CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4380, 3 April 1875, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The adjourned meeting of the Council was held last evening at the Provincial Chambers. Present—The Mayor (in the chair), Councillors Gillon, Cleland, Ramie, George, Dranshelu, nd Greenfield. TOWN CLEIIK ri RETORT. A report from the Town Clerk stated that the balance of purchase money, CSO3, for land at Te Aro foreshore, had been paid to the Provincial Government. Other unimportant subjects were alluded to in the report, amongst them being a reminder that it would bo necessary for the Council to appoint a person to value houses in course of construction, tor the purposes of assessing the water-rate. Ibis matter was referred to the Waterworks Committee, with power to appoint.

SANITARY COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The following report of a meeting of the Sanitary Committee, held on 22nd March, was r6i “o'n notice of motion No. 124, referred by the Council to the committee, and on the petition of the nightmeu for a renewal of their licenses, it was moved by Councillor Gillon that tenders be invited for removing night-soil, rubbish, &c., from each ward of the city, the work to be performed under direction of the Inspector of Nuisances, and to his satisfaction, security to be found for the due performance of the work, and tenderers to take over the plant now used by the Council at 20 per cent, below cost price, the tenders to be at per house per month, or per statute adult in each house per mouth, hotels to be charged separately. “The motion was seconded by Councillor George and carried. 4t The consideration of the remainder of the notice was postponed. “Qn Mr. Evans’s letter of the 3rd inst., re account for removal of nightsoil, &c., the committee cannot recommend any reduction to be made.

“An account for emptying cesspool for Mr. George was reduced from £1 10s. Id. to £1 4s. 4d.; also one against Mr, Chilty, from £4 4s. to £3 14s.

“ The Inspector of Nuisances was called on to give explanations in reference to the above accounts. In doing so he characterised a statement of Councillor George’s as a falsehood. The Chairman ordered him to leave the room, and on the motion of Councillor Gillon, the committee resolved that the conduct of the Inspector was most disrespectful and improper, and that the committee report their opinion of it to the Council.”

The following report of a meeting of the committee held on the 30th March was read:— “On consideration of tenders for removal of nightsoil, &c., it was found that only one tender had been sent in, and it was resolved not to accept it, the Town Clerk being instructed to return the tender and to extend the time for receiving tenders for a fortnight ; also to grant licenses to the private nightmen for three months further from the Ist proximo without fee.” “The committee made the following recommendation: —‘That the Surveyor be instructed to sow the Thorndon reclamation with some sort of seed so as to prevent the dust forming ; also that he report upon the forming of the depot for rubbish at Te Aro ; that the Town Clerk wait upon Mr. A. P. Stuart respecting the purchase of the whole or a portion of acre No. 211, Manners-street, with the view of a drain being carried through.’ ” “ Mr. Oakley’s account for removal of nightsoil was reduced from £1 14s. Sd. to £1 ss. Bd.” Conncillor Gillon said the committee had been compelled to report in strong terms upon the conduct of the Sanitary Inspector, who had been very insolent to a member of the committee, and unless the Council marked its sense of the conduct of that officer, the Sanitary Committee would lose the services of two members, for he and Councillor George would positively refuse to be brought into contact with him. He had shown no regret for what had taken place, but on the contrary had expressed his intention not to retract the insolent language used toward Councillor George. To bring matters to an issue, he should move that the services of the present Sanitary Inspector he dispensed with. Councillor Cleland thought the motion somewhat severe. Of course it would never do to tolerate insolent conduct from -officers of the Council, but it was quite possible that Mr. Pilmer would apologise if asked to do so by the Council or by the committee. Considering that it was his first offence it was rather harsh to dismiss him at once.

The motion not finding a seconder. Councillor Gillon suggested thal some Councillor should second the motion proforma. Then, if considered desirable, the discussion could be postponed for a fortnight. Councillor Dkaxsfield, on the distinct understanding that he should not compromise himself in any way, would second the motion pro forma. He did not desire to go to such extremes as Councillor Gillon; but at the same time it was monstrous that Councillors should be insulted by their own officers. Mr. Pilmer had a very difficult duty to perform, a duty in the nerformance of which he could hardly fail to make enemies. He had to inspect people’s back yards, and no doubt his action touched the tender sensibilities of many people. Possibly the dispute with Councillor George had arisen out of some such action, and he ■was inclined to think that it would be better to adopt the suggestion of Councillor Cleland, and allow the matter to stand over for a fortnight, during which time Mr. Pilmer might have an opportunity to offer some explanation of his conduct.

