THE TOWN BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 570, 1 November 1862, Page 7

THE TOWN BOARD.

Tuesday, 28th October. Present — Mr Cargill in the ch.iir, and Messrs Switzer, Jenkinson, Hardy &h;uid, and Graham. 'I he minutes of the previous meeting weie read and confirmed.

THE PKINCES-STREET CUTTING.

A letter was read from A!r. If pome Green respecting the cutting away of ear'h in Princes strait, and a deputation also waited o.i the board to inquire when the cutting would be niii-h»d-The Boaid intonuel the deputation that the work would probably be finished about Christmas.

TUB GVS C'UIPVNY. A letter was read trom the secietary of the Gas Comp-uiy, stating th.-vjt tho pipes, were being laid. A further letter stated that the cimpa-iy would be in a position to supply gas within f.,i:r rnontln ; and lequeste.i to be i iforine 1. wJienthe Hoard h-id decided, as to the number and position of the 'amps required by tho Board for the lighting- of the town The Chairman informed the Bo.mi that there was a further question as to whether the pipes bhould be laid under the roadway or under the footp\th. The engineer to the Gas Company was in attendance, and would answer r.i.y questions. _ Mr. liutelriti-.cn. the engineer, in reply to questions, said tint it would bo more expensive to tho company to lay the pipes in th« road than under the pavement, but that where the asplnlte pavement was already Lid they would be willing to lay the pipes in the sti\et. With reference to the piulnbihty of ]ay ; ng water-pipes, and the chance of the uater being deteriorated by the escape of gas Mr Hutchiu stated that then- was a risk, and th.it, in consequence, itw.n usual to prohibit the laying of wiitcrpip°~) within threo feet of gas-pipes, or virii versa. A letter from lonnie and Co., the contractors, for the paung, was a'so rend, the effect beintr that if the G\^ Company cut up the asphalte pavement, it nm^t m-tteii illy alter the terms of their agreement for maintaining the p-ivement tor a period r.f six moinhs. A discussion ensued, and it was proposed tha f the company sl'ouM be allowed to cut the pavemonc wlifrc necessniy, on their undertaking to make iiixjd „ny damage. Mr Hi.rdy moved, "That tho Gas Company be allowed to lay their pipes under the asphalte pave ment where desirable, on (he condition that theyagrre to keep the same in good icpair for a period of sk months."

The OnaJnnan thought that it was not a<f\isible to hamper the company with too severo restricting hi c ate in any civo the company must, where they laid down their mains, cut the pavement for the service pipes, and the effect of their being tied to undertake the maintenance of the pavement wouH be po.-sib'y to pievcnt them from laying down mains in many localities. It was a' e o to be considered that the pavements were not yet all laid, au-l it might bo that the contractor mif lit " slum " the woik, iv the confident expectation that as the Gas (J nnpariy v.oukl luve to cut the pavement, lie would be relieved from the guarantee lor maintenance.

Mr Ilaniy agreed to amend his resolution as follows : "That wheie the operations of the Gas Company interfere with the operations of Mr Lonnie, the former will be held rcspoi-Mble to fulfil theguaiantjf*, mteied into by Mr L Jiiuie, in regard of such portions of the footpath as m.iy be broken' by the Company." Cai lie ! .

It was further moved by Mr Hardy, seconded by Mr Sttitzer, and carried- " That the Board will grant permission to the Gas Oonipiny to lay gamains under the footpaths, pioviled the company will undertake to icplaco au-l uphold the pavement /or a term of six months from the date of laying, and that in streets where footpaths pvc not yet laid the company may have the pnviie«e of laying pipes in the line of footpaths, ljrovided ths same be at a sufficient depth.

Mr Switzcr move I that Messrs Hardy, fihand, Jenkinson, and bwitzer bo a committee to consider the number and position of fjas lamps i.ece'isary for lighting the town. Seconded by Mr Haidy, and cmicd.

THE FISH MARKET.

A memorial was lead fiom several inhabitants complaining of the nuisance caused by the fish .stalls in Piiiicos-street.

Mr Dick appeared in support of the memorial, and stated that he had leirned that the Hoard had no power to interfere,, but that the memorialists would take it as a favor that the complaint be forwarded to the Government.

The Chaiiman stated that the fbh stalls, were on a Government reseive.

Mr Hardy moved that the Board communicate with the Superintendent in order that the nuisance complained of may be removed. Seconded by Mr. Shand and carried.

A discussion took place as to the policy of interfering with the only fish market, beflie any more convenient site could be obtain d.

