CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5057, 8 June 1877, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held yesterday afternoon at i o'clock. Present: His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Cleland, Dixon, Mills, George Allen, J. A. Allan, Moss, aDd Greenfield. MINUTES.

The minutes of the last ordinary meeting were read and confirmed ; also the minutes of the private meeting held on the day fol-

lowing. Thn ALivnn stud that having svuthsnticated die minutes, h« muat cake leave to exercise the right of recording his protest against th« manner in which business was done at the adI journed meeting of the Council, and against the validity of the business itself. The meeting was adjourned to hear a private statement from the City Solicitor—no more. He (the Mayor) ' had no particular desire to hear any such private statement, and as there was no business known to him to come before the Council, he attended to some other matters. It now turned out from the minutes that business was done ; not only was extraordinary business done without notice, but a previous resolution of the Council regarding Town Belt leases was completely upset without notice. Members, of course, could do business as they -pleased ; he could not stop them ; he could only try to guard the ratepayers and himself from unpleasant consequences. If motions were to be put and carried without notice, in the absence of members, it was hard to say what the result might be. In this case he took the most inoffensive course open to him of preventing as far as possible the mischief of such procedure. Councillor Cleland cordially agreed with the remarks which the Mayor had just made. He was under the impression that as soon as Mr. Travers had finished his statement the business was concluded, and he consequently went away. He was naturally surprised, therefore, to hear subsequently of a resolution passed at that meeting, and one, too, which was contrary to that passed at the last sitting of the Council. Councillor GREENFIELD : You did not leave ( the room until after Mr. Travers had finished, 4 Mr. Cleland.

Councillor Moss disapproved of the Mayor's remarks. It had on the previous day been arranged that a private meeting for consultation with Mr. Travers would be held, and it was understood that the hour of meeting would suit the views of all, the Mayor included. That genth-man, however, had thought St to absent himself, and kept the meeting waiting, as they were expecting his attendance, very naturally, as it was an occasion when the Council had a right to expect that the Mayor would be in his place. He must say, therefore, that the Mayor had betrayed a want of proper courtesy in the action he had taken in connection with the remarks he had just made. Councillor MlLts, as chairman of the committee meeting alluded to, could only say that everything done was conducted in a, bona jidc and proper manner. He might add that there were some strong expressions of opinion in regard to the absence of the Mayor, who had been at the office in the morning and instructed the Clerk to issue notices respecting the meet ing, and yet absented himself from it. He (Mr. Mills) attached considerable importance to what the City Solicitor said. He thought, as a matter of fact, that the Council had of late been driven into very grave errors, and the committee, seeing this, had endeavored to put things straight by taking the steps they did.

Tliq Mayos said it was no discourtesy to the Council to be absent Irom a single meeting. Councillor Moss said the meeting under notice was of considerable importance. Had it not been so he should not have attended. The Mayor remarked that there was no necessity for discussion following on what he had said. He held the opinions expressed in his protest, and gave expression to them accordingly. COERESPONDENCE. The Clerk read copies of letters sent by order of the Council since last meeting; also letters received. TERRACE-ROAD. A letter was received from Mr. T. Hoggard, in reference to work required on the Terraceroad in front of his property, llesolved that the Surveyor be instructed to attend to the matter at once. FJUE BRIGADE EXPENSES. A letter was received from the Superintendent of the Wellington Fire Brigade, applying for the first instalment of the grant for working expenses, aud making application for the further grant. The Mayor said there should be no difficulty about the first portion of the application, aud that the Council should grant the first instalment ; the ether matter, however, he thought it would be well to refer to the Public Works Committee. The Mayor's suggestion was adopted.

