WEDNESDAY, 9th AUGUST.

Otago Witness, Issue 715, 12 August 1865, Page 7

WEDNESDAY, 9th AUGUST.

A meeting of the City Council was held this day, at the offices, Princes-street North. William Mason, Esq., mayor, presided ; and all the members were present. STANDING ORDERS. The Report of the Committee on Standing Orders was read by the Clerk ; and the different clauses were considered eeriatum. On No. 5, * Mr Birch asked whether, in the absence of the Mayor, a permanent chairman could be elected. The evils of constantly changing the Chairman had been seen in the case of the Town Board. The Mayoe read the 31st section of the Ordinance. Under it (he said) it would he necessary to appoint a chairman at each meeting during the absence of the Mayor ; but there was nothing to prevent a private understanding that the same gentleman should be chosen on each occasion. Mr Bikch had asked the question because he foresaw difficulties in the distance — and great confusion during the absence of the Mayor. No. 9, provided that members, in addressing the Maj or, should use the words "Your Worship," and should prefix "Councillor" to the name of any other member. Mr Birch said he had communicated with gentlemen who were acquainted with the matter, and he understood not only that it was not necessary to address the Mayor as ** Your Worship," but that the custom in England was to use the words, "Mr Mayor." He had not the slightest desire to lessen the dignity of the office ; and, of course, when the Mayor was a Resident Magistrate, and was sitting as such, be would most properly be addressed as " Your Worship." He (Mr Birch) would move that "Mr Mayor" be substituted for " Your Worship." Mr Turner seconded the amendment. The Mayor : I believe that both courses are adopted. It is quite immaterial which you resolve upon. Mr Chalmer knew that the custom in Liverpool was to address the Mayor as " Mr Mayor." Mr Driver did not see the necessity for any changp, unless it was improper to use the words "Mr Mayor," which he did not understand to be the case. He did not see why the Mayor should not have the full benefit of his dignity here as elsewhere. Mr Chalmer thought that both terms might be used in the Standing Orders. The amendment was put and negatived. Mr Torser moved that the words, "Or, "Mr Mayor," be added, after "Your Worship." Mr Grifpen seconded the amendment, ■which was agreed to. The other clauses were agreed to and the Standing Orders as amended were adopted and ordered to be printed. The Mayor : You must excuse me now, gentlemen, if I keep you in order. You have given me the power, and I will exercise "it. SALARY OP THE MAYOR. Mr Chalmer moved, " That the salary of the Mayor be fixed at L 450 sterling for the current year." Mr Barr seconded the motion ; and it was adopted. The Mayor: I must thank you for this vote, gentlemen; and I trust that at the end of the year, you will be satisfied with the manner in which I have expended the money. SALARIES OF OFFICERS. The Clerk read the Report of the 'Committee on officers and their salaries. The

