CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5033, 11 May 1877, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held yesterday afternoon at the Council Chamber. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Greenfield, G. Allen, J. A. Allan, Cleland, Dixon, Moss, Mills, Ilainie, and George. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The resolution passed at a special meeting authorising the extension of Cuba-street was also confirmed. BUILDING REGULATIONS. The Matos reported that the building regulations- recently agreed upon would come into force in June next, and it was necessary to issue a notice to that effect, which he proposed to do. Agreed to. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from the Colonial Secretary informing the Council that a voucher had been prepared and sent to the Treasury for payment of £3llos. 3d. into the borough fuud account, being the amount advanced by the Corporation on account of charitable aid. A letter from Mr. T. FUnnigan was read. It contained a request for the permission of the Council to his erecting a shooting gallery on a right-of-way next to Mr. Jennings’, Willis-street. Referred to Public Works Committee. The following letter was read : “ Wellington Volunteer Fire Brigade, “Wellington, May 10, 1877. “ Gentlemen, —At the monthly meeting of the above brigade held on Monday last I have the honor to inform you that I was directed to state that, when the brigade at a special meeting in January made a careful estimate of their proposed annual expenditure, and found that they would require £3OO per annum, —they having at that time no watch-tower, made no provision for the payment of a night watchman. “ Now that the new station and watch-tower are erected the brigade find that it could not be more admirably situated for commanding a view of the entire city, and their reasons for wishing to have a night-watchman in the tower are—- “ 1. That a fire could not arise in any part of the city without being plainly visible from the tower. “ 2. That the watchman only should ring the alarm bell, and by a simple code of signals let it he known at the Fire Brigade stations, and to the firemen and public generally, in what quarter of the city the fire is, thereby enabling the firemen, with their plant, to proceed to the scene of fire with the least possible delay. “ 3. That the engine-keeper, having to keep the station in order, keep the plant clean and in good working order, take charge of the horses, and drive with the plant to fires, could not possibly remain on watch all night and ring the alarm bell in case of fire. “ We believe the proposed expenditure of say £IOO per annum would be cheerfully borne by the ratepayers, being as it is for the benefit of the entire city.—l have, &c., “J. Alex. Kennedy, Hon. See. “ His Worship the Mayor and City Councillors, Wellington.” Referred to the Public Works Committee. THE DRAINAGE SCHEME. The following letter from Mr. Climie to the Drainage Committee was read : “ Gentlemen, —I am induced to address you on the subject of the drainage scheme for the city, which I had the honor of submitting to you, in consequence of statements which have been made in reference to the alleged insufficiency of my estimate for the works. The amount of my estimate, £80,104, was first augmented to £120,000. At the next discussion on the subject, the probable cost was advanced to £160,000 ; subsequently, it was asserted that £240,000 would be required for the complete carrying out of my proposals. Such estimates as these can only he regarded by men of science as having been empirically given, as arrived at probably from the experience of former times, when unnecessarily large sums were paid in carrying out drainage works for cities and towns with huge brick sewers—a system which has been justly condemned for all ordinary town sewerage. -Such works have been indisputably proved to be erroneous in principle, inefficient in operation, and enormously expensive. “ My scheme having been adopted by yon ard placed before the ratepayers, I, to prevent them from being misled by such visionary estimates, determined to test my calculations in the most practical manner. “ I was influenced in adopting this course by the fact that these costly estimates had been publicly given by members of the committee, and consequently they might possibly be considered as reflecting on my competency to furnish an estimate for the proposed works. “ Tho course I took was this. I submitted the plans and sections, with a copy of the schedule of works proposed, together with my report (the same as supplied to the committee) to four separate contractors of extensive experience and high standing. I have now before me their respective estimates. One of the estimates is over and three are under the amount named in ray report to the committee. Each one of these three contractors would be glad to undertake the work at tho prices they have given, to execute the whole with the best materials and workmanship, and to give any reasonable amount of security for the due performance of the contract. The three contractors referred to, having gone fully into the details of the scheme, are so perfectly satisfied of its practicability, the general arrangement, the size of channels, and the rates of inclination to ensure a ready and flow of the sewage at all times, —that, in addition to carrying out tho contract at less than my esti-

