BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Southern Cross, Volume 5, Issue 41, 15 January 1898, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Thursday, Jan. 13

The usual meeting was attended by His Worship the Mayor (Mr Hush Mair) and Councillors McFarlare, McKellar, Smyth, Watson, 'Goldie, Aitken, Rose, and Stead. Mr St. Otner (Mayor of Queensdown) occupied a seat beside the Mayor.

Wm. A. McOaw, on behalf of the 'Education Board, applied for 200 yards of bench gravel for the Central School grounds, and asked that it be •supplied at tiie cost of filling and • carting, viz., Is -3d per yard.—To be rsupplied at same terms as other .schools. J. Johnston and Sons wrote stating that owing to pressure of work they bad been unable to get machinery ready for the baths by January Ist, but they would do their best to have • everything ready by January 10th.— Received, the Mayor remarking that ■the engine was now in working order.

W. Lewis (for self and co-trustees) applied for permission to sign and transfer their interest (as trustees in the estate of the late C. J. Deschler) in section 67, block 15, to Mrs E. A. Hesebler. —Granted.

F. Forbes was granted permission to erect a projecting sign board on his premises in Tay street. R. Murie was granted permission to repair with corrugated iron and improve buildings in section 18, block 1, used by him as a cycle shop, and recently gutted by fire. Wm. Garthwaite was appointed dog fax collector for the ensuing year.

A. 0. Henderson wrote re Robert Christie’s claim for damage (£25 Is) caused by his horse going through a culvert near Gala street, and asked who was the proper party to serve a sum rnons u pon, Recet ved.

Sarah Jane Hughes, who stated that she was an invalid, wrote applying fur compensation in connection with the loss of herhnsband by drowning whilst engaged at the corporation work. John Macalister, solicitor, also sent in a formal claim in connection with the matter. —Referred to Finance Committee. A communication was forwarded by Joseph Hatch expressing his dissatisfaction with the result, of the ■investigation into the recent boating accident. Unless some further steps were taken he would place the whole matter before the ratepayers at a public meeting.—Received. With regard to the proposal to erect a public urinal in Dee street, in. the 'vicinity of the Athenaeum, a petition was received from a number ot ratepayers, and a letter from the Athenaeum Committee objecting to the site. A petition from the banks and others was also received objecting to its being put at the intersection of Dee and Tay streets as suggested.'The Mayor said he had stopped the work of erecting the urinal when the petition was sent in, and it now awaited the decision of the Council. —Cr Rose contended that, they ■should proceed with the work. Those who objected did not. know the urgent necessity for this convenience, and it was the Council’s duty to cater for the general public.—Cr Stead thought the petitioners were < o ng their duty in pointing out the unsuitability of the site. It would be in the immediate outlook from one of the leading hotels and the ladies’ reading room at the Athenaeum, whilst it would be an eyesore in front of the Post Office and Athenaeum, — The Mayor stated that a worse site could scarcely he found. It would be in close proximity to the Band Rotunda, where hundreds of. ladies ..frequently promenaded while the Rand was playing. There were do such things in Dunedin in the streets, they were all placed oif the streets :and surrounded with trees. —Referred to Sanitary Committee for report. John Aitken wrote abandoning the •contract at the jetty that his late brother had at the time he was • drowned and he applied for a refund

of the deposit. Left in the hands of the Mayor and Engineer. Wm. Smith and Co. were granted permission to use water from Puni Creek on usual terms. J. K. Jamieson sent in a claim of 12s 6d and Wrn. Rennie one for £1 for expenses in connection with the opening of the street drain * leading to their respective properties, which had been necessitated through the drains getting choked. They each stated that they had found a small iron grating placed in the drain.— Cr Aitken moved and Cr Rose seconded that the matter be referred to I the Public Works Committee. The i bitter said he had anticipated these claims, and it had taken him some time to get the putting in of these obstructions stopped. He knew of one pipe, where a stable was drained, which had got choked up, and a plate with small holes in it was found in the drain pipe.—lt might cost the Corporation about £IOO to put the drains right. Cr Stead remarked that all Yarrow street had betn connected in the same manner with the sewer, and it was a serious matter, which he hoped the Works Committee would lose no time in rectifying.—Motion carried. The following is the Works Committee’s report: — Recommend 1. That the Invercargill Cricket Club be informed that the Council will in future see that the A. and P. Society comply with the additional condition to a gatekeeper at the Cricket Ground entrance at. show time. 2 That the ratepayers and shopkeepers signing the petition praying that the water eart opera ions be extended to centre of blocks 52 and 53, Taj street, be informed that the present appliances for watering the streets are not sutH Merit for such additional work, and that the Council cannot sec its way to sanction the increased expenditure that would be necessary. Report—--3 That the Engineer’s report on, and plan of galley trap is held over fur consideration. 4 Having given instructions to apply to the Dunedin and Invercargill Stean ship Go for payment forthwith for damage to one bale of wool, amount, £2 9s sd. 5 That Mr Robertson’s letter re dividing fence is held over pending Engineer’s report. The report was adopted. The Finance Committee reported as follows: Recommend—--1 That the Council agrees to pay the cost or advertising (64 14s 6d) in connection with the closing of Garry street 2 That an additional charge of ten per cent be made upon all rates remaining unpaid six months overdue on 14th February, 1898, in terms of the provisions contained in section 60 of the Rating Act, 1894, and strictly enforced, a so that, legal proceedings be taken after 31st March next for the recovery of all overdue rates and the additional charge thereon. Re ort — 3 That ihe letter from the Southland Frozen Meat Go re works for public abattoirs is held over tor consideration 4 Having examined accounts amounting to £297 13s 3d, viz. ; Public Works, £62 I9s 6d ; Sanitary, £l9 2s ; Harbour. £lu 3s ; Waterworks, 616 4- 5d ; Gas work >, £56 16s lOd ; amt Municipal. £32 7s 6d, ana i rdered that the same be paid. In clause 2 the date, 31st, March, was substituted for 14th February. The report was adopted. The wharfinger reported that while unloading the s.s. Rapier on New Year’s Eve three bales of wool bad accidentally fallen into the water and been damaged. The N.Z. Loan Co. had made a claim in connection with the damage.—Referred to Harbour Com mit tee. The Town Clerk reported the rate able value of the town property for the year ending 31st March to be £56,443, an increase of £1217 on last year.—Received Three tenders were received for the jetty repairs contract, that of K. W. Harvey (£52 15s) being accepted. Four tenders were received for supply of doy collars and J. H. Kissel’s (£5 12s 6d) was accepted.