following is its substance:— The Committee met on the 7th inst., and requested the Mayor to obtain the opinion of Mr Harris, solicitor, as to the position of the Council vith respect to officers under I engagements with the late Town Board. | Sut sequently, however, they received letters from Mr Lazar and Mr Millar, which relieved them from difficulty oa this subject. The letters were substantially the same, and stated:— "Having implicit confidence in the Municipal Council, I waive all legal claims to the fulfilment of my term of agreement with the late Town Boaid, and place my appointment unreservedly in the hands of the Mayor and Councillors." The Committeereeommended the following appointments and salaries : — Town Clerk, at L 450, instead of LSOO, as formerly; Town Surveyor, LSOO, instead of L6OO, as paid to the City Engineer; Assistant Cleric, L 250; Sexton, L 150; two Collectors, one at L 250 a year, and one at L 4 a week ; Messenger, 8s per day, instead of 9s as formerly. The Mator pointed out that although the recommended sums might be voted as yearly salaries, any officers now appointed would come under the terms of the Ordinance, and would hold their offices only during the pleasure of the Council. Mr Chalmeb, said that the report was not unanimously agreed to by the Committee ; but the recommendations were the result of concessions, so that, by means of the report the questions might be con> sidered by the whole Council. Such being the case, he did not consider himself bound by the report, and he should move— 41 That the salary of the Town Clerk be L 500." He considered Mr Lazar so very efficient an officer, and one who had been so very useful, that he was fully entitled to LSOO, which sum he had been receiving for some time. Mr Baku seconded the motion. The saving would be a BinaU matter, but it was a great matter to have a really efficient man in the position of Town Clerk. Mr Birch believed that he thought as highly of the qualifications of Mr Lazar as was thought by any other member of the Council. But on reviewing the present state of the finances and of the ratepayers generally, he saw that it was necessary to retrench somewhere ; and the Committee thought that it wa9 proper to commence with Mr Lazar, whose name stood at the head of the list. He (Mr Birch) was willing to vote for the LSOO, if the Council thought they were in a position to pay it ; but, after that, he would defend all the other salaries from reduction by the amount of a sixpence. Mr Chalmer replied. He denied the correctness of the principle asserted by Mr Birch. There might be one servant worth double what it was possible for the Council to give him, and another not worth half of what it was proposed he should have. The Council had a perfect right to enquire into qualifications, and to try, at the outset, to give salaries in .proportion thereto. He was well aware of the want of funds for carrying out necessary improvements; but during the time he served as a City Commissioner, he had ample opportunity of observing Mr Lazar, and it was from knowledge thus acquired that he now spoke. Mr Lazar was continually in his office — he was ever ready with suggestions for the benefit of the citynothing seemed to escape him, nothing to weary him— he attended the Magistrate's Court and did the duty of a Solicitor, and he could meet the Government as the deputy of the Commissioners; and in every respect he well performed his duties. Mr Lazar might, perhaps, accept the L 450, if it was offered ; but he (Mr Chalmer) believed in paying a good man liberally for such an office, rather than in getting a bad one cheaply, or to disgusting good servants, and giving them the notion that their salaries were to fluctuate with the funds of the Corporation. The motion was put and a division called for. There voted — For Mr Cnalmer's motion, 4 : Messrs Barr, Carrick, Chalmer, and Driver. Against, 4 : Messrs Birch, Grifien, Ross, and Turner. The Mayor: The votes being even, I am placed in a rather awkward position. But during the short time I have been in office I have seen Mr Lazar's efficiency : he is, indeed, a most efficient officer ; and I am therefore inclined to vote that his salary be LSOO per annum. I vote in the affirmative. The motion was, therefore, adopted. Town Surveyor, LSOO. Mr Bikck moved, " That the salary of the Town Surveyor be L 600." Mr Griffen seconded the motion. Mr Ross said that in Committee the question of the efficiency of certain gentlemen, to which so much weight had been given to-day, was not considered at all. The Committee simply looked to the duties to he performed, and the money available. Mr Driver moved as an amendment,, "That the salary of the Town Surveyor be L4SO." Mr .'Robs seconded the amendment. He did. not 'think that even L6OO was too .much lor . a Town Surveyor; .but at

present the funds were bo short that there there would be very little work for the Surveyor to do; and it would be better to increase his salary when there was more work. . Mr Bikch thought that this amendment looked amazingly invidioua. Let the members of the Council be honest to themj selves, and remember that after the generoua manner in which Mr Millar had acted, it would be taking a mean advantage to reduce his salary to L 450. He did not stand there as a friend of Mr Millar's; but he did support the old maxim "Do as you would be done by." He did not envy the feelings of any man, or body of men, who could trample on one who could not be present to speak on his own behalf: and he hoped that the Council would not stultify itself by offering the paltry sum of L 450 a-year to a professional man. Mr Barr considered that the reasons advanced in support of the reduction of the salary to L 450 were not sufficient. It was said that there was little work for the Surveyor to do at present ; but the Council were at the commencement of a new era, and they did not know what works they might have to undertake. Nobody could look impartially at what had been done under the Town Board, without admitting that much of it, at least, had been done in a very satisfactory manner; and, for that reason, he would oppose any reduction in the salary of the Surveyor, beyond that recommended by the Committee. Mr Carrick agreed that that there was no cogency in the reasons urged in support of the amendment. • Supposing there was not much work to be done at present; the Council could not expect a good officer to bide their opportunity for paying him fairly. No merchaut would think of saying to his managing clerk, " Times are dull, and you must go on a low salary until business improves." The Surveyor must be at his post ready for whatever had \ to be done. | Mr Turner denied that the Committee ' did not consider the question of the efficiency of the officers — that question was considered carefully ; and he denied also, despite any insinuations, that L 450 was a ' fair salary for a Town Surveyor. He certainly understood that Mr Millar was to receive the appointment ; and he wished i members to recollect that but for the way in which Mr Millar had acted, in throwing up his c'aim under his previous engagement, the Council would not now have been in a position to consider the question of tbe Town Surveyor's salary at all. In recommending LSOO, the Committee had in view the necessity for retrenchment in the different departments. Mr Driver said that, with the consent of the Council, he would withdraw his amendment, which he only proposed, because of the motion by a member ol the Committee that the amount should be L6OO. Most of the members were evidently in favor of LSOO as recommended by the Committee, and he was prepared to abide by that recommendation. He wished to say that he was neither an advocate nor an opponent of Mr Millar ; and that he did not act with any party on either side. Mr Birch also asked leave to withdraw his motion ; and leave was given in each case. The Mator said that he should have stopped the discussion but for the peculiar nature of the case ; for it could not be questioned that when the Committee met, the position of the question, as to a possible discussion on the Town Surveyor's salary, was very different from that which it had occupied before the Council. Mr Chalmer moved, " That the salary of the Town Survej'or be as recommended by the Committee, LSOO per annum." Mr Biacu seconded the motion, and it was agreed to. The salaries of the Asisistant Clerk, Sexton, and two Collectors, were agreed to, as recommended by the Committee; and that of the Messenger was fixed at 9s a day, as at present, instead of 8s a day a 9 recommended. The latter proposal was, made by Mr Carrick, and seconded by Mr Bark. OFFICERS NOT TO BO PRIVATE WORK. Mr Drives moved, " That the various | officers devote the whole of their time to the duties ot their office, and not carry on any private business ; and that a clause to this effect be inserted in the agreement with each officer." They all knew that this was pointed at the Town Surveyor ; and he himself had a strong opinion that that officer should not undertake private work. The Mayor: I think you should not allude to any particular officer ; but should make your remarks as general as possible. Mr Driver thought that reference to the Town Surveyor was unavoidable, because he was the only officer who was likely to do private work. The whole of the Surveyor's time ought to be at the disposal of the Corporation. They all knew that Surveyors did a great deal of work at night; and the Town Surveyor ought to do the same, if necessary. If the .Surveyor .could not do this for LSOO, he {

