CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4986, 16 March 1877, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

I The. City Council met yesterday, "afternoon at 4 o'clock. There were '. present—His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Moss, Greenfield, Cleland, George, Dransfield, Mills, and Ramie. , The minutes of the last ordinary meeting wera read and confirmed. The Clerk then read the minutes of the last special meeting as follows :—" Special meeting held on the 6th day of March, 1877.. Present—The Mayor, Councillors George, Greenfield, Allen, Ramie, Pransfield, Cleland, Moeller, Moss, and Mills.—The meeting was called to open competitive designs for the proposed Town Hall. — The Clerk read .the advertisement, as also the further instructions sent to each competitor.— After considerable discussion as to .the merits of the different designs the Council resolved that the premium be awarded as follows: — Namely, first premium of £2OO to design marked " Teviot," . second premium of £75 to design marked "Stet." On opening the.envelopes containing the names, it; was found that "Teviot" was from Mr. Thomas Turnbull, and " Stet" from Mr. W. H. Clayton, both of Wellington. : Councillor George said he objected to the minutes being confirmed at present. . The Mayor read the by-law, which provided that the confirmation of .minutes could only be objected to on the ground that they were inaccurate.

Councillor DraNsfield wished to know what portion Councillor George objected to. The Clerk then read the minutes again. Councillor George: I object to the whole thing. Councillor Dransmeld supported Councillor George, and said that the minutes did not give a correct record of what took place at the meeting. He contended that the " Teviot " plan was not decided on, and should not be accepted. How was it, he asked, that the Mayor had allowed a fresh division to be taken on the plan marked " Stet?" And the Mayor had ruled that the majority was in favor of the " Teviot" plan. Councillor Mills could not help saying the same.

Councillor Cleland said he believed it was on Councillor Dransfield's motion that the "Teviot" plan was accepted, and he contended that the minutes were perfectly correct.

Councillor Greenfield took the same view. He was present on the occasion when the plans were opened, and he must say.distinctly that if' the minutes before them were not correct, then none of the minutes previously recorded in that book were correct: He was not prepared to'lay the;blame of what had been, done on the shoulders of anyone"; but of this he was sure, that -the minutes were perfectly truthful. ■ : ■■ -' J '•_ Councillor Dransfield: In what respect ? Councillor Greenfield: As to the proceed, ings of our meeting. : Councillor Dransfield : No. ; Councillor George explained that he was not objecting to the minutes as being incorrect; the reason for hia objection simply being that if once >. i&e- minutes' -were • ■ confirmed,' the; .motion he;'had on' the paper could not come" oh. He should be quite willing to see the minutes "confirmed- if the objection to his motion coming on were waived. _ • After some further conversation, in which several Councillors frequently spoke at' the same time, ' - • Councillor Greenfield asserted that Councillor; Dransfield was in error, and that the minutes of the meeting were perfectly accurate. He was still on his feet, when' ' Councillor Dransfield rose to reply.. i.

The Mayor requested Councillor Dransfield to resume liie seat '■•'■■ Councillor Dransfield : Do I understand you to say, Mr. Mayor,"that lam not permitted to reply to a statement of Councillor iGreenfield's.-','. -;~ -"■ > „ .".:; His Worship : You are permitted to speak to a point of order, but not to the question before the Council, as you have already spoken once. _ Councillor Dransfleld : Then I can'perfectly understand, Mr." Mayor, that you are personally interested, and are trying to-g"ag. the Council. *""'"• • .'-,:, His Worship : I beg to say that unless Councillor Dransfield withdraws those expressions I must leave the chair, as they are utterly untrue—without any foundation whatever.".. " ' : ; ' -,' ' i The JVlayor here left the chair. ' Councillor Dransfield explained. Councillor Greenfield had made an assertion to ' which he (the speaker) was about to reply, when his right to do so was denied' by the Mayor; He had then said this—lt appears to me that because you are interested you are endeavoring to gag the Council to prevent discussion. He still maintained that he had the right to reply, and would leave it to the Council whether he had or not.

simply made a statement in speaking to the question, and lie "had clearly as much." title to a voice in the Council as Mr. Dransfield had. i Councillor ... Cleland '■■ advised Couhoillor Dransfield to withdraw the assertion that the Mayor was interested, which he (the speaker) knew to be without the smallest foundation. ■ Councilor Dranspield :'I will not do that. I say that the Mayor allowed a: fresh' division to be taken- after a majority had been given in favor of one. i Councillor Greenfield*. No;- ■- ---■ - ! Councillor; Dransfield : I maintain/most positively he did.': : . '; i Councillor' Cleland : You have only got half the truth. "Stet" wasone of the plans which' was approved of by a-large majority. Councillor! Dransfield : And' a. division was taken on it. I ask the Town Clerk whether there was not aidivision?

