CITY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 865, 27 June 1868, Page 13

CITY COUNCIL.

A meeting of the City Council was held on Wednesday lasc, in the Chamber, at the new Post Office. The Mayor (T. Birch, Esq.) presided; and there were also present Messrs Bagley, Carrick, Dods, Driver, Fish, and Wain.

MEMORIALS.

Mr Bagley presented a memorial from ratepayers in Heriot Row and Royal Terrace, complaining of the great loss and inconvenience resulting from there being no road by which drays, &c, could approach the neighborhood ; and suggesting that a dray road from London street could be made at a small expense.

A memorial from, residents in Maclaggan street was read, complaining that for nearly four years — since the filling up of the old culvert where the .new Post Office now stands — the residents in Maclaggan street had been subjected to great inconvenience and loss from floods — the street having been flooded six times during the last five months. The memoralists suggested that the culvert from the Harbor to the Crown Hotel, should be extended up Maclaggan street, sufficient gratings being supplied to carry off the body of the flood-water. The cost of this work would be great ; but it would be justified, in view of the present cost of frequently repairing the Btreet, and the amount of loss inflicted on residents.

It was stated that the construction of a new channel had already been considered by the Works Committee. Residents in Cumberland street and the neighborhood memoralised the Council for the forraatian of a gravelled footpath from Dundas street to Howe street.

Mr Dods said that this was included in the work already ordered to be done in the Ward.

The memorials were referred to the Works Committee.

ASPHALTE FOOTPATH IS" GEORGE STREET.

Mr Bagley presented a memorial fiom residents on the easterly side of George street, complaining of the very dirty — and in wet weather almost impassable — stute of the footpath opposite their premises ; and asking that asphalte should be laid down, the memorialists undertaking to pay hali the cost.

Mr Bagley said he thought that compliance wttlx this memorial would be a step in the right direction — helping those who were willing to help themselves. The memoralists represented, with a few exceptions, the frontages from Moray Place to Hanover street ; and he believed that if the Council resolved to comply with the memorial, it would be arranged that the half cost of the asphalting between Moray Place and Hanover street, should be repaid to the Council. He moved that the memorial be referred to the Works Committee.

The Mayor thought it possible that the memorial might be dealt with at once. The necessity for the work must be apparent to everybody.

Mr Dods said ihat some months ago, he suggested that the whole of the tenants or owners, from the Octagon to the White Horse Hotel, should be got to agree to pay half the cost of asphalting the footpath. Such an arrangement would be a saving to the Corporation, as compared with the cost of frequently gravelling the path ; and it would be a great benefit to the shopkeepers^ as well as to all who had to pass through the street.

Mr Carrick thougkt that money could not be better spent than in tlie proposed way. Until something of the kind was done, there would be an expenditure on these paths year after year, for what would really be of no value.

The memorial was referred to the Works Committee ; and, on the motion of Mr Dods, it was agreed that the Council should, undertake to asphalte the path from the Octagon to the White Horse, if the tenants or owners of property would undertake to pay half the cost.

LIGHTING.

The Lighting Committee presented the following report : —

Your Committee beg respectfully to report that they find it advisable to number the lampposts throughout the city, in order to lead to a better carrying out of the lighting contract. They therefore recommend that a number be painted on each, of thta lamps of the Corporation. Your Committee also advise that an additional lamp-post be placed in Walker street, above Melville street, and that the gas-lighting contractor be caled upon to light and take charge of the latnp when erected , under No. 2, Contract.

Mr Fish moved that "two lamps" be substituted for one lamp, as to Walker street, and that the report be thenadopted. Taking the corresponding length of Stafford street, there were six lamps, as against the one now in Walker street ; and, considering the amount of traffic, and the bad state of the street, two lamps more were well deserved.

