CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1688, 18 July 1879, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Thursday, July 16. _ A special meeting of the Council was held at 3 p.m., to consider the amendments considered necessary in the Municipal Council Act.

Mr Garrick, solicitor to the Council, was present. A number of amendments were considered in committee, after which the Council adjourned.

A second meeting took place at 7 p.m. Present —The Mayor, Crs Jenkins, Cass, Ayers, Binstead, Gapes. The Mayor said they had met that evening to consider the mode of selection of the design for the Town Hall out of those sent in. It was for the Council to say how this was to be done, whether by a committee of advice or how. The architects generally in the city were of opinion that the designs should not be shown to the public before the awards were made. As regarded the selection his private opinion was that they should ask the assistance of some citizens of known taste in architecture. If they selected architects to assist them they would find that the assisting committee knew the designers. What he desired to see was, that, say six or nine gentlemen should be nominated as a committee of advice, gentlemen who had practised the profession, but had now retired. The chairman of the works committee had laid before the Conncil a key to the designs as grouped in the east and west rooms.

Cr. Gapes agreed with the Mayor that an architect here would be enabled to put his hand upon the design of any architect here or in any part of the colony. This would make the matter a very delicate one to decide, He thought that it would be much bettor to keep out of the profession altogether. Cr. Binstead said that it would of course be necessary to have the quantities taken out. Cr. Jenkins —This will be done after the inspection, Cr. Ayers thought that it would be necessary to have the quantities taken out before the decision, because the estimate laid down by the Council was £IO,OOO. Or. Binstead said that he had heard that some of the designs could not be carried out under £IOO,OOO or £50,000. Cr. Gapes said that if this was so of course these designs would fall through. Cr. Jenkins said that the proper time to take advice of the quantitative surveyor was when the designs were reduced to small limits.

The Mayor said he thought the first thing the Council should settle was whether the whole Council should act as a selection committee, or that a small committee should be appointed from the Council. His opinion was that the whole Council should have a voice in the matter, as the subject was one of a very important nature. Or. Jenkins said that in England the Board or Council formed a selection commi' tee out of their own body, who with outside assistance decided upon the designs to be selected. This committee then brought up their report, which was acted upon or otherwise by the Board. Or. Ayers moved—“ That the Council, as a whole, act as a selection committee with respect to the designs.” _ Or, Gapes seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Council then considered the question of outside assistance. Cr. Gapes thought that each member of the Council should nominate one; that would be nine outside and nine inside the Council. Cr. Jenkins thought that it would be very inadvisable to have a large committee. The Mayor said that in so important a matter the Council should see that the ratepayers be represented, particularly as they were going to them for the money. In answer to Cr. Gapes, The Mayor said ho did not think the Council should give up their rights in respect to accepting the design. Of course the opinions of the gentlemen who might bo called in to assist would have weight with the Council; but the members of the Council reserved to themselves the right of the final voting upon the design. The Council then proceeded to nominate ten gentlemen ns a committee of advice to assist the Council, and it was resolved to request them to accept the office. It was resolved that the Council and the committee should moot at 3 p.m. the next day, at the rooms of Messrs lEord and Newton, where the designs were hung.

Cr. Jenkins wished the Council to fix the date of the rooms being open to the public as early as possible. The Mayor said that the committee would decide that point so soon as they met. Of course it was distinctly understood that the selection of the designs should take place before the general public was admitted. Or. Jenkins stated that there were 168 plans and twenty-three competitors. The work of grouping and arranging the designs had only been completed that day. His Worehip the Mayor said ho thought the Council would agree with him that the best thanks of the Council were due to the works committee for their efforts. The vote of thanks was carried unanimously. Cr. Jenkins said that it had been a labor of love on the part of the works committee. The Council then adjourned to inspect the plans.