work, or would he wait till the weather made the thing practicable?

Mr. Cooke : He would think it his duty to satisfy the wants of the general pubKo. He might add thattbe conti actor had staled that if the system oi pitching the streets were adopted, the work could be pioccedcd with without difficulty, even in the present weather.

Mr. Jenkiiibon : What would the residents contribute towards the extra expense, which the proposed system involved ?

Mr. Cooke : He hud no doubt that the residents would contribute a reasonable sum, but he would remind the Board that the extra expense in the first instance would eventually prove a considerable gain.

Mr. Cargill : Tha attention of the Board had been directed to this new method, and a committee of the Board was then considering the question, and he believed the result was,, that Manse-street would be immediately experimented upon. The Bojird had been most anxious to get the work ompleted before the bad weather set it, but since t .ey had waited so long, he thought it would be ii.jndicions to push matters on iv the present state of the weather.

Mr. Cooke : One gentleman had already left Walker-street, and others would follow. It really was a most swious thing for the owners of property and persons who bad large sums of money invested in that part of the town; above all when this state of affairs might continue to an indefinite period. Two months hence the price of labor would be very much advanced, and he questioned if the difference would not make up tlm extra expense of proceeding forthwith with the streets in question.

Dr. Hulme: It was quite clear that the practicability was the question ; if it wa<; practicable they mijjht be satisfied that the work would be proceeded with.

Mr. Cooke : With regard to the blocking up of the streets, it is usual in Melbourne and elsewlu-iv to do one side of the street at once, which would meet that difficulty.

Mr. Hardy : Mention was made in the memorial with regard to the very inferior quality of the metal hud on the streets in question ; at the last meeting of tho Board the inspector was particularly enjoined not t;> puss metal, oiMier of an inferior quality, oi <> Jv.it had bcjn badly broken. Mr. Coo' c— As Mr. M'Kenzio ha a failed in die former contract, would he be entrusted with the new one '!

Mr. Cargill: lie believed the real question at issue was to ascertain whether the work would be immediately proceeded with, With every desire to push the work on, he was decidedly o! opinion that such wa^i impracticable in the present fefcate of tho weathoi. Jle would ask Mr. Reynolds, who he 60,w formed one of'the deputation, whether tiic Government were pushing their work on ? Mr. Reynolds : He would give the Bi rd the benefit of his pri-.utc opinion, which avds that the streets ought to have been metalled long ago, aud the work could easily have been done

Mr. Jenlvin&on : The Hoard has not come to any determination; it will now proceed to discuss the matter, and an answer shall be given to-day. Mr, (took thanked the Board on behalf 'of the deputation for the couiteons attention they hadrccenecl.

The- Board then proceeded to dUcuss the matter privately.