i The Town Clerk : Is there any meeting of the Council at the present iime ? Councillor Cleland* pointed out that Councillor Dransfield stated pnly half the truth. The Council were in favor of " Stet" after " Teviot,". but the price was too high. .It was also right to state that Councillor Draßsfield urged on theacceptaace of the two top plans, and complained that ' they ' (meaning the Council) could not be kept there a month. i Councilor Mills said the whole things had been done in a most indecorous manner. For himself he should be borne out inlaying that he had requested over and over again that the specifications should be produced. ■ , Councillor Clbland :: 2i es, you did. !Ldl> not believe there was one in the rQom_.uw-ho knew anything about the plans "until they were opened. - At this stage the Mayor returned to the chair, and said—Do I understand that Councillor Dransfield is prepared to withdraw the expressions he used regarding me ? Councillor Dbansfield .:. No, sir ; but I beg to tender my resignation as a member of this Council. ; The Mator : I shall be perfectly willing to accept it, sir. .'. : i ... -" Mr. Dransfield then left the hall. ~r The Mayor : Now, gentlemen, we can proceed to business. •'' ■•■?■■■ '"- ; Councillor Allen said he must bear his testimony to this fact, that since he had been a member of the Council the Mayor, had always conducted the business in an upright and straightforward manner, as became his posi*

tion ; and in the matter of the selection of the Town 'Kail plans, had as a matter of fact acted without the smallest prejudice, and had not attempted to influence the decision of the Council - •' The Mayor said it was the first time in his Experience that he had ever heard a charge of the kind made, and it must be recollected that it was not only, his conduct., that, was called, in question", but that of the Town Clerk. He (the Mayor) had ;not seen the minutes, nor heard them read -from-the last meeting* until he heard them read that afternoon; andiiehacl. simply to say that he had no more interest in" one or other of the plans than any single indi»_ vidualin~Wellihgten.'~7,; ,-" -y , ■ . r - The minutes werethen'confirmed. " ""'• | CORRESPONDENCE." '„'.' '"' - i ~~ The outward correspondence was then read, after which the Town "Clerk read copies of letters received since" last ordinary meeting, as follows: '--j-'- ■'■ > '..'.'".".-" : From the Customs Department (Marina Branch), informing the Council that the Government regretted that they could not grant the application made, in a letter dated'the 13th February last, for, certain portions of the foreshore. . '" : ''~ : '■*"'. ■' .'■ ' '"' i '". 1 : , . , ..i -:

From Messrs. JJace-and Tolhurst, consenting to the extension of Cuba-street 'through Acre No. 210, and leaving the matter of compensation to the Council. ; From Mr. Moeller, resigning his Beat in the Council. ' .'."'. • ■ ' '" From the Bank of New Zealand, informing the Council that-the Corporation "<■ loan of £200,000 had been placed at 102. ■•-.'■ From H. Inriis,. asking for to*-, lower a'store in Courtenay-place, 1 made necessary by certain alterations to the.' said street. -: Also, one from P." Barrow, to the same* effect, through alterations in Thompson-street.—They ••:■■ were both referred back to the Public' Works ■■'* Committee. ';"•;' . ;, .v'/'•"'" ' ■ i From the Foresters' Society, asking the " Council not to'enforce payment of license fee for the Foresters' Hall.—Kef erred/to Pablie Works Committee. >'■ • - From W. H. Gandy, re kerosene' license.— Referred to the Public Works Committee. IK< BE'KB. CLIMIE'S BEPOKr7,,~ ' : -'~, ' A letter from the Medical Association was ■• read, directing special attention to the following points:—lst. The; absolute . necessity of --.- ascertaining that an adequate water supply ~ will be available, without which the system proposed would prove a fertile cause of disease.2nd. The advisability of disconnecting the houses on the Terrace and other elevated positions from the general system, inasmuch as the steepness of the decline at which the sewers from that part of the town .necessarily must be constructed would prevent; their jbeing constantly full .of water, the place of which- ;,,. would be supplied by sewage gases, .and the ~]Z latter, by reason ;of •■ their lightness,, wpuldf ascend and inevitably r cause disease. : A sepaj-" * rate system would be'necessary therefore for- . those localities. 3rd. The proposed .-. special . ventilators are condemned as costly and use- ■-.' less. It is recommended that there should be a manhole at least every 100 yards."■ :4th, 1t... is advised that water-closets should, not be inside houses, bnt, if. possible, .at' soiije little—distance outside. sth. 'Cisterns areJ.recojftL_ mended to ensure a continuous supply, of water* 6th. The importance of the sub-soil drainage; is strongly urged. Various other .; recommen--datlons and suggestions are embodied in the | report.—lt was r decided Ito defer;,the:;cpn*'_> nderatidn of this Matter, -. ''.' n

