CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5166, 12 October 1877, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Thursday, October 11. The Council met at half-past 7 o’clock in the evening. Present—The Mayor, and Councillors George, Logan, Dixon, G. Allen, J. A. Allan, Moss, Macdonald, P. Greenfield, Hunter, Fisher, and Maginity. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDEN CE. A letter was read from the Duder-Secretary of Public Works, in reference to payment of compensation in connection with Cuba and Taranaki streets extension. The Town Clerk; also read a letter from Mr. A. P. Stuart, asking for compensation to the amount of £7133 6s. Bd., through the extension of Guba-street. On the motion of Councillor George, it was agreed that the matter be referred to the City • Solicitor for his opinion, A letter was received from Mr. John Henderson re tramway, stating that the tramway was about to be transferred to a public company, and he asked the sanction of the Council to such transfer. An opinion was read from the City Solicitor to the effect that there was no legal objection to such transfer. Councillor Pisher moved that the letter be held over for further consideration. Councillor Allen seconded the motion pro forma. Councillor George failed to see that any advantage would accrue from holding the letter over. It would be unfair to Mr. Henderson. He moved that it be referred to the Public Works Committee. The original motion was withdrawn, and Councillor George’s suggestion was agreed to.

DRAINAGE scheme. The following is the letter of Mr. C. N. Bell on the drainage scheme ; “ Wellington, 11th October. “ Sir, —At the request of the City Council, by letter dated 28th September, I have visited Wellington for the purpose of looking over the ground and examining the sections and plan* of your engineer, Mr. Climie, and I have employed all my spare time in walking over the streets and the lines for proposed outfall for the sewers. My business in Christchurch compels me to return there to-morrow, and before leaving I would request you to be good enough to furnish me with copies on paper of all sections and plans taken by your engineer—that is, sections of the different proposed outfalls of the various streets, of the Beach-road from Thorndou-quay to the end of Evans Bay, plan of the city on large scale with sewers as proposed by your engineer laid down on it, plan of the city on small scale showing Evans and Lyell Bays, and other information which your engineer may have on this subject, such as bis estimated cost of the scheme, with details of quantities, &c. On receipt of the plans and sections, I shall have the honor to submit my report to you with the least possible delay. —I have, &c., “ O. Napier Bell. “ His Worship the Mayor.” Councillor George moved, and Councillor Greenfield seconded, —That Mr. Climie be instructed to forward plans and drawings of the drainage scheme to Mr. Bell.—Agreed to.

FIRE POLICE. An application was received from the secretary of the Wellington Volunteer Tire Police soliciting a grant in aid of equipment fund. The matter was ordered to be left in the hands of the Mayor. TRANSFEEEBNCE OP WHARF CONTRACT. A notice was received from Messrs. Moorhouse and Edwards, on behalf of Mr. C. McKirdy, of the transfer of the wharf contract to Mr. J. Saunders. Councillor Exsher asked who were Mr. McKirdy’s sureties for the performance of the work ? The Mayor replied that Mr. T. W. Young and Mr. J. Saunders were the sureties. Councillor Fisher then desired to know whether another surety was not required now that Mr. Saunders had become the contractor. The Mayor said there was not the slightest necessity for a third surety. APPLICATIONS. A letter was received from Dr. Diver, asking that medical men, in the interests of their patients, should be allowed to drive round corners at other than a walking pace.—Referred to the Public Works Committee. An application was received from Mr. Curtis, on behalf of residents in a private street off Molesworth-street, asking that a drain bo laid down in the street, the residents agreeing to pay half the cost. Councillor J. A. Allan said he would support the voting of money for the drainage of every private street in the city. Councillor Moss remarked on the wonderful change which had recently taken place in Councillor Allan’s opinions. At meetings of the Public Works Committee he had been the strongest opponent of any money being spent on private streets. After some further discussion the application for the drain was agreed to.

REPORT. The report of the Inspector of Nuisances was read, in which he complained of the state of Holland-street.—Referred to the Public Works Committee. THE EXPRESSMEN. A petition was received from the expressmen of the city in reference to certain grievances they labored under.—Referred to the Public Works Committee. THE TRAMWAY. A letter was read from Mr. Davis, engineer of the Tramway Company, in reference to the lowering of Vivian-street for the purpose of laying the tramway. The Mayor stated that the street had been lowered by the Tramway Company without asking the leave of the Council. He looked upon the alteration as an improvement, and he did not think the Council would have any objection to it ; nevertheless he thought permission should have been asked of the City Council. Councillor Fisher said the alteration m the level might improve the street, but it would depreciate the value of property in the street. However, parties would have grounds for an action at law against the Corporation. After a alight discussion, it was understood the Council acquiesced in the alteration in the levels. WATER SUPPLY. Councillor Greenfield said he visited the waterworks some days ago, and he found great reason for complaint at the state of the basin. The warm weather was now coming on, and better provision should be made for a water supply. The City Surveyor explained that it was absolutely necessary to lower the water in the basin to complete the outlet pipes. At present there was a supply of thirty gallons per day per head, an amount greatly in excess of that afforded in London and many other cities. Since last summer, 1000 attachments had been made to the mains, and of course that had

