CIVIC AFFAIRS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1859, 19 September 1913, Page 3

CIVIC AFFAIRS.

MEETING OF THE CODNCIL,

Tho Wellingtpu .City Council mot last night. Tliere were present the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), Councillors It. Fletcher, J. E. Fitzgerald. T. C. A. Hislop, 11. A. Wright, M. F. Luckie, E. Tregear, J. Fuller, L. M'Kenzie, W. J. Thompson, A. It., Atkinson, J. Godber, G. Frost, fl. Buddie, and A. H. Hindmai/sh.

The question whether sections reverting to tho corporation should be offered for lease by tender or by auction was somow'hat warmly debated. The committee recommended: "That section 118, Lambton Reclamation, which will revert to tbo corporation in July, 1914, bo authorised to be offered for lease ,by tender for a term of 10 years.'" Councillor Fitzgerald moved an amendment that : -t be let by marking that tho present occupier was anxious to stop, and if it was put up byauction he would know where ho was, whilst if lie was called upon to tender somebody might beat him by a shilling or a pound.

Councillor Atkinson: We aro not bound to accent the highest tender.

Tho Mayor You will get an infinitely better,price by tender than by auction. Councillor Hislop added that the better rent and the bettor tenant would be got by tender rather than by auction. That councils first, last, and only duty was to consider the city, and not the tenant.

The Mayor hoped the council would not agreo to the amendment, and added that the person who had tho lease originally had it at a very low rent for a number of years—almost a peppercorn rent —and the present occupier was leasing it from the previous tenant, who Mid no vested'interest in tho property. ' Councillor Atkinson added • that the amendment, if carried, would upset the whole principle of their leases. Tho amendment was defeated by ten votes to five.

The application of the Harbour Board for tho supply of electrical energy to their temporary workshop at Davis Street is to bo granted. The Reserves and Public Gardens .Committee forwarded tho draft lease cf portion of Pirio Street Reserve to tho Wellington Lawn Tennis Association for the purpose of constructing tennis courts .thereon, as finally approved by the subcommittee (by direction of tho council), and recommended that the seal of tho corporation be authorised to bo affixed to the lease. Councillor Tregear called attention to a clause of ths lease making it lawful for the corporation after seven years to resumo possession of the land upon paying the value of all improvements, and pointed out that the tenants might crept a palace at a cost of a million pounds. Councillor Atkinson: "f wish they would." Tho lease was agreed to.