CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 3580, 13 August 1874, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The adjourned meeting of the City Council was held last pyening ; present—His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Barron, Beck, Carroll, Fish, Gibson, Grant, Isaae, Mercer, Prosser, Reeves, Walter, and Woodland. TRB WIDENING OF PRINCES STREET. The Town Cljsrij: read the memorandum of agreement proposed to hn entered into between the Church Trustees and the Corporation. The following letter from the Under-Secre-tary was read “ I am directed by the Provincial Secretary to state for the information of the City Council that, as the negotiations in reference to the widening of Princes street have not yet been concluded, the Government expect that either the street will be widened or the conveyance of the sections in block 42 be delivered up for correction ; th« 33ft having been included by mistake. I am to add that in no case will the Government consent to give up the 33fb unless the street is widened.” Cr. Walter said he could see nothing objectionable in the draft that had been read. Of course it was never the intention of the Corporation at any time to sacrifice the Churqh tenants—(Mr Fish: “Oh!”) He should simply inove now the terms of the draft be agreed to 1 . ’ " ' Cr. Mercer seconded the motion. Cr. Grant di I not see how they could agree to this draft lease. Th§ traffic requiremeats of the street did not call for the widening, and the work would be a grievous affliction in the meantime. Cr Carroll was of the same opinion. He seconded Cr. Grant’s amendment for a postponement. Cr. Fish spoke at great length. He was a tenant on the Manse Reserve, but so far ns he was individually concerned he had no interest in the work, as he wax one, of the fortunate individuals who had a lease extending over a series of years, and whether the Corporation widened the street now or seypn years hence, they must compensate him. Ife would say distinctly, that so far as any compact between tji o Corporation and the Government was 'concerned, they were not morally or legally bound’ to vyidpn the street. He had considered the matter in all its phases, and he was prepared to support i it on the ground that a good and handsome street would be formed. He believed an attempt had been made by members of the Council outside the Council meetings to put the tenants at a disadvantage. [Mr Fish being called upon to name them, mentioned the Committee appointed to deal with the Church trustees, and also the Mayor. In a passage at arms between himself and tin Mayor, Mr said, “You say Yes, I say No ” My ‘f No ” js as good as your “ Yes ’] He believed it had been intended to eliminate from the de-fd clause 4, which proyMed for compensating Manse Reserve tenants, and that His Worship was the person who attempted to get this clause withdrawn. Cr. Isaac fftund there was no legal objeo tion to widen Princes street, but he considered there was a moral obligation. Cr. Prosser remarked that so far as he could see, he thought there was a considerable amount of obligation on the part of the Council 'to |o on With the wor|. He quoted '

figures to show that the widening ©f the .-treet, by increasing the value of the Cor p iralion reserves, would cause a large sum to flow to the Corporation treasury. Cr. Barron said the only point was whether it was cheaper to widen the street new, or at some future time. Cr. Reeves said the work would add 3d in the £to the City rates. He most distinctly opposed the covenant proposed to be entered into with the Church Trustees. Cr. Gibson wo dd oppose the widening of the street. The Mayor said they were bound to the Government, to the Church Trustees, and to the parties who lately purchased Corporation leaseholds, and who bad to build 33ft back. He believed that the additional revenue which would result from the widening of the street would amply compensate the Corporation for the expense that would be gone to Cr. Grant’s amendment for a postponement of the matter was put. Tho voting was even, and Cr. Walter’s motion for accepting the agreement with the Church Trustees was carried on the Mayor’s casting vote. Cr. Barron moved— “That, as this Council has not before it sufficient information to enable it to decide whether it would be better to widen Princes street now or within two years hence, a special committee consisting of Messrs Prosser, Beeves, Carroll, Woodland, ard the mover, be appointed to make inquiries, and report by next meeting,” which was carried. Messrs Walter, Fish, Mercer, and Isaac voted against it, and the ©ther eight Councillors for it. THE APPOINTMENT ON JTHK HARBOR BOARD. The Under-Secretary wrote—“ An intimation having been sent to his Honor the Deputy Superintendent by the A cting-Secre-tary of the Otago Harbor Board that Mr Keith Bamsay has resigned his position as elective member of the Board, his Honor, with the consent of his Executive, has appointed Mr Andrew M§rcer to till up the vacancy thus caused, Mr Mercer having already been, as Mayor of Dunedin, for a short time a member of the Board,” The ayor said under these circumstances it was not competent for the Council to nominate a member. Cr. Fish moved—“ That the Town Cleik be requested to write to his Honor the Deputy Superintendent, respectfully requesting to be informed of the reasons which induced himself and Executive to appoint a gentleman a member of the Otago Harbor Board, in the place of Mr Ramsay (resigned), instead of allowing the Council to nominate ; and expressing the opinion of this Council that, whilst according to the strict letter of the Act the Government has the power to appoint, its spirit clearly indicates the right of the Council to nominate its own representatives at the Board ; and further, expressing the regret of the Council at the manner in which it has been ignored.” There was something underhand in the matter, and the action of the v>overnment was somewhat akin to improper conduct. Cr. Walter said he was sorry to see Cr. Mercer bad accepted the nomination, and would support the motion. Cr. Isaac believed Cr. Mercer would, with regard to ihe dignity of the Council, resign the appointment. Cr. Mercer said when he heard Or, Fish intended to get on the Board, he stole a march on him, and held that he could serve ihe Council as well as Cr. Fish. At the same time he would rather have got the appointment from the Council. Or, Prossek supported the motion, and regretted the way in which the appointment had been made. The motion was carried unanimously.