(Mr Driver) would vc>te for more being given. The late City Engineer was known to be in charge of the town works at Port Chalmers; and he (Mr Driver) objected to that being continued. Mr Ross seconded the motion, on principle. It had been affirmed by all the Governments and Corporations of -which he knew any thing. Let tfie Surveyor be paid a proper salary, and devote the whole of his time to the Corporate work. Mr Bikch said that the motion professed to be general, but was made personal. It was monstrous to suppose that for LSOO a year a professional gentleman was to give his time night and day — for that was -what the motion meant, if it meant anything. If the Surveyor gave his time daring office hours what right had the Council to interfere with him after those hours. It was absolutely an interference with the liberty of the subject. The motion was a most invidious one, and he could not support it. Mr Cabrick was in favor of the motion, with this reservation— that it should not be directed against any particular officer. Mr Turner thought that it was evident the intention of the proposer of the motion was to injure the position of a gentleman who would be proposed as Town Surveyor. The proposal that a professional man should v give the whole of his time," was monstrous. As it stood, the motion would go further, and it would forbid a laboring man, who bad worked for the Corporation from eight o'clock until five, earning a iew shillings afterwards by taking other employment. He could not support such a tyrannical motion ; and he would move as an amendment, to add the . words " during office hours." Mr Grifeen seconded the amendment. Mr Chalmer had always found it better that the heads of departments should be expected to give the whole of their time to their duties. As to clerks or others, he never heard it objected that they ought oot to be allowed to supplement their salaries by doing other work after office hours. He thought the object was to prevent such an officer as the Town Surveyor having private practice in the town, for his public and private dutie3 wonld be almost certain to clash. If a report was wanted on any particular subject from the Town Surveyor, and if he wanted to go to Port Chalmers or elsewhere for the purpose, he could always ask the Council for permission, which would no doubt be given to him. The amendment was put and negatived. Mr Turner : What are to be considered "office hours?" The Mayor : From ten to four, I presume ; but the Council can make any regulation on the subject. Mr Driver wished it to be understood that he did not attempt to define any hours. Of course, men must eat and bleep j but if an officer of the Corporation could find time to work for others, he could just as well work for the Corporation. With the head of a department, there could be no provision when he should go in and out of the office ; but what he (Mr Driver) expected was that such an officer should give all his time to the Corporation. The Mayor, thought that more than was necessary was being made of this matter ; for a month hence, ii any officer to be now appointed was not doing his duties satisfactorily, he might be told to vacate his place. Mr Birch : Is it to be understood that the heads of departments are to work day and night? The Mayor : The object of the motion, as I understand it, is to preclude any officer of the Corporation from receiving any emolument other than that which he receives in connection with his office. Mr Driver said that he was quite willing to withdraw the clause as to the officers giving " the whole of their time.'* The latter part of the motion would quite answer his purpose. The Mayor put the question that leave be given to amend the motion. * Mr Birch objected; he thought the motion should be put intact. The motion was put and carried. APPOINTMENTS. Mr Griffen moved, " That the appointment of Town Clerk be offered to^Mr John Lazar." Mr Chalmer seconded the motion, and it was adopted. ■ "^S^B Mr Turner moved, " That the appointment of Town Surveyor be offered to Mr John Millar." Mr Birch seconded the motion. Mr Driver asked whether it was to be understood that this appointment was tobe made as a sort of compromise, because of the resignation of any claims Mx Millar might have bad. It could not be denied that a large portion of the inhabitants of the town were opposed to Mr Millar : that was shown by the questions put during the elections. The Councillors had a duty toperform ; and he thought they should consider whether this should not be regarded merely as a temporary appointment, and whether tenders for the office should not be called for. He by no means said that

