CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4451, 25 June 1875, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held yesterday afternoon at the Provincial Chambers. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Councillors George, Greenfield, Cleland, Mills, Moss, Pharazyn, Eainie, and Gillon. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. TENDERS FOR CARTAGE. Three tenders were opened from persons willing to undertake the cartage of the Corporation for the year. That of John Stace at lis. 6d. per day for man and horse was accepted. The highest tender was 13s. 6d. CORRESPONDENCE. Copies of all letters issued from the office during the week were as usual read. Inward correspondence was read as follows :—From Mrs. Brannigan, asking that her rates might be remitted; from the Provincial Auditor, asking for certain information re rates ; from Agent New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, acknowledging receipt of report on cranes ; petition from residents of Victoria-place, asking that no water rate may be charged them, as the mains are not laid in the street, also asking that a main may be laid ; letter from Mr. J. Saunders, asking for use of Corporation stables for a short time; from George Richardson, re drainage of Vivianstreet ; from Secretary of Ratepayers Association, for permission to copy ratebooks. In reference to Mrs. Brannigan's request it was decided that, inasmuch as there was a provision in the Municipal Act for recovering

rates from the landlord, if the tenant was unable to pay, the Council should in this, and all similar cases, take that course. The Town Clerk was authorised to forward the returns applied for by the Provincial Auditor. The petition of residents for exemption from the water rate was not acceded to, but the Council directed that petitioners should be informed that they might obtain service so soon as they chose to apply for it. It was decided to grant Mr. Saunders the use of the stables for three months, provided he kept them in order. The request of the Secretary of the Ratepayers' Association was granted. THE NIGHTMEN AGAIN. Councillor Gillon said he had seen an advertisement in the Times that morning, in which a number of nightmen expressed willingness to do work at certain charges. The Council had decided that no licenses should be issued after Ist July, and therefore it would be impossible for these men to do this work. He suggested that the Inspector of Nuisances should be positively instructed to prosecute any nightman, excepting those with whom the Corporation had entered into a contract, found at work after Ist July. A motion to this effect, made by Councillor Gillon, was carried. THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The following report was adopted : "1. Acting on the advice of the Engineer in his report on a petition from certain residents in Brougham-street, your committee recommend an expenditure of not more than £'A5 in improving that street. " 2. Mr. Mears having applied to your committee in reference to the watercourse running through his prope.-ty in Abel Smith-street, your committee instructed the Engineer to report upon the matter. His report being that the work asked for by Mr. Mears is one which should not be undertaken by the Corporation, your committee do not recommend any action in the matter. "3. Your committee recommend that Old Custom House-street be immediately repaired, so as to render it fit for cart traffic. " 4. Your committee have received a deputation from residents in Dixon-street, complaining that while they have no means of drainage provided, they were threatened by the Inspector of Nuisances with prosecution for throwing water, &c, on the street. As the Council cannot at present drain this street, your committee recommend that in this and other similar cases the inspector be instructed not to interfere.

" 5. Your committee, have reconsidered clause 4 of their last report :—'ln reference to a letter from Mr. Charles Brown, applying for a refund of 55., expenses incurred in filling up a dangerous opening left in a thoroughfare by a Corporation laborer, and into which a person fell, your committee cannot recommend that Mr. Brown's request be complied with, as they find that the opening in question was not made or left by any person in the employ of the Corporation.' "6. A letter has been received from Mr. T. K. Macdonald, in reference to certain works in Tasman-street, but no action is necessary, as the Engineer had already ordered the matter to be attended to. " 7. Your committee have also received a letter from Mr. Mowbray, complaining of the state of the footpaths and drains in Sydneystreet, and have referred it to the Engineer for his report thereon." WAGES LIST. The usual wages list for the month was passed. PROPERTY OF ABSENTEES. Councillor Gillon moved, —That the City Solicitor be instructed to take proceedings under the Sale of Land for Non-payment of Kates Act, to recover the rates due on all land included in the return laid on the table. He did not attach much importance to the amount of the rates, but the allotments were obstructions to, and the owners did not contribute towards tho improvements. There were no less than eighty-one of such allotments, most of them acre sections, and on fifty-seven of these no rates had been paid for ten years. This was not fair, and if the Council took action the owners of a vast majority of the sections would doubtless turn up, either themselves or through agents. Carried. NEW OFFICES FOB THE' COEPOBATION. Councillor Geobge moved, —That application be' made to tho next session of the General Assembly for power to enable the

Corporation to erect offices for their own use. In urging the adoption of the motion, Councillor George referred to the fact that the Corporation was at present paying £l4O a-year for a couple of rooms in the Provincial Government Chambers, and a room in another part of the city for a Town Surveyor's office. There was considerable inconvenience through the offices being in different parts of the city, and if offices were erected and all the business of the Council transacted under one roof, it would result in economy as well as increased convenience. He proposed that the building should be on a moderate scale, yet were the amount ever so small he believed it would be necessary to get the consent of the Parliament. If the proposed exchange of land with Mr. Tumbull were carried through, the building need not cost more than £IOOO or £ISOO at most. This could, be obtained at 7 per cent., so that would only be a rental of £lO5 if the £ISOO were expended. He would like to add that a committee be appointed. The motion was carried unanimously, and a. committee appointed to take further necessary steps. RATES ON GOVERNMENT PROPERTY.. Councillor George moved, —That a petition be prepared for presentation to the General Government, with a view to taldsg steps to render the General Government property subject to Corporation rates. He said he had placed this notice on the paper in consequence of a motion brought forward by Councillor Cleland a few weeks back, and which had been rejected. That motion ' was to the effect that the General Government should be asked for a subsidy to enable the Council to keep the streets in repair, but this would achieve the same object in an objectionable manner. He thought there could be no doubt in the minds of any, that the General Government property should pay rates, and be made to contribute towards the cost of keeping the streets, just as any other property did. Looking over the map, he had found that Government property had a frontage of 8800 feet, so that there was a mile of streets and two miles of footpaths kept in repair, whilst the property by which such footpaths and streets ran paid nothing at all to the Corporation funds; whereas, if it were charged the same as other property, it would yield over £4OOO per annum—a very sensible addition the Corporation's revenue. However, he dift not suppose that they would get that, but as the same time they might ask for some arrangement whereby the Government would contribute towards keeping the streets in repair. Councillor Gillon seconded, and said that although he voted against Mr. Cleland's motion and deprecated begging from the Government, he would heartily support this motion. He believed the principle of Government property contributing to local taxes was recognised in England, and that the Imperial Parliament annually voted a sum for paying these taxes. Further, he believed the corporations in other provinces would fully concur with the action of the Wellington Council. The motion was put and passed, and a committee appointed to draft a petition on the subject. The Council then rose.