TOWN BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 697, 8 April 1865, Page 2

TOWN BOARD.

The weekly meeting of the Town Board was held on Tuesday atternoon, at the office?, Princes street north. Mr Turner presided ; and there were also present — Messrs Redmayne, Murray, Bastings, Grey, D. Miller, jun., Smith, and Ham. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmrd.

ELECTION FOR BELL WABD.

The Clerk reported that, at the election of a member for Bell Ward, on Monday, there were two candidates, Mr A. J. Burns and Mr J. Lovell; and that 121 votes were polled for each. He had received from Mr Fenwick a letter asking, on behalf of Mr Burns, that the Board would postpone any decisiou on the matter, until time had been allowed for a scrutiny. This letter was, however, premature. The 14th clause of the Dunedin Improvement Ordinance, referring to the annual elections of members, provided —

_ It shall be competent to any person who c* nsiders that he oueht to have been retrmif d as a member of the Board, to complain against the Clerk's return, provided that the complaiut be made by petition to the Board, signed by the complainer, or by some person on his behalf, ..nd lodged -with the Clerk to the .Board, within lour lawful days after the election; and nn such petiuon beins: presented, the Beard shall remit to a Committee of five of tudv number to inquire into the merits ot such disputed election, and report thereon to a sub^qaent meeting of the Board, and the determination of the Board on such report shall be final and 'jouclusiye ; and if, upon the Clerk's report, or upon acratiDy demanded, and the said Committee's rsport, there shall be found to be an equality of votes at any of the said elections, the Board shall determine which of the candidates shall be preferred

Mr Murray : Has any vote been given that can be objected to ? The Clerk : 1 have gone carefully through the poll-book, and I do not see a vote on either side that is doubtful.

Mr Murray would be very glad if the question could again be referred to the ratepayers; but he believed that that was not possible. The Clerk said that the 16th clause of the Ordinance, refering to elections to fill vacancies other than those by the annual retirements, provided —

And within two days after such election, tne Clerk shall affix on the dcor of his office the name of the person elected, and it shall be competent to any person who considers that he ought to have been returned as the person elected, to complain, and for the Board to proceed in regard to such election, in manner, hereinbefore directed in the case of complaints in annual elections : Provided always, that such petition and complaint be lodged with the Clerk before the first meeting of tie Board after such election. So that there was nothing in the Ordinance to interfere with the direction that the Board "shall" decide which of the candidates was to be elected, although the

one 60 chosen could not take his seat until time for complaint and inquiry had been allowed.

Mr Redmayne believed that the candidates were worthy men, and that each was thoroughly identified with the interests of the city ; but he was inclined to prefer Mr Lovell, because Mr Burns was a candidate for the vacant seat for the County of Bruce in the House of Representatives, and, according to the reports, was likely to be elected. He (Mr Redmayne) would move that the question before the Board should be dealt with by ballot.

Mr Smith said that, in connection with the Corporation of Gravesend, Mr Lovell had had more experience in respect to lighting, paving, and sewering than probably any present member of the Board ever had at home. Even if Mr Lovell did labor under the affliction which Mr Miller had called a malady, that would not prevent his expressing opinions or giving the benefit of his advice.

It was agreed that the vote should be taken by ballot-

Mr Miller said that he would not put in a paper. He would give his vote for Mr Burns.

The Chairman : If you do not put a paper in the hat, I cannot count your vote,

Mr Miller complied; and the voting was declared to be — Lovell, 4 ; Burns, 3 (Mr Ham not being present at the time). The Chairman : The Clerk will make his return, that Mr Lovell has been elected; but if any one wishes to have an investigation, in terms of the Ordinance, the Clerk will, I have no doubt, give every assistance in his power. The Clerk : I will certainly do so.

A COMPLAINT.

Mr D. Miller, jun : I have a charge of neglect to make against the City Engineer. About half-past two o'clock yesterday, I saw him in & house in Moray Place. I asked him what he was doing away from his office ; and he replied, "I must collect my rents." I said, " sTou have no business to do it in the public time." " I want the money," he said ; and I said, " If you do, take your own time for getting it." I say that if the public servants are going about canvassing for their money in the public time, it ought to be stopped. This is not all. The foreman of works was seen yesterday in the polling booth, the worse for liquor. He said that he had a holiday. "Whether he had or not, I don't know; but T do know that where daymen are employed, there should be some one to look after them.