he would not vote for Mr Millar ; but he did consider that the Council had a duty to the ratepayers to perform. Mr Birch thought that Mr Driver had forgotten what the Mayor had stated about all the officers being nppointed during the pleasure of the Council; and that that gentleman was rta'ly treating Mr Millar very badly. If a Town Surveyor was to be advertised for, why not advertise all the appointments from the Town Clerk to the Messenger inclusive? He protested in toto against the present proceeding. Mr Barb would not sit in judgment opon Mr Millar ; hut he agreed with Mr Driver that a good deal of dissatisfaction had been expressed publicly with respect to the late City Engineer. He also endorsed the ooinion that, in view of the known dissatisfaction, the appointment should be regarded as a temporary one. If the Council wished to throw it open to tender he had no objection; but he was not inclined to do anything to disparage Mr Millar, to whom he had never spoken but once. The dissatisfaction of the pub•lic was the only reason for making a difference between this appointment and the others. Mr Ross said that the Committee recommended the appointment of Mr Millar not because he was an efficient servant, like Mr Lazar Mr Turner must clear himself of any •such imputation. It was simply op the score of Mr Millar's abilities as an engineer, that he supported that gentleman's re-appointment. Mr Ross was simply stating his own impression of what passed in Committee ; and that impression was, that the reappointment was recommended because of Mr Millar's generosity in leaving himself in the hands of the Council. It was well known that the citizens generally were decidedly opposed to Mr Millar, and had great reason to find fault with his conduct as City Engineer. Mr Cakrick suggested that the discussion was based on a misunderstanding. The report of the Committee did not recommend anyone for the office of Town Surveyor, nor for any other office . Mr Turner said that dissatisfaction with City Engineers and Town Surveyors was very general in these Colonies. Mr Bell, of Sydney, a very able man, was •much cried out against. He (Mr Turner) was informed, that here in Dunedin, when Mr Thomson recommended the cutting down of Bell Hill some 4ft. or sft, that gentleman was almost hunted for it by many people; and that the same result followed the same gentleman's recommendation that there should be some few feet of filling, near the site of the new Post Office. These gentlemen were often unpopular, not "because they did not do their duty properly, but because, in doing it, they necessarily interfere with private interests. So with the City Engineer. Mr Ross : Has Mr Turner a right to make these references? The Mayor : Yes, I think so. Mr Turner was replying to remarks that had been made. It had been said that dissatisfaction had been expressed as to Mr Millar's conduct as City Engineer ; he (Mr Turner) said that similar dissatisfaction •would be expressed with regard to Mr Millar's successor, if that gentleman was displaced. The Town Surveyor would have duties to perform that must clash with private interests. Such an officer must be unpopular with some people, just as much as a. policeman or an inspector of nuisances. He (Mr Turner) thought it doubtful whether Mr Millar's equal as an engineer was to be found here, or in Melbourne. Mr Millar did his work to the satisfaction of the majority of the Town Board; and he (Mr Turner) believed that the intelligent portion of the community would also be satisfied, if they would view Mr Millar's works dispassionately. He (Mr Turner) had been twitted with being a thick-and-thiu supporter of Mr Millar. He was nothing of the kind ; but he was not to be misled by the grievances of those who thought they had suffered by the way in which Mr Millar had performed his duties. It would be a lasting disgrace to the Council, if a mean advantage was taken j of the way in which Mr Millar had acted with respect to his claims under his engagement with the Town Board. The motion wa9 put and agreed to. Mr Ross moved; " That the situation of Assistant Clerk be offered to Mr Massey." Mr Turner, as. a member of the late Town-Board, wished to be allowed to vouch for the efficiency of Mr Massey. He had done his work faithfully ; he was assiduous and punctual; he never would devote attention to one member of the Board in preference to another ; and he was as hardworking an officer as the late Town Board had. The Town Clerk fully endorsed what Mr Turner had said. A more trustworthy •or efficient officer than Mr Maqsey, it would not he possible for the Council to have. The motion was agreed to, as were others offering the following appointments: —Collectors, to Messrs Bourchier and