TENDERS . '• ,-•.-... ;V>' i A number of tenders for providing. m«ta¥ " were received. On the motion of Councillor' Cleland, .that of Mr. Goodman for *7s.*llfcTi;i was accepted." " - • A • For supplying gravel the tender!; of- Mis'" I Roberts (65.) was accepted. - . ,'! Mr. J. McLean was the successful tenderer for draining Molesworth-street, his tender being £179 10s. For.ther.box drain in Drummond-streefc-tb* lowest tender wub £66 10s., and it was accepted. ~ - Martin-street and Tinakori-road, J. McLean," £lll 16s. 6d. —Accepted. GLKNBERVIE-TERRACE.- C ; 0< ,- r ; Some discussion took .place with regard to the propoßejr-wprk in this-direction,- for whicfci—tenders had teen called.' Councillor Raiktß" moved that the matter be deferred for "a fortnight, as the work would be costly, and it might be that the Council would not be justified in proceeding with it—Councillor GEORGE approved of this.—Councilloi Allen objected"' on the ground that it was a work that was very much required.-—Councillor Kain&*fit~ motion was carried." ' j . -~ 'wharf extension. ; CouncilW George drew attention to c*r». tain inconsistencies and omissions in the specifications for! the extension of "the wharf. They arose either: from, carelessness on the part of the Engineer;:from orto suitßWHß—purpose. He proposed that the matter ; be adjburned for a fortnight, and that an inquiry bo made into it by a committee,, consisting of the Mayor, Councillors Mills, Greenfield, 1 - and thereover. ' , "": ' " " ! The motion waa seconded by Councillor Cleland, and. carried.' | TOWN CLERK'S REPORT. .' -J.:.L'v. i The following report was read by the Town Clerk:— > ; : - , "I am anxious for your instructions in thefallowing matters:- — --'- ■■- j " The .new Municipal Corporation year will commence the Ist of next month, and my^booka-. will be made up and batancedtoHhalastiiday;" of this month. I would recommend that a statement of accounts 1 for the' past six months, be prepared; similar to that usually prepared at the end of-each municipal year, and that ■ they "be audited! ' ' '"' '* .. ~ , , , t: ! "There _are..now .no_auditors; I _th'e.ternl s 'for; which the late auditors, were'elected expired, on the 28th of last month, and the electioai under the new Act does.not take place.until the Ist of June next.' 1 would hiring to notice of the Council itte greats need of further office accommodation. ' ;•: J -f ;}_■ " The Mayor has bo room, L and is obliged to use mine—a great inconvenience- ;■ to ub both. I have been, obliged to ,make,Uß* of the passage as'a room,'and my.a£'cbuntSnft is obliged to sit ,iu the -public .office,,rwhjcb does not give him at all a fair'"chance" with'Ma. books." .* .: , . '.!" *.'... '•!,:.-. .->,

public works. '' ■ The following Tepofti: was adopted, with the* exception of. clause 11, which was_referred back, ~ to the committee: —~ r , ;r '" " Extension ■ of water mains.—The committee recommend that mains be laid on in thefollowing streets', viz. :.-t-Quin-streetj. 'Sfewstreet (off Bolton-street), Webb-street^-> '\^ ; , "Water for machinery pui^se*Jr-i!n»'t^ - water be granted for the above purposes to Mr.. Bernasconi, -Cuba-street, ■ and > Mr.g Jjovell, Courtenay-place,. on, their providing meters,. and subject to the by-law;pas3ed on' the 15th ultimo. , - ■., - , » , -,., ~ .-, \ " The committee reeomiriend that'accounta amounting to'£3ls 19a. 3d; be paid:' ' [A> "The committee have: instructedOthe:Sur-T veyor to report on i the state of ther fencing,-; . subdivisions, &c. of the town belt, withSasiew to re-leasing, the present leases expiring on 30th June.next.- f ' " The Surveyor has been instructed to erect lamps corner.of proposed planta- _ tion, Courtenay-place ;/ Mulgrave-street, opposite Fraser's-lane ;: on Terrace/.-opposite road!' to Boman Catholic cemetery.