MR. HUXLEY ON TUB WATERWORKS. A loti" letter from Mr. Huxley on the subject of "the waterworks was referred to the Public "Works Committee. BOUI.TON-STKEET. An .application by Mrs. Smith for the removal of earth which had fallen from a bank in Boulton-street, to the injury of her property, was referred to the Engineer, to report to the Public Works Committee, who were empowered to act. ROAD METAL. A letter from Mr. H. Travers was received, complaining of the size of certain road metal, and was referred to the Engineer. KEROSENE STORE—TENDERS. In referenco to the above, for which new tenders were called since last meeting, His Worship the Mayor said, before opening the tenders for the kerosene store, he ■wished to make a remark by way of explanation He had not, in accordance with the resolution passed at hist meeting, taken the next lowest tender on finding that the first was in error because he thought it would not be m the public interest to do so. But of course the Council had still power to carry out the Councillor George moved that these tenders benotopened, and that Mr. O'Loughlan's tender be accepted. He scarcely thought the Mayor was justified in the course he had adopted. Thework had been valued by the City Engineer, and the tender of Mr. O'Loughlan seemed to be perfectly legitimate, and should have been accepted, unless there was something in the way of collusion between the tenderers with which the Mayor alone was acquainted. Councillor Mills seconded the motion. Councillor Greenfield expressed himself in favor of the views which had fallen from Councillor George. TINAKORI-EOAD, Tenders were opened for the footpath in the Tinakori-road as follows : Wm. Hallins, £217 18s. 3d.; Christopher Goodman, £lB7 lis. 4d.; J. McLean, £284. On the motion of Councillor Moss, seconded by Councillor Cleland, Mr. Goodman's tender (the lowest) was accepted. OWEN-STREET. There was only one tender for work in OwenBtreet, namely, that of Martin Crowther, £IIS * 15s. The tender was accepted. THOMrSOX-STREET. A plan of the proposed work in Thompsonstreet was drawn, and two modes of forming the cutting were given on the plan, namely, one with a short batter and one with a long batter; the latter giving the longest slope. A discussion ensued as to which mode the Council should be guided by in considering the tenders, and it was ultimately resolved to accept No. 2 alternative. The following tenders were then opened:—J. Kirkpatrick, £2-16; John McLean, £494; George Budden, £249; Patrick Scalley, £4OB 10s. The tender of J. Kirkpatrick (£246) was accepted. CORPORATION OFFICIALS. The report of tha special committee in re the Corporation officials was read as follows: " The committee recommend, — "That the City Surveyor and the whole of the officials under his orders be given three months' notice, and their services dispensed with, and that applications be invited for the office of City Engineer at a salary of £SOO

per annum. " Also, that the services of the Wharfinger be dispensed with at the usual notice, and applications invited for the office ; in consequence of Mr. Eeeves being a partner of Messrs. Plimmer, Eeeves, and Co., a position which is incompatible with the office of ■Wharfinger, unless Mr. Eeeves shall resign his connection with the above firm, in which case the notice shall not take effect. " The committee recommend that the City Engineer be allowed an assistant, at a salary of £350 per annum. "The committee are of opinion that the whole of the direction of the Corporation business should emanate from the Town Clerk's office, he being recognised as the chief official of the Corporation, as required by the Municipal Corporations Act." The Mayoh said he wa3 sorry he could not agree to thi3 report, but it was a very cnriou3 report. The Council were aiming to do something to this effect—that in order to secure the efficient and economical administration of the affairs of the Corporation it was desirous that the whole of the departmental arrangements should be reorganised, and a committee was appointed for that purpose. But there was not a word in the report of the committee so appointed as to any proposal to reorganise —at least ho could find no indication of such a thing on the face of it. There was no indication, for instance, that the committee had made any attempt at an inquiry into the several department sl , with a view of ascertaining what was necessary in the way of amendment, and he believed that no inquiry was made into the working of those departments. The committee, or one or two of the members, at least, seemed to him to have gone into the business with a conviction prejudicial to certain officers of the Council. They wanted to get rid of two of the officers, and having secured this, or attempted to do so, they seemed to think that the whole matter rested there, and that they had nothing further to do. But this was not a reorganisation of the departments at all, and the committee, therefore, had failed to carry out the object for which they had been appointed. However, he supposed they must deal with the report a 3 they found it before them; and he would make a proposal to the Council. The first paragraph of the report was to the effect that the City Surveyor and the whole of the JtJicial3 under his control be given three months' notice, and that their services be dispensed with. He thought it was very seldom that a public body had to consider such a recommendation as that. He could almost say, with Macduff, "What, all my pretty chickens, and rny dam, at one fell swoop." They were swept away without a charge of any kind beiDg laid against them. It was one of the most sweeping proposals he had ever heard. With reference to the City Surveyor, he was not going to defend him. He knew perhaps bettor than anyone in that Council how Mr. Marchant forgot details in his work ; and these, although small in themselves, made up a large aggregate in his duties. Therefore the proposal he would make was that Mr. Marehant should cease to hold his present office as chief engineer to the Council, but be left in charge of the waterworks and the wharf extension,—two matters in connection with which he had dis-