A squabble arose as to whether Mr Miller was entitled to prefer a charge in the way he had done; and the Chairman ruled that Mr Miller was not out of order.

The Engineer: I presume. Mr Chairman, I shall be allowed to speak.

The Chairman : No, I think not.

Mr Grey thought that any such charge should be preferred in writing, so that a Committee might be appointed to inquire and report upon it.

Mr Smith did not see that the Engineer was called upon to explain to Mr Miller or anybody *■ Ise why he was out of the office at any particular time. Did the Engineer attend to his duties 'i If so, surely there was not to be a system of complaining if he spoke to a fiiend or sat down to smoke a pipe.

Mr Bastings thought that it was useless to attempt to cloak the matter; and Mr Miller might as well have said at once, that he was annoyed at the part the Engineer had taken in recent elections. — (Mr Miller: Hear, hear. That's it.) He (Mr Bastings) held that officers of the Board ought to stand aloof from such matters ; and that it would be better if members of the Board would do so, too. He thought Mr Miller had attacked the Engineer rather scurvily ; and that the Engineer was not an officer to be held accountable for every minute of his time.

Mr Miller said he was sure that if Mr Barnes had been present, he would have given his support. It was with very great difficulty that Mr Barnes restrained himself from a breach of the peace with the foreman of works ; and that individual would have only got what he deserved, if Mr Barnes had put him out of the booth. He (Mr Miller) knew that the Engineer had been wandering about the city constantly of late ; and he had seen lights in the Town Board Office at eleven o'clock at night, on a Sunday, when the place ought to have been shut. He would move that Messrs Bastings, Grey, Murray, and Redmayne be appointed a Committee to investigate the matter. Mr Redmayne said that he came there to attend to public business, not to listen to charges which he could hardly believe to be correct. If there was any real charge against the Engineer, let it be properly made— not in the shape of statements meant to bias members wno might have to make an official inquiry. ; Mr. Grey moved that the next business should be proceeded with. Let Mr Miller give notice of motion for next Tuesday. Mr Miller believed that there could not

be a word pointed out to show that he was to be doubted in regard to truth-speaking. The Engineer : It is a gross untruth, air.

The Chairman: You should not speak, Mr Millar, at present.

The Engineer: I cannot restrain my feeling 3, as a man, when I hear such things.

MrD. Miller: Mr Redmayne might as well Have called me a liar at once, and have done with it. The subject was dropped.

MUNICIPAL BILL.

The Clerk said that on Friday a meeting of the Board, in Committee, was held, and the remaining clauses of the Municipal Bill were discussed. He read a report, recommending some modifications, and he read or explained the differeut clauses.

Mr Redmayne moved to reverse the resolution come to at the last meeting, in respect to Clause 16, which was then altered, so as to direct that the Mayor should be elected by the Councillors, out of their own number.

Mr Ham and Mr D. Miller supported the motion ; but on a division, only the three members named voted for it, and as they did not constitute two- thirds of the whole number present, the motion was lost.

CORRESPONDENCE.

Mr C. Brotherston wrote respecting the rates on some of his property, and the letter was received.

Mr C. Pitsford wrote complaining that he was being pressed for money, which he could not pay, owing to his not being able to get payment for the Clyde street bridge. The Clerk said that the matter had been referred to the Finance Committee, but he had been unable to get a meeting. The account was re-referred, the Chairman remarking that if the Finance Committee did not meet next week, it would be well to consider whether a new one should not be appointed. A letter from TAr George Green, again complaining of damage to Belgrave Buildings from a neighboring drain, and stating that he could not much longer submit to such a wrong, was read. The letter was referred to the Works Committee.

The Provincial Secretary wrote, acknowledging a letter of the 22nd inst, forwarding a resolution of the Board in which it was suggested that the shed on the Octagon, and the hoarding round the Cargill Monument, should be removed, and a temporary footpath formed. In reply, the Provincial Secretary stated that until the monument could be properly fenced, the Government proposed to leave the hoarding as a protection to the erection ; and as it was intended to enclose the whole octagonal space, the Government did not see the necessity for forming the footpath referred to.