Mr Carrick hoped that additions to the number of lamps would not be comm-

enced. If there was a beginning, every Councillor would be able to submit many claims as good as the present one. Every lamp cost Ll2 10s a year for lighting. As to. the lamps in Stafford street, they were put up tinder Contract, No. 1, which provided that the lamps should not be more than a specified distance apart ; but that matter was remedied when Contract, No. 2, was entered into. If the Councillors for the Ward could arrange to shift a lamp or lamps to the part of Walker street in question, he would not at all object. Mr Driver protested against any increase in the cost of the lighting contracts. It was remarked by visitors to Dunedin, that there was no other town in the world, of equal size, in which so many street lamps were crowded into the same space. There were, unquestionably, more lamps in the centre of the city than were necessary ; and although the arrangement was necessitated by the first contract, he should be glad to see a general re-distri-bution, and even a reduction in the number of lamps. After discussion, Mr Fish withdrew his amendment ; Mr Wain seconded the, adoption of the report ; and that motion was adopted by 4 to 2 — Messrs Carrick and Driver voting in the negative.

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE.

The following report from the Public Works Committee was read :—: —

Your Committee have the honor to submit the following report : — Ist. The Committee recommend that the Inspector of Works be authorised to employ six extra dayman ai.d horse and dra} r , for two weeks, in order to overtake arrears of work.

2nd. That the Inspector be allowed to keep his horse free at the Corporation stabling, for a further period of three months.

3rd. Your Committee have received a memo, from the Dunedin Water Works Co.. proposing to pay a sum of L2l in settlement ot claims to date on account, damage occasioned to the roads by the of the Company, and recommend that* this offer be accepted.

4th. Your Committee recommend that tenders be called for providing and erecting at certain corners of the streets of the City, guide-poats with the names of the streets painted thereon ; for painting aJI the names of the streets on buildings where there are buildings at the street corn' rs ; and for numbering all the lamp-posts of the Corporation . But in this matter, your Committee desire authority to decide farther details and to call for tenders.

sth. Your Committee recommend the Council to decidtt as to proridmg or not any public closets, in connection with the Tanks and Urinals, now beiug re-erected near the JFire Brigade premises. 6th. la reply to an application to the City Surveyor, on the subject of his preparing a large Record Map, the Committee have received the attached reply, which they prefer to lay before the Council, requesting action to be taken on the subject;. Your Committee have also had placed before them an account from Mr Mirams amounting to L 95 Ilia, for fees claimed independently of salary under present engagement. Your Committee find that most of the work for which fees are claimed, has been done since the date of his engagement, and, therefore, recommend that the Surveyor be paid 2i per cent, commission on the contract work charged for. An item of 1.50 is charged as for laying oft the Reserve for "Wharves and Quays, and preparing Record Map. And your Committee find that the greater portion of this work has been on hand, also, since the date of the present engagement. Your Committee applied to Mr Mirams to explain the various charges made ; and they append the Surveyor's report on the matter. 7th The representatives of All Saints' Church and of the First Piesbyterian Church have been applied to, to take charge of and to light as may be necessary, the lamps which have now been placed by the Corporation in front of those Churches.

Sth. The Inspector of Works has been instructed to attend to the following matters : — Clyde street bridge approaches, York place footpath., Great King street footpath (opposite Knox Church, and corner of Frederick street), footpath, at Moray place, N.W. ; and to attend to View street, North George street, Queen street, aud Duke street in due order. The Inspector has also instructions to effect some slight repairs at the Bell Tower, and to proceed with energy with the various works lately allocated to the four Wards.

9th. The following permissions have been granted : — To Mr M. Joel, to open footpath at Kegent road ; to Messrs Burt, for a crossing ; to Mr Elliott, to having kerbing laid fronting the New Zealand Insurance Company. Messrs Hunter's application for gravel from Water of Leith has been declined. And the Water Works Company have been desired, in all future cases, to fix their stopcocks close up to the building lines, instead of in the centre of the footpaths

10th. Your Committee have received complaints that Mr D. Ross has illegally removed material from off the street line near his residence, and your Committee have given instructions for asuminons to be issued, against Mr Rosa, for doing so.

Mr Fish moved the adoption of the report ; and Mr Wain seconded the motion.

Mr Driver moved, as an amendment, that so much of the report as referred to

Mr Mirams should stand over for further consideration. He contended ihat when the agreement as to the L2OO a-year was made with Mr Mirams, the understanding was,, that he should be paid professional charges on all works which had then been commenced by him. Mr Carrick seconded the amendment.

