CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4522, 17 September 1875, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Thursday, September 16. The Council met at 4 p.m. Present—The Mayor, Councillors Mills, Dransfield, Gillon, Cleland, and George. NEW MEMBERS. Councillors Bainie, Moss, and Greenfield, the newly elected Councillors, made the statutory declarations and took their seats. MINUTES. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. THE MUNICIPAL SUFFRAGE. The Town Clerk stated that the opinion of the City Solicitor was to the effect that ratepayers who had only paid the rates for certain properties might vote in respect of those properties. It was stated that only three persons had been affected by the interpretation previously placed upon the Act. TENDERS FOE BUSH CLEARING AT THE WATERWORKS. Three tenders were received, viz. :—■ ,T. Sanders, £696 ; Gallagher, £BOO ; Naylor, Haggett, and others, £991. The lowest tender was accepted. H AIMING-STREET. The City Solicitor attended, and drew the attention of the Council to the fact that he had been instructed to serve notices upon occupants of property abutting on this street, calling on them to make the street good. But the Act was so worded that each person had to bear the cost of repairing that part of the street exactly in front of his property, and in this case, owing to the peculiar character of the street, the result would be that some residents would be put to a great expense, whilst others who would reap equal benefit would be at no expense. It was resolved to direct the City Solicitor to draft a clause for insertion into the Bill now before the Parliament. SALE OP LAND TO MESSRS. TURNBULL AND CO. Tlie City Solicitor said there was some little difficulty about the title to the land sold to and bought from Messrs. Turnbull, which could best be remedied by a short Act of Parliament. The matter was left in the hands of the Mayor and the City Solicitor. TENDERS FOR ASSESSMENT OF THE CITY. Tlie Council proceeded to consider tenders for this work. The Town Clerk, before any tenders were opened, said one tender was from himself and Mr. Ames. He wished to know whether the Council would take the tender into consideration ? Councillors George and Gillon expressed themselves as favorable to allowing it. Councillors Mills and Bainie said complaints on the matter from the outside public had reached them. The main objection was that the old valuation would be merely patched, the chief information being derived from the books of the Council. The discussion then merged into a debate on the manner in which valuations should be made. Councillor Dransfield thought the Council should lay down some definite principle upon which the valuation should be made this year. Councillor Gillon said the terms of the Act were precise, and valuators must value property according to the scheme laid down in the Act. Coming back to the main question—■ The Mayor said he had a strong objection to officers of the Council undertaking this sort of work, feeling that they ought to be placed in such a position by their salaries that they should not need to get money in tins way. Besides, lie thought the work should bo done by a person able to visit the premises. It was a wrong principle to underpay their servants, and drive them to such expedients to increase their income. He looked upon the tender as a tacit protest against insufficiency of salary. Councillor G reenpield opposed the application. Councillor Cleland supported it. Councillor Mills said there had already been great complaints about the maimer in which the work had been done. Councillor Dransfield also opposed the motion, but expressed the opinion that the salaries should be raised, aud lie hoped the question of increase of salary would be again brought before the Council. The following tenders were opened :—Gladman Smith, £SO ; David Moir, £B7 10s.; G. M. Taylor, £llO ; J. H. Wallace, £2OO ; another tender was received from the same tenderer to make additions to present assessment for £l4O. Councillor Cleland moved, aud Councillor Gillon seconded, that Mr. Smith’s tender be accepted. Councillor Mills moved, aud Councillor Bainie seconded, as an amendment, that Mr. J. H. Wallace’s tender bo accepted. Councillor Gillon considered Mr. Smith quite as competent to do the work as Mr. Wallace, whoso valuation for the Education Board had created great dissatisfaction. Councillor Greenfield moved, and Councillor George seconded, as a further amendment, that Mr. Taylor's tender bo accepted. Councillor Gillon suggested that the Council should fix the sum of £IOO as remuneration for the work, aud call for applications from persons willing to do the work. Councillor Moss characterised the applicants as a “ disgraceful lot,” and was called to order. Councillor Dransfield opposed aud Councillor Cleland supported Councillor Gillou’s idea. Councillor Mills said they should look at the ability of the tenderer, and not be particular about a few pounds, so long as the tender was within bounds. A man could not bo worth his salt if he was willing to do the work for £SO. Some further discussion ensued, after “which Councillor Dransfield said ho should like to know how the Mayor was going to deal with tho question. The Mayor said he was quite prepared to deal with the matter, aud should do so in a proper manner. Councillor Greenfield’s motion was put, and six voted for it. Bor Councillor Mills’s motion four voted, aud four for Councillor Gillou’s. Mr. Taylor’s tender was then accepted. WAGES LIST. The wages list was passed.

STREET TRAMWAYS. The Mayor said it would be within the remembrance of the Council that some time ago Mr. Charles O’Neill, M.H.R. for the Thames, had offered to construct a street tramway for the Corporation. Negotiations had then fallen through, but Mr. O’Neill hearing that other parties were about to make similar proposals, wished the Council to know that he was still open to undertake the work. The Council then adjourned till 4 p.m. next day.