played groat ability,—and he thought more especially that this was clue to Mr. Marchant, bo that he might have to the full all the credit •which would necessarily follow the successful completion of works so extensive as they were. It would be both unjust and discourteous to take them out of his hands now, as he believed firmly that they would redound largely to his credit; and further, he thought the Council was entitled to consider that a professional character must be seriously injured by a summary dismissal, such as the committee proposed in their report to give Mr. Marchant. With regard to the case of the Wharfinger, he thought the Council wore pretty generally agreed upon the necessity for a change in that direction, unless Mr. Reeves would consent to devote the whole of his time to the duties of his office under the Council, which would necessitate the severance of his connection with the firm of Plimmer, Eeevcs, and Co. He now came to the last paragraph, in the report, which was to the effect that all the business should emanate from the Town Clerk's office, &c. He confessed that he could not understand what that meant. But if it did mean that the Town Clerk should be directorgeneral of the whole of the affairs of the Council, then he held a strong opinion as to the committee's ideas of the re-organisation of the Corporation offices. Ho might state that he knew of no office which stood in more need of re-organisation than that of the Town Clerk. He was now including all the officers under that gentleman, *:he Collector and others, and this ought clearly to be understood, for the greater part of the work of the Conncil was done in that office. These were his views of the matter, and he would now move the following resolution:—"That the Council disapprove of the recommendation in the first parrflgraph of the report, and rerolve that Mr. Marchant be appointed engineer

for the waterworks and wharf extension; aud as these works will fully occupy his time, that he be requested to tender his resignation of the office of City Surveyor. Upon the tender of Mr. Marchant's resignation, that applications for the office of City Surveyor be advertised for, at a salary of £ ; and meantime that Mr. Charles O'Neill be appointed to the office pro tern. That the Council approve o£ the recommendation in the second paragraph touching the office of Wharfinger, on the understanding that a reasonable period be allowed to Mr. lieeves to decide upon accepting one or other of the alternatives embodied in the report. That the Council remit to the committee to further enquire regarding the other departments of the Council, and report." Councillor Moss seconded the motion, and Baid that before adopting the extreme course of asking Mr. Reeves to resign his connection with Plimmer, Reeves, and Co., he thought they should cansider the advisability of holding out to him some reasonable inducement to him to retain his office as Wharfinger. On the other hand, if they were really dissatisfied with the manner in which he performed his duties, they should dismiss him at once. It appeared, however, that the only objection to Mr. lieeves was the relation he bore to a mercantile firm in the city, and he thought it would be in better taste on the p.vrt of the Council, and more just to Mr. Reeves, if, before asking him to resign, they were to give him the option of accepting, under the Council, an engagement of a permanent character. He might say that with regard to the action of the committee it seemed to be the object of the committee to get rid of one man, the City Engineer, and that man had not been treated with the courtesy due to his position and professional ability. He had been in minor matters somewhat dilatory, but this had arisen out of his having undertaken to do too much work without asking for assistance. He (Councillor Moss) thought with the Mayor that Mr. Marchant should be allowed to continue in charge of the waterworks and the wharf extension contract until they were completed. Councillor DIXON said he had always had a very high opinion of Mr. Marchant's ability, that gentleman having had the control of several large works which had been carried out satisfactorily. Councillor Mills said he was very much astonished to observe the course which this discussion had taken, inasmuch as the committee had simply acted in the manner most calculated to serve the iuterests of the ratepayers. The Council had been told from all sources that the Engineer's department had not been worked in a satisfactory manner, and as a matter of fact the ratepayers had suffered very great loss in consequence. This state of things had been going on not only for months, but for years, and he had upon one occasion said distinctly that unless things were better managed a change would have to be made, and he certainly would not agree to the motion proposed. With regard to the Wharfinger he personally had no complaint to make. It was generally agreed, however, that his duties as an officer of the Council and his connection with a mercantile firm were incompatible. He had seen letters of complaint on the subject, and he knew for a fact that Mr. Reeves' business relations clashed with his official duties. They found, for instance, that Mr. Reeves had done certain things not conducive to the interests of the Corporation, and it therefore became their duty to take some action in the matter. During last season not a single vessel laden with corn had discharged at the Queen's Wharf, aud it was said that this arose out of his connection with the firm of Plimmer, Reeves, and Co. The Engineer's department also!was not in a proper condition, and this was true notwithstanding that they acknowledged Mr. Marchant to be a man of considerable ability. What was required was a complete reorganization of the departments of the Council, and he would move the adoption of the report. Councillor George seconded the motion, and in doing so said his Worship the Mayor had succeeded in making this a much more disagreeable subject than it need have been. Any discussion of the kind must of necessity be the reverse of pleasant, as it affected the character of a body of officials ; but the Mayor had increased the disagreeable nature of the Council's obvious duty by making unfair insinuations as to the feeling which actuated certain of it 3 members. His remark as to the anxiety displayed for the discharge of certain officers was entirely unjustifiable. He (Councillor George) regretted the necessity of taking the steps which this report recommended; but that necessity existed, and he intended to give the report his fullest support. He had a better acquaintance with Mr. Marchant's . abilities than any other member of that Council, having known him before he came to Xew Zealand, and he was sorry that he felt called upon to support the proposal for his dismissal, but he was fully alive to the fact that when a man held a public position he must abandon all consideration of private feeling, and do that which he considered to be his duty towards his constituents. Ever since he had been in that Council complaints had been very general as to the inefficient manner in which Mr. Marchant had conducted his department. It was not that he lacked ability; on the contrary, he was acknowledged to be a good engineer; but his fault lay in being unable to take the management of a department. They had better remain as they were than accept the proposal made by the Mayor. He also objected to the manner in which the Mayor would split up the different departments. The result would be that the Council would be solely dependent on the Mayor. That might be all very well under existing circumstances; but the effect would be very different in the event of a Mayor being elected who could not afford to devote so much time to the duties of his office as Mr. Hutchison was enabled to do. He was of opinion that the Mayor should not be called upon to meddle with departmental arrangements ; the Town Clerk should be the representative officer of the Council. With regard to Mr. Reeves, the speaker said he attached far less importance to his being a partner in a mercantile firm than did other members of the Council. What he objected to was the attempt by the Mayor to increase the number of the departments, and so bring about a result such as that he had indicated. Councillor Cleland said as this matter appeared likely to occupy a considerable time, there being many conflicting opinions with regard to it, he would move an amendment that it bo referred to a committee of the whole Council to report upon.