Councillor Kaixie had a distinct recollection of what took place at the meeting of the committee, and heard Councillor George first accuse Mr. Pilmer of telling a falsehood. Mr. Pilmer, being a hot-tempered man, replied to Councillor George in the same strain, and told him that he also was telling a falsehood. Of course he did not desire to defend the conduct of any official wlio should be guilty of insolent conduct toward a Councillor, but it was only fair to Mr. Pilmer that the matter should be put before the Council in its proper light. Councillor ClelaxD, as a way out of the difficulty, suggested that the whole matter should be left in the hands of the Mayor, The Mayok reminded the Council that it would be rather undignified to come to such a decision as that proposed by Councillor Gillon in the absence of the official charged with the offence. Of course ho was well aware of the nature of the duties to be performed hy the Sanitary Inspector, but at the same time he would’ always i sist that their officials should bear in mind that a certain amount of politeness was due to the public. If be found that any officer departed from that rule he should mmediately, in the exercise of the powers which he presumed attached to his office, dismiss him, and be trusted the Council would support him in that action. (Hear, bear.) If the Council desired it, he would undertake to investigate the present case, and receive Mr. Pilmer's explanation of the matter.^ Permission was given to Councillor Gillon to withdraw his motion.

Councillor Greenfield, before any decision was come to, would like to say a few words as to the lax manner in which the Sanitary Inspector performed his duties. Ho had brought no cases into court lately, and he (Councillor Greenfield) knew many cases which should bo brought before the Court. The Mayor said it would be indiscreet to lay a general charge against any officer. He trusted Councillor Greenfield would allow his complaint to stand over for future action should any specific ease of neglect of duty arise. Councillor Clkland’s motion, that the matter bo , left in the hands of tho Mayor, with power to act, was carried.. The report as a whole was received and adopted. WHARF COMMITTEE. The following is the report of the Wharf Committee : “ On Messrs. Krull and Co.’s letter of tho 18th inst., tho committee are of opinion that that the Council have no power to interfere in tho matter. “Being asked by tho City Surveyor, the committee gave it as their opinion that labor and coals should be supplied with steam hoists.” The Surveyor was authorised to make necessary alterations in the steam hoists employed on the wharf.

The Town-Clerk was instructed to see that the rent for the wharf was paid on the duo date, viz., the Ist of each month, or to take proceedings for its recovery. The Surveyor was instructed to take all necessary steps in connection with the fenders for the wharf. The Mayor inquired whether the lessee for the wharf had paid his rent. The Clerk replied in the negative. The Mayor then moved that the Clerk instruct the City Solicitor to take immediate steps for the recovery of the rent. Councillor Kainie inquired why the date of payment was altered from the Bth or 9th of the month to the Ist. Councillor Lhansfield explained that the alteration was made as a matter of convenience, but no loss of revenue accrued, the account being adjusted to meet the alteration. The report of the committee was adopted. ■waterworks committee. The following report of a meeting of the Waterworks Committee was read : “On the motion of Councillor George it was resolved, ‘ That the explanation of the Town-Clerk as to the waterworks’ account is satisfactory, and that in place of their being £7OOO in arrears, there is only £97 14s. 4d. of arrears of last year’s rates. £2OO 9s. is due from the General Government, and £BB6 11s. 2d. is owing for water-pipes laid on, so far as accounts received from the City Surveyor can show.’ “The rates for the present year are in progress of collection. “ The Town Clerk reported that he should be able to bring up the return asked for by Mr. Councillor Gillon by the next meeting of the Council. “ Resolved, * That if the City Surveyor was in need of service-piping he should at once report to the committee, stating quantity required.’ “Resolved, ‘That the City Surveyor and Councillor George prepare and get printed a pamphlet of the rules and regulations of the city waterworks.’ ” Councillor Dransfield inquired whether the £97 spoke of in the report represented the total amount of water-rates outstanding? The Clerk replied that it did. The report was adopted. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. The report of this committee, after dealing with several unimportant subjects, proceeded as follows : “ The committee have also to report that they have obtained from the Engineer a return, from which it appears that within, the last two years works to the approximate value of £834 have been authorised, but not executed. These works are as follows : 1873-4. Brougham, completion of south end £125 0 0 Drain extension, Kent-terrace .. 415 0 0 ~ Tinakori-road (Major Heaphy’s) 24 0 0 Drain extension, Tinakori-road (Mr.

