CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5145, 19 September 1877, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The newly-elected Council met for the first time yesterday afternoon at four o’clock. There were present the Mayor and Councillors Mills, Dixon, Moss, Hunter, Macdonald,J. A. Allan, George, Maginity, Greenfield, Logan G. Allen, and Fisher. Councillor Hunter asked why the Council had not met on the previous day, as originally notified?

The Mayor said the alteration bad been made to suit the convenience of Councillors. If there was not a quorum of members present at the time the meeting was called for it was within the power of the Town Clerk to convene another meeting to be held within three days. The minutes of the previous meeting were then read and confirmed. A letter was read from the Insurance Companies Association as to the delay in the water supply at the late fire. The Mayor said that no blame was attributable to the Corporation in this matter. The delay was owing to an accident caused by the over-zealousness of the crowd. Councillor Moss endorsed this, and said he had endeavored to make it publicly known that such was the case. Councillor G. Allen drew attention to the danger from fire arising from the gorse on the Terrace at the back of Lambton-quay. He was informed that orders had been given to have it cleared away. A petition received re drain for private lane leading from Taranaki-street was referred to the Public Works Committee. An application from Mr. E, W. Mills for water to be laid on and hydrant fixed in yard at tbe back of his premises in Hunter-street, for prevention of fire, was referred to the Public Works Committee. A letter was read from Mr. E. Brandon re drainage of his premises in Boulcott-street. Referred to Public Works Committee. The report of the Public Works Committee was then brought up, the Mayor stating for the information of new Councillors that as each clause was read, if there was no dissent, it was regarded as adopted. The rfeport was as follows : —- “1, Mr. S. Brown having waited on the committee and informed them that in laying down the tramway in the Adelaide-road it would be placed in the centre, and it would be necessary that the sides of the road be formed, as at present they are impassable,—The Surveyor was instructed to go on with the formation of the sides at once. “2. On clause 3 of Inspector of Nuisances report of 30th- August re nuisance caused by the swampy ground off Adelaide-road, the committee recommend that the Inspector abate the nuisance in terms of the Act. “ 3. On report of Inspector of Nuisances of the 4th inst., re seizure of forty-five cases of kerosene found stored on the premises of Messrs. Jameson Brothers, and informing the committee that the Court ruled that so long as the kerosene will not ignite at a lower temperature than II Bdeg. Fahrenheit, he cannot interfere with it, —The committee recommend that application be made to Parliament to have the Dangerous Goods Act, 1869, amended, in order to bring ordinary kerosene within the license issued by the Council. “ 4. The committee recommend that for the future the order papers sent out with the notices for Council meetings be printed. “ 5. On memo, received from the Customs as to kerosene store, asking for a few trifling alterations, and stating that the tonnage of the store was 2091 tons, on which duty will be payable from date of opening to and including the 14th January next, at the rate of £SO per annum, —The Surveyor was instructed to attend immediately to the required alterations; and by the request of the committee, the Town Clerk has prepared the annexed statement (A). “ 6. On letter from Town Clerk, Thames, of 24th ultimo, referred to your committee re proposed District Railways Bill, —The committee recommend the Council to approve of the resolution attached to said letter—(letter B attached hereto). “ 7. The consideration of two letters from the secretary of the Wellington Building Society re College-street was postponed. “8. On petition from Messrs. Earp and Parkes, stating that they had formed Butestreet, off Ingestre-street, at a cost of £165, and asking that an allowance be made to them, —The committee cannot recommend the Council to consent to their request. “9. The committee suggest that the police should be asked to assist the Council in enforcing the by-laws re driving, &c., in the streets of the city. “10. On applications received from Mr. F. Hughes and Messrs. Jacob Joseph and Co., stating that they are unable to obtain water meters, and asking to be allowed still to use the water, agreeing to pay from the 3rd instant after the rate at which they may consume so soon as they can get meters,—The Town Clerk was instructed to write to the Waterworks Engineer granting those applications, and any others made in writing of a similar kind, provided he sees no objection. “ 11. On letter from secretary Central Volunteer Fire Brigade, asking that the brigade station be exempt from rates, —The committee recommend that both brigade stations be free of rates.

“ 12. With respect to notice served on Mr. Travers, requesting him to remove building on Town Belt section leased by him, and his reply, stating that the boundaries of the laud have not been laid off as requested by him, and that he has not yet been placed in possession,—The Surveyor was instructed to baud over the boundaries of this and other sections of the Town Belt to the respective lessees at once.

“ 13. The committee recommend that the Sydney-street drain be extended a short distance, at an estimated cost of £l2.

