CITY COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume XXV, Issue 2932, 13 August 1881, Page 5

CITY COUNCIL.

Aw ordinary meeting of the Council was held.last evening, when his Worship the Mayor occupied the chai:, and Crs Levien, Everett, - Johns, Hounsell, Little, Marlsy, Graham, Greig, and Trask were present.

; After the confirmation of the minutes of last meeting payments were authorised, and then the following correspondence was considered:—

Letter from Mr Garrett as to the footpath in Alton street.

The Sarveyor was instructed to lay a loads of gravel.

Letter from the Secretary of the Pire Brigade asking for the annual subscription.

; It was resolved that the same amount as thai granted last year (£4O) bo voted to the Erigads. :

Letter from Mrs Eogers asking that a few loads of gravel be placed on a right of way off Hardy street. .

: On the motion of Cr Trask, seconded by Cr Johns, the request was granted, and the Surveyor authorised to see to the matter.

■; Letter from Mr John Sharp asking leave to. cut turfs from Scotland street oa his undertaking to fill up the hollows left with gravel.

• Cr Harley hoped that if this application was agreed to the Surveyor would see that tKe road was made up with gvavel, for where similar applications had been granted in the past the stipulation that the turf should be replaced with gravel had not been enforced.

The application-wras granted, the Surveyor baingaustrnctedto see that gravel be laid. Letter from" Mr <T. W'lka offering to cart" gravel from the Brook street stream to the streets between the Saltwater bridge and: Mr Bouudy's, on the Waimea road for 2s per load, and to Trafalgar street, south at 2s 6d per load., ~ i!. .' ■ ■ ■■ ■ • ;

This letter eyokad considerable discuss:©^, arid ultimately it yra» resolved, on the motion olCr Everett, that the offer should' not be accepted, apd that if'the Council required any'work;af this description, -beyond what could be done by their; own men and teams, they should call for tenders for same.

The report of the Public Works Committee was; then read. It contained' the following recommendations:— That the Committee haying visited Montreal street, ;met Mr Web-, ster, who offered to give to the Council the triangular piece of ground through which the water course ran- on condition.that the road be'made up, and- the banks of the ditch ■protected by willows, (fee, to his satisfaction. Under these circumstances the . Committee, recommended'that the Surveyor be instruofced to prepare specifications of the work suggestedjj in brdervto lay .the same: before Mr Webster for his approval, and also that a conveyance of the piece of land in question be prepared.—The clause was >adopted. ;The report also recommended, regarding the letter from.: Mr J. lloss asking that certain, work be done in Tipahi street, that as the work would only-benefit one ratepayer that the application; ibe ;not granted—adopted/. The Committee also reported, regarding the application; that a footpath be constructed in 'Washington.: Valley, recommending' the; ruts in the ; (roadway sHould be filled up/with gravel, but. stated .they were unable to recommend any, furtb-er-jworkß at present.!;./.;: ■:.., --j-rir-:;- ■ ■ •:.(,••• -,(•:,■; j"' ; ■ This recommendation called forth a considerable; amount of opposition, Cr Everett Strongly- adypcating that a footpath, should ;be constructed, and he moved an amendment fthatl the Surveyor be instructed, to, form a tfpotpath from the new, school on the Haven, road as far as Eussell skeet. ~,." ," !" ■ Cr Johns seconded tHa fesolutioij, remarking that,the mud on this .thoroughfare was knee deep.' '" ''i:!'-"v^i-> ■•■ ■•'•/•■•"■ .■- ;

Cr Graham thought the roadway for a con"^eYabTe~aisiance"was"so narrow that unless the ditch was covered overciOr tha road .'widened the'road way: would be too-narrow for cart traffic if a footpath were, constructed. ■■'. Cr Traßk supported -the motion,; and thouglit.: that a hand |rail, should be placed alongside the ditch to. prevent accidenta. '.■■■ Cr Leneh was satisfied, with < tlz« t recommendation of'the Committee,,, He thought it would be better to patch the road than to make a footpathat present, but that' so soon .as they had funds they should construct a sewer, and then there would be room for a footpath, but there were not sufficient funds at present., ; , .. ;, ;■ ; ...-'. [ ;. The Mayor said '. the. preSßnt •ngagements: of the Counoil would more than "swallpw all their funds. .■■'„.",.,"•" ./. "'...' ) <'■> '■;■'■■