Councillor GuEENWEI-d said he did not propose to deliver a long speech, but as one of the Special Committee would like to say a few words on the subject. In the first place, he remarked on the disappointment he had experienced in consequence of not having received from the Mayor a good deal of information which the committee naturally looked forward to, particularly on a matter so delieatp as that now under discussion. After recapitulating what had been dons in the Council with regard to the Cor-poration officials since the subject was first broached, Councillor Greenfield remarked that the negligence of the City Surveyor had always been a subject of difficulty. They had received reports week after week complaining of inexcusable delay in the performance of necessary works. He did not doubt that gentleman's ability, and was of the same opinion as the Mayor that he should be allowed to continue the control of the waterworks ; but what he desired to point out was that Mr. Marchant had been guilty of neglecting his duty in the management of his department. With regard to Mr. Ileeves, he believed that he was capable of carrying out his work well, but it was only reasonable to assume that he could not do justice to his office as Wharfinger whilst he continued his connection with the firm of Plimmer, Ileeves, and Co. As to the Town Clerk, if he was not capable of peiforming the work which the committee proposed he should do, then all he (Councillor Greenfield) had to say about it was that he was unfit to occupy the position. Councillor Kaiktb said it was almost time, considering the progress made by the city of late years, that the Council had an engineer of greater experience than Mr. Marchant. He mentioned as an illustration of this necessity the Thompson-street job, which had already cost the Council a considerable sum of money, and yet more was reqaiired to bo expended upon it. Had the Council had an

