CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 842, 6 March 1877, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, November 5. A special meeting of the Council wag held to make a special order to take over Walker Btreet as a public street. Present—Crs Jones (in the chair), Hobbs, Turner, Hawkes, Bird, Nathan, Thomson. On the motion of Or Hobbs it was resolved that Walker street be taken over as a public street, and that a special order be advertised as to the same.

Cr Hobba then moved that the following resolution be confirmed, viz. :—"That this Council authorise the taking of the necessary steps, under clauses 17S> and 180 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 187t>, and clauses 21, 22, 23 of the Public Works Act, 1876, to acquire possession of town section 783, for the purpose of providing and maintaining public offices within the city in which to hold the meetings and to transact tht business of the Council, and for the üße of its officers, and for holding public meetings and transacting public 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 further, do approve the desirability of borrowing a sum not exceeding £30,000, to be expended in the purchase of the sa-'d land, and in the erection of the said buildings."

Cr Thomson seconded the motion. Cr Nathan wished to know whether it was worth while to go on with this subject, when they knew that the public were opposed to the proposition. He (Cr Nathan) had opposed the matter from the first, and should record his vote against it. He considered that it was impolitic to go on with it, and he asked the mover now to withdraw the motion.

Cr Hobbs said that there had been no expression of public opinion on the subject. He had seen resolutions emanating from the Batepayers' Association, of which Mr Treadwell was secretary, but these persons were opposing a scheme of which they knew but little. He had set bis shoulder to the wheel, and he would not flinch in carrying forward what he considered to be a public duty. Cr Hawkes hoped that the mover would not withdraw the motion. There had not been, as far as he knew, any expression of public opinion on the matter, and he thought that now, having gone so far, they could not go back. It should, he thought, be allowed to go to the ratepayers to decide, as if they did not they would regret that when they had the opportunity they did not do what would be for the benefit of the public, Cr Bird had supported the resolution at the first, and had heard nothing to make him alter his opinion. He thought that they should allow the matter to go to the ratepayers! and nc might say that if he found it entailed an additional rate to be Btruck, he should vote against it. Cr Thomson supported the resolution, as he felt that it would be a great public benefit, and that in years to come they would regret that they had not done fo. Cr Jone 3 expressed his regret that the mover had not seen hia way to withdraw the motion. He was oppoßed to it, and felt that public opinion was decidedly against it. The motion wao then put, and agreed to, with two dissentients.

Ayes—Crs Turner. Hobhs, Thornboo, Bird. Noes—Crß Jones and Nathan. On the motion of Cr Turner, the surveyor was instructed to have a large plan to be used at the public meeting, and also to employ a man to take the number of vehicles passing Colombo street during the week. The Couuc 1 adjourned till 4 p m. this day.