mate, they would agree to work the system, free of any further charge, for a period of two years from the time the sewers are first used. “ These indisputable facts ought, I think to satisfy both the committee and the ratepayers as to my competency to give a reliable estimate, and that the sura of £80,104 named in my report is amply sufficient for carrying out the efficient sewage of the city of Wellington when the population shall number 50,000. That there may not be any suspicion of collusion between the contractors and myself, I may mention that I was unacquainted with them even by sight until I called upon each with the plans sections, &c,; neither are they known to each other as far as giving me an estimate is concerned. Exaggerated statements as to the annual cost of pumping having also been made, I will particularise a few facts relating to this matter* I have lately received information from England as to the cost of pumping with engines of the most improved construction. Working night and day, with coals at 20s. per ton, the cost of working is £lO per horse-power per annum; and £l9 with coals at 255. per ton. These rates include every expense for coals, wages, oil, tallow, materials for packing, cleaning, &c. “ From these data the cost of pumping, including every expense as above, here it may safely be taken at £25 per horse-power per annum, with coals at 30s. per ton, the price at which they can now be purchased in Wellington. Besides, it must be remembered that the engine would seldom have to be worked day and night. Thus the whole cost for engine-power for a population of 50,000, with a 50 horse-power engine, would not exceed £1250 per annum. Allowing five persons to each house gives 10,000 houses and a charge of 2s. Cd. per house per annum for the cost of steam power required to lift the sewage 22ft. in height. It is therefore manifest that a very great annual saving to the inhabitants would be effected as compared with the present system, by which only a very small portion of the sewage is removed. As an engine of 25 or 30 horse-power would probably be sufficient for the next ten years, the cost for pumping would not during that period exceed £750 per annum ; in fact, this cost would not require to be increased until the population exceeded 30,000, while, with the present population of from 16,000 to 17,000, the outlay on steam power would be considerably less than £7 pi per annum, as the engine would not be at work much more than half time. “ The fact is that a continuous discharge of sewage by pumping is, in low-lying districts, the cheapest .plan of sewerage. It therefore possesses the advantage of economy in addition, to removing the inconvenience and evils caused by detaining quantities of sewage water and decomposing deposit amidst habitations.

“ I have devoted some time to the examination of the different earths in the district adapted for brickmaking, and I find there are within the city beds of clay, of a quality suitable for the manufacture of pipes and bricks, of a quality as good as can be imported. Therefore nearly the whole of the money required for carrying out the proposed scheme would be expended in the immediate neighborhood. Hence a most necessary and valuable sanitary work would be accomplished without money being sent out of the district to pay for materials.” CONCRETE PAVEMENTS. A letter from Mr. S. Waters was received complaining of the dangerous state of the concrete pavement in Willis-street. TENDERS. The following tenders were received :—For constructing a ‘ pipe sewer in Tory-street— Isaac Morrison, £l3O 95.; Joseph Webber and another, £l3O ; J. McLean, £157 12s fid. The lowest tender was accepted.—Wooden sewer in Majoribank-street—l. Morrison, £264 3s. ; Webber and another, £285 ; B. Reeves, £277 Bs. lid. ; J. McLean, £383 ; John Collie, £382 6s. The lowest tender was accepted.—Forming footpath Adelaide-road— John Colley, £l4B 165,; George Ackroyd, £l3O 18s. ;B. Reeves, £95; J. McLean, £284 10s. The lowest tender was accepted, REPORTS. A report was read from the Inspector of Nuisances. The following was read from the Public Works Committee : “1. On clause 6 of Public Works Committee’s report of the 24th ultimo, referred hack to committee, the committee have instructed the Surveyor to cover in a portion of the drain at the back of Mr. Dixon’s, Cubastreet, he paying half ihe cost, which is estimated at £l3 10s. “2. On apelitinn rc fighting and other improvements in Adelaide-road, the committee recommend that four lamps be erected, that a footpath be formed from Douglas Waliace-street to Johu-street on the western side, and that the drainage he proceeded with, as recommended in Surveyor’s report of 24th ult., the work to he done by tender. “3. On a petition respecting the state of Majoribank-street, the committee advise that both that street and Brougham-street be metalled. Also that a footpath be made a short distance on the north side of Broughamstreet near Majoribank-street.

