CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4133, 19 June 1874, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The adjourned meeting of tho Council was held yesterday afternoon at the Provincial Buildings. Present—The Mayor (in the chair), Councillors Dransfield, Ilainie, Greenfield, Burrett, McKirdy, Moss, Mills, aud Krull. THE AMENDED WATERWORKS BILL. Councillor Dransfield, before the special business of the meeting was proceeded with, suggested to his Worship that the Council should give its assent to the introduction of a new clause into the Bill to be introduced to tho General Assembly for the purpose of raising a further, sum for the purpose of completing the waterworks scheme. The Council was aware that under the existing Waterworks Act the Council had tho power to pay off its creditors at any moment, but the operation of this clause, instead of being beneficial to the Corporation, had proved injurious to its interests, because capitalists did not cave to advance money which the Council had the privilege of returning at any moment. The object of the now clause was to effect an amendment in this particular, so that the Corporation should boiTow for a specific term, and make the investment lucrative to the lender without affecting the interests of the Corporation. The Mayor was about to put tbe proposal to the Council, when Councillor Moss interposed and stated that as the meeting was a special one to consider certain proposals, of which the Waterworks Bill was not one, his Worship should call upon the Clerk to announce the first subject for discussion.

The Mayor said the fact of any one Councillor objecting to tbe introduction of new matter was sufficient to prevent Councillor Dransfield proceeding with his motion, and he must therefore rule him out of order.

Councillor Dransfield pointed out that it was important that the progress of the Bill should be facilitated as much as possible, and as this was an adjourned and not a special meeting, he maintained that it was within the scope of the business which they were empowered to enter upon. The Mayor said he had already given his decision, and Councillor Bran,-:fiold would have to abide by it. EMPLOYMENT OF PROVINCIAL SURVEYORS. The Clerk then read the letter from the Provincial Government in answer to one from the Mayor, informing the Council that they would be willing to transfer to the Council the services of two or three engineers for the pur-' pose of ascertaining the probable cost of reclaiming the Te Aro foreshore, extending the wharf accommodation, and constructing a graving dock. Councillor Mills considered the City Engineer the proper person to express an opinion upon the advisablencss or otherwise of employing engineers to place the Council in possession of such information, and as Mr. Marchant was present, he should be invited to give whatever information he could upon the subject. This view being accepted by the Council, The City Engineer placed upon the table one of a scries of sketch plans he had prepared, which gave all necessary data connected with the reclamation of seventy acres of the To Aro foreshore. This plan ho had prepared six months ago in consequence of opinions which fell from various Councillors during a discussion upon the subject. The tracing showed the depths of water, and all particulars necessary for forming an estimate of the cost of the work, and also embraced a proposal for the construction of a wet dock seven acres in extent, allowing a depth of water of 10 feet 9 inches at the entrance, which could bo increased to GO feet at little additional outlay. An examination, of the plan would show that it was a difficult matter to make a wot dock at thu head of the bay without interfering with the plotting of the streets, but it was, of course, a matter for the Council to consider whether or not the formation of the streets should be interfered with by the construction of the dock. Anticipating inquiries upon tile point, lie might mention that ho estimated the cost of the whole reclamation at £300,000, and ho might bo excused for expressing the opinion that lie scarcely thought it probable the Council would bo able to raise such an amount of money upon the laud when reclaimed. The better plan, therefore, would bo to reclaim only a portion of it for the present.

Councillor Dkansfikld said that at the last* meeting ho had opposed any scheme for the construction of a dock, on the ground that such a scheme would involve the (Jorporationin liabilities beyond its moans. Ifrom what he had hoard from the Surveyor at the present meeting, and in conversation with him, ho understood that tho reclamation work would cost about £OOO,OOO, with or without the dock. It must be admitted that that was rather too great an undertaking for the Council, but if they wore to decide upon reclaiming say 41 acres instead of 70, they would be entering upon a proposal winch they might consider fairly

within the scope of their duties and responsibilities. To put the matter into shape for discussion, as it appeared to he the opiuion inside and outside the Council that dock accommodation was required, he would propose the following resolution, he being strongly of opinion that the Provincial Government should bear a fair share of the work: —“ That in view of the proposed reclamation of the To Aro foreshore, the following Councillors, namely, the Mayor, Councillors Greenfield, McKirdy, Eainie, and the mover, he appointed a deputation to wait upon tho Superintendent, to urge upon him the necessity of a dry-dock being carried out by the Provincial Government, as part ol the work; and, at the same time authorising the deputation to pledge the Council to give such proportion of the laiul included in tho ie Aio foreshore grant as may he required for such purpose.” Councillor Greenfield seconded the motion. Councillor Kucll failed to aeo why so much importance should he attached to the construction of a dry-dock, particularly as they had already provided the port with an efficient patent-slip. A great deal had been said about tho advantages of tho dry-dock in Port Chalmers; but it might he an acceptable piece of information to Councillors to know, that during the past twelve months, tho receipts of the patent-slip exceeded those of the Port Chalmers dry-dock by £2OO. He should certainly oppose any proposal to construct a dry-dock; although Councillor Dransfield, who formerly opposed it, was now in favor of it.

