CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4475, 23 July 1875, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Thursday, July 22. The Council met at 4 o'clock. Present— His Worship the Mayor, Councillors George, Drausfield, Moss, Cleland, Mills, Greenfield, Pharazyn, and Rainie. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting "were read and confirmed. A DEPUTATION. A deputation from the Chamber of Commerce, consisting of Messrs. Levin (chairman), v Bannatyne, Nathan, Levy, Vennell, and Carroll (secretary), was introduced. Mr. Levin said the deputation desired to present to the Council a memorial, which he read as follows : " The committee of the "Wellington Chamber of Commerce desires to bring under the notice of the City C»uncil the very pressing demand that exists for increased wharf accommodation in this city, especially in view of the approaching wool season. " The committee would point out that this need is twofold—first, to secure more room for vessels to lie while receiving or discharging cargo ; and secondly, to relieve the pressure of carts and other vehicles upon the wharf, and thus allow foot passengers to pass and repass without the difficulty and even danger that is now frequently experienced. " Whether these objects, or at least the first of them, would be best attained by lengthening the Ts at the end of the wharf, or by constructing a landing-stage (or short wharves) along the breastwork in front of Customhousequay, or by the adoption of both of these plans, the committee does not venture to indicate, but it would strenuously impress upon the Council that further accommodation for shipping has become a matter of urgent necessity." He said he did not think there was any necessity for him to make any remarks in support of the memorial; nevertheless, he desired to press upon the Council the mgent necessity for taking action at once, for there must be more wharf accommodation if the port was to retain its position a 3 an entrepot. The accommodation at the present time, the dullest part of the year, was barely sufficient, and unless something were done, great inconvenience would arise to the mercantile community during the busy season. The facts which were duly brought under his notice as to inconvenience people in business were put to, as well as the observations of casual visitors, illustrated the serious nature of the evils. He trusted the Council would give the matter serious attention, so that the inconvenience might be remedied. The Mayor promised that the matter should meet with immediate attention at the hands of the Council. The deputation thanked the Council for the courteous reception accorded, and withdrew. The memorial was then referred to the Wharf Committee. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was read from Mr. John Martin, forwarding plans of the fountain he had purchased for the city. A letter of thanks was ordered to be forwarded.—A letter was read from the Mayor of Hokitika, asking the opinion of the Council as to amending the Municipal Corporations Act so as to give the Council power to enforce a special rate to form a fund as an insurance fund. The Council directed the forwarding of a reply to the effect that such a proposition had never been considered.—A request from J. Archer, messenger Provincial Buildings, for increased wages, was ordered to stand over.—The memorial from the Corporation officers was decided on.—A letter from Mr. W. S. Salmon, respecting drainage in Majoribanks-street, was referred to the Public Works Committee. Also, a letter from the Secretary of the Gas Company. Upon this letter a conversation arose as to the desirableness of supplying the gas by meter, and also of the advantage to be gained by getting iron lamps from England. It was decided to import a dozen lamps instead of half-a-dozen, a? previously settled. LIGHTING COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The following report was read : " After due consideration your committee beg to recommend as follows : "That the contract be continued for a

further period of six months, on the same conditions as before. "That the City Surveyor be instructed to arrange with the manager of the Gas Company as to the hours the lamps are to be lit, the sort of burner to be used, and the tests to be applied. " That the manager of the Gas Company be asked to ordeF from England bix lamp posts, as per Messrs. W. and B. Cowan's advertisement, forwarded by him to the committee in February last." The report 'was adopted. SANITASY COMJinTTEE'S EEPORT. "Your committeee having made certain clerical amendments in the contract for removal of nightsoil, &c, have affixed the seal, as authorised by resolution of Council of Bth instant." Adopted. PUBLIC WOSK3 COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The following was read : "1. The Public Works Committee have the honor to report as follows : —Moore-street is being attended to, and the Bteps being formed as requested in Mr. Livingston's letter. "2. They recommend that as requested by Mr. Geo. Fannin, the footpaths ia Georgestreet be repaired' "3. They cannot recommend compliance at present with Mr. J. Plimmer's request that part of Kent-terrace drain be covered in, as the cost would be £127 10s., and Mr. Plimmer only offers to contribute £lO. "4. They recommend compliance with Mr. W. W, Taylor's application, that the drain on the north side of Ellice-street be cleansed ; but cannot recommend that the approach bridge to the private street there should be made by the Corporation, as it is entirely a private work. "5. They recommend that the east end of Pirie-street be repaired. " 6. They also recommend that the necessary notices be served on persons having gorse growing on the lands adjacent to the streets lately cleared, to clear the same ; also, that £6 be expended in repairs to Bidwell-street. "7. The Surveyor having reported on a petition from certain residents in Taranakistreet, regarding the footpath near the Eoyal Tiger Hotel, the committee cannot recommend any immediate action. " 8. Further complaints have been received as to the Btate of Customhouse-quay, repairs to which were authorised some time ago, and will be attended to in due course. "9. Mr. P. Garrick having complained as to the drainage of his premises in Abel Smithstreet, has been referred to clause 323 of the Act. " 10. A deputation has complained of Maystreet being cut up by laying a water main. They recommend that the matter be referred to the members of the ward to attend to. " 11. The inhabitants of Turnbull-street havinc complied with legal requirements, the committee recommend that the said street be taken over as a public one. " 12. They also recommend that the land in the Maori pa, Te Aro, between Taranakistreet and the sections lately purchased by the Corporation, be" purchased for the purpose of making the street to connect Taranaki-street and the harbor, and thus enabling the Council to carry a drain through to the sea." Report adopted. THE LOANS BILLS. Councillor Gillon said the Council was this session bringing before Parliament several Bills, all with the one object—to get money for necessary purposes ; but the course followed appeared to him to be extravagant. It would be far better to get Bills passed, authorising the various works, and then go with a Loan Bill for the whole amount required, instead of getting it in small sums. The Mayok quite agreed with Councillor Gillon, and said, further, that he had within the past few days had conversations with members of the Assembly, in the course of which it had been suggested that the best way for arranging these matters would be for all corporate bodies to be empowered to borrow as much money as they wanted without any limitation whatever. To give the fullest possible security to the ratepayers, it might be enacted that the intention of any Councillor to move a resolution for the purpose of raising money should be published for a certain time before the motion was proposed, so that ratepayers would have the opportunity of protesting against the borrowing if they were opposed to it. He bad also had a conversation with Ministers on the subject, and the impression left on his mind after that conversation was that they would have no objection to such a proposal. He suggested that as the Government were going to bring in a scheme for the alteration of the Constitution, and to erect corporate bodies of another character, they might introduce a provision of the nature he had indicated. He should see Ministers again shortly, and perhaps would get an answer on the subject. Councillor Gillon protested against the Council being drawn into party politics in such a manner. It was decided to consider the matter at a special meeting to be called for Tuesday. A NEW LAMP. The Council ordered the erection of a new lamp in front of the Roman Catholic Church. MB. SCTTOLTZ AND THE CORPORATION. The Mayor stated that a lawsuit against the Council had been instituted by Mr. Schultz, in which he claimed £SOOO damages for the diversion of a water-course. The writ had been served on the 16th March, 1875, and since then other forms had been gone through. The Council had entered a plea by statute, and it was hoped that the statutory plea would, upon argument in chambers, bar the action. Mr. Schultz, even if the case went to trial, would have great difficulty in sustaining his case. ADJOURNMENT. The Council having decided to resume in committee the consideration of the memorial of the Corporation officers for increase of salary, then adjourned.