“4. On letter received from Mr. Donne re notice board (cab charges) erected at the Railway Station, the Surveyor has been instructed to remove it, and erect it at the side of the road on posts. “5. The committee have to report that notice has been received from Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Go. to remove the present kerosene store by the end of this month. - Tenders will be required to be called for the erection of a new store, to include a bond at foot of Kent-terrace, and the committee recommend that when complete it be let on lease, as on account of the distance from his office it will be impossible for the Town Clerk to have charge of it, as at present.

“6. A letter has been received from Messrs. Hart and Buckley, as solicitors for Mr. J. McLean, re tender for Glenbervie-terrace cutting, and asking that certain moneys expended by him should be paid, and a sum of £3OO compensation for loss of contract. Your committee have referred the matter to the City Solicitor, and authorised him to pay to Mr. McLean what money he may he actually out of pocket, on production of vouchers. Any timber he may have purchased to be handed over to the Corporation and paid for. “7. On the report of the Inspector of Licensed Vehicles, eight cab licenses were suspended till such time as the vehicles were put in proper order and passed by the inspector, and one driver’s license, and the license of his cab, were suspended for seven days for an overcharge, and offensive language to a passenger. “ 8. The Surveyor has been instructed to lay down three street crossings of wooden blocks as an experiment, at such places as he may think most advisable. “ 9. The plan submitted by Mr. Chatfield, as architect for Mr. Madden, of building to be erected on Market Reserve, corner of Cubastreet and Toranaki-place, has been approved of by the committee. “ 10. The further consideration of the Town Hall scheme having been referred to your committee, they requested Mr. Turnbull to amend the elevation as shown on the first prize plan, and recommend the adoption of the elevation now submitted, with the view of building Corporation offices in conformity therewith, if the Council should approve of doing so. Also that Mr. Clayton be paid the amount of second premium, viz., £75. “ With respect to the Market Hall, the Government having decided not to avail themselves of the offer of the Council to rent the hall for the use of the volunteers, the committee recommend that a new morgue be erected on the site of the late sheep dip on the market reserve, and that the Market Hall, including the present Morgue, be put up to lease at auction, for the same terms and the same conditions as the last lots ; reserve price, £2OO per annum. “ 12. Re Towußeltreserves, —Thecommittee have to inform the Council that the leases of the Town Belt sections expire on tho 30tb June next, and they have to recommend that these sections, as shown upon tho map attached hereto, be re-leased by public auction on an early day. The leases to commence from the Ist day of July next, and to extend for a period of fourteen years. In addition to other

covenants the committee suggest that the Council should make the following reserva-

tions ; “(1). That the public shall have the umlisputed right at all times to walk over any portion of the belt for the purposes of health and recreation. “ (2). That the Council shall have the right to resume possession, at any time after one month’s of such portions of the belt as they may find are required for roads and footways, or such portions as may be considered necessary for recreation ground for the public, provided always that in every such case an abatement of rent shall be made proportionate to the amount of land so taken. To save expense to lessees, the committee recommend that a draft lease be prepared and printed, so that the necessary deeds can lie executed in the Town Clerk’s office ; Mr. Duncan to be the auctioneer, and the sale to take place on the 28th or 2Utli Inst.; the City Surveyor to vet lithographic plans printed.—On a letter from Alcxr. Johnston, M.D., re road leading through Town Belt to his house, aud asking that the line of road may remain as it is,—the committee recommend that bis request be

granted. “13. The Surveyor has been instructed to »ee that the signboard on the verandah of the new building north of Mr. Moss’s store, Lambtou-quay, having been erected without leave asked and obtained, be removed ; and in the event of the proprietor failing to do so, that tb A Purveyor remove it. “14. Accounts amounting to £Bll 13s. Id. have been examined, and the committee recommend payment of the same.