Mr Fish argued that it was never intended to pay Mr Mirams five per cent, for superintending works for which he had prepared plans under the old arrangement, and also L2OO a-year. The latter sum was given for all the professional services required by the Corporation from Mr Mirams.

Mr Dods agreed with Mr Fish. Mr Mirams was to be paid all commissions "due" at the time of the new arrangement. There could be no commissions "due" for the superintendence of works which were not commenced, except as to plans, &c. until after the new arrangement was made.

There was a long discussion. The amendment was negatived, only Messrs Carrick and Driver voting for it ; and the

report was adopted.

CORRESPONDENCE.

The Solicitor to the Corporation wrote, in reply to the Mayor, that it would be correct for the Revision Court to put upon the Citizens' Roll the names of those who paid their rates between the 15th June and the 3rd July.

It was agreed that the Revision Court should be held on the 9th July.

The Secretary for Land and Works forwarded a tracing of the Market Reserve, Octagon, showing: the portion which he Government would require for the Central Police Station.

The Provincial Secretary forwarded the Resolutions of the Provincial Council, as to Botanical Gardens, Acclimatisation Society, and Government House, and asked whether the City Council would assent to the arrangements necessary for carrying out the Resolutions.

The Mayor said that he intended to convene a Special Meeting for the consideration of the subject.

Mr J. W. Hutchison wrote asking permission to take boulders, &c. , from the Water of Leith, for purposes of the Steam Brick, Tile, and Patent Pavement Manufactory ; and also calling attention to the overdue Gas account. — As to the latter, the Mayor explained that the delay had arisen in connection with the new arrangement as to the contracts.

Mr James Scott, on behalf of the Anderson's Bay Cattle Market Committee, asked permission to use part of the reclaimed Land at the south end of the city, for the nest Market, on the Bth July. — It was resolved that Mr Scott be informed that the Coancil had not control of the reclaimed land.

Mr C. J. Levien, Princes street, wrote complaining of the disgraceful state of the pavement in front of his shop.

The Mayor said that many of the shopkeepers besides Mr Levien, had spoken, to him on this subject. As to Mr Levien's shop, and other places in Princes street, arrangements as to the pavement had been made ; but it was impossible for asphalting to be proceeded with while the present state of the weather continued.

A complaint from Mr James Wilson, that Corporation carts had destroyed a private road to his house, at the end of George street, was referred to the Works Committee.

Messrs Bates, Sise, and Co. wrote, as to Bond street, that it was almost impassable from mud, and that some lamps were needed, there being none in the street.

Mr Carkick said that the state of Bond street was owing to the fact that the hoarding at the Post Office allowed only a part of the road to be metalled, and caused all the heavy traffic to be driven over to that strip. Now, the hoarding had been removed, and the mud was disgraceful. The Government ought certainly to put the street into good repair, seeing that one side o£ it vas almost wholly occupied by Public Buildings, which paid no assessment.

Mr Driver was sure that lamps -were needed in Bond street.

The Mayor had seen the Superintendent ; and he understood from His Honor, that the Government would make good both Bond street and Water street.

Several other letters as to roads and footpaths were referred to the Works Committee.

WARD ELECTIONS.

Mr Fisn moved, " That the opinion of the Solicitor be obtained in reference to the legality of a citizen being elected for a Ward of which he is not an enrolled ratepayer ; and, if so elected, is it competent for him to retain his seat at the Council ?" He urged that it might make a great difference in some cases, as to the application of funds, if a Councillor sat for a Ward in which he was a ratepayer ; and he contended that, under the 18th clause of the Ordinance, no one ought to be elected for a Ward who was not a ratepayer within it. Mr Driver had no objection to the

