CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4306, 8 January 1875, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Cbuncil was held yesterday. Present—The Mayor (in the chair), Councillors Mills, Moss, Burrett, Dransfield, Eainie, Greenfield, and George. THE WHARF REGULATIONS. The Mayor; upon the proceedings being opened, stated that the first business was the consideration of the wharf regulations, as revised by the joint committee of merchants and City Councillors. Councillor Dransfield inquired in what manner the regulations came before the Council. He desired to know upon what authority the revised regulations were printed and submitted to the Council in their present form. The Mayor replied that the matter was now entirely in the hands of the Council. The regulations in their present form represented the work of tho committee of Councillors and merchants, and his own opinion was that they should be submitted to a full meeting of the Wharf Committee before the Council took any further action in the matter. A desultory discussion ensued, upon the conclusion of which Councillor George moved that the regulations, as revised by the joint committee and as now presented to the Council, be adopted. Councillor Mills seconded the motion. Councillor Moss moved as an amendment, —“ That the tolls on the wharf be let subject to wharfage at the rate of one shilling and sixpence per ton, lessee to find no labor and take no responsibility, transshipped goods to be free of wharfage outwards; that the sheds' on the wharf, - the bonded store, and the steam-hoists be let in a separate lot or lots, with a scale of charges to be prepared by the Wharf Committee ; and that the wharf regulations now under consideration be amended accordingly.” He moved this motion because he found upon inquiry that the system embodied in the motion had been adopted elsewhere, and had worked admirably. Councillor George said the system sketched out in the motion was discussed before the committee, when it was agreed that it could not prove advantageous until more wharfage accommodation was provided. Councillor Dransfield felt every justification in supporting the proposal of Councillor Moss, because he knew the majority of the mercantile community were in favor of it. He was much surprised to find at the meeting of the joint committee that those gentlemen who were appointed by the meeting of merchants to meet the committee appointed by the Council did not support the suggestion made by Mr. Turnbull. The strongest argument in favor of the change was that it would break down the present monopoly, and lead to the establishment of a system which would prove of great advantage to the general,public. Councillor Eainie would support the proposal of Councillor Moss, provided a superintending agent or pier-master were appointed to attend to the interests of the public. The introduction of a number of forwarding agents would likely lead to confusion, which would not improve the manner of working the wharf.

The Mayor thought the fact that the gentlemen appointed by the mercantile community to revise these regulations had recommended that the management should be centered in one wharfinger, should receive some consideration. These gentlemen had expressed themselves in a manner opposed to the opinions of Councillor Dransfield, and he thought likewise that the management of the wharf should be vested in the hands of one person, whoever might be the lessee, for a period of at least one year. Of course it was an admirable ad captandum to go down to the public with the cry, “No monopoly,” “free trade,” and so forth, but he was bound to be guided by the opinion of gentlemen whose experience qualified them to instruct persons like himself, for instance, who could not lay claim to a great amount of mercantile knowledge. The wharfinger, as a servant of the Council, as a person having a great interest in the economic and systematic management of the wharf, was the person most likely to devise arrangements suitable to tbe public interest. He would, therefore, submit that the Council should defer to the opinions of the merchants themselves. _ Councillor Moaa made a few observations in reply, and the amendment was then put and carried. The further consideration of the regulations was deferred to a special meeting, to be held next evening (Friday), at eight o’clock. THE ANNUAL ACCOUNTS. The Council then went into consideration of the annual accounts. Councillor George pointed out that there was only one item in the accounts to which he wished to direct attention, namely, that the waterworks account should show more.clearly the amount of receipts and expenditure. Tbe bonuses to Mr. Marchaht and Mr. Blackett, he observed, were put down in the annual expenses, whereas they should have been set against the capital account. With this exception, he saw nothing in the accounts to object to. Councillor Dransfield said the auditors bad taken upon themselves to lecture tbe Council, and to