CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4783, 21 July 1876, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The regular fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held yesterday afternoon. There were present his Worship the Mayor, Councillors Oleland, Mills, Pharazyn, Rainie, Gillon, Dransfield, George, and Greenfield. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. The outward correspondence having been read, the Town Clerk read the letters received since last meeting. A letter from J. F. E. Wright asked for power to make a road through portions of the Town-belt, to obtain access to thirtytwo acres of freehold. Mr. Wright was present, and stated his object was to obtain access to thirty acres of land upon which he paid rates to the City Council. He also stated that he was prepared to lay open a road through his own land, and generally the request seemed based on fair terms, and appeared to be favored by the Council; but before coming to a decision it was decided that the City Surveyor should inspect the site of the proposed road, and report thereon to the Council

A letter was read from the Wellington Fire Brigade, forwarding plans of proposed brigade station. A letter was received from the Colonial Architect, Mr. Clayton, containing the recommendations of or views expressed by the_ conference of architects on the subject of building regulations, REPORT OF TOWN CLERK. The following report was agreed to : “ I have the honor, for information of the Council, to report as follows ! “ Of the general rate for the current year, estimated at the commencement of the year, October 1, 1875, at £6410 12 2 “ There has been collected ... 5611 15 10 “ Balance still due ... £798 16 4 “ Water rate for year commencing January 1, 1876 , , “Estimated to bring in ... £4119 1 4 “Collected ... ... 2670 17 10 “Balance ... ... £1448 3 6 “ There has also been received as additions to water-rate, on new houses not included in assessment, £B7 7s. 2d.” inspector’s report. The Inspector's report was adopted, being as follows: “ I have the honor to report that during the last fortnight I have issued nine summenses—eight for unclean back premises, and one on a cabman for not having his scale of charges exhibited. In this case a fine of one shilling was inflicted. Three of the others have not yet been heard. The other five were withdrawn on the premises being promptly cleaned up. “ I have further to report that upon hearing of sickness at the college, I made an inspection of the outer premises, and found the closets and urinals clean and (properly constructed, the former with removable boxes.” PUBLIC WORKS REPORT. The report of the Public Works Committee (adopted) was as follows ; “1. On a petition from Messrs. Dixon and others for a drain to bo laid down in Cubastreot from near Ingestre-street to Ghuzneestreot to cany off their surplus water, and on receiving the Surveyor’s report thereon, the committee recommend that as the expense would bo considerable, and pending the report of the Engineer, taking the levels for tbo drainage of the city, the work be deferred' for some time. “ 2. With respect to a sample of stone sent in to the Council by Mr. Blackstone, the

committee having called on the Surveyor for, a report on the matter, now append copy of said report for the information of the Council. “3. On the application of Mr. Adams for a bridge to be placed across Kent-terrace drain, the committee have agreed to find the material on the applicant doing the necessary work and to the satisfaction of the City Surveyor.

“4. Several matters have been referred to the Surveyor to take immediate action on, and others to be reported upon, which may be ■brought up in a future report. The following is the report referred to : “As requested by the committee I spent Saturday last in visiting the quarry discovered by Mr. Blackstone. The best show of stone is on the property of a Mr. Kilminster, and on the top of the Tinakori range, about 1500 feet above sea level, approachable only by aa occupation road—maximum inclination one in five. On arriving at the site I found a large quantity of boulders dotting the hill side, and of various diameters, from about nine inches through to upwards of three feet, but the larger sizes formed but a small per centage of the whole. I looked in vain for a defined quarry, though undoubtedly the quality of the stone in the boulders is very fine, equal and in all respects similar to the stone rendered by under contract with the Council, some four years since. It is possible that these boulders form but a small portion of the actual quantity. It would, however, be an expensive proceeding to test the nature of the ground thoroughly ; certainly the cost: of cartage to Wellington city would be very great. I may further explain that the boulders are scattered about with wide intervals, the ground being excellent pasture land. I am, &c., Nicholas Marohant, C.S.”