The Rev. Mr Simmonds wrote that he had been instructed by the Education Board that the question of the liability of the portion of the High School occupied by him to be rated, had been referred to the Government, with the view that it might, if necessary, be placed in the hands of the Acting Provincial Solicitor. Mr Simmonds asked, therefore, that anything further on the part of the Board might be communicated to him.

It was resolved that the Clerk should carry out the instruction given at the last meeting, and raise the question before the Resident Magistrate. The Clerk read a letter from Mr 'laggitt, "on behalf of the joint Committee of the Board/and of residents in the neighborhood," giving details of the plan recommended for dealing with Heriot Row, Constitution street, &c. Mr Haggitt added that if the L3OO ordered to be spent could be augmented by L2OO, it was believed that there would be no difficulty in arranging for payment of the latter sum being deferred.

The City Engineer read the following report : —

City Engineering Department, Ist April, 1865. I have the honor to lay before the Board a document, forwarded to me by Cecil B. Hasgitt, Esq., acting; under th« direction of the '* Joiut Committee of the To^n Board and the Deputa tion" from Heriot Row, eta.. situ»te in Bell Ward. Acting upon this, I shall lose no time in putting the contractor, Mr Henry Wilson, int > possession. He will therefore on Monday morn iner, in accordance with my instructions, i ro"?e.' with, the work, commencing with Constitution street, and the other streets in the con«eisutive order as set down in the document ailuded 'o The money allowed by the Board will scarcely carry out the intentions of the " Joint Com mittee "in its entirety; but unless by subsequ nt order from the Board, I shall suspend all opera tions so soon 83 the amount (L3O0) is expendei under the schedule of prices ; also including the L3O set apart for contingencies, and which will be expended in drainage, and day labor by the contractor, or work which it U impossible lor me to adjudicate on by admeasurement — i c , to do justice to the Board and contractor.

I hare t» report that the contractor for the removal of the City Water Tanks and Urinals h*3 completed his contract, with the exception of the ie-coyeringof the well, from whence the tanks are supplied. I have suspended this operat on. in the meantime, until I can confer with the Board. Owing to the discovery that notwithstanding my report to you last year, that drainage from some ofthe adjoining buildings his been ran into the well, which is now filled with mud

up to the lev;l of 'he tank supply pipe and as a conscq'iencp is being carried down into the tanks, rendering the water impure and detrimental to the public health — seeing that this is a matter with which the contractor has nohing to do, I have granted him hU certificate fo botb priucipil and dej>'"-ir security, Ipss the amount which will ba rtquiml to cnv r up the well, so 'oori as the Board have decided upun vrhut action should be taktin

- 1 have to report, t'l-.f in c n^equpnc* of the line of old sewers ia Prince street, where exposed, I have ben o'^ieed to slightly van? the construction^ ih^fil ivii , cunt i acted l>r with Mr Adini*. Tins wiii c-iusg a tmali extra, ivjenditure upon t c first two, and per lihikp \\i-i others al«o, that \", if thiy -houM tui -i «.ut to bs.sunilar'y sifua'e I ; I would m\vve tht't the one proj^ted opposite >p er and Levien's. be altogether omitted. < l o\m nwny with any suri-.ee opening there n> not necessary. This savins will pretty nearly mept the iv reised expenditure upon the remai' iptt four, and the frjpp'mr ih- line of pipes which as^nd the Dowlr g street steps, which will now ber- quired to prevent the effluvia escaping there The f jurd tarik I pro ose putting near the corner of Princes strc-t oni Moray Place, * 'V., t.> int-ic-'pt the fljw of water, whi-li is doing considerable ir jury to the roadway of Princes street

The corwtmc'iori of the two brLig^s over the Water of Leith River, has beeu atleu«th finished, and nio-^t ere itably to the Contractor, as rpgards the genfru workmansh'p, although from the univ idablo detention ot' his iron work, the ex<>cuiio i ha-> b^en somewhat tedious. I have to bring refore you thenecs-ity of at once making p-ovi«ion for turn-snles at bo:h appr aches to the <'lyle Mrcfit f'notfori '£p, seping that butchers' horsps and ■ rovts of cattle are being daily driven over h a most severe and unwarrantable test for a b idge only intended for pele«trians. These brides, too, should be painted at once ; if not wh'l'y -o, the iron work in particular, should be d >ne.