THE BANK ADVANCE OF LIO.OOO.

A letter was react from the Provincial Secretiry to the effect that the Government would be willing, to give aguatantee to the Union B.mk for the repayment of the sum of 1,10,000 advanced to the Board on the n^i^nment of the rated.

There was also a letter read from Mr Alfred J.ickson, manager of the Union Bank, acknowledging receipt of a guarantee from the Provincial Government for the repayment on the 14th January, 18G3, of advances made by the bank to the Board to the extent of LIO.OOO, with bank charges thereon ; and thai in consideration of this guarantee he had surrendered all chini that the bank had over the assessment, rates, and duos which by agreement dated 2nd April last, the Board had made over to the bank in security of such advances.

WALK EH STREET.

A letter was read fiom Mr. 11. Howorth. asking for payment of L3l 10-, for work clone iv Walkerstreet, in cutting away an obstruction. It was explained that Mr Howorth had only made a verbal application to the Board before beginning the woik. It was directed that the Inspector \i-ifc the ground, and report how far the street had been improved.

THE WATER OF LEITH,

A letter was read from his Honor the Superintendent, informing the Board that persons were removing earth from the banks of the Water of Leith, near the Botanic -tl Garden Reserve.

The clerk was i' strueted to inform the Superintendent that the subject would receive the best consideration of the Boaid.

THE TOWN BELT. Mr Switzer drew attention to the injury to the Town Belt Reserve, occasioned by the cutting of the beautiful ornamental timber.

It vas explained that the reserve was in the hands of the Government, and that a constable had been appointed specially to ace as rr.nger.

CLEARING SFW STREETS. A letter from the Hupeiintendent, was read, buggesting that in the present glut of the labor maiket the streets about Peliehet B.iv might be defined, by the cutting of ditches and the clearing away of flax and timber.

The Clerk was instructed to acknowledge the letter, and to inform his Honor, t'lat the Board had decided not to incur any further liabilities before the expiration of their term of office.

THIS CUTTING

A letter was read from Keppel and Co., offering to level the road in the Cutting for the sum of Lls. The offer was declined. FORTH-STP.EKT.

A memorial from certain inhabitants of Forthstreet, applying for the formation of the street, was referred tor future consideration.

THE URINAL,

The contractors for the construction of the urinal, applied for permission to sub-titute lead for stone in certain portions of the work, and asphalte for flagping.

TKNJJERS FOR METALLING MACLAGOAN-STUEET. Tlioi-e weie t.v«.elve tenders for this work, ranging from 6s 2d, to 9s 9d per cubic yard. The tender of — - Dpmp«ey for 6s 2d was accepted, and in case of his not going on with the contract the Clerk was instructed to accept that of — Sigley for 7s.

THK PAVEMENTS. Messrs Fisher Brothers, of Walker-street, wrote to request the Board to make the cost of laying pavements a charge upon the owners, iustead of' the occupiers, of property. The Board was unable to interfere.

QUARRY ABANDONED. On the representation of the Town Clerk, that — Macdonald, who had the grant of a quarry in Mac-hggan-street, had gone to the diggings, 'leaving the quarry unworked, a resolution was passed declaring it abandoned.

ACCOUNTS.

Several small accounts were passed for payment conditionally on the items being round correct. The Board then adjourned.

Loud Wesibury a Casuist.— During a recent case Mr B.icon bioached some apparently too sweeping doctrines upon the naluie and affinities of legal honesty. The Loid Chancellor took occasion to express his dissent in that form of cross-examination and with that infinitesimal aitieulation, that delicate flavour of intellectual precision and legal unction, which acts like a blister on the equanimity of the House of Lords :— " Mr Bacon, * * may not a man be guilty of seduction, and yet be an ho-nest man 1 May not a man be an ho-nest man, Mr Bacon, and yet be frequently drunk] May not a man be a Deist, and yet be an ho-nest man, Mr Bacon 1 May not, Mi- Bacon, even a disbeliever in a future state still be an 'ho-nest man ]"

Goon Property.— The Eureka Quartz Company, of Plumas county, is one of the best paying mining companies in the State. The amount of 50,000d015. w.-us taken out in ei»ht daya, but a short time since : and a dividend of 18,U00dols was l ereutly declared We remembei the time, and not very lontv airo either, when interests in the Kureka Company, could be purchased for a mere trifle. The ledge wbb discovered by a printer, who died about two yeais ago, in one of 01 £l!wi r 'ii T!." g no mo ' e of tllis world's wealth than usually falls to the unlucky typo. Such