city council.

Otago Witness, Issue 746, 17 March 1866, Page 8

city council.

The usual weekly meeting of the City Council was held on Wednesday in the Corporation Offices, Maclaggan street, W. Mason, Esq , Mayor, in the chair. There were present — Messrs Barr, Driver, Ross, Birch, aod Turner. MEMORIALS. Mr Bakb presented a memorial from residents and proprietors in the upper portion of Russell street, asking that that portion of reading between Young street to York place should be made passable before winter. Mr Turner presented a memorial from residents in George street, between 'Frederick street and Albany s'reet, praying that the footpath should be gravelled on the east side. Both memorials were referred to the Public Works Committee. REPORT OP THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. The Town Clerk read a report from this Committee, which contained the following recommendations: — That the pumps in Princes street, south and north, be at once attended to by the overseer ; and (the contract with Fi-h and Son having terminated) fresh tenders should be called for, for repairing the pumps. They could not recommend the final'settlement of Kirkland and Finnie's claim, for fencing the North Dunedin Recreation Ground, until the post 3 are fished in accordance with instructions, and the contract completed. The Inspector of Nuisinces to be called upon to give his opinion as to the advisabilify of Mr Caleb Moore cutting a drain from his shop to the corner of Walker street. Mr Alfred Boot's application to place a sign- board over the entrance to bis place of business was read, and the Committee went carefully into the question of signboards generally, and recommend that an order be issued to remove all signboards projecting more than Dine inches. Instructions have been given to advertise for tenders for the improvement of the pathway in Filluel s.reet, from Hanover to St. Andrew street. The day men were ordered to attend to the gravelling of the footpaths from Albany street to the Clyde street Bridge. Mr John Millar's offer to perform certain works in Stuart west, could not be entertained, the arrangements with Mr IL Wilson having been made previous to Mr Millar's offer. Mr Moran's estimate for worksin Dundas, Howeand George streets, was submitted to the Committee, and they recommended that tenders be called for the same. Mr A. Crawshaw's tender for works in Bond street, has been accepted by the Committee, the amount being L 389 5s lid. Instructions have been given to the daymen to form two gravelled foot-paths across the Octagon, each six feet wide. It was recommenced that tenders be called for forming and remetalling a portion of Arthur street. Instructions have been given to advertise for tenders for trimming and gravelling footpaths in Filluel street from Hanover street to St. Andrew 9treet ; and St. Andrew street, from Filluel street to George street. Mr Birch asked if the Government had acceded to the Council's request lo contribute towards the improvement of Bond street. The Mayor said the verbal answer of the Government was " No ;" but a written answer was promised to be sent that day, but it had not been received. The report was adopted. riNANCE committee's report. The Town Clerk read a report from the Finance Committee, which recommended — That the watering of the streets be continued for another month, with an understanding from the late contractor that the work is more satisfactorily performed. That the Town Clerk be appointed collector pro tern, under the provisions of the Ordinance, and that he proceed at once for the recovery of the rates for 1866. Your Committee have instructed the Town Clerk to take steps for the collection of the watering rate. Mr P. W. Hutton's application for renting ground for a weighbridge is held over until the Bye Laws are in force ; and your Committee very much regret that there has been so much delay on the part of the Government in not forwarding them to this Council, whereby^ the revenue of the Corporation has materially suffered, but anticipate they will be in a position to have them gazetted in the course of the ensuing week. Your Committee are engaged in preparing a scheme for borrowing money, and will shortly have the honor of reporting the result of their labors. The Clerk reported the over-draft at the Bank to be L 7972 9s; rates collected during month of February, for 1866, L 660 13s 4d; for 1864, Lls 195— L676 12s 4d. Accounts were passed amounting to LSOO Is. Your Committee will bring up the draft notice of appointment of Assessor at the next meeting of the Council. Your Committee lay on the table a balance sheet up to the 31st December last. The report was adopted.

BETURNS, COBBBSPONDENCB, &C. The Town Clerk laid on the table returns called for by the Council, showing the total expenditure which had been incurred on fittings and furniture for the Corporate n Offices. Permission was granted to the ownfr of a section at the junction of George and Albany streets to remove earth from bio ground, build a retaining wall, and make a permanent crossing over the footpath into his section. A letter foom Mr H. Green, with re- ; ference to the works now in progress in Stuart street, was referred to the Public Works Committee ; as was els i a comniuti.ation from Messrs. Kirkland and Finnic, the contractors for the erection ef the fence at the North Dunedin Recreation Ground, stating that they had never received instructions to fish the posts, and that it would, in their opinion, injure the fence to remove the struts now. An application from Mr James Newton to quarry stone on the Town Belt behind the old military barracks, for the works in George street, was referred to the Reserves Committee. The Inspector op Nuisances reported with reference to the application of Mr Caleb Moore to be allowed to constrnct a drain from his cellar into the Walker street sewer, that to grant the application would only be to increase the nuisance now existing in rear of the Police S'ation, and he would not recommend that it be granted until the drain is carried across the reclaimed land to the beach. He added that Mr Moore had great difficulties to contend with in keeping his cellar free from spring water, and the drainage of the surrounding neighbourhood. After a short discussion, it was resolved to grant permission to lay down the drain, under the supervision of.the Town Surveyor. The Hon. Secretary to the Volunteer Fire Brigade wrote asking payment of LIOO, the quarterly subscription of the Council, which was now due, and also of the expenses incurred at the late fire in Maclaggan street. In answer to a question put to the Finance Committee, Mr Bare said he was not aware that any pledge had been given to give the Brigade a quarterly subscription of LIOO. The le'ter was referred to the Finance Committee. THE BtiILDING SURVEYOR. Mr Biech moved, v That the Building Surveyor be instructed to furnish to the Council a statement of — under which portion of the Building Ordinance he permitted a wooden erection to be attached to the hotel, known as the Club in High street." Mr Turner seconded the motion, and it was carried. Mr Ross asked if the usual monthly reports requiral to be made by the Town Surveyor by the Ordinance had been received ? The Town Clerk said he had only received one monthly report since the Corporation had been in existence. Mr Ross moved that the To*n Clerk be instructed to write for the reports. Mr Turner seconded the motion. Mr Birch thought the Building Ordinance was being entirely overlooked. He knew of a wooden building being now reerected in Princes street, and a large wooden building at the Water-of-Leith. He suggested that the Town Clerk be instructed to call the Surveyor's attention to these facts. Mr Barr said he had seen the frame of a wooden building in the course of erection that day, on the scene of the late fire in Maclaggan street. No attention whatever appeared to be pail to the Ordinance. The motion, which was adopted, was to the effect that the Town Clerk write to the Town Surveyor, asking the usual monthly reports to be furnished, and instructing him that the requirements of the Buiiding Ordinance must be carried out so far as wooden buildings about to be erected were concerned. Mr Turner moved "That the Committee of Works be empowered to invite tenders for the supplying and fixing thirteen lamp-posts, lamps, &c , in Leith Ward ; also, twelve for Bell Ward, the same to be lighted with kerosene oil." Mr Ross seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Turner moved "That the Commit f ee of Works be empowered to set on a number of men to crack metal in the Maclaggan street quarry, and in Clyde street, uear the Water of Leith, and to erect fences as already agreed to for preserving metal." This was carried, and the Council adjourned for a week.

Such i 3 the dread of the rinderpest that the children of a farmer some ten or twelve miles west of Perth have been excluded from the parish school on the ground that rinderpest is in their father's byre ! This surely is carrying precaution to a cruel and unreasonable extreme.— Perthshire Advertiser,