CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4807, 18 August 1876, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held yesterday. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Pharazyn, Greenfield, Eainie, Cleland, Moss, Gillou, George, and Mills. The minutes of the previous meeting having been passed, The outward correspondence was read. ' -The only letter received was from the manager of the Gas Company, stating that the directors were prepared to reopen negotiations for the sale of their works, &c. The question was referred to the special committee originally appointed to • enter into negotiations with the company. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. -The following report of the Public Works Committee was agreed to - “ I. On the application of Messrs. W. W. Taylor and others re drainage of Nelson-street, off Ellice-street, the Surveyor has been instructed to clear out the drain at the lower end of Ellice-street as a temporary remedy.

“2. The committee have considered the letter o£ the chairman of the Wellington Education Board, making application for a school site, referred to them. They fully recognise the duty of the Council to foster, as far as consistent with its functions, a sound educational system for the children of the city ; but in the present transitional state of legislation upon the subject, and considering that the rate levied upon the city of Wellington by the Education Board has been in excess of the amount spent on its public schools, and that the ratepayers have not had the least practical control in the matter, the committee cannot recommend the Council,until some reform is effected, to grant such a request as that made by the Board.

.“ 3. An appplioation from Mr. J. Collins for the formation of a footpath in Woodsworthstreet has been postponed till the spring. “ 4. On the application of the churchwarden of St. Mark’s Church, the committee recommend that a lamp be placed at the S.E. corner of Sussex Square. “ 5. On the report of the City Surveyor, the committee advise that the Te Aro stream fluming near . Loeds-street be put in repair, and that the Inspector of Nuisances be instructed to see that only the surface water from Leedsstreet be allowed to drain into said stream. “6. The Surveyor’s attention has been drawn to several matters. , “ 7. The committee suggest that if the Surveyorfind that the stone in the newly discovered quarry be suitable, the committee be empowered to purchase as much as will lay down one or more crossings of the same in the most publla streets.” ELECTION OF RETURNING OFFICER. The Town Clerk, in his report, stated that the annual election of Councillors would take place on the second Thursday in next month, the 14th, and Councillor Dransfield being one of the returning officers, as also a retiring member, it would be necessary to appoint someone else in his stead. Councillor Moss was appointed in room of Councillor Dransfield. BUILDING REGULATIONS. With regard to the proposals submitted by a conference of architects in Wellington, Councillor Gillon moved the following motion, of which he gave notice at a previous meeting : —The Council approve of the recommendations of the City Architects, with the following modifications“ That. in No. 1 district, the regulation shall come into force on and after the Ist January, 1878, and that in the meantime the provisions of district No. 2 apply to district No. 1. That as to replacing existing shingle roofs, it be provided that the Council, by three months’ notice, may require such roofs to be replaced after the expiration, of the periods named.” By the direction of the Mayor, the Clerk read the following letter, received' from Mr. Tringham :

“ Wellington,. August 10. “ Sib, —I beg to call your attention to the fact that in the report presented; to you from the late conference of architects, my name appears among those who concurred' in the use of bricks, stone, or concrete in the erection of buildings in No. 1 district, whereas I strenuously opposed the exclusive use of such materials ; and in the meeting referred to, I moved an amendment to that effects ; as I think it would be inconsistent with public safety to employ such materials without the precautions I advocated at the time.—l have, &0., “ O. Tringham, Architect. “ W. Hutchison, Esq., Mayor.” Councillor George seconded the motion of Councillor Gillon, speaking very' strongly in favor of party walls as a protection from fire.

Mr. Cleland proposed an amendment, that the suggestions made by the architects be modified as follows : shall apply only to warehouses, all other buildings in 1,2, and 3 to- be covered externally with iron or other incombustible material; No. 5 to remain as recommended ; all present buildings as required to be removed to comply with the regulations in their different districts. The above regulations to come into force on and after the first day of Jan., 1877.” He had given the matter a great deal of consideration during the last fortnight, and spoken to a large number of people on the subject, and so far as he could gather, the idea of brick buildings was absurd; in fact, some of those to whom he had spoken had said that the Council might as well at once pass a resolution that there should be no more earthquakes; and if they could give effect to that,'there would be no further objection to brick buildings. With regard to party walls, he was perfectly unable to understand what they meant. In district No. 2, where it was proposed that party walls should be erected, there was scarcely an inch of ground unoccupied; and he would like to know how, in the first place, a wall was to be erected where there was no room for it; and secondly, supposing one man built his house close on the boundary line of his own allotment, was the man who should build next to him to find room on his allotment for the party wall ? Another difficulty would arise as to the proportion each should pay towards the erection of the wall. He did not see how they could be brought into requisition at all, and the endeavor to enforce the use of bricks for building houses, and causing greater outlay, was an arbitrary proceeding, which he believed would cause a great outcry. Councillor Eaixie seconded the amendment. He regarded the recommendations of the architects as crude in the extreme, and the effect of putting them in practice would be to put a stop to building. People of moderate means would be unable to build at all. It might be all very well for the insurance companies, architects, and builders, but it would not suit the ratepayers.

The Mayor : It is a pity to criticise in any other than the.most courteous terms the report of the architects, because it was given as a favor; we asked them for it.

Councillor Eainie disclaimed any intention to disparage the report.

