GASWORKS SECRETARYSHIP.— Mr George Mnrch, secretary of the Gas Company,. wrote ' offering hi* services to the Council, on .'their taking over the business" of the company, in March next.' He explained, that his salary had hitherto been £200 ' a year, and considering tho great number of ac counts that had to be, kept, not only for gas "but. for rfittings-and coke, 'as ■well as, other duties,- ho .trusted it would not be considered -too i high.— On the suggestion of the Mayor it, was decided to refer- the application -to the Finance and Gas Works Committees. Cr. Bridge suggested that, while. 1 the 'Committees were dealing > with,:; the matter, they might consider 'whether it might not be possible to promote the assistant clerk and get the help of another clerk in the office. He had nothing what ever to. say against. Mr Murch; he be lieved him to be capable and- dutiful. Mr McCaul'was also, he thought, quite capable of performing, the duties, and the time ■ might be opportune for pro moting -an officer who had-bePn. in /; the Borough employ for a number of years. C. Bridge also > suggested that, at the same time, the .Committees might re po^t about the. remainder of the staff of, -the Gas Company. The Mayor sug gested., that that was' matter, entirely for the engineer, and explained. that in the vmsfc ute-- Council- njbd never xnter ,fcred, Jwtwepn. Mr. Qilmout , audL^the ; employes', > under' him,'t J--<J --< Cr Caiman thought it should be a suggestion to the engineer that if the men at -present employed at the Gas Works were sui table they, should, be kept on. ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY.— On the .recommendation' of the Reserves Committee- it was decided to grant a site t for the erection of -an. Observatory tot tho Astronomical Society on the hill in Cook's - Gardens at the rear , of 1 tho "Chess Club The Mayor stated the Society , was willing to accept the site' suggested. ' ST. JOHN'S HILL.— The Reserves Committee, recommended r ,- that 'Mr Donby <be given si lease for "another year of the land occupied by him on St. 