,-Cr Everett complained that' whenever an important and negeiigary work was proposed' the bugbear of "no fijndy,'waj raised, The Council had now •»m» £700 or £800 to come |It of the ratt l«Ti«d up to September, ttud

the payineat' for'/the f ° cfpl'jyig^oa.11 ftridge; would not be necessary Jtiir the next rate was' duo.; *-~ - ■. ; -.. ~ r . . _ } 1 Cr Harley was glad to ihear'.they Shad'so' much money, and .under .thosp; circumstances he viewed the matter in a different light.' He thought they should do Something 'that, could last. They, could,,>YideU|,ih,e}jroad, i to! its proper width aud. pi'ovide^a good footpath,' but it was absurd to make a footpath pn the preseat road, vjhich'was hardly'wi^e enough! fjr two car*s to pass.,. t *■> - ■ j ,Qn the amendment being put Gss Everett) Johns, ; Trask, - and Hounsell yotad for the1 footpath, and the Mayor, and Crs^'Grahamj Harley, Lutle, Greig, aria Lev^en aga'n'si'ifc,l and accordingly the recommendation of the1 CommLtee was adopted. ~'' "• ' ' t The flommii.ee /further'reported that they' were unable to rscommend'that drain pipes be laid in-front 'of' the (Synagogue, and they recommended . that' Toi-toi street, from, 'Mr Webster's upwards be gravalled. Both these clauses'were adopted. ~ ■" ; .-v- • ' The F'lurace Comnjittee reported upon the letter froui Mr Bunny,' cla;mjnq compensation on,behalf ef Miss Johns for injuries sustained by her. They stated that tney had obtained a legal opinion from Messrs Fell and Atkinson to the effect taat the Council'nad a^good defence 'to the 'threatened ' action, and they stated that they were accorr'ngly mable to' recognise any liability, and they recommended that the Council contest the 'claim. " This was 'adopted, 'aud JCr' Johns made some remarks as to filling up the pathway over the ra 's by "the Cocporation after the accident occdTed. His Woi&hip said that all that was done was that a small quantity of gravel was placed on c path to covtr some blood, but without knowledge that an accident had occurrer).

H's Worship suggested that as Ihei-e were a great mpuv men out of employment the Council should represent the matter to their rep esenta''ves in < Pailiament, and request them to obia'n a vote for a road round on the JElocks in ovder that tbe unemployed mi^ht receive work. If such a 1 request were made on behalf of Dan^im or Auckland he was confident that it would be granted at once, but the people of Nelson had been satisfied with verp little, and they had been too bashful, but be thought the time had come when they should stand out. Aiier Bom raoaarks from Crs Graham and Everett, it, nas unanimously resolved, That the City membflrs be requested to interview Ministers with a vfewof getting a sum-placed oa the -Estimates :to form a road round the rocks in order that employment might be found for the large number-of men at present. out ofamp'oyment.' ; ■ ••■; ; ;. Cr Harley observed that, when in Wellington he had mooted some' sucL thing to !:Mr-, Lsrest- m, who sad he would dp all be ooujd, in. the matter, but he.iuggested that Mr .Pitt should move in tha.t;inaltor,.as he, (Mr Leve>tarn) was trviog' to. get .the.Goverament to' g've them a'patent slip.'- "';! }': Hii Wo slip said he would also suggest^ in order that the Counoil might do 'What jit couli to relievo thase out of employment, that. tenders be oallel forb)uider bmk stone to be landed on the Corpora ion Wharf, and Ihjit tbe Surveyor shon^d be authorised to g yo work to those requiiiag it mist urgently in breaking these stones.1 > Cr Johns thought . they could not get boulder bank Btonp. , ;

Cr Levien supported the motion, not because he 'thought the', unemployed *ere especially good stoD(b"eale:«, but berame lie was eiire this metal was ,' by. far. .better than, any they used from elsewhere, and he..ahoii'd; like to see the metal placed on a special "place in order to test its durability. i Cr Har'ey, thought it .would be one ;of the greatest mistakes the' Council coo'd. make to interfere with the boulder baaky arn 7 he referred to when th's stone wi s used before; and said that a breach in the bank was made which caused a coneidepable oatlay to repair. * i

