CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5106, 4 August 1877, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held yesterday afternoon at the usual hour. (Present:—His Worship the Mayor, Councillors George, G. Allen, Dixon, Greenfield, J. A. Allan, Oleland, Mills, Moss, and Kainie.

Before proceeding with the ordinary business, the Clerk stated that he had, in accordance with advice received from the City Solicitor, appointed a special meeting for the adoption of building regulations, and to consider and settle the balance-sheet for the halfyear ending the 31st of March. The Mayor objected to the course the Town Clerk had pursued as being entirely out of order.

Councillor George remarked that the proposed by-laws had been before the Council on a previous occasion, and he ; failed to see what could be gained by putting the matter off to a further extent. He submitted that the Town Clerk had done quite right in taking the advice of the City Solicitor on the subject, and had taken • the proper course in calling a special meeting for the adoption of the by-laws. He would move, therefore, that the by laws regulating the erection of buildings in the city be and hereby are adopted. The Mayor said he ■ could not put such a motion, as he knew nothing whatever about the by-laws for the adoption of which the special meeting was called. Had it been to consider by-laws the case would have been different. Councillor George was astonished to hear the Mayor say he knew nothing of the bylaws, as that gentleman had taken a great deal of interest in the question, and was really responsible for the drafting of the present bylaws. By adopting the suggestion of the Town Clerk the Council would be simply carrying out in another shape the previously expressed desire of the Mayor.

The Mayor corrected Councillor George, who was evidently under a misapprehension. If these wece his (the Mayor’s) by-laws, there would be no necessity for their coming before the Council in another shape. He knew nothing of these by-laws, and could not put the motion; moreover, notice should have been given that such a motion would be moved.

Councillor George, with all due deference to the Mayor, must say that these by-laws were actually those which the Council at a former meeting had approved and caused to be advertised.

The Mayor said he would he willing to accept a motion to the effect that these by-laws should be considered ; but he could not, in justice to himself, put the motion proposed by Councillor George. He kuew nothing of these by-laws, and manifestly they could not be the same as those he had proposed. The Town Clerk explained how it was that he had been induced to consult the Solicitor, and stated that he alone was responsible for calling the special meeting for that day ; but the City Solicitor had instructed him that these by-laws should be passed at a,special meeting. ’ ' ■ ’ The Mayor submitted that the Town Clerk of Wellington ought not to have the power of calling special meetings of the City Council. Councillor George, seeing that the Mayor would not put the question, gave notice that a special meeting should be held a fortnight hence for the adoption of the building by-laws. The ordinary business of; the Council was then proceeded with, and the minutes of the previous meeting duly read and confirmed. ,