CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4546, 15 October 1875, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Thursday, October 14.

The Council met at 4 p.m. Present : His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Gillon, Greenefield, Eainie, Mills, George, and Dransfield. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter read from Mr. J. Floyd, re being summoned for fees for removal of night soil, was referred to the Sanitary Committee. Correspondence from Messrs. O'Neill and Henderson, re street tramways, was referred to the Public Works Committee. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The following report was read and adopted : " On a letter from Mr. Fitzgerald, re swamp in Hawker-street, the committee recommend that a sum not exceeding £lO be expended in repairs. " The Surveyor has been instructed to attend to the following matters :—To request the railway authorities to remove the railway material in Davis-street, so as to give the residents in the street access to their back premises. To attend to repairs in Lambton-quay, Molesworth-street, and Tinakori-road near its junction with Hutt-road. " The committee recommend that the following report of the members of Te Aro Ward be adopted :

"On the subject of the closing of the road to Island Bay by Mr. Luxford (the road passing over private land), as complained of by Mr. Miller, and reported upon by the public works committee—

"That they have visited the road complained of, in company with Mr. Luxford, who makes the following proposal, in order that legal proceedings may be avoided. "In consideration of the Council granting Mr. Luxford a fourteen or twenty-one years lease of between two and three acres of town belt, section 2, southern district, adjoining town acre No. 1011, at a rental to be agreed upon (say the average price of the town belt immediately adjoining), Mr. Luxford will allow the road now used to remain open for the use; o£ the public so long as he may be in possession of the land, or until some other road is made, rendering the use of such road no longer necessary. " The Councillors of Te Aro Ward recommend that this proposal be agreed to. "They further recommend that the Surveyor be instructed to lay off a road between South-road and Adelaide-road, through sectionß 1023 and 1024, and that these two sections be purchased for the purpose of forming such road. They recommend this course in order that the heavy gradients and earthworks required to form the road along South-road and Herald-street to Adelaide-road may be avoided, and this very necessary road formed at the least expense, and without delay." SLIP ON THE TERRACE. In answer to Councillor Mills, who enquired as to what was to be done to repair the slip on the terrace, It was stated that £l3O had been voted, and . repairs would be effected shortly. SEWERAGE WORKS. Councillor Mills also made enquiries with reference to when the Council intended to have plans for the drainage of the city drawn up. Councillor George, as a member of the Drainage Committee, explained that delay was caused owing to a survey of the city, commenced some time since by the Provincial Government, not having been yet completed.. When that survey was completed a scheme for r the drainage could be drawn up. The Citt Surveyor mentioned that Mr. Jackson had stated to him that the surveywould be completed by the end of the year. The Mayor, in speaking on the subject of cost, said he thought the work would necessitate an outlay little expected However, a Bill was now before the Legislative Council for giving to municipalities throughout the colony power to borrow as much money as they liked, provided the proposal was first submitted to the ratepayers and they consented. proposed hew mukiciapal corporations act.. Councillor GnxoN moved—" That as it has been officially announced that the General' Government intend in the next session of Parliament to amend and consolidate the Municipal Corporations Act, 1567,and other Acts amending the same, it is desirable that this Council should appoint a committee to carefully consider the existing laws affecting municipalities, in order that a. report may be prepared as to the various alterations required in the existing law, so as to render the administration of municipal affairs more perfect, simple, and efficient. That his Worship the Mayor, Councillors Dransfield, Cleland, George, and the mover be such committee." Agreed to. sale or reclaimed laud. The discussion on the proposed sale of reclaimed land was postponed, but the following recommendation was agreed to : " Your committee have considered the letter from the Secretary to the Treasury, in reference to the investment of the accraed balance on the reclaimed land, £l,llß 16s. 5d., and they recommend that the suggestion that it be placed on fixed deposit at 5i per cent, for twelve months be adopted." FLAG STONES. The Mayor stated that it had been mentioned to him that Mr. Wales, M.H.K., of Dunedin, had some specimens of flagstone, and he was willing to furnish the Council with samples, together with an estimate of the cost of supplying quantities to Wellington. It was agreed that if such information were supplied the Council would consider the matter. The Council then rose.