CITY COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume XXXIV, Issue 7043, 20 June 1891, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of this Council was held last evening, when, in the absence of hiß Worship the Mayor, Cr Everett was voted to the chair. There were also present : Crs Scott, Bout, C. Harley, Piper, Akerßtsn, and Webster. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and adopted. Payments were authorised as follows :-— £. s. d. Gasworks Account .. 166 7 2 Waterworks Acconnt . . 9 15 8 General Account . . 226 0 4 j Cemeteries Account .. 10 15 4 j £412 18 6 Bank Balances The state of the Bank balances at date was reported to be as follows : Dr. Cr £ s. d. £ b. d. General Account 1971 17 5 Gas.. .. 145 8 3 Water .. .. 436 18 7 Interest .. .. 870 4 4 Cemeteries.. .. 167 13 2 Special Fnnd .. 708 14 10 Contractors' Deposits 14 0 0 Queen's Gardens . . 41 16 10 £2117 5 8 £2239 7 9 Correspondence was then read and considerecL Amongst tbe letters received were the following : — From Messrs E. Buxton & Co., asking leave to ereofc verandah to their bonded store, Bridge street, to avert encroaching on side walk. The application was granted on the usual conditions. From Messrs Fell & Atkinson, stating that by direction of Mr M. Hunt they desired to call attention to tbe damage, prospective and actual, by diversion of tbe Brook stream. It was pointed out that iome work had already been done to prevent the water damaging Mr Hunt'd property, and it was claimed on behalf of Mr Hunt that effectual protection should be provided. Mr Jiekell said he could not see that damage had been done. Cr Piper said he accompanied Mr Jickell when they saw Mr Hunt, who did not appear to know what he 'wanted. It did not seem to him that there was any danger to the land to be apprehended. Cr Akersten a°kad how long it was since the work done was executed, and what was tbe value of the damage done. The Surveyor said the work was done 11 months ago, and he could see no damage. Cr O. Harley suggested that if the cost of what Mr Hunt wanted was small it would be better to incur the expenditure. Aa to tbe complaint he could ccc no damage, and he thought the bridge protected the land. The Surveyor said the coat of wattling would be about £10. Cr Scott said the Surveyor stated that no I damage had been done, and that being so they could do nothing. Or Webster said tbey had the testimony of the Surveyor, Cr Piper, and, he presumed, the Public Works Committee, but he would ask whether the groins and breastwork had been damaged. The Surveyor said the groins had served their purpose, and the breastwork was as substantial as was necessary. The Chairman presumed that they must write stating what the Surveyor had said. Or Piper said the breastwork had been erected not because they accepted any responsibility, but to save damage. Or Akersten said the breastwork had been there for eleven months, and that no damage had been done. He moved that a reply be Bent to Messrs Fell and Atkinson stating that so far as the Council were able to see, no damage had been done, and that they saw no probability of any being done, therefore they were unable to accept aoy liability. • , - V Or Webßter seconded the motion. The Surveyor Baid there was some gravel on the other side of tbe stream which be suggested should be moved to Mr Hunt's side. He was authorised to attend to this A letter was then received from the Agricultural Department, intimating that a packet of seed of the latbyras silvestris, a new fodder plant, together with directions for sowing, &c , waa being sent therewith. The Council was asked to give information as to success that might be met with in raising the plants. It was agreed that the seed (a thimbleful) be handed the tree planting Committee. Cr Piper said it was intended for reclaiming sand hills and growing on such places as the Moutere Hills for feed of game. ; A letter was reoeived from Mr G. Marshall,

asking the Council to olea* the gores off the unused street between Viator? Square and hi* property, and offering to olea* the gorse if be ware allowed to (ether his horse there for a year. Cr Piper suggested that they should let Mr Marshall clear the gorse and keep his hone there. Cr Scott said the street was need by pedeatrians, and an accident might occur i>y per* ions falling orer the tether rope. It was then agreed to olear the road, A letter from Mr B. Fxater asked leave to oonneot the premises of Mr Olapham in Bridge with the drain in Wakatu lane for drainage from Turkish baths, &a. " It was stated that Mr Olapham had obtained permission to oroßs private - property to Wakatn lane. . Cr Webster said he understood the Wakatu lane drain was defective, but there was a new drain at the back of Mr Clapham's premises running from the Bank of New Zealand ; he thought the connection should be made with this drain. It was agreed to allow the connection with the last mentioned drain. A letter from Mr R. Frater asked leave to lay a drain connecting the property of Mrs Gibbs with the Alton street drain. Granted. Eeports were then read as follows :— . Fin'axce Committee. A meeting of the Finance Committee was held on the 10th June, when there were present: The Mayor, Crs Piper, J. A. Harley, and B?