“ 14. On letter from Mr. Bowie re culvert in Waiter-street, the committee recommend that it he covered in, the Surveyor having estimated the cost at £2O. “ 15. The committee recommend that the tramway be laid on Cambridge-terrace, not on the road now used between Cambridge and Kent terraces. “ 16. Accounts amounting to £6OB 16s. 3d. have been duly examined and passed, and the committee recommend that they be paid. “ 17. Instructions have been given to the Surveyor as to sundry minor matters.” The Council next proceeded to fix the time at which the meeting should be held. Councillor George moved that the ordinary meetings of the Council be every second Thursday at 4 o’clock. Councillor Maoinity moved that the hour be half-past seven instead of four, as it would enable those who were engaged during the day to attend the deliberations of the Council. Councillor Hunter was of opinion that halfpast seven would bo the most suitable hour, as then the business would not bo hurried over through the anxiety of Councillors to have finished by dinner time. The business of the Council could not bo properly transacted in a couple of hours.

• Councillors Greenfield, Moss, and Logan were also of opinion that half-past seven was the most suitable time, and Councillor George having stated that he was willing to consult the wishes of the majority, the later hour was fixed.

Councillor G-kobge proposed that the Public Works Committee should consist of eight members, two to retire monthly. Councillor Greenfield thought that eight members would be too many on the committee. He thought six would be sufficient.

Councillor Hunter was of the same opinion. Bight would be too large a committee out of a Council of twelve.

Councillor Macdonald suggested that four should form the committee. Small committees as a rule worked better thau large ones. Councillor Geoboe agreed to alter the number from eight to six, and the motion was carried.

The following letter was read from the City Solicitor bs to the rights of holders of property abutting on the land granted to the Corporation for the purpose of reclamation : “ Wellington, Ist Sept., 1877.

“ Sir, —With reference to the opinion which his Worship the Mayor desires as to the rights of holders of property abutting on the land granted to the Corporation for the purpose of reclamation, I beg to say that such holders have no further rights than the general public. The latter, notwithstanding the 3rd section of the Public Keserves Act, 1854, appear to me to have the common law right of passing and repassing over the water up to high-water mark, and over the land between high and lowwater mark when uncovered in whole or in part ; but no rights can be acquired as against the Crown by the erection of wharves or jetties, and therefore no such rights exist at present as against the Corporation.—l am, &c., “ War. Thos, Locke Travers, “ City Solicitor. “ The Town Clerk, Wellington.”

The Mayor would suggest that a small committee be appointed to investigate the subject. He moved that Councillors Hunter, Mills, and Macdonald form such a committee. Councillor Hunter desired his name to be withdrawn, as he was directly interested. He was aware that a contrary opinion had been given years ago to that of the City Solicitor, and that people purchasing land at the head of the bay had certain rights.

The name of Councillor G-. Allen was substituted for that of Councillor Hunter.

The following opinion was read from the City Solicitor as to the supplementary burgess roll: —“I am of opinion that there is no power to prepare a supplementary roll, or to add to or alter the roll in any way, after it has been certified under the provisions of section 46. I am further of opinion that the returning officers have no power to keep separate records of any of the votes, and that the course proposed by the committee would vitiate the election.”

Councillor Mills said he heard complaints of gross irregularities having occurred during the late municipal elections. He thought steps should be taken to prevent their recurrence in the future.

Councillor Moss gave notice that he would move at next meeting that a ReturningOffioer be appointed for each ward. The following letter was read from the Colonial Secretary:— “ Colonial Secretary’s Office, “ Wellington, 10th Sept,, 1877.

“ Sir, —Adverting to previous correspondence on the subject, I have the honor to inform your Worship that the Government, being most unwilling to interfere with the drainage scheme of the Corporation if it could be avoided, determined before replying to your letter of the 19th June to consult scientific authorities both here and in Melbourne as to whether or not serious damage would result to the Cook Strait cables by the discharge of the sewage into Lyell Bay. These authorities have given their opinion, and in such decided terms that the Government would not feel justified in the face of so strong a representation in allowing the drainage to be discharged in the spot proposed. “ They would not, however, offer any objection to its discharge into Houghton Bay, at the place shown on the plan forwarded by Mr. Cliraie with his letter of the 26th July.—l am, &c., “ Daniel Pollen. “ His Worship the Mayor of Wellington.” The Mayor desired to contradict a statement that he had quarrelled with the Government, and that the Corporation had suffered through such disagreement. He was on friendly terms with the members of the Government, and in any action which Ministers had taken in matters relating to the Corporation they were not actuated by feelings of hostility to him (Mr. Hutchison), but they had simply acted in accordance with the opinions of their professional advisers. It was agreed that the Colonial Secretary’s letter be referred to Mr. Climie. Various notices of motion given by the Mayor at a previous meeting were postponed. The Council then adjourned.