experienced engineer, they might have saved twelve months' liberal salary by the avoidance of such useless expenditure. Respecting the Wharfinger, he considered that the Council was not justified in acting upon mere hearsay evidence, and thought they should institute some legal inquiry. With regard to the Town Clerk's office, there seemed to be some room for improvement in the conduct of business, which would no doubt be better when the new offices were open. Councillor George Allen said he had given a good deal of attention to this matter, and he knew from his own personal observation that there was considerable room for improvement in the Engineer's department, in respect of petty details. He would favor the Mayor's idea of permitting Mr. Marchant to continue the supervision of the contract for the waterworks, and in which he has been engaged with credit to himself. There were also complaints as to the Wharfinger, as to which, as it seemed to him, there was a good deal of justice. He thought Mr. Reeves should withdraw from his firm. He regarded the suggestions as to giving him a permanent appointment for two or three years as being absurd. By so biuding themselves the Council would find that the Wharfinger would in reality become their master. As to the Town Clerk, he thought it was a pity that he had not some legal knowledge, because the possession of such knowledge would prevent the necessity under which the Council had been of going so frequently to their solicitor. Generally speaking, however, he felt very satisfied with Mr. Hester, and should be sorry to get rid of him. Councillor Cleland said he felt bound, as the mover in this matter, to say a few words; and he must say in tho first place that he certainly preferred the report which the committee had brought up to the proposal submitted by the Mayor. He very much regretted that the Mayor did not remain at the committee meeting. He was anxious that tho matter should be adjourned till another day, but was overruled. He then went on to say that he considered the time had arrived in the city of Wellington when the Town Clerk should be a solicitor. He had no hesitation in saying that there had been sufficient business brought before the Council, especially within the last few months, to demonstrate the necessity of adopting this suggestion. Wore the Town Clerk a solicitor numerous mistakes that occur would be avoided, and tho business of the Council generally would be conducted in a much more efficient manner. He hinted that in a very short time a fresh election of Councillors would take place ; and he hoped that this matter would be agitated before the ratepayers, should no action be taken previously. It would be greatly to tho benefit of the ratepayers, and to the credit of the Council, if the Town Clerk were a solicitor. He bad risen chiefly with .a view of referring to this want, and as time was becoming precious lie would content himself with expressing his intention to support the adoption of tho report. Councillor J. A. Allan made some remarks which were scarcely audible ; but he was heard at the reporters' table to say that the officers of the Corporation seemed to require reorganisation. The Mayor then put the question of the adoption of the report, as an amendment upon his motion, the result being that the amendment was carried by 7 to 3. His Worship said the question of the adoption of the report now became the substantive motion.

Councillors in a body objected to this, and endeavored without avail to convince the Mayor that the report was adopted and the whole matter settled.

Councillor Moss moved an amendment, which in the general confusion of things it was discovered lie could not move, and the Mayor having replied to different speakers, The question that the report be adopted was put and carried. Councillor Cleland then discovered that he had moved nn amendment which had been totally ignored, and he. demanded that it should be now put, although tho motion to adopt tho report was carried. The Mayor begged pardon, saying that the matter had quite escaped his memory in consequence of his being slightly confused. The amendment, which was that the report should be referred to a committee of the whole Council, was then put, and carried unanimously, notwithstanding that the Council had been nearly as unanimous in the adoption of the report. This appeared to tickle the risible feelings of some of the Councillors, while others looked as if overpowered by tho novelty of the situation. pcblic works. The following report of the Public Works Committee was read and adopted : "1. On the application of Messrs. Brown and Johii3 to be relieved from the storm-water flowing on to their land, &c, from Grant-road, and on reading the report of the Surveyor, the committee recommend that a drain be laid along Eeatherston-terrace, thence along Tina-kori-road, tothebox-drainleadingtothosea; cost estimated at £240. This to be done by tender on condition that £55 he first paid by those benefited into the Town Clerk's office.

"2. Referring to a correspondence that lias taken place between Messrs. Barton anrl Fitzherbert, ast solicitors for Sir "William Fitzherbert, and his Worship the Mayor, re road which appears to have been carried through town acre No. 867, the property of Sir William Fitzherbert, and the suggestion of his solicitors that the matter should be referred to arbitration. Your committee recommend that the City Solicitor be instructed to take the neces. sary steps to acquire the land over which the road, passes for road-making purposes. "3. On applications received from the Wellington Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Central Volunteer Fire Brigade, applying for a vote of £IOO each annually forthepaymentof a night watchman; one to be stationed in tower over W.V.F.B. Station and the other in tower at back of the Police Station. Your committee recommend that if the insurance agents will contribute a yearly sum of £IOO, the Council pay a like sum, in order that the watchman may be appointed to each Brigade, as requested. "i. In reference to a memorial received from the residents in Elizabeth-street, asking the Council to take over said street, the committee advise that on payment of £2B {is. by Mr. Muir, for his proportion of the making of said street, the Council take it over. "5. lie tenders for smiths' work referred to your committee, they have to report that they have accepted the tender of Mr. Bohen for so much as applies to I'c Aro and Cook Wards, and that of Mr. Mason for what applies to Lambton and Thonidon Wards. "6. The committee have granted to the Collector assistance for a month, in order to get in water-rate for half-year ending 30th of this month.