-ut. The Committee reported as follows :— 1. On letter from Mr G. Phillips— That Mr Phillips be allowed £2. 2. As to meter repairing— That the correspondence with other gas managers dosß not. throw any farther light on the subject, and that the Committee therefore recommend that the repairing of meters be continued as at present carried on. 3. That Mr Barltrop be allowed £3 10 a, for extra work in making op new rate book. 4. That when the telephone subscription is reduoed to £5 per annum the Gasworks be connected with the Telapbone Exohango. The report was adopted. Public Woeks CoanniTEE. A meeting of the Public Worka Committee was held on the 10th Jane. Present: The Mayor, Cts Akersten, C. J. Hsrley, and Everett. The Committee reported as follows:— 1. On letter from Mr JR. Henry—Considerdeferred till next meeting. 2 On letter from residents in Alton Place — That they recommend ibat this request ba complied with. 3. Ab to Vanguard street— That they recommend that £15 be spent in improving the worst patt of the street. 4. As tc nightsoil contract — That they recommend that arrangements be make with the present contractor to go on as before 5. As to footway to Mount street— They recommend this 2« quest be acoeded to when buildings in Mount street are commenced. 6. Aa to crossing, &0,, near Mr Lukins' — . That they recommend that this be asphalted. The report was adopted. The question of considering what should be done as to steps abutting on public footpaths was referred to the Works Committee, on the motion of Cr Rout, seconded by Cr Webster. Cr Rout then moveJ, and Cr C. Harley seconded, that Mr Scaife be appointed Returning Officer for the town. Cr Webster said a more competent snoceseor to Mr Greenfield could not be chosen, and the resolution was then carried unanimously. Cr Piper wished the Surveyor to write to Messr3 Kempthorne, Proaaer, ie Co., as to the value of sulphate of ammonia. He understood that at present about £250 worth of ammonia was going into the tide annually, and that the plant for making sulphate of ammonia would cost about £300. The Surveyor said he belieVed the value was £17 10s a too, but he would make definite enquiries. Cr Piper eaid Mr J. Hale had promised to give 20 lime trees to plant on the Reclaimed land, and the Town Clerk said Mr Barton had also promised to give a number of trees.

The Town Clerk said he had received s telegram from the Mayor stating he was sending reports of the Municipal Conference prooeediogs. Cr Webster thought it would not be oat nf place at this stage if he referred to a recent death that bad occurred in Town. That night they had missed from the Chamber a very familiar face, the faos of one who had been constant in his attendance there as long as he, the speaker, had been a member of the Council, and who had been accustomed to be present many years before that. He was sure that Mr Blundell had enjoyed their utmost respeot, and he would be greatly missed by them. His reports of their pro* oeediugs had been given in a manner very satisfactory to the Council and to the public. He was sorry no Councillor more able than himself had risen to refer to the death, but he hoped others would supplement what be had said. He would move thai a letter of condolence ba sent to the friends of ths late Mr Blundell. Cr Piper seconded the motion, and said they all misaed the familiar faae. Mr Blundell was a man who did not do his work in a merely perfunctory manner, for ha was deeply interested in all that took place in the city. The Chairman 6aid he quite concurred in. what had been said. He had been a member of that Council some 17 years, and duiing all that period the late Mr Blundell had r«portei their proceedings, and, as Cr Webster had justly observed, in ft Tory eatieraetory manner, fid could but Bay that be was deeply affected when he heard of Mx Blundell's death, he had not been aware of his illness He very much sympathised with his friends. Mr Blundell'a death would be a lois to the public generally; he had been with them many years, and on all occasions had takea a lively interest in the affairs of Nelson. Or Akersten said he, too, would like to add his testimony to the deep regret that was felt. Few men had taken a more earnest interest in tbe welfare of the place thaa til* late Mr Blundell. His reports had always been on the aide of law and order, and he was a man that could scarcely be replaewi. His long acqaintanoe alone enabled him to ba of general service, and he had bees too means of politically educating a number el people. He thought tbe city had suffered great loos by the death of Mr Blundell, and he deeply sympathised with tbe relations of that gentle* man. The motion was then carried unanimously. The Gounoil then adjourned.