“ 15. A number of minor matters have been referred to the Surveyor to attend to, and others to be reported upon.” In reference to the third paragraph Councillor George said suitable offices for the Corporation could be erected, in pursuance of that plan, for £3OOO or £4OOO, and he advocated the immediate ereclion of such offices. He hoped therefore that the Council would go a little further than was recommended in the report, and authorise Mr. Turnbull to erect a building according to the plans, to cost between £3OOO and £4OOO. They could have the money at 6 per cent, so that it would only cost £240 a-year. The present accommodation was simply a disgrace to the Corporation and to the city, aud the sooner a different state of things was, brought into existence the better it would be tor the convenience of the Corporation and the credit of the city. They had their bookkeeper and their rate collector and other officials cooped up in such a small room that they had frequently to make use of a public passage in order to get a little more space ; and the Mayor found his only accommodation in a small apartment pretty well filled by the Town Clerk and his books and papers. And for this convenience or inconvenience they had to pay £l4O a year. Then the Town Surveyor occupied a back room in a public-house as the only place which he could get in which to show plans to contractors. Under such circumstances he thought it high time that the Council secured a local habitation for itself. He concluded by moving,—That the Public Works Committee he authorised to instruct Mr. Turnbull to prepare the necessary plans for building, and to call for tenders for the work.

The Mayor : I am afraid I cannot accept that motion without notice. It is an important motion, and comes within the rule that notice must be given. Councillor George : Very well, sir, I have no wish to press it. Councillor Cleland said there was just one other matter iu the report to which he wished to draw attention. That was with reference to the leasing of portions of the Town Belt. The Council reserved to itself the right to take any portion of the belt from the lessee on giving notice. He supposed, therefore, that in cases where the parties had gone to considerable expense in fencing, the Council must compensate them for that work. The Mayor said whatever land the Council might take it would fence. Councillor Cleland expressed himself as satisfied.

Councillor Mills objected to the Council reserving a right to the public to go upon the leased portions of the reserve. He conceived that when a man rented a piece of ground he acquired the sole right to it for the time being, and it was rather hard that a number of people should go running across the land just when they liked. The Mayor: It is the law. Councillor Mills : Well, if that be the case, the Council have nothing to do with the matter. I know that lessees object to it, and it seems to me they are treated very unfairly. Mr. Wright has a large piece of the Town Belt, and keeps sheep upon it, and he finds that his stock is considerably injured by dogs running there. Councillor Kainie, after some further discussion, moved an addition to the report, stipulating that persona going over the property should not injure the pasturage nor take dogs with them. This was agreed to, and the report as amended adopted. WAGES. The wages list, amounting to £459 7s. 10d., was passed for payment. PERSONAL EXPLANATION. Councillor Cleland said, before moving his motion, he wished to make a personal explanation. He had endeavored, and he trusted he always would endeavor, to uphold the dignity ©f that Council, and the matter to which he wished to refer had reference to the course which he had pursued at a certain meeting, and about which something had fallen from Councillor Moss at the last meeting. That gentleman had been good enough to inform the Council with reference Councillor Moss: X rise to a point of order. I wish to know, sir, whether this has anything to do with the motion of which Councillor Cleland has given notice ? "N The Mayor : Councillor Cleland is making a personal explanation before moving his motion. I think he is in order. Councillor Cleland was just about to say that Councillor Moss had been good enough to say that he (Councillor Cleland) had passed the Glenbervie-terrace work improperly that there was not a full meeting of the members—that he had moved the motion when the Councillors had their hats on, and that it was not carried unanimously, as had been stated. Now for the facts of the case. He (Councillor Cleland) had not moved the motion for the prosecution of the work, it was carried unanimously, and as for its having been done after the members had virtually risen, Councillor Moss was not present, and therefore knew nothing about the matter. The Councillors present were Councillor George said Councillor Cleland was again discussing the Glenbervie-terrace business, and he must protest against having any more of it. Councillor Cleland ; I am not; I am making a personal explanation. The Mayor thought Councillor Cleland quite in order. Councillor Cleland : The Councillors present were Councillors George and Moeller for Te Aro Ward, Councillors llainie and Cleland for Thorndon Ward, while Lambton Ward was not represented at all. Councillor Mobs therefore was not present, and kne.v nothing of the matter. If he were not believed in his statement as to the proceedings, he would appeal to the Town Clerk to produce the minute book. The Mayor : There i> to bo no discussion, 1 may say. Councillor Moss : Your Worship need not fear, I shall not reply to what ho is saying. The matter then dropped. BE-ARRANGEMENT OP THE CORPORATION OFFICES. Councillor Cleland said the motion which be wished to move was a very important one, and, moreover, a question with which it was difficult to deal. He might say he had no personal feeling In the matter, and therefore should deal with it ia a general way, and very briefly. He thought it was patent to every one, and especially to every one who had or had had a seat at the Council table, that the departments of the Corporation required reorganisation. Some of them were in anything but an efficient state ; in fact, they were in the greatest ’ disorder. The Public Work* Committee from time to time found that work