"Kerpsene- Store.—The committee,, suggest that- the store be removed to-jOlyde'-qijay, front of Kent-terrace, as suggWted by ~fti*i.. City Surveyor in report of 27th February lastcost about £275. --

"The committee' recommend L thal£another dozen lamps with meters be ordered from England, through the manager of the gasworka, soj;bafc'a.pro»er.ayerage.of- the gas.burnt .may... be taken. Thft ; number of lamps steadily increasing necessitates this order. have been received from the secretary .of the Hospital - Trustees informing *:the committee • that: .they have no power iogrkcA the Council's request for the alienation, at So expiration of the,present lease,-of .apprtjon 6|sj their" .reserve; in purpose they cannot approve^of,the.erection-..of"the proposed . new mortuaVy on J the 'Hospital ground., ( The committee* therefore, recom~ mend that if the 'Artillery Corps do'' not take the Market Hall, as offered, for a drill*

Blear- the : present Morgue >e retained at Bale of matketreserve leases, and that if they do take the hall the Surveyor prepare plans -with a view to erect a fresh one on the Te Aro pa sections. _ ■ , "Applications for concrete footpaths being laid in'front of the Public Hall and Royal Hotel have been, granted, on <. the usual conditions, viz., payment of half the cost. _ ■■; "By request the committee recommend that the Corporationjlaborers be allowed to leave off work on St. Patrick's Day at 11 a.m. "An application was before the committee to assist ratepayers in Thompson-street and Cbnrtenay-place to make entrances to their properties, rendered necessary by the improveMonte 'now going on. The committee cannot recommend the Council to, accede to the,application.. Instructions to Surveyor:—To report on letter from Mr. Geo. Donne re board of cab charges erected at railway station. To, report on claim made by Mr. Beakey fur dsuaageii sustained through accident m Broug-kam-street, caused by slip of earth at cutting. To'-attehd to drainage of Edward-street, as suggested in report of 13th. inst. To put down gratings to take off surface water in Taran'aki and Tory streets. To whiten post at proposed plantation, Courtenay-place. To state of Charlotte-street, and that for the future it be called Molesworth-street."

; MOTION BE TOWN HALL. Tfie motion of which Councillor George had given notice on Monday was as follows,—That in consequence of clause No. 53 of the Regulations of the Council not having been complied with, the subject of the selection of plans for, first and second prizes for the Town Hall.bo reconsidered; and that any plans not already exhibited, which may have been delivered in Wellington in due time, be allowed to take their place in the competition. The Mayob said, before calling on Councillor George to propose the motion of which notice had been given, he thought it was his duty to remark, on the point of order, so as not to establish any precedent, that under ordinary circumstances he would have ruled that the motion could not be entertained ; but a 3 he .understood there was an attempt to get up some excitement on the subject pi the Town Hall plans, he forbore from doing so ; and after explaining the matter, left it entirely to Councillor George to go on or not with the discussion as he might choose. But he (the Mayor) wished" to point out to the Council that the 79th section of the Municipal Corporations Act states that no extraordinary business shall be transacted at any ordinary meeting unless due notice has been given 'at a prior meeting, and the Mayer shall determine what business shall ba deemed to be extraordinary within the meaning of the section. He had no hesitation in Baying that the proposed business was extraordinary —he might say very extraordinary ; and no notice of it was given at a prior meeting. Again, referring to the regulation quoted by Councillor George, he had about aslittle hesitation in saying thatithad no application whatever to the case before them. The regulation dealt with public works about to be executed by the Council for which tenders were necessary, and did not apply to such an exceptional matter as that which they had tecently decided. But assuming for a moment, for the sake of argument, that the regulation did apply to a choice of plans, the Council having agreed to waive its application—no one having: even hinted, much less insisted upon its being applied in this case—it was hot competent now, if business were to be ' carried on regularly, to go back and by a side-wind open up "«r reverse a decision of the Council. It would lead to inextricable confusion. Councillor George's regular course would have been to J table a motion for a reversal of the previous decision. But, as he had" already stated, he was not going to anyone the chance 6i saying that he had stifled the fullest discussion on the subject by ruling against the motion, and it would therefore proceed.' He might Tust mention further how members, when they sought to have something done or undone by the mere force of redtape, .should be careful to see-that they conformed to their own system. Councillor George had not done so. Setting aside the section of the Act to which he had referred, and which wa3 above any Council rule or regulation, he observed that Councillor George's motion was only handed in to the Clerk on Monday, and one of the rules, and that bearing Only upon ordinary business, waathat such, notices must be given three clear days before the day of meeting. "Threeelear days " were held by jurists in all cases to mean three days exclusive of the day of service and the day of meeting, so that to have been in order, even under the rule,- Councillor George's notice of motion ought to have been ghen to members on Saturday last.' But he (the Mayor) made no objection on this point any more than on the others, and he hoped no member of the CouncQ would do so—he only pointed out the infringement of order. Councillor; George would now move-the motion standing in his, name, j ]' ,'.. Councillor George said that he would not his motion now in the face of what h*3 fallen from the Mayor, but would give notice .now of his intention to move it at next meeting.' , The'Matox pointed 'out that the resolution ef the Council would first have to be rescinded. Councillor Geoege then inserted in the motion the words "That the resolution be rescinded." The Council then adjourned. '-