CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4283, 11 December 1874, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Thursday, December 10. An ordinary meeting of the City Council was held this afternoon, at four o’clock. Present—The Mayor (in the chair), Councillors Mills, Moss, McKirdy, Dransfield, Rainie, Greenfield, and George. WANT OF ACCOMMODATION AT THE WHARF. A highly respectable deputation, consisting of Mr. Walter Johnston, Mr. W. Turnbull, Mr. Krull, and other gentlemen interested in the trade of the port, waited upon the Council as a deputation from the consignees of goods by the ship Soukar, to ask the Council to interest itself to enable that ship to get a berth at the wharf to discharge her inward cargo. Mr. Walter Johnston, in a few words, explained the object of the deputation. Mr. W, Turnbull read a letter addressed by the consignees to the Superintendent of Wellington on the subject, and the reply which had been received from Mr. Fitzherbert. From the letter it appeared that the Superintendent had sent for the Harbor-master, who informed him that the outer T was reserved for steamships, and that at present no other berth was available for the Soukar. Councillor Mills observed that it was folly to keep the outer T reserved for Messrs. McMeckan and Blackwood’s steamers, when it was known that no vessel of that line could be in port for some days. The Harbor-master, should be requested to make room for the Soulcar, it it w<w at «1I possible. After some conversational discussion, it was suggested by the Mayor and agreed to, that it should be left to Councillors Dransfield and George and himself to see the Harbor-master and arrange, if possible, for a berth for the Soukar, Mr. Walter Johnston thanked the Mayor and Council for the courtesy with which they had been received, and the deputation then retired. THE VALUATION OF THE CITY. Reports were brought up from the representatives of the various wards (members of the Council) on the valuations lately made by the sworn valuator. The Mayor remarked that he scarcely knew what to suggest in the matter. Councillor Moss thought a decision should be come to at once, as the appeal court was to be held on the 12th. The Clerk reminded the Council that it did not matter when the court was to be held, as the time for giving notice of appeal (the sth) was now past. The Mayor (taking up the report for Thomdon Ward) suggested that perhaps the beat way would be to agree to give a reduction to all. th<=» complainants of 20 per coot. He thought, from hvhat he knew of the matter—though he did not profess to be a valuator—that such a course would meet the justice of the case. Councillor Dransfield suggested that, as there now was no hurry, the best course would be to refer the appeals back to the Councillors for the wards. He moved to that effect.' Councillor George supported the proposal. Councillor Mills, though his own property had been valued at an increase of seventy-five per cent., did not complain, and considered the valuation, as regarded Lambton Ward, a very fair one. He thought that the case would be met if the recommendations of the representatives of the wards, as expressed in the reports on the table, were agreed to, and that it should be intimated to the public chat the revised valuations' could be seen at the Town Clerk’s office. In answer to a remark, Councillor Mills remarked that in no case had the representatives of Lambton Ward had occasion to increase the valuation. Councillor Moss objected to a sweeping re-duction-of 20 per cent, in all the cases of objection, as it would merely encourage everybody, on another valuation being ihade, to go in for objections. Councillor Rainie thought the proposition a very fair one indeed. Members of the Council wore not to be expected to go about tho wards like valuators. Councillor McKirdy objected to a reduction of 20 per cent, all round in the objected cases. Ho thought the valuation as a whole a very fair one. He agreed with the idea that to give a reduction of 20 per cent all round, would only encourage objections in the future. Councillor Dransfield thought they were drifting into an awkward position. In his ward the members had gone through the valuation, and in every case had made what they supposed to be a proper valuation. The same was the case with reference to the other wards. It was admitted that the valuation in Lambton Ward was a fair one ; but, if they agreed to make a reduction of 20 per cent, as to Thermion Ward, they could not refuse to do the same as to the other wards. The Mayor said the report as to Thomdon Ward recommended a reduction of 20 per cent, in all tho cases in which complaint had been made. He agreed with the proposal. From what he himself know he believed that tho rate all round was 20 per cent, too high. If they did not make a general reduction, they could only deal with individual cases of complaint. Councillor Mills : That is exactly what has been done in Lambton Ward. Councillor Rainie : Thomdon Ward has been greatly over-valued, and he believed the same over-valuation affected the other wards. Councillor Dransfieid’s motion was then agreed to,

GAS WORKS. A letter from Auckland, asking the concurrence and support of the Council in an application to Parliament next session, on the subject of works for the supply of gas, was left over for consideration a montjh hence, on the suggestion of Councillor Dransfield. EXCHANGE OF LAND. A letter from Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull, proposing an exchange of land, was read, and held over for consideration at a future meeting. THE MAP OF THE CITY. A letter was read from Mr. Moody (of Moody and Wallace), asking for compensation for labor, their tender, as well as that of other tenderers for a plan of the city, having been set aside, the Council having resolved to associate themselves with the Provincial Surveyor in the matter.—The letter was allowed to stand over. THE INSPECTOR OP NUISANCES. . The report of the committee of the Council on the complaints made against this officer was read. It was to the effect that it had not been proved that this officer had exceeded his duties ; that he should be called upon to account for an apparent deficit in his accounts; that he should not employ his son at a fee in the impounding of stray stock ; aild that he should keep proper accounts. On the motion of Councillor Greenfield, it was agreed that the Inspector should be made aware of the tenor of the report. “REQUESTED,” —NOT “ SUMMONED.” Councillor Dransfield remarked that the Town Clerk, in connection with the report just referred to, had “ summoned” a number of citizens to attend before the committee and give evidence ; the Council had no power to “ summon,” and therefore it would be better in future to use the word “ request,”—The suggestion was adopted, and ordered to be acted upon. THE RECLAIMED LAND. The Mayor reported that, as instructed, he had interviewed the Provincial Government, and also the General Government, as to getting the land to be reclaimed brought within the power of the Council. Matters had been put in such a train that he had every reason to hope the desires of the Council in that respect would be accomplished, when certain arrangements were made that would be agreeable to all the three parties. THE RECEPTION OP HIS EXCELLENCY. The Mayor reported what had been his ideas as to the steps ts be taken for the proper reception of His Excellency the Marquis of Normanby ; but stated that after he had had an interview on the subject with Major Atkinson, a telegram had been received from the Governor’s secretary, intimating that he desired no other reception than a welcome from the authorities of the city. He had taken the necessary steps for the preparation of an illuminated address, and proposed that the members of the Council should meet next day in the office of Mr. Dransfield, at noon, when he would submit the draft of the address he proposed to present to His Excellency. Councillor Mills hoped that everything would be done to give His Excellency as cordial a reception as had been given to his predecessors. Nothing, however, appeared to have been done.

Councillor Moss said lie was connected with a public body which probably would desire to turn out if the day of the landing were made a public holiday, and the programme of the authorities was made known. At present, however, nothing .was known. Councillor Mills thought something should be done to assure to the new Governor a warm welcome to the Seat of Government. At Auckland there had been balls and other marks of popular satisfaction, and here there appeared to be nothing whatever arranged or proposed. The Mayor said nothing more could be done until Dr. Pollen arrived. He was expected next day, and he (the Mayor) would take care to see hini on the subject as soon as he came to town.

The subject then dropped, and the Council soon afterwards adjourned.