CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 819, 6 February 1877, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, February 5. Special Meetings. A special meeting of the Oity Council, to consider the propriety of taking over a prirate Btreet situated between Durham and Montreal streets, was held at four o'clock • esterday afternooD, at the Council Chambers, Present, his Worship the Mayor, and Jrs Hobbs, Nathan, Jones, Thomson, lok, Turner, Hawkes, and Bird. After the necessary minutes of previoua meetings had been read, the Mayor read the petition from the residents in the street, *. king that it might be taken over. The Act had been complied with, and the oar

veyor had reported that the street was in a fit condition to be taken over by the Council. On the motion of Cr Ick, seconded by Cr Jones, it was resolved to accede to the prayer of the petition under clause 211 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876; the street to be named on a future occasion. Another special meeting of the Council, duly called by notice, was then held to consider a resolution contained in a requisition presented by Councillor Hobbs at the last meeting of the Council. Cr Hobbs said he begged to move the following resolution authorize the taking of the necessary steps under clauses 179 and 180 of the Munioipal Corporations Act, 1876, and clauses 21, 22, and 23 of the Public Works Act, 1876, to acquire possession of town section 733 for the purpose of providing and maintaining public offices within the city, in which to hold the meetings and transact the business of the Council, and for the use of its officers, and for holding public meetings and tranoactingpublic business relating to the city, and for the further purpose of widening that portion of Colombo street which lies immediately opposite to the Bank of New Zealand. And that the Council causes a survey to be made and plans to be prepared, showing generally the purposes for which it is intended to apply the land, and the nature of the works proposed to be executed, as required by flection 21 of the Public Works Act, 1876. And further, to consider the desirability of borrowing a sum not exceeding £30,000 to be expended in the purchase of the said land, and in the erection of the said buildings." He did not intend to take up the time of the Council by making a long speech, as the whole question would be fully discussed before a meeting of ratepayers. He would merely like to remark that having again gone carefully into the estimates, he found that the £2IOO returns calculated upon—which amount would be within the revenue derivable—would be more than ample to pay interest and sinking fund on £30,000 borrowed for forty years, the time contemplated. If they only took a strip of 12ft to widen the street, and obtained it for £3500, that sum borrowed, say for ten years, could not be got on such favorable terms as the larger amount, with the certainty of a penny rate in the £ having immediately to be levied to provide for its payment. Now the course intended to' be pursued would enable the Council to raise the amount required to purchase the whole section, anderecc a town hall and other buildings thereon, at a long date, without in any way increasing the taxes, and at the end of the term the city would be in possession of a very valuable property, without having been put to any expense. It had been stated in the city that the action taken by the committee meant increased rates, but he wished emphatically to deny that, as far as he was concerned, it meant this. Cr Thomson seconded the motion. Cr Hawkea had very great pleasure in supporting the resolution, and for the same reason given by Or Hobbs, would refrain from making lengthened comments, as the question would be submitted to the ratepayers. When the proper time arrived it would give him pleasure to record his vote in favor of it. Cr Nathan would oppose the motion, as he felt it would saddle the ratepayers with a heavy expense ; and he also understood the majority did not desire that this expense should be gone to. Nor did he approve of the legal expenses bo far incurred. [Cr Hobbs—The amount iB only £3 or £4. | He (Cr Nathan) had understood that other advice had been called in besides the city eolicitor, He did not see that it was necessary to widen Colombo street more than Borne of the other streets, and on the same principle they might be asked to purchase the Triangle for the purpose of widening High street. If they were to put a bold face on this matter, go to the proprietor of this land, and point out to him the necessity for widening the street at that portion, and the advantages that would accrue to him by this work being done, he believed they might get the strip at a more reasonable rate than by the course they were now pursuing. The action taken by the Council for some time past had, in his opinion, given this section an increased value, and if the proprietor of the land were well represented at the arbitration (as he would sure to be), the arguments of the Council as to the returns they would receive from this section if held by them—and which might not have been dreamt of before —would naturally be used to increase its value to the present holder. Under all the circumstances he would oppose the motion. Cr Jones said that although this question was going before the ratepayers the latter might like to know the reasons of those councillors who opposed the motion. # He could not see how taking this land to widen the street would so much increase the value of the remainder, nor could he see that the road when widened would be of so much more service to the travelling public than it was at present. He believed that the ratepayers would lose a great deal of unnecessary time by attending meetings and voting on this question; and with a bad haivest facing them and perhaps on the eve of a great commercial crisis, he hoped that councilors would not launch the already overtaxed ratepayers into more expense. As a ratepayer and as a representative of ratepayers he would vote against the motion. Cr Ick hoped that the expression of Cr Jones that we were on the eve of a great commercial crisis would not go forth to the public, as it would be likely—without having a shadow of foundation in fact—to do a great deal of harm. He could not see that the argument of Cr Jones as to the probable value of the land was very convincing, as he was convinced that those who were alive twenty years hence would find that the present intention of the Council was an advisable one in the interests of the ratepayers. He would have liked that a detailed scheme, with plans, had been prepared by Cr Hobbs to lay before the ratepayers, but there was yet time to prepare those. Those who had watched the traffic at the Hereford street corner must have seen the necessity for widening Colombo street there, and this was increasing so rapidly, that he could positively eay there was at present three times the carriage traffic here than in either Dunedin or Wellington. Under all the circumstances he felt it his duty to support the resolution. Cr Turner felt that clause 141 of the Municipal Corporations Act should be published for the information of the ratepayers, who would then see that all this question would have to be submitted to them after certain preliminary action had been taken. Time after time the committee had tried to get possession of a piece of this land at an equitable price, but {ailing this, and after

doing all in their power, they were compelled to take the course proposed in the resolution, which would be the means of saving the ratepayers several thousands and compound interest. Even now, if the piece of land required to widen tho street could be obtained at a fair value, he would prefer that this should be done, if n. t, then, as the work was a positive necessity, they must acquire the whole section, and their doing so could not be held to be a speculation. The real discussion on this question would take place before the ratepayers, and he was prepared to wait until it was submitted to them, when he hoped that councillors would be prepared to back up their arguments with figures, as he would try to if well. He would support the resolution; The Mayor spoke against the motion, and Ors Thomson and Bird in favor of it. Cr Turner said perhaps it would be as well if it were known that under the Act it would require a very large majority of the ratepayers to carry this resolution. A mere simple majority would not be sufficient, After Cr Hobbs had replied, The resolution was then put and carried by 6 to 3, the Mayor, Crs Jones, and Ick being the dissentients. Or Hobbs moved a resolution to the effect that a poll of the ratepayers, as required by clause 140 of the Act, should be taken on the resolution agreed to, and that the same be advertised. Or Hawkeß seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Mayor remarked on the very invidious position he occupied in being compelled to record his vote as a Councillor on any question when called upon to do so, He considered he should be only called upon to give his casting vote. Crs Nathan and Thomson pointed out that by standing order No 22 every Councillor was compelled to record his vote when challenged. Ors Hobbs and Turner considered that calling upon the Mayor to record his vote as Councillor placed him in a position he should not be asked to occupy. The Council then adjourned.