greatly increased the demand ou the waterHe complained of the waste of water by hotelkeepers and cab proprietors. It was not bo much the want of water as the waste. So far as the alleged delay in the work was concerned, he was in a position to inform the Council that the contract would be completed about the middle of November, six weeks before contract time, and they would theu be able to store 100,000 gallons of water. TENDERS. The following tenders were received by the Council ; , Formation of Austin-street P. Scally, £379 ; B. Reeves, £4lB ss. ; B. McDonald, £4lO ; Devine and Mox’gon, £425 ; Powell, £320 7s. 6d. ; J. McQueen, £578 1 10s. ; J. Saunders, £387 ICs. Powell’s tender was accepted. Formation of Tasman-street - —■ P. Scally, £526 125.; Beeves, £540 os.; Devine and Morgan, £660; Powell, £497 155.; J. Saunders, £5lO 6s. Bd.; J. McLean, £661 135.; G. Pndney, £547 4s. 6d. Powell's tender was accepted. Kerbing Upper Willis-street—Morgan, £i ss. per chain; Biordan, £4 Ss.; Powell, £3 6s. 6d.; J. McLean, £4 16s. 6d. The tender of Powell was accepted. Kerbing Ghuznee-street —Biordan and Co., £59; Morgan, £7O; McCall and Moore, £53 10s. 6d.; Powell, £54 17s. 'ld.; J. McLean, £53. The last-named tender was accepted. Kerbing Hawkestone-street—Riordan and Co., £4 per chain; Powell, £3 ss. 6d,; J. McLean, £4 17s. 6d.; McCall and Moore, £4 13s. 6d.; Morrison, £4 10s. The tender of Powell was accepted.

THE BURGESS ROLL. The following is the report of the committee appointed to make inquiry relative to placing names of persons on the burgess roll after the same had been certified to “ That in the opinion of the committee the Council has no power to take any action in the matter of the alleged insertion on, and striking off certain names from, the burgess roll. At the some time the committee cannot express too strongly its opinion as to the extremely irregular manner in which the burgess list and roll has been made up.” Councillor George moved that the report of the committee be adopted. The Mayor said he had a few words to say on this business before putting it to the meeting. First, he had a remark to make ou the burgess roll, and that was that his name was on it, and he meant it to remain there. Mr. Hester’s story about dates and Mr. Travers’ opinion about striking off names were alike irrelevant. Mr. Hester was prone to confuse both dates and facts, and Mr. Travers’ opinions follow bis likes and dislikes. At all events, there were other legal opinions as good aa those of Mr. Travers. It was clearly out of the question that there could be two sets of burgess rolls. He held in his hand a burgess roll with his name upon it—a burgess roll on which he had voted on the 6th day of August last for a loan of £IOO,OOO, and he was prepared to maintain his right as being properly and legally thereon, if any one questioned it, before the Supreme Court. Next for Mr. Hester’s story. Those Councillors who had looked at the burgess roll and seen the mesa in which it is would be able to form an opinion of its worth or correctness. At the proper time he (the Mayor) urged its being made out correctly. He urged upon Mr. Hester to devote a few late nights to its careful compilation. The Council found additional clerical assistance with this object ; but Mr. Hester declined to stay beyond the usual office hours, and at last it had to be certified anyhow.' At a later date, when a committee of the Council had occasion to look into the matter, it was found that a number of ratepayers whose names should have been upon the burgess roll were not upon it. Mr. Hester charges the Mayor, by implication, with causing him to tamper with the burgess roll. He most emphatically denied having ever asked the Town Clerk to do a single act contrary to his duty, and looking at the temper exhibited by the man, they would form their own opinion as to whether the Town Clerk was likely to he led by him in any such matter. He would like them to look carefully at Mr. Hester’s confession. It was to the effect that he (the Town Clerk), entrusted by law to make out a correct burgess roll—(it is the only duty for which he is directly responsible)—added to that roll two names after he should not have done so ; that, in point of fact, he betrayed the trust confided to him ; that he made a wrong entry in the hooka of the Corporation, and gave wrongly-dated receipts. That was rather serious. He (the Mayor) did not charge the Town Clerk with doing so, but he did something as bad. Having taken up some grudge against the Mayor—probably being a tool in the hands of a more clever man than himself, —the Town Clerk and his friends concoct a story, and he publishes it to the world—to his own shame. On the strength of it, he strikes the namesof Hutchison and Milisoff the burgess roll. He (the Mayor) did not intend to let Mr. Hester strike off and put on names at his pleasure. View the story as they chose, Mr. Hester was on one or other of the horns of a dilemma. Either the two names should not have been put by him on the burgess roll—it was, by his statement, a breach of trust to do so ; or having put the names properly on the roll, it was a breach of trust to strike them off. The Town Clerk must chose one or other of these alternatives, and either of them proved him unfit to hold his present office. In this more serious aspect of the case it was hardly worth while speaking of minor details. But what did they think of an officer who never by word or sign gave an indication to the Mayor that he had omitted to pay his rates ? What did they think of that utter absence of official reticence displayed throughout ? He saw it stated in a newspaper that Mr. Mills had been served with three threatening notices. He believed the statement was incorrect ; but assuming its correctness, what did they think of an officer who must needs blab such a thing in the newspapers ? And what did they think of the studied discourtesy to the Mayor and a Councillor in going through all this burlesque of confessing to Mr. Travers and striking names off the roll without giving the parties concerned a single hint on the subject ? He had very reluctantly made this statement, hut it was due to himself and to his office to do so.