Or Xovien wou'd be sorry to see the sea let in, but the o werj,'he said, millions of tons which could betaken without any damage. : : c Cr.Tcask; said he;could iaform.C?.Harley. that afc present masters of vessels took! as: much as they wan'tedfor ballast. ~, ;1 ,,. \ ;: Ci 1 Harley said he could on'y 'enter his : proteofc, and to do bo would move that t! o unemployed be set to work'"oh 'he unfi"mhaa roadg in .Trafalgar.-afrae'fc '"Soul h; aiicl BroDtistreet at a low rate of wfig3, and heisuggesiied 4a a day. ' ',' , ' ' ': '. ,/' L : ;~ ~-'■•"•■'->>: : Or Little BecoDded this ;. but all the otlV"'" Ppuncillora being in favor of his.Wo "shi,-*

suggestion, it.was. rrpolved that teuiiers hi called Tor 100 yards of Builder Bipk stoia.j , Tenders were then 'pc led. Ebr supplying the ; Grasworks,. With ,coal for. the nextifcvre{veinoHths, Mr E'.'Naucsrrow';tendered' at'27s gd per ton ; and Messrs Oock arid Go;,» at 25a 3d.

The latter .tender' was ~abbapted.- For the supply of cement, Mes.-ra Cock and 00.-^en-, deredat 19a per cask for Pyramid, and 18=T ,for Brother, brand ; Mr at 18s 8d for Pyramid, Mfass'-s So'landerk and Co. for the same article at 17a 4d, andidhjeir tender; was'accepted. ■- / '.■ '■ j

On Cr Harlev's motio», tho Surveyor was instructed to lay a few loads of «ihea near Mr Pickering's residence} and on Or Eve 'rett'c, some repairs near the Liae«kilti and.otbers,on the Haven-road were authorised. Or Little called attention to several minor matters, and Cr Graham spoke of tbe-dangei-ous corner near Mr Stringer's'residence'on the Waimea-road, and these natfcjrs were referred to the Works Committee. ' Cr Graham moved that the Fnaice Committee be requested to ascertain and prepare a statement showing the approximate amount which would be available.tor public works? up till March 31, 1882, after providing for works already agreed to, and the maintenance and upkeep of streets* ■ I Cr Groig seconded the m >tion, which was carried unanimously. '• ■ i His Worship-then said thafsince lhiir ilast meeting they had lost a Ufco' membpr of tbeir body, a gentlemen who wj 0 a n emb r of [the Board of Works trom its foundation, and who had also worked with them. He would Buggest that the Cotinoil attead the funeral.of the late Mr Joseph Webb in a body, in order to show that respect to his memory which wag due. •■• Cr Everett roße to second the proposal.' Mr Webb was a man who toot a most, thorough interest in all that appertained to tho welfare and interest of the ratepayers, and was always ; ready and willing to attend to any work foi the benefit of the oitizens. It was a mark of 1 respect due to his memory that theyehou d all attend in a body. ' ' > It, was then unanimously agreed that his Worship and the Councillors should mest at the Council Chamber at half-pash 2 o'clock Lo-day in order to attead the fun ril of the , •late Mi' Joseph Webb. i f Cr Little proposed' that the rent at present charged for gai meters should be discontinued. He sad that very many people.hadj been paying rent for their meters since the gasworks opened, and they had more than paid tueii- cost; therefore he thought the least tho Council could do was to discontinue charging for canoe. ' ; CrHarley seconded-the motion. | Cr Hounsell asked how it was propoked to deal with tloia who had purchased! their meters. - a ' The Mayor asked Cr Little whether tie was aware how much -the Council derived' from" rent of meters? The rent amounted t0,£20 a month. It was a general rule to charge Tent'for meter's, 'and already the gas was 6d <jh#»per in-Nelion than anywhere ,elpe in the, lOolofl.yi'—'"' •'.'/ ") '«';■ Or Hurley then upoko at gomt loogth, re«