(Iceland's) .. .. .. .. 5 0 0 Drain extension, AVebb-street, Te Aro .. .. .. .. .. 30 0 0 Forming footway, Adelaide - road (near cricket ground) .. .. 35 0 0 Metalling Taranaki-street, southern! 14 0 0 Repairs to Church-street .. ~ 25 0 0 Repairs to steps AVellington-terrace 3 0 0 Flooring culvert, Cuba-strect .. 30 0 0 1875. Drain, Majoribank-street .. .. £ls 0 0 „ Cuba-street 28 0 0 „ South-road 25 0 0 Repairs to Nairn-street .. .. 50 0 0 Repairs to Pirle-strcet, east end .. 10 0 0 £834 _ 0 0 “ Of these works, the condition on which the expenditure on Brougham-street was authorised was the contribution of £6O by the residents; this not having been complied with the committee cannot now recommend the work. The drain extension, Kent-terrace, does not appear to the committee a work urgently required, and they recommend that it be allowed to stand over. The other works estimated to cost £294, the committee recommend should be proceeded with before any fresh work be undertaken. The works now in progress, probable time and cost of completion, they find to be as follows : Conrtenay-placc, eight weeks £250 Embankment, AVellington-terrace, five weeks 125 " AVoolcombe-atreet, repairs, two weeks .. 30 Total £405 “ The work of gorse clearing and scavengering, and general repairs, is also being carried on. The staff of men at present employed, exclusive of those employed on the waterworks, consists of one foreman, four carpenters, and eighteen laborers. There -will also be required six carts with drivers. Altogether the staff of day men may be taken to cost about £BO per week, or rather upwards of £4OOO per annum. They now recommend those in progress, amounting to £690, to be charged against this expenditure. “ Considering the present revenue of the city, the committee consider that the expenditure on day labor and cartage should not exceed £2OOO per annum, and they recommend that on completion of the works above recommended and now in progress, the staff should be reduced to this limit.

“On reference to an application from Mr. P. E. Smith, asking for certain works in Tara-naki-street, the committee cannot recommend the work.

“ On reference to the application from the Governors of the Wellington College for payment of a certain contribution, the committee recommend that the Council pay one-half of the sum of £33, and the sum of £2 35., with interest, but do not recommend any further payment on this account. “Letters from Mr. Burrett and Messrs. Moody and Wallace, in reference to patent pavement, have been laid before the committee, but they cannot recommend any immediate action.

“On reference to a letter from the Undersecretary for Public Works, asking for the formation of a drain from the Ministerial residence in Tinakori-road, the committee intimated their willingness to recommend the Council to incur one-half the expense, if the Government would pay the other half. The Under-Secretary, in reply, intimated the willingness of the Government to do this if the total expense did not exceed £7l 10s., as the City Engineer estimates the cost at £135 the committee cannot at present make any recommendation.

“ The committee have considered the necessity of extending the verandahs on Lambtonquay to the margin of the footpath, and recommend the Council to instruct the Engineer to take steps accordingly. “On reference to an application for certain expenditure on Victoria-place (a private street), the committee cannot recommend that it be entertained, hut do recommend that in future the provision of clause 298 of the Municipal Corporations Act in reference to private streets he strictly adhered to. “The committee also recommend as follows: That a summary of the work performed should he placed at the foot of each pay-sheet, showing the amount of money spent in each (ward with the names of the) streets in which work has been performed. “An offer.from Messrs. Beck and Tonks of certain timber has been received, but the committee do not recommend its acceptance. “D. Kainib, “ Chairman.” Councillor Dransfield could not agree to the recommendation of the committee that the contract for Kent-terraco drain should be delayed, and, moreover, he would request the ruling of the Mayor as to whether a resolution under which this work was could be traversed by a recommendation of this sort. He objected to the Council stultifying itself by establishing such a precedent. Councillor Gillon explained that the resolution had remained in abeyance for nine months, and it would bo no great hardship that it should he delayed for perhaps six months longer. The committee merely recommended that the work should not be carried out nt present. The recommendation of the committee was adopted hy the Council, and the report as a whole agreed to. B ANITA nr inspector’s report. A report from the Sanitary Inspector was read and received. MARKET RESERVE. A motion hy Councillor Gillon, with reference to the appointment of a committee to doviso means for letting or utilising the site of the present Market Hall, was agreed to.

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. Councillor Gibbon’s motion to reduce the quorum of the Public Works Committee to two was negatived, Councillors Gillon and George being the only councillors in its favor. WHARF ACCOMMODATION. A motion for the appointment of a committee to consider the advisability of providing increased wharf accommodation was earned on the motion of Councillor Gillon, an understanding being come to that the committee should take no action until after the discussion on the Mayor’s motion with reference to the finances of the city. ABSENCE OF THE MAYOR. The Mayor gave a short statement of the causes which led to his absence from the Council for a longer period than he had anticipated. He thanked those members who had borne his share of the duties, and trusted that no inconvenience had arisen from his non-ap-pearance, either at committee or Council meetings. Notices of motions were given, and the Council adjourned.