opinion of the Solicitor "being obtained, except that it would involve expense. The Council had really no power in the matter ; and if they attempted to exercise any, they would assuredly find that legal opinions on the subject did not agree. Even the 18th clause was open to an interpretation different, as he thought, from that put upon it by Mr Fish, There was a penalty imposed upon any person who, not being duly elected, voted, in the Council ; and such votes did not annul any proceeding of the Council. The matter might well, therefore, be left to the ratepayers of the respective Wards, and those who presided at elections. The Mayor said that he had already obtained the opinion of the Solicitor, which he would cause to be read ; and he had also obtained another opinion. He knew that there was a conflict of opinion, and he thought that any one who wanted to contest the matter, should take the proper proceedings in the Supreme Court. He did not feel that, as Mayor, he could interfere to prevent the ratepayers of a War.d electing any enrolled citizen to represent them. Mr Dods said that at a late election, he asked the opinion of the late Mayor ; and Mr Harris's opinion was thai any citizen had a perfect right to be nominated, and to sit, for any one of the Wards.

Mr Carrick agreed that the Council could not do anything in the matter. • If a citizen was duly nominated, and elected, what could the Mayor, or the Presiding Officer at the election, do toprevent that citizen taking his seat- for the Ward for which he was elected 1 Any one who felt aggrieved, could apply to theSupreme Court.

The following letter to the Mayor, dated April 27th, was read :—: —

Sir— ln reply to your communication, of this date, we have the honor to state —

1. That, in our opinion, no ratepayer is eligible for election a? councillor for any other than the Ward for which, or one of the Wards for which, he is enrolled. — Fide Section 18 of Otago Municipal Corporations Ordinance, 1865, which provides that "thecitizens of the respective Wards shall elect one of their number to be a councillor." &c.

2. That no person is eligible for any corporate office unless duly enrolled. — Vide section 9, of said Ordinance.

3. In the event; of any nominations transgressing either of the above conditions, it ■will, in our opinion, be your duty, after having read out such nominations, to pronounce them invalid, and to intimate that you cannot include such names in the list of candidates. — We have, &c.

Smith & Dbmpsey.

Mr Fish thought it was the Mayor's duty to reject any nomination of a citizen not a ratepayer within the Ward for which an election was aim mnced. After the reading of the Soli 21 tor's letter, he would withdraw his motion ; whether he would take further action, must depend upon circumstances. The Council was theu adjourned

Density of Different Wines. — It has been discovered, says the Scimlific Review, that* the specific gravity of a wine may in some instances serve to point out adulteration, to. Pure red wine of France, accordinsr to the recent determinations of M.M. Saint-Pierre and Pujo, have a specific gravity of 0 999 to 0 994. Dry white wines are generally the lightest ; their specific gravity attains to about 0 994. Sweet wines, on the contrary, are always heavier than water; but the more alcohol they contain, the lighter they become. They sometimes contain enough sugar to give them a specific gravity of TOS9, which is observed in the Muscat de Lnnel.

Curious Discovery. — A letter from Bouvignes (Belgium), to the Union de Charlcroy mentions an interesting circumstance. M. Luffin, a provincial architect, was employed by the Government to execute some works at the ruins of the Castle of Creve-Cceur, rendered necessary in consequence of the recent giving way of the soil and. masonry. In the course of the work he discovered some mines, placed there no doubt by the troops of Henry 11. of France, when, under the command of the Duke of Nevers, they besieged the town on the 7th July 1554. The canvas bags containing the gunpowder are not quite decayed, and the pieces of wood laid around them are almost intact. The supposition is that the intention was to blow up a portion of one of the conical towers, which is still standing, and from the top of which, as the story runs, the three ladies of Creve-Cceur threw themselves into the Meuse.

The Leading Men of the Day. — It isa curious coincidence that Mr Disraeli and. Mr Gladstone were both in their early years brought up under Unitarian auspices. The present prime minister was educated by the itev. E. Cegan, Unitarian Minister at Walthamstow. The father of Mr Gladstone was a Unitarian, and a member of the E,ev. Mr Yatea's congregation at Liverpool, by whom the present leader of the Opposition was baptised. Another curious coincidence of alike nature is, that the late Bishop of London, Dr Bloomheld. was baptised in tho Unitarian Chapel at Bury St. Edmund 3 : and the father of the Archbishop of Canterbury was also a Unitarian, aud a member of the congregation of Chatham Lord Brougham was also broueht up as a Unitarian, as were the Rev F. Maurice and Lord Houghton.— • Weekly Review.