ferring tolhe' remarks o^fturWorship"?1 Hej also BUidthat the Finance Committee ? lately intimated that they w<juld ,-ioon make a reduction in '-the cost of.igftjj, jrad he thought the'flrst step in that direction should be as Cr Lifctle;proposed. •r' o.t'"(' ~-;ty' Or l'rask.epokoof the present of'the banking account,of the, Gas Jfarki "Depart-, ment^and^o the'heary' expem** they >ere, at in 'procuring new hoiaett", &c.' Ho^saidl fhey bad ttdt-safficjenttp pay fq^thfauthor-, ised extension?, ,and- for 'twqi reasons, J^-The want of funde, and the difficulty as to refund-, ing the money which had be4n}p»rd'!by'' sony oersong for their meters. fHo 'would! opp«f the resolutioH., . ;',>--,<.»•? , | The M;»yor, after aUading ,to hj3 i Jqrmpr remarks, said be thought i^ was advisable ebafc the Council should retain control,of the meters. IJo thought it would be better <o reduca the price 1 of gas- than discontinue to charge ( rent foe meters, but at preient * they t could not do 80. ' Cr Everett said it had1 been 'said that the "Finance Committee hoped adon to recommend a reduction in the price of gas but since then very extensive work had been.authorised, and these would absorb all that they had had at credit, and more, too, he feared. ' It appeared to- him that they would hare to ask for an overdraft, and under those circumstances he did not think they could recommend any reduotion on the present charger. After some further remarki from Cr_Little, Cr Graham went v.cry fuliy into the financial position of the Gas Department. He hoped that when'the crponaesfor the newgasometer, &c, had been .met, they__would be able to take up this''question''of reduction, and he would certainly- vote that tbe first reduction should be in tbe r°nt of meters. The reason he would not vote for the motion then was that they were told that they should require all they wou'd. receive until tbe extensions were completed to meet the oast of same. Cr Levien, having spoken against the motion, it was pub to the Council, and, Crs Little and Harley a^one Toting for it, was declared "Tost

The specification for the plant, &<?., for the manufacture of asphaTteV-Wfts.then laid;on the table,* but: its oonsidoritibn : was deferred lill next meeting, and the Council arljinirn-d. \

A' football match jivill be ;played1 in .the B.ptanical Beserve'" to-morrow ai terhooii at 2,30 between the.N'elsoh'ahcl Ppllege" Club^. :,Tho following are the names, of ilie players :-jNelson : Adams, •AslsejrV'A-tkinson,', E/T,,, Atluuson; W., ■ -Boltonj— Burnett^ '-Godfrey, 'Kitclr'n^, Palmer, Pickett; Pollock^J,, Pollock,' E., Eiehmond, /Walker, and 'Wh'itwell. Oollege':- Harkness.(captaiu),' Copper,-Flem-ing, Glasgow, ■■■ ;...W., Glasgow, T., Harvey, •McHavdy, 'Malcolm,,. Montgomery,. .Oldharn, Tl/, Seymour. Tyler, Trplpve, and ( Witiier.... j A M arc opl tlasPEOr —The fdberal of the jafe Mr JolepliTW'ebb will; take plaoo this afternoon at half-past; two o'clock,■..,and,at the {meeting the. CitjrGpuncU laßt evening, that boely'resolve ito-attend the funeral as a mark ■ due'(djthe,.df;ceased. ! English, JlArcs.—The es Murray being announced to leave foc--Wellington'thiß.evaQ-ing,'euppl'.meaUry mails via San Francisco, and Suez will bo deppatehed by her proTidiog she leaves as advertised, but if she should be detaiued: till to-morrow'a supplementary Suez mail only will be scut. It would therefore tie '■; well for tho'e desirom of, sending late letter* to enqu're aa to whicli route they :bad. better ad Ireas their correspondence by -- ]

