CITY COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 537, 18 June 1909, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETINC,

REPORTS'OF COMMITTEE. The City Council meeting last night was attended by tho Mayor (Dr. A. K. Newman), Councillors J. P. Luke, M.P., J. Smith, F. Cohen, T. Ballinger, J. Frost, J. Trevor, J. J. Devinc, A. R. Atkinson, J: E. Fitzgerald, T. G'armichacl, A. H. Hindmarsli, •D. M'Laren, G. Shirtcliffe, R. Fletcher, and W. H. Morrah. ,

STREET LIGHTING. The By-Laws, Fire Brigade, and Street Lighting Committee, brought . forward th(j following reeomjneudationsThat tho report of tho Electrical Engineer, recommending tho substitution of the electric light for gas in the Melrose district, by the installation of 204 electric lamps, in placo of 106 gas lamps, at a cost of £2512, bo adopted, the cost last year of the 100 gas lamps was £472. The cost of. tho 204 lamps of metallic filament, of 25 .candle-power, will be approximately £331 10s. per annum. This sum includes interest and sinking fund on capital cost, at 5 per cent., and depreciation at 3 per cent. That the request of the Carters' Union for permission to instal a tolophono in tho Central Firo Station, for' use by carters, bo not acceded to. ■ That the application of -Mr.' W. H. Bennett for permission to carry out alterations -to rooms on the first floor of premises in "Molesworth Street be granted, provided the walls aro carried up in lire proof material to approval of tho City Engineer. That accounts amounting to. £63 13s. lid. be passed for payment. The adoption of the. report was agreed to.'

CITY RESERVES. Tho Baths and City Reserves Committee recommended as follows That the resolution of the council, passed on June-2, refusing tho request of the Wellington Lacrosso Association for permission to charge for admission to the Basin Reserve on July 10, ,on the occasion of the. match Auckland v. Wellington, bo rescinded, and that their application be granted; that tho erection of a statutory fence between the Bolton Street Cometory and -adjoiifing property be authorised; that the Sugarloaf Reserve, Brooklyn, bo fenced and supplied with three seats, conditionally that tiiia reserve and tho small reserve close ( to Apiika Street arc planted by tho residents of the district; that a portion of Town Belt, Section 46, adjoining Tancra Crescent,- Brooklyn, bo resumed by the council, and that a corresponding reduction bo made in the rent of the 1 lessee. This land is used largely by the Brooklyn children, and it. is for this reason that the above recommendation is made. That the account of Mr. Quinnell of £10 10s. for professional services in connection with tho Zoo be passed for payment; that accounts amounting to £57 19s. 4d. bo passed for payment. ■Councillor M'Laren intimated that the resolution in refereneo to tho first clause could not, under the standing orders, be brought forward after the first resolution had been passed without'seven days' notice. The Mayor upheld the contention of Councillor M'Laren,,. and ruled that the clause must stand'down until next meeting. Tho report was "adopted, with the exception of, the'; first |'clauso, after' an cmphatic protest had been lodged against tho, expenditure of £10 10s.'for a roller desk for the carotakor of .".city •' reserves, which .item was included in the accounts.

.1 PUBLIC HEALTH. ; A-recommendation was submitted by the Abattoirs, Milk Supply, and Public Health . Committee that, tenders be called for , the slaughtering .'contract^fbr'the abattoir,"and that tho.Oity Engineerbe instructed to prepare the necessary specification.—Adopted.' j FINANCE ANVPROPERTY. The Finance Committee recommended: That the sum of £454 155., tho balance of the purchase money for a. portion of the Technical School isito (now) be passed tor payment, arid that the purohaso be made in the name of the corporation. That the 1 proposal for the new road down Happy Vi'lley oo agreed to, provided the Joseph■ Trusices pay the'eost of the necessary documents. That tho application of Mr. R. W, Armit to place a siphon in the cellar of.Ms premises at Lambton Quay be agreed to on. the usual conditions as to payment for water,-and that he instals a meter to measure tho supply! That a reward of £5 bo granted to Miss Harris, the lady' who gave the information that led to ,the conviction of • tho person wbo broke the fire alarm at Hankey Street. Tha tno liability bo admitted for tho alleged damage caused to Mr. W. H. BaJlioffer's property at Fairlie Terrace, Kelburue, by the construction of a drain through same. That the user of 'an unlicensed hoarding at the corner-'' 'of Mercer and Willis Streets bo prosecuted.: Tbatilio application of an ex-employee of the corpora-. tion> for a further compassionate allowance bo not granted. 'That acoounts amounting 1 ., to i £7447 Is. lOd. be passed . for payment.— •Adopted. ' TRAMWAYS.

The report of tho Power Station and Tramways Committee was adopted as under: — That conductors' surpluses bo paid into ' an accident fund to. enable full pay to be made, when considered advisable, to tramways employees meeting with' accidents iri tho discharge of "their, duties, payment' of bonuses "to be made as usual for the last quarter. That thev had been waited upon by a deputation of Berbampore residents, who urged that tho residents of Berhamnore ho granted concession tickots of Id. from the corner,of Adelaide Road a.nd Luxford Street, such tickets to bo issued at the rate of Is. per dozen. Tho committee would report further at a later date. • That a deputation o.f Island Bay residents waited on them to urge that residents' tickets bo issued, the price to bo 2d. from Island Bay to Oourtenay Place, and 2}d. to Lambtori Station, and vice versa, and that they would report further at a later stago. -

CONCERNING NORTHLAND. Councillor Fitzgerald moved: That tliu council is of opinion that tho time has arrived when a proper financial adjustment should bo made between the City of Wellington and tho Borough of' Karori respecting that area known as Northland, and included within the city, and that the necessary steps be taken to give effect hereto. Councillor Fitzgerald pointed out that, when the Karori tramway was formed Northland was an important part of tho Karori Borough, and was rated accordingly. Later Northland seceded, and wont into tho city, but ho coiitended that the amalgamation was not complete, as everything had not been transferred, in tho samo manner as the transfer of a property. If they moved as .ho wished, at tho end of 25 years Northland 'would hand'to tho city a very valuable asset) otherwise, it would revert to Karori at tho end of thntf time.

Councillor Fletcher seconded the mption. It was a curious position that a local body should collect rates in an area over which it had no jurisdiction. The Nortliland ratepayers did not wish to repudiate any undertakings, but tlioy thought that what they had to pay in respect of the. tramway lino should go through tho City Council. . , Councillor Dovino said thatit'was a manifest duty to pass the resolution. _ Councillor Sliirtcliffe said that if tho council took a share of Karori assets it must also take a share in Karori liabilities. More information was necessary, and ho would suggost. referring 'the matter' to tho Finance Committee for a report. An amendment to this:cffcct was seconded by Councillor Bollinger. ,

It was explained that, if Councillor Fitzgerald's motion was carried, the '' matter would be referred to tho council's officials to apply for tho nccessary commission. The motion was carried. WADESTOWN TRAMWAY. . The following report in connection with the Wadcstown Tramway was adopted:—"The committco have to report that they havo had a furthor interview with the .representatives' of tho Wndestown Ratepayers' Association, and a representative from the- Goldie's Brao ratepayers on tho matter of tho Wndestown Tramway, and have informed thorn that nothing further can bo discussed till the city reports oil the "C" route. Tho ratepayers of Wadestown and Goldie's Brae propose to call a joint public meetiuj; to eloct three representatives to confor with the oommittoo oa the mttor.