"7. In matter of a letter received from Messrs. Mnnrhonse and Edwards, as solicitors for the Odd Fellows, re alleged encroachment on their property, Lambtmvquay, and claiming compensation, your committee having taken the opinion of the City Solicitor as follows : ' I am of opinion that under the circumstances of the case the Odd Fellows are not entitled in law to any compensation, but must bo presumed to liavo dedicated the land in question to the public as part of Lambton-quay. I find that it has been used as_ a footway for upwards of six years, and was originally formed and ha* been maintained as such by the Corporation.' Recommended that a copy of said opinion be sent to Messrs. Moorhouso and Edwards. " 8. On letter received from Mr. Boyd, on behalf of the residents in Lorne-street, asking the Council to lay down a drain in said street; and on petition from residents in said street, asking that the street may be metalled and kevbed at the same time that the drain is laid down, and agreeing to deposit 50 per cent, of cost of metalling and kerbing three days after tenders are sent in,—The committee recommend that the Council undertake the whole work of drain, metalling, and kerbing the street, on condition that half the cost is paid' down'on receipt of tenders, and an undertaking given that the second half be paid on completion of tho work. " 9. On the application from tho Secretary of the Wellington Land and Building Society for a street-plate to be erected on Collegestreet, the committeo are o£ opinion that being a private street, the application cannot be entertained.

" 10. An application from a Mr. Alabaster, for permission to erect a coffee-stand at the

end of the wharf, has been referred to the Mayor and Surveyor to settle. "11. A letter has been received from Mr. H. H. Travers, respecting the state of Wool-combe-street, and the Surveyor instructed to attend to it. " 12. On letter received from Messrs. Kountree and Russell, informing the Council that through an eiror iu the making out of their tender for the removal of the kerosene store, they are unable to take it up, and asking for a return of their deposit, viz., £lO, —The committee are of opinion that the deposit should not be returned.

" 13. On a petition received re continuation of Bowen-street, and new street connecting it with Boltou-street, the committee recommend that Bowen-street bo put iu order, but cannot entertain the application as to the new street, it being a private street. " 14. Accounts amounting to £417 4s. 4d. have been examined, and the committee recommend payment of the same. " Instructions to Surveyor.—To lay concrete pavement in front of Mr. Dawson's premises, Featherston-street ; t» report on drain in private street off Ingestre-street, near Mr. Bishop's ; repair Tory-street ; repair Adelaideroad ; clear drains, Haining-street and Cam-bridge-terrace ; lay out small plantation at west"end of Courteuay-place ; report on what is necessary to be done in order to plant Town Belt reserves B and E." ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the total amount of £477 lis. were passed. STREET LAJrrS. Councillor G. Allen withdrew his motion re the street lamps, in favor of Councillor George's motion on the same subject. Councillor George's motion (carried) was to the following effect :—That the street lamps be lighted two hours before the setting of the moon, and extinguished two hours after the rising of the moon, and not lighted for at least six nights after each full moon, or when the moon sets after midnight, excepting on exceptionally dark nights. NOTICE RE A MARKET. It was resolved to adopt the resolution of the Mayor re the institution of a market for the sale of country produce, the committee named in the resolution to inquire into and report upon the matter at next sitting of the Council. RECLAMATION OF TE AEO FORESIIORE. The motion of his Worship the Mayor in reference to the above was allowed to stand over in consequence of the plans not having been prepared owing to bad weather and consequent pressure of business in the Surveyor's department. THE DRAINAGE SCHEME. ' Owing to the lateness of the hour this important question was postponed till Tuesday next, when a special meeting of the Council will be held. POSTPONED. Several matters in regard to which notice of motion had been given at the preceding meeting were postponed. WHARF EXTENSION—A QUESTION. In reply to Councillor Cleland, Tha Mayor said : The Government has not honored the Council with any communication on the subject of wharf extension. I have no information beyond what has appeared in the newspapers, and therefore it is only becoming to speak with great reserve ; but if the proposal set forth is seriously entertained by the Government (which I can hardly suppose) it occurs to me that the sooner we endeavor to make some arrangement with our contractor to stay wharf extension the better, as it would manifestly be folly iu us to spend money in adding to shipping accommodation .on one side of the wharf while the Government was about to substract from it, to a larger extent, on the other side. This concluded the business before the Council, which adjourned at 6.45.