ordered was not do e—completely forgotten—and if they required any explanation, nothing satisfactory could ho obtained. However, ho need not enlarge upon these matters, he would merely move,—That in order to secure the efficient and economical administration of the affairs of the city, it is necessary that the arrangement of offices should he entirely re-organised, and that three mouths' notice shall he given to all the permanent officers of the Corporation. Also, that a committee he appointed, consisting of the Mayor, Councillors Mills, George, Greenfield, Kainie, and tire mover, to make fresh arraugerneuts.” Councillor Muxs seconded proforma.

Councillor George said he did not agree with all the departmental arrangements at present existing ; hut lie could not approve of Councillor Clelaud’s motion. He moved an amendment, striking out of the resolution all reference to giving three mouths’ notice to tile present employes. Councillor Kainie seconded. He objected to tiie motion as a great injustice. It was not a strauger to them. It had been brought forward before and rejected, and he hoped it would again he rejected. How could they expect to get good servauts if they were to he liable every now and then to receive three mouths’ notice. Why did not Councillor Clelaud come out boldly and say that the motion was intended for only one man ? Why should all the other officials have a stigma cast upon them because of the objection to this one person. He objected altogether to this underhand manner of doing things. But putting aside tliia view of the case, the motion was still absurd and ridiculous. Suppose the gentlemen decided to clear out altogether, it would be found that the Corporation was in a very peculiar position, having no one in its employment who knew how tilings were going on. Would Councillor Mills, if he objected to one man in his employment, give all of them notice? Certainly not, and he (Councillor Kainie) hoped the Council would not place itself in such an absurd position as Councillor Cleland wished to put it in. Councillor Cleland withdrew the motion in favor of the amendment. Councillor Dixon objected to the motion because of its unfairness. Councillor Mills said he should support the amendment. He had merely seconded the motion because it had seemed as if it would fall through for want of a seconder. Ho quite agreed that there was some change needed. The amendment was then put aud carried. THEATRE REGULATIONS. The Mayor said as the hour was so late he should defer his motion in respect to places of amusement. NOTICES OF MOTION. Councillor George to move, That the Public Works Committee be authorised to appoint Mr. Turnbull architect for the erection of the Town Hall, and that tenders be called for the erection of such portions of the building in brick as may be required for the purpose of Corporation offices. That the sum of £2OO be granted to the trustees of the Basin Reserve, for the purpose of planting the enclosure witfTtrees or shrubs. That the sum of £SOO be voted as a grant-in-aid for the formation of a road through Polhill's Gully to Karori, provided the Highway Board will undertake to carry out the work immediately. That the Council do consider the advisability of petitioning his Excellency the Governor to bring into force in Wellington the Contagious Diseases Act. The Council adjourned at 6 p.m.