| Description | Council meeting, 13 May 1809
[Sederunt given]
The Provost reported to the Council that estimates had been received for the proposed range of sheds at the back of Lodge Walk, to be used as a market for the sale of poultry, and that the work had been secured by Adam Mortimer, wright, whose estimate of 11 shillings 10 pence per running yard was the lowest offered. (100v - 101r)
The magistrates reported to the Council on the recent visit to Aberdeen of Mr Thomas Telford, engineer, and of their Inspection of the Harbour and Piers. Mr Telford, having been consulted on a number of points, recommended that the shoing of the North Pier head and the rebuilding of the South Pier Head be attended to urgently. Further he strongly advised the Town employ an engineer to oversee the works, to which end he recommended Mr John Gibb of Greenock, at an annual salary of £200 plus £50 after one year. The Council approved this recommendation and empowered the Shoremaster to employ the said Mr Gibb as Resident Engineer or Superintendent of Harbour Operations. (101r - 102r)
The Council approved the application, as recommended by a committee of magistrates, from the Trustees for this District under the Commutation Act to finance the completion of the road leading from Union Street, by Justice Mills and Nellfield, through the Lands of Pitmuckston and Rudrieston as far as the Bridge of Dee, from the Bridge of Dee Funds. Estimates for the work had been obtained, one from Alexander Gray and John Booth, masons in Aberdeen, at £1250, another from William Milne and John Fiddes, masons, at £1369. Milne and Fiddes were awarded the contract to build the necessary bridge of three arches with a total span of twelve feet and the retaining walls. The work to be certified in stages by the Superintendent of the Town's Public Works. (102r - 103r)
The Provost reported to the Council that complaints had been received concerning the large quantities of wood left at the Ballast Quay near the Lime Sheds. The Council thus decided to set off part of the south end of the garden purchased from Mr Leys in different lots for three or five years in the tacksman's option, allowing the Shoremaster to terminate the lease at one month's notice should it be needed for a public purpose. Lot one, adjoining the garden late of James Thomson, was taken by Alexander Duthie junior, merchant, at £4 19 shillings 8 pence; lot two was taken by Saunders and Mellis at £4 13 shillings 11 pence; lot three was taken by Alexander Smith, merchant, at £4; lot four was taken by Harry Leith, builder, at £6; lot five, west of a road intended to be left between the Quay and Footdee Road, was taken by Provost More at £4 12 shillings, all at yearly rents. (103r - 104r)
The magistrates' report on quarries operating on the Town's Freedom Lands was laid before the Council. The following quarries were noted:
Six quarries on the lands feued out to Sir William Johnston, one in a field west of Middlefield Road, another in a field leased to Watson and Brown, one on an adjoining farm held by [no name given] Robertson, one on a farm north-west of last, occupied by William Robertson, another on Westhill or back of Cairncry, opened by Alexander Nisbet, and one near the farm house lately held by [no name given] Smith, lately wrought by John Garden.
On Miss Mossman's lands, south-west of the Old Greenburn Road, east of Middlefield Road.
On Mr Kilgour's Lands of Woodside between the Old Greenburn Road and the turnpike there.
On Sir Archibald Grant's Lands of Cairncry, on lands feued to Andrew Youngson and also to William Wishart.
On Mr Forbes of Seaton's Lands of Northfield, in a field set to Thomas Catto.
On the north-west of Cairnhill, on land lately wrought by Sim and Sangster.
On the north-east side of Shetocksley, near the Lands of Springhill, lately occupied by William Wedderburn.
The Council remitted to a committee of the magistrates and Provost Brebner, or any three of them, the consideration of a settlement with these proprietors and authorised them to consult with Dr Dauney as to applying to the Judge Ordinary or Court of Session for an interdict against any further operations. (104r - 105r)
The Council approved the sale of the lease of the Weigh House Dues to Mr More, the current tacksman, for six months only from 1 June 1809, pending the outcome of the appeal before the House of Lords, at the instance of the Butchers, against the Council with regards the Weighing Dues of Tallow and Rough Fat. (105r)
A plan of Buxburn Croft, liferented to Alexander Thomson, was remitted to the magistrates with instructions to secure the surrender of the lease and prevent encroachment on the said land. (105r - 105v)
The Council fixed 20 May 1809 for the Perambulation of the Town's Inner Marches and Visitation of the Bridge of Dee and the Bridge of Don. (105v) |