Councillor Dransfield thought it was not fair that such statements should be made. He had notoj>po.sed tho proposal to construct a dock, and he challenged Councillor Krall to show that he had. All ho had done was to point out that the cost of construction was beyond the means of the Council unaided. Councillor Greenfield said he had always understood Councillor Dransfield to say that he opposed the dock because it would he unfair that the ratepayers of the City should bo solely saddled with the cost. Councillor Eainie considered that it mattered little who had to pay for the dock, Wellington would never ho anything without it. As to the reclamation work, the Council should proceed cautiously, by first getting all information obtainable, and thou, after reclaiming such an amount as was within its means, it could dispose of that and reclaim the remainder.

Councillor Mills quoted the authority of Captain McLean for the fact that a patent slip was far hotter than a dock.

Councillor Moss observed that that had nothing whatever to do with the business before the Council.

Tho Mayor said he understood Councillor Dransfield’s views thoroughly. He did not oppose the work, but he did not wish them to put their hands into their pockets too deeply. In that view he was quite correct, and he (tho Mayor) agreed with him, but the simple fact of their applying to the General Assembly for a sum of money to construct, did not mean that they wore bound to spend that money. That merely gave them the pjtjver to construct, but it was possible that that power might bo exercised by private parties, and even if it were not exercised at all tho Council would be in no woi-ae position. Councillor McKirdy thought the point which demanded their more immediate consideration was whether or not they should reclaim the Te Aro foreshore. Councillor Dransfield said that question had been decided long ago. Councillor McKirdy would like to know, then, what they wanted those Provincial Engineers for ? The Council was already in possession of a plan which was at that moment on the table, and from which all information the Council desired might be obtained. Certainly, this was not all the information tho Council desired ; but if the City Engineer had been able to do this work in so satisfactory a manner surely ho could do anything else the Council required without accepting the proffered aid. As to the cost of the reclamation, ho did not think it would cost £51)0,000. The Engineer explained that his estimate was formed before the contract for reclaiming the Thorndou foreshore had been accepted. It was probable that the amount would now be something below his estimate. Councillor Dransfield explained that the object of his motion was to ascertain from the Provincial Government whether or not they would entertain a proposal for entering jointly with the Corporation upon the construction of a dry dock. If they declined, then the Corporation would abandon the idea of constructing the dock, and confine itself to matters strictly municipal. The motion was then put and carried. WHARF EXTENSION.

The City Engineer laid upon the table a second plan showing the area of laud upon which tho present wharf stands, and also showing the area of proposed extensions of the main wharf, and of the T’s, for which an additional grant of land would bo required. On the motion of Councillor Dransfield tho City Solicitor was instructed to take tho necessary steps to acquire a grant of the laud from the Government.

INCREASED WHARF ACCOMMODATION. Councillor Dransfield proposed the following resolution : —“ That this Council seeing the importance of increased wharf accommodation being afforded to -facilitate the trade of the port, requests that his Worship the Mayor, Councillors Greenfield, Mclvirdy, Ilainie, and the mover, will wait upon his Honor the Superintendent at twelve o’clock on Monday, to confer with him upon the subject, and at the same time to get his sanction, to erect such platform as may be found necessary to make the breastwork in front of the Provincial Buildings available for further wharf accomodation.” After a short desultory discussion the motion was carried, DISMISSAL OF FOREMAN OF WORKS. The City Surveyor reported that in consequence of cex-tain occurrences to which lie did not at that moment desire to make further reference he had dismissed Mr. Wilson, the foreman of works. An inquiry which he had instituted was not yet complete, and he was, therefore, not in a position to add to certain information which was already in the possession of some members of the Council. The Mayor suggested that the Council should postpone further consideration of the matter till the next meeting. Councillor Dransfield hoped the Council would not postpone the matter without first ratifying the action taken by the Surveyor, and at the same time intimating to him that the Council hold him responsible for the conduct of every individual employed under him. The remainder of the Councillors took this view, and the action of the Surveyor was approved, , INCREASE OF SALARIES. The Council then entered upon the consideration of a proposal to increase the salaries of the Corporation officials, and upon the receipt of an intimation that the Council wished to discuss the proposal in private, the reporters withdrew.