some portions of that lecture he greatly objected. They were told that the returning officers were not authorised to pay deputies; that if they appointed them they should be paid out of members’ own pockets. Then, again, they were told that they had an overdraft of £6OOO. It was quite unnecessary that they should be told that, as the banka were perfectly well able to take care of themOouucillor Mills thought the auditors desired to show by their report that they had done something for their money. Councillor Bainik pointed out that there was no authority in the Act for paying auditors, but they were paid because it was not to be supposed that people would do work of the kind for nothing. The Mayor, referring to the remarks of Councillor Dransfield, said they must have some regard to the analogies of the General Government, the Provincial Government, and other similar bodies, who appointed auditors to make a critical examination of their accounts. He was rather inclined to differ with Councillor Dransfield upon this matter, because he thought the remarks of the auditors worthy of every consideration. Councillor Dransfield had made an allusion to the effect that it was unnecessary to remind the Council of the fact that there- was an overdraft at the bank. Councillor Dransfield should himself boar in mind that there were certain restrictions in the Act which the auditors were hound to take cognisance of. Councillor Dransfield moved that the auditors’ report bo adopted, but he would suggest that it would be much more satisfactory that the auditors should report to the Council quarterly, instead of waiting for a year to make whatever suggestions they had to make. As to any irregularities in the method of managing the Corporation finances, these should be reported to the Mayor, whose duty it was to report then to the Council. The financial position of the Council would not then be glared before the world in this way. He would, therefore, move that the auditors be requested to report quarterly to the Mayor the state of the Corporation accounts, and any matters connected therewith, to which they may desire to draw attention. Councillor Burrett seconded the motion, which was carried. On the motion of Councillor George, the remuneration to the auditors was fixed at fifteen guineas (same ns last year). CORPORATION LIABILITIES. The Mayor took. occasion to remark that it would be a highly desirable thing that the Surveyor should draw up a statement of the amount due upon all works in progress, the works contracted for and not in progress, and the works which should be undertaken, so ns to give a bird’s-eye view of the financial position of the Corporation, and the amount of money available for possible demands upon their exchequer. The Surveyor explained that ho had already prepared returns in accordance with a motion moved by Councillor George, but it did not embrace all that was desired by the Mayor. The addition, however, could easily be made. DRAINAGE. A letter, from Dr. Kemp, again complained of the bad drainage of Bolton-street.

The Surveyor explained that tbe contract for forming the road was in such a position that the drainage could not at present he improved. The work had not advanced much during the past fortnight, on account of the holidays. CONSTABLE STREET, The third contribution, of the Council toward the formation of'Constable-street was ordered to < be paid. v ) , A WARNING. I Mr. Levin, agent for Mr. Coverdale, com-, plained of the Corporation having taken grayel from section 227 Courtenay-place, and warned the Council of a possible claim for damage if the surface were not made good. The Surveyor said the Corporation carts had taken gravel from the section upon his authority, livery endeavor had been made to discover the owner of the section, who owed j£2s for rates, but without avail. Other persons. had taken gravel from the section. He had since had some communication with Mr. Levin, who, he understood, would be willing to allow the arrears of rates as a sufficient set-off against the damage. The Mayor undertook to see Mr. Levin, and settle the matter with him, the Surveyor to take such steps as the Mayor may direct. THE TERRACE. The Surveyor, as matter of urgency, drew attention to the deplorable condition of the south end of Wellington-terrace. The Council instructed the Surveyor to give an approximate coat of the work by next day. THE WHARF. A letter was read from the Harbor-master with reference to double-banking ships at the wharf, and asking that tbe Surveyor should examine the wharf, with the object of ascertaining its capability to bear the extra strain. The Surveyor stated that owing to the unfavorable condition of the wharf he had been unable to make the examination asked for. . .THE LIGHTING CONTRACT. The Manager of the Gasworks reminded the Council that the present contract for lighting the street lamps would expire on the 20th inst. The letter was referred to the Lighting Committee. The Council then adjourned.