Councillor Maginity said they were not at present called upon to discuss the merits of the Town Clerk. He was of opinion that the Mayor should have been present at the meeting of the committee, and made his explanation. That would have given the Town Clerk an opportunity of refntiug the charges made against him. He (Councillor Maginity) thought the Mayor was wrong in making charges against Mr. Travers because that gentleman happened to bp a political opponent of the Mayor. Councillor George thought the Mayor’s strong language was uncalled for in discussing the report, as it blamed no one particularly, nor did it recommend any course to be adopted. It simply left the parties interested to settle the matter themselves. The report was adopted. reorganisation. The following is the report of the special committee appointed to inquire into the duties of the Mayor and Town Clerk : “ The committee recommend that the last clause of the Reorganisation Committee’s report of 18th June, and amendment thereto passed on the 18th September, be rescinded, and that the following be substituted ; —That without interfering with the special duties appertaining to the Mayoralty, the Town Clerk be recognised as the official of the Corporation through whom all orders and resolutions of the Council shall pass ; that all advertisements and official documents bo signed by him. That the various reports of the other officers of the Council be forwarded to the Town Clerk prior to presentation to the Council. That the Mayor shall cause a record to be kept in the Town Clerk’s office of all instructions issued and correspondence carried on by him on behalf of the Corporation. That the Town Clerk be recognised as holding a position, relative to the Mayor, similar to that held by Under Secretaries of the General Government relative to the Ministers of the Crown.” The Mayor said he accepted the report in the same spirit in which it had been drawn up. He desired when he retired from the position

of Mayor that the powers should not have teen curtailed during his term, and that ms successor should possess the same powers as he (Mr. Hutchison) did when elected to the othce. The report was adopted. A NEW LOAN. . Councillor Geokoe moved, —That a sum of £50,000 be borrowed for the purpose of forming and making the streets at present unformed throughout the city. He said that there were miles of streets in the city not yet pegged off, and he believed that the Council would be amply compensated for every pound laid out ■upon these streets. Councillor G. Allen opposed the motion, on the «rouud that it was intended to benefit a number of citizens in Cook Ward at the expense of the whole body of the ratepayers. Councillor Hdntek heartily supported the motion. He pointed out that for years persons residing in the outskirts of the city were called upon to pay rates without having any money expended by the Corporation in their neighborhood. Ten years ago he (Mr. Hunterl advocated borrowing money to the extent of £25,000 for a similar purpose ; but he did not succeed in getting it adopted. The sum of £50,000 might not be at present required ; but even if that amount were spent, he felt satisfied that the city would be repaid in the enhanced value of property and the increased rates which would be derived therefrom. Councillor Fisher opposed the motion, and remarked ou the facility the Council had of getting into debt. The Corporation already owed over £200,000. Of course it might be said that Dunedin and Christchurch were heavier in debt, but the endowments of Wellington could not be compared with those places. The Mayor supported the motion, and pointed out that the citizens would he called upon to decide as to whether or not the money should be borrowed. He dissented from the remark of the last speaker in reference to endowments. He believed in a short time the city would be iu possession of endowments equal to those of any place in the colony. The motion was then put and carried. _ For the motion : The Mayor, and Councillors George, Hunter, Greenfield, Logan, Dixon, and Moss. Against : Councillors G. Allen, J. A. Allan, Maginity, and Fisher. TRAMWAY ALONG CAMBRIDGE TERRACE. Councillor Maginity moved that the resolution of the Council voting the sum of £l3o towards the estimated cost of taking the tramway down Cambridge-terrace proper, be rescinded. After an animated discussion, in which strong personalities were indulged in, the motion was negatived. After some other business of an unimportant nature bad been disposed of, the Council adjourned. .