■'■'■'LBCTtTftK.—-There was a capital audience I '.at 'the Stoko Publio Hall on Thursday night upon the occasion; of thei Ebt. Mr, Berry's ■lfictura'on America.....lke musical,part of the eutertaiflment was undertaken by the Muses Gt-reeh, and their service* were acknowledged by a" most hearty -vqte of thanks. . ' QoNOBBNiNa "Runs."—lt' is a, somewhat startling fact, 'jvhen set' down in figures, that of Grown lauds held on pastoral leases the total area is 12,383,614-acres in 946 "runs," all in the Middle Island, with the exception V of 33 runs,- comprisiug -2605215.- acres, in -the ■ North Island. Iv the report la;d before Parliament on this.subject it is remarked that -the leases, of., 90l of thes9,;run.B;injo.tago _and Southland will expire in March, 1883 It is proposed by the Government,: after; making reserves for public and:paying due regard to gold-ininiug" intei'esie., to apportion >. the flat,.arable lump^ of these "rans" into > homesteads, agricultural setOeine its; ,and,ibe .mountainous..conbtry into 2lruu,'.."" prr■. scut Jb,e(rent; paid for the; whole- ; of-the: "runs" in the. Colon? amounts yearly tO--£117,^68 3s 3tl. In'one case in Auckland the. rent averages Is -4'd per acre.»l Ii Hawke's Bay.it is from 3s 4d .to Is, per acre. In Wei-, .imgton'there is only one smaH ran, which. pays 2s Id -per . acre.. .The other rents may, be?-stated as follows.:, -Nelspn,, "id to 2d per,, tcciti ; iMaribbfbugh,; 1^ p\e,racraiii.Canterbui'y, 4£ per acre ; Wesfclahd, is 4d per acre rOfc.tgo, ; 2d to,;2£d ; M Southland, -2d, : tp-2|d.j—:, ;.p'^.- ; ;'.:'„';'. ]'',"'"''''„. W \f ; \ "■. ' "As an itlastration of ths ighdrance "which.. preVails itrthe Old Goiiutry to Nevir Zeala'ndi' a'writer'in the' ■>■''Saturday Adveiv •itiser": relates the lolloping r-rSpmeitime ago,, 'aDuuedin gentleman sent the MS;of anovel to a leading London- publishing house to be 'printedi' By; the ;last/Frisco; mail he received' -the:proofiShee.tS;r,v;ln;a; chapter,; trjiating :o'f, the month' of September iv New Zealand, the \wi'iter:sha.d';.s.ome.'reference^to,^;the ; "pure" Spring air." Q The London proof reader coi;ld_ ndtliitiderstandi^howj theijair: \of/. September could.be. that of Spring ; and so. he intoned _ on'the margin^" JRb't! 'Spring air in Septejn'-^ ber ia nousenge." | well-known Eangitikei chief, Kawaua ,Hunui,, appeared in Court'ron Thursday, to plead poverty as a reason why'ho should not be sent to" gaol nrdefault; 'of paying a judgment claim. .-"Hunui "was repregented by ' counsel, yet appeared before 'the Bench, booted, spurred, clothed in a fashionable suit of shepherd's plaid tweed, 5 and alscarf grace-' fully drooped from hia shoulders in the most approved Highland 1 fashion. His evidence was taken'thiough an! 'interpreter;-and (says the "Manawatu Times ") although the -Illustrious Savage was to all appearances " childlike . and bland," .the. manner in which" he ' fenced with questions not palatable to answer, showed that he was not entirely ignorant of •the ways that are. dark." -. His cleverness .was rewarded by a respite from duran'co vile for' ninety days ;' but_ pauper 'though he 'has shown himseif,tp.be, ; there are not a few who would freely pay fifty times the amount of the claim, were they to receive the " Governor's " as a set-off. Some thieves got into an unoccupied house at Oamaru, Olago, the other day, and walked, off with a it Of c. In Jhe northern districts of Auckland ( thii season, tbe yield of oranges has been very prolific. ;„, -..:„o.' .> " The Dunedin papers state that Sergeant ProVo, volunteer, Has b«en reduced to the,rank of private ior insubordination to Lieutenant M'Gregor, who'also fl»a reprimanded for ptovoking his men';' [ ,' ' ' '. The Deab hbab—by using Garoiore's Artifiuial Ea? Drums. No pain. No medidioes. Thousands cured. Sand stamp fort Book («ec3ad edition) and testimonials.— ITbkshman/ Jonbs & Co., 338 Georgo street, Sydney, N.S.W.1 —Adyt. Thb Taraaaki " Herald' states that an old .Maori, was recently' heard to say that tie put ao much taith in the' power of Te Whiti, that if he .were kilied;' Te Whiti could bring him to life aga>n, and ohallenged those around him to try the experiment. Some bushmen, ready tor a joke, gjt a rope, and suspended the passive old 'man to a tree. He .submitted like a martyr,', but was of courio liberated bofor#'wy hMnwrtaoae.; ; ;<> y.-.t ,-X vi