CITY COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume XVI, Issue 1806, 5 September 1874, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The City Council met last evening. There were present: His Worship the Mayor (in the chair) Councillors Jennings, Hooper, Thompson, David Burns, Robert Burn, Percy, and Fell. The minutes ofthe previous meeting were read and confirmed. NEW PEEMISES. Cr. Fell said with regard to the Examiner office as a Council chamber, thafc his partner and himself would expend aboufc £50 in repairs. GAS. The Mayob laid on fche table a statement regarding the cost of the Nelson Gasworks. It showed, he said, a loss of £1 52 6s. on seven months' work. He had no doubt that the Gasworks were mismanaged, and with regard to the Waterworks he could only say thafc they were as far from the possession of fche Council as ever. He had spoken to Mr. O'Conor with respect fco fche handing over, bufc the only reply he could get was " Nothing can be done until the Superintendent comes back." In the meantime the Government had lowered the prioe of gas, just on fche eve, he might say, of the works being handed over to the Corporation. He, however, believed that it would be a good thing to lower the price of gas to those who paid their bills before ten days had elapsed. The Nelson gasometer would scarcely hold enough gas to light the City for a week, and yet the works cost more than any other. The price charged for gas at Greymouth was 16s; at Wellington, 14s; at Auckland, 12s 6d ; and at Canterbury, 14s ; so that if the price in Nelson here lowrred to 14s it would be as low as in any place except Auckland. He had made a few calculations to show the mismanagement he had spoken of. According fco the statement furnished by the Provincial Government the amount received for gas from January Ist to June 30th, 1874 was £51110s Bd, which was equal to about 639,000 cubic feet of gas afc 16s per thousand. The amount paid for coal during thafc period was £293 ls 6d, whioh was equal to about 163 tons of coal afc 33s per ton—the contract price. 163 tons of Greymouth coal, according to information in his possession, ought to produce 1,467,000 cubic feet of gas, at the rate of 9000 feet to one ton of coal. They could account for 639,000 feet of gas, bufc there was not less than 828,000 feet; still to be accounted for. The amount of money which was still owed by consumers had not been shown in fche statement of fche Government, and perhaps when they had thafc they would be able to see what had become of fche remaining gas. Ho had received from three gas companies a statement showing the amount of gas made by eaoh from a ton of coal. So. 1 company made from 7600 to 9000 feet; No. 2 company, 10,000 to 11,000; and No. 3 Company, 8000 feet. According to the Nelson Manager's report, the working expenses for twelve months were estimated at £563, bufc the Government statement made the amount £374 for the seven months thus leaving only £188 for the remainder of the year. He had complained particularly to the Government of the item of £50 for labor in one month. He concluded by saying that two or three men were quite sufficient to do the work of such a place as Nelson. In Christchurch the returns were fully £5000 a year, and jet only one man, at £3 per week, was employed to collect the money and do the work. He had no charge to bring against any officer, bufc he had a duty to do and he was determined to do it. After some conversation Cr. Fell moved, and Cr. Thompson seconded, " Thafc a deputation from the City Council wait upon the Superintendent and Executive Counoil upon the earliest day which can be arranged, for the purpose of settling the terms upon which fche Gas and Waterworks can be afc onoe handed over to the control and management of the Corporation; such deputation to consist of the Mayor, Crs. Peroy, R. Barn, and the mover." The motion was agreed to. WAIMEA STBEET AND HAVEN BOAD. A letter from the Provincial Secretary was_ read stating that in making fche payment of the instalment of £70 for the above roads the Government were simply pursuing fche usual course. CABS. The Mayob suggested that an Inspeofcor of Cabs should be appointed, and then the drivers oould be licensed. It would be the duty of the Inspector to see thafc none bufc competent persons should have a license to drive. He requested the Council to nominate a person for fche office of Inspector. His opinion was that they should appoint their own Surveyor. Ifc was decided that the question should he settled at the next meeting. MES. BAENETT'S ACCIDENT. A letter from Messrs Fell and Atkinson was read stating that Mrs Barnett had had her arm broken and sustained various other injuries in consequenco of the neglect of the Council in not keeping a grating in Waimea-street in proper repair. It appeared that her horse had stepped on the grating which had given way, and the carfc in which she was riding had been upset. The letter stated that the Council would be held responsible for the damage done. The members expressed sympathy for Mrs Barnett and decided that receipt of fche letter should be acknowledged. MESSES SEDGWICK AND GOWLAND'S TANNEEY. Messrs Sedgwick and Gowland wrote that they had purchased a piece of land on the Maitai near Bettany's, where they were desirous of establishing.a fellmongery and tannery. To enable them to do this they required the sanction of the Council. It was agreed that the request should be complied with on condition thafc no nuisance was caused to persons living in the locality. TENDEES EOE SEWEE IN WAIMEA STEEET. The following tenders were received:—John Taylor, £291 ; Charles Blecher, £187; Robert Carter, £190; Donald M'Donald, £241; D. J. M'Rae, £262 10s On the motion of Cr. Burns, seconded by Cr. Burn.. Mr Blecher's tender was accepted. The Mayor mentioned that Mr Blecher's previous work had been performed in an exceedingly satisfactory manner. BYE LAWS. The miscellaneous bye laws were formally confirmed. BOTANICAL GAEDENS. Cr. Fell, on behalf of the Horticultural Society, wrote to the effect that fche Society, being desirous of acquiring the right to control the Eel-pond allotment in Bridge-street with a view to turning ifc into a Botanical Gardens for the use of the citizens, had applied to the Provincial Government in respect thereto. The Government wished to know what view the Corporation took of the appplication, as ifc was likely that fche whole of the reserves would eventually be handed over to the Corporation authorities. It was agreed that the Council had no objection to the application. V ACCOUNTS. The amount expended on labor during the week was £30 lis, and on repairing lamps, &., £2 4s 6d. The Council rose at half-past eight o'clock p.m.