I lnvp to intimate to the Board that the impr vpments or 'ered some time back in Duke street, i c 'h- cabstand, have been completed, i«, a'so. thf re m»talling of the north end of King street, that is, from the junction of the half crnin divergence road to Duke street intersection, b^i 'es surfv" Drains cut and metalled on crossing planes T have, however, to st-Ue that unless a 1 irger quanM'y of metal is immediately provided for ihi- ioc^litv, aid Duke street wesrward to the Belt, that tie road cannot last through the wififf-r the trirfi; ,h«Te being constant and heavy

f have the honor to respectfully request the Brmrd fo mv" the fi*'e unfa already passed by the Office Pittina up CommiDtee sent to the Fiaanea Committee for settlement, sef-ins that the parties to whiTi small sums are sti 1 due are much iaonvenienced hy the delay in closing their books at th» Ust of the year

I h-ive to b--i"E under the notice of the Board th" great ir justice done to those citizens who desire to eo'nply with the sarrtary arrangements "f the lusp'dor of tfuisances in having filth and m^nine remo.-ed to the depot appointed by the Board, iinrl pal for by the ratepiyers; they are eh irgp'i. notwithstanding, toll toy the Givernment ui'om the cartage, thereb/ taxinz the efforts ofthe householders to improve the health of the city, t h v.' he h>n-T to suggest that the Board, as f h- c n titufed authority, enquire into a grievance of -u"h maiMitudf with a view of hiving it removed I am, &c, J- Millih. F S A., Ci f y Engineer. The letter and report were referred to the Puhlic Works Committee, it being apparemly decided that, meanwhile, the contractor must go on with the works up t© L3OO.

it wa* resolved that the amount claimed hv Mr Heymanson as attorney for Mr M. Walkem, mentioned at the last meeting — should be paid. WORKS ON DEFERRED lATMENTS — THE TEN'DEKS.

The tenders for works to the amount of L 25,000, deferred payments, were opened j and read. For tne sake of brevity in stating the tendered prices, we give here the particulars of the kind of work, as advertised : — Metal, at per cubic yard, delivered and spread in the four wards of the city ; quidrant kerbing, at per lineal foof ; channelling, at per superficial yard ; earthwork, cutting, filling, carting and depositing, and spreading at per cubic yard, for a distance of 10 chains lead ; earthwork, cutting, filling, carting, depositing, and spreading (at a lead of 20 chains) and at per chain for every 10 chains extra lead ; sewerage, mains, and submains; culvert* at per chain, stone or brick.

The following were the tenders: — Benjamin Arrnitage : Metal, 9s ; quadrants, 5s ; kerbing, 4s 9d ; circular channelling, 8s 6d ; straight ditto, Sa; gravel,* 4s 6d; earthwork, up to 10 chains lead, 2s 6J ; over 10 chains, 4d extra ; tubular • Irains, to L 100 0; sewerage, to L 2750. Bank interest to be added from the time of completion of any work, until paid for. William Pearce, two tenders, the prices first stated being on condition of Bank interest added, and the second without interest: — Metal, 9s 3d. 11s; quadrants, 5s 6d. 7s 6d ; straight kerbing, ss, 7s; circular channeling, 98, 10s ; straight do, Bs, 9s 6d ; gravel, ss, 6s ; earthwork, 2s Bd, 3s; extra 10 chains lead, 4d, 4£d; tubular drains, LIOOOj sewerage, L 2750. Henry Wilson, for metal only: — 2£in, 6s ; 2in, 6s 6d ; Uin, Bs.

Anthony and Findlay: 2£in metal, 10s 6d; quadrants, 10s; channelling, 10s; earthwork, 2s 6d ; 10 chains lead, 3s; every additional 10 chains, Id; gravel, 4s ; tubular drains, LIOOO ; sewerage, L 2750.

It was remarked by several members that, according to the specifications, there was to be no separate item for interest. The tenders were, as before resolved, ordered to lie on the table for 14 days. The Board was adjourned for a week.