Dunlop ; Sexton, to Mr Anderson ; Mes- 1 senger, to Mr John Peyton The report of the Committee on Officers and Salaries was adopted, as amended. Mr Ross wished to move a motion respecting a fixed scale of fec-s for giving levels, &c, and the fees being paid to the Town Clerk, as the property of the Corporation; but the Mayor ruled that notice of the motion must be given. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE This Committee presented a report, to which was appended suggestions as to the definite duties to be assigned to it. It being thought desirable that alterations should ba made in the offices, Mr Millar had been instructed to prepare plans, and to submit them at the next meetiug. The Committee agreed that the memorial respecting Market street South must stand over until the financial position of the Council had been definitely ascertained. The report was received and adopted. COMMITTEE ON ASSESSMENT. This Committee reported the following recommendations : — That the rates be collected half-yearly, in advance; that two assessors be appointed for South Ward and High Ward, and two for Bell Ward and Leith Ward ; that the payment to each of the assessors be L 42;4 2; that each should agree to discharge the duties as defined by the Town Clerk ; and that the returns should be made in not less than seven weeks from the date of the written appointments. Mr Ross moved, and Mr Chalmer seconded, the adoption of the report. j Mr Carrick moved an amendment, to I the effect that the year's rate be collected in one sum. He argued that there would I be a great saving as regarded amounts returned as not collectable under the present system ; and that there would be the additionil advantage of the Council being speedily put in possession of funds which were much needed. Mr Bark seconded the amendment. Mr Driver, Mr Chalrner, and the Mayoi supported the amendment; which was opposed by Messrs Griffen, Turner nnd Birch. On a division, the amendment was carried; Messrs Barr, Carrick, Chalrner, Driver, and Ross voting for it, and Messrs Birch, Griffen, and Turner against. The report as amended was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Finance Committee reported that they met on the Bth, to consider the proximate amount of liabilities and assets ; and that they called on the Clerk to furnish a statement of amounts due and payable on bonds, &c. They recommended the payment of a bond of LSOO to Mr Packham, with interest to date; and several small accounts were passed. On the 9th, the Committee again met, and they considered a statement furnished by the Clerk, which was handed in with the report. The Committee requested authority to enquire into the present Banking arrangements, and to make such arrinsemen ts as they might deem desirable. The statement referred to showed the amount payable in September to be L 9537 9s Id, including L 4450 overdraft at the Bank, and interest thereon ; in December, L 2911 Is 7d ; in April, L 559 4s 7d; and in July, L 559 4s 7d. In reply to a question, the Town Clerk stated that the amount set down as payable in September, included the LSOO on Mr Packham's bond, although that sum was presently payable. Mr Birch had perfect confidence in the Committee, and approved of giving them the powers asked for. On the motion of Mr Barr, seconded by Mr Carrick, the report was adopted. The Mayor said there was a report from the City Engineer, simply giving information for the Public Works Committee. He thought the report should be referred to that Committee. Mr Ross gave notice of his motion respecting fees for levels ; and Mr Bare, of one for a return as to the expenditure of the L 35,000 loan. Mr Ross asked whether there had been a return made by the Building Surveyor, in conformity with the Ordinance, and as to which a motion was adopted at the first meeting of the Jouncil. The Tows- Clerk said that he had not received such a return. Mr Ross wished, and pressed, to be allowed at once to propose another motion ; saying that the Ordinance required a return to be made on the 7th of each month. The Mayor ruled that notice of motion must be given. At ha'f-past six o'clock, the Council was adjourned until half -past two on Wednesday next.

The latest novelty in Parisian amusements is a tame ourang-outang, which has been engaged to supply the place of the late Ducrove-raonkey, whose, horsemanship tricks were such an attraction at the Cirque. This ourang-outang is a greater performer on the flying trapeze than Leotard, and, like the celebrated mule ltigolo, it will not allow any one to mount its back.