Councillor Moss reminded the Mayor that a letter had. been received by the Council that day whichi entirely disagreed with the recommendations contained in the report. For himself, he quite agreed with the remarks which had fallen from Councillor Eainie, Many persons, for instance, might be inclined totake up a piece of land who could not afford to erect thereon an - extensive building; The City Surveyor explained that from a conversation he had had with Mr. Tringham he judged that gentleman to, be .entirely, with the recommendations numbered Aland 5. Councillor Mills said he should be Vpyry sorry to see Councillor ; Cleland’s amendment carried. His arguments; in favor-bf "limiting the compulsory use of brick to wholesale stores did not contain much weight. In the case of a conflagration, the general public could have ho confidence'of Security. The wholesale stores represented 1 a small proportion of the houses of-the city. He should strongly support the 'resolution'of Councillor Gillon. As to the question' of earthquakes,, he regarded the fears entertained in that direction as sheer nonsense. He had felt all the heavy earthquakes which l had taken place in Wellington since 1812,- and he had always contended that properly con- ' structed brick buildings would not be affected l by any such as ’had been experienced during that time. Im all' cases - where chimneys' had: fallen down the cause was that they had not been put up inaproper manner. Moreover, he; did not think brick would prove so much dearer than wood. - In Auckland brick buildings had been put up in every direction, but they were built out of the insurance money paid by the companies when the wooden houses were burnt. Taking all things intoconsideration, he believed that brick would be found in the long run as cheap as wood, if notcheaper. Councillor PHarazyn did not hope to see any immediate steps taken to give effect to the recommendations of the architects. Although Mr. Clayton had sent in the report, at the same time there was nearly completed an enormous pile of wooden, buildings built by himself. * -

It was suggested .that wood was there'rendered necessary on the score of expense. Councillor Phabazym : The same thing applies to individuals ;. some may be unable to go to the expense of building in brick. Referring to the plan of the township;-which had been prepared to indicate ; the directions in which the regulations; should be in force, he pointed out that the greater part of the vacant land there represented would not be reclaimed, for a considerable time, and the only part of the land -to which the proposals could apply was already built upon. He concluded by moving that the matter be referred to the Public Works Committee. . ....

Councillor Greenfield ! supported the latter amendment,-and stated that he was in favorof party walls. '

Councillor George submitted that the difficulties spoken of by Councillor Clelahd did • not exist save in the imagination of that gentleman, or at least, they were not,'really so great as was represented. • He believed brick build l ings would' be found an advantage - by. aIL.. There was nothing to be feared from 'earth- ■ quakes; and as to the regulations being 1 ' arbitrary, be failed to see that they would be found a greater hardship iu Wellington than elsewhere, because - such -regulations -were in - force in all townships of any extent.

The mover stated that ; he- should have no objection to referthe matter to a committee;. ;s - On the suggestion of the Mayor, the ques-- " tion was referred" to a committee of tK whole ; Council, a meeting to he caJled ohisbme con-v venieut day. '■ ' - •' A bid 2 mb. Wakefield’s attack on Wellington. The Mayor, in announcing that the business was concluded, said he hoped the Council would' pardon him if he occupied one or two minutes iu referring—to a-matter out-of-the ordinary procedure! They did not enter into political discussion, and ha should 'carefully avoid doing so ; but he was anxious publicly to repel an attack—a most bitter and unprovoked attack—made last night upon Wellington, and more especially upon the working classes of Wellington, in the House of Representatives, by Mr. Wakefield, the member for - Geraldine. He knew nothing of that gentleman beyond, his exhibition of last night, but he (Mr. Wakefield) was then , pleased to say, among a great' many ■' othfer things which he had better have left unsaid, that Wellington never couldbe a prosperous place, and that any apparent 1 sighs of prosperity were fictitious. He (the was not quoting the speaker’s words; but he was giving the gist of them with perfect accuracy. Now, those who went through the streets of Wellington soon came to know that nowhere was progress more evident, or generally speaking, nowhere did it rest upon a more sound and solid basis. He did not care, therefore, to say anything on that ■point, more, especially in answer to the remarks Of one whose ill temper evidently supplied his opinions. But when Mr. Wakefield went further, and chose to say (speaking of the public reception .of Sir Julius "Vogel on his arrival here from England), that the working men who got up that reception were loafers—that in point of fact, the working classes of Wellington were a set of loafers and parasites—and that the whole affair was got up to order, ha (the. Mayor) felt that the bounds of all fair, and legitimate discussion had been overstepped,' ahd'that if was his .duty to give such a statement a most emphatic and indignant denial. He knew a great deal more about the reception referred to than Mr. Wakefielddid. He was in. the confidence of those who got it up, and he was iu a position to state that it was perfectly spontaneous; that it originated entirely with working-men. of the most unexceptionable character; and that it was only after it had taken shape that the aid of other classes was sought, in order to make, the affair thoroughly complete and general. Wellington had. some loafers in it; no town was without persons of that pbaracter;. but there was not, and he. proud to say it, taking them alto- , gether, a more industrious, sober, self-reliant, -and shrewd class anywhere,than the men who earned their bread by the sweat of their brow in this city, and any remark, to! the contrary he was fully justified in branding as .a-gross and gratuitous slander. The people of Wellington wished to show the utmost respect to the members of the Legislature; they Wquld go out of their way to show them both-respect 'and welcome; but when a-g-entlejnarya member of Parliament, so far forgot himself as to malign a whole class of his fellow-colonists, better men than himself —men who have no opportunity of defending themselves—it was time that gentleman was told that he had abused his position;-and was undeserving of the respect of the community. The Councillors generally expressed their thanks to the Mayor for his having taken up the subject as he had done, and the Council shortly after adjourned.