CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5214, 7 December 1877, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Thursday, December 6. The Council met at half-past seven o’clock. Present—His Worship the Mayor and Councillors Dixon, Logan, Allan, Diver, George, Macdonald, Fisher, Moss, Maginitv, and Allen. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. NOTICE OF MOTION. Councillor Diver gave notice to move at next meeting, that the proceedings of the special meeting of the Council held on the 29th November respecting the special committee’s report on the re-organisation of the departmental offices be rescinded, and that the report be reconsidered. CORRESPONDENCE. The Mayor read a letter from himself to the Town Clerk, informing him of what had been done at the special meeting on the 29th ult., when it was resolved to give certain officers of the Corporation notice that their services would not be required. The names of the officers (which have been already published) were given, and a request was made that the Town Clerk should send in his resignation. Mr. O’Malley sent in a claim for £l5O for damages dome to a road on the reclaimed land, where the Corporation metal is stored. The matter was referred to the Public Works Committee. A letter was read from Mr. Hester, pointing out that he had been asked to resign the town clerkship, but not the treasnrership, which office he presumed he still held. The Mayor pointed out that at the special meeting it was agreed that Mr. Rage sin mid be appointed treasurer. The consideration of the letter was held over until the next meeting. It was decided that the formation of the footpath in Adelaide-road be proceeded with. A letter was read from Mr. Napier Bell, stating that the Christchurch Harbor Board did not know at what time Mr. Clark, C.E., was likely to arrive there. TENDERS. Brick culvert iu Cuba-etreet, 58 yards in length.—John Coleman, £7 4s. per lineal yard;. J. Brennan, £43S 10s. for the whole work, or £lO 7s. Gd. per yard; Riordan and Co., £7 9s. 6d. per yard; H. Taylor and Co., £7 3s. pec yard; J. Maclean, £460 for the whole work; R. Scalley and Co., £7 15s. per yard. The tender of H. Taylor and Co. was accepted. Pipe drain, Alma-lane.—J. Brennan, £8 19s. per chain for 9iu. drain, £6 18s. for 6in. drain; W. Neal, £B9 for the job; Webber aud Co., £B7; J. Perry and Co., £7B 10s.; Riordan and Co,, £SI 10s,; J. Maclean, £B9 18s. J. Perry and Co.’s tender was accepted. Cartage.—P. Scalley, lls. 9d. per day for each horse and dray; Colley and Pudney, 125.; Kelleher, lls. 3d. Mr. Kelleher’s tender was accepted. BOULCOTT-STREET. In reference to the drainage in Boulcottstreet, the Public Works Committee recommended that the drain be • carried out in accordance with the recommendation of the Drainage Engineer, provided Mr. Brandon paid the expense of the portion of the pipe drain which ran through his private property. His proportion was estimated at £lO, and the Corporation’s at £9O. The Council agreed that the work should be carried out. PUBLIC WORKS REPORT. The report of the Public Works Committee was then read. The Mayor said he differed from one portion of the report, and he hoped the extension of Adelaide-road would be proceeded with, as it was a most necessary and important work. Councillor Logan said it had been understood that this work would he for Colonel Leckie’s benefit, but if it were shown that it would be for the public benefit, he should not oppose it. Councillor Moss expressed a similar opinion. Councillor Logan said the Council really had not the money to spare for the purpose. They had a very large overdraft, aud the committee for this reason objected to the work being at present proceeded with. Councillor George said this was not a work which would benefit Colonel Leckie alone. It was a necessary work, and would entail a cost of £l5O. He was afraid some Councillors only cared for doing the best they could for their own wards. Councillor Maginitt opposed the proposed extension being undertaken at present. Councillor Dixon supported the carrying out of the work. The report of the committee was agreed to, objecting to the carrying out of 'the work, which will therefore, not be proceeded with at present. It was resolved that before putting up extra fire-bells an estimate of the cost be obtained. Councillor Maginitt said he should like to see the Corporation make some provision for reserves on the reclaimed land and in other parts of the city, as the reserves for the purposes of recreation were at present very limited indeed. The Mayor said this was opening up a very wide question, : but Councillor Magiuity had better, if he thought fit, give notice of motion on the subject. In reference to the carrying out the road from Sydney-street to Tiuakori-rsad by Glea-bervie-terrace, Councillor Maginity said this was a most necessary and important work, and he hoped it would he completed. He moved that it be proceeded with. This was not seconded, and consequently lapsed. drainage report. The followingreport was read and adopted:—■ “ It was resolved that Mr. Climie be called upon to furnish to the Town Clerk the copies of plans and sections required by the Acting City Surveyor for the preparation of a map of the borough. “ It was further resolved that his Worship the Mayor be requested to communicate with Mr. Clark (now in Sydney), and inform him that the Council are desirous of seeing him prior to his interviewing either Mr. Bell or Mr. Climie.” returning officer. The Mayor moved a resolution authorising Mr. James Ames to act as returning officer. Councillor Moss moved that the matter should stand over until next meeting. This was lost, aud the original motion carried. SCHULTZE V. THE CORPORATION. The M ayor asked for authority to attach the seal of the Corporation to a document authorising the postponement of the day of sitting for hearing the case of Schultze v. the Corporation. Councillor Macdonald inquired why the Corporation had not appointed an arbitrator ? The Mayor said the matter had been left in the hands of the City Solicitor. The Mayor was authorised to affix the corporate seal to the document. NUISANCE. Councillor Macdonald drew attention to a nuisance arising from the escape of sewer gas near the Athenaeum. The matter was referred "to the Public Works Committee, with power to act. STREET IMPROVEMENT. Councillor Maginity asked what action had been taken relative to taking the opinion of the ratepapers as to the desirability of raising £50,000 for street improvement. The Mayor said the matter had been postponed iu order to obtain information as to cost and details, and now, as his term of office had so nearly expired, he thought it would be better to leave the matter to his successor. WAGES. Wa"es, &c., amounting to £612, were ordered to be paid. BUILDING REGULATIONS. The by-laws affecting the building regulations, adopted on the Ist November, were confirmed. - PRIVATE STREETS. Councillor George having asked leave to postpone his motion on private streets, the Mayor asked the indulgence of the Council while he made a tew remarks on this subject, as he would not have another opportunity of addressing the Council upon this subject, in which he took a very warm interest. He ventured to hope that when Councillor George’s motion came on the Council would

not a"reo to it, as it involved, —unintentional!} DO doubt -elements of hardship, and even of id iustice. Many of these private-streets ha been a great public benefit, not only m pro addin'* household accommodation for numerou families, but in the contributions of thei families to the municipal treasury- Improper ties in these private streets . undergone many changes, so that the ongma owners who profited by cutting up their acre into streets cannot now he reached, and _ tin burden will fall upon people who have paid i high value for their little bits of ground. Hi was told that in a legal sense this did no affect the case, and he granted it was so ; bin they were there, not to lay down any hard am fast line based upon law pure and simple, bui to do what was for the benefit of the whole community, and to deal as fairly and liheiallv with their constituents as possible. He would point out two facts, and thereafter leave the matter. These private streets, speaking generally—of course exceptions could be pointed to—were inhabited by working men who owned their little bits of property, and to make them pay a tax additional to that paid by those living 5u the and wealthier public streets would wear an air of hardship, no matter how the Council might choose t* put it. The Council had already spent niouey upon a number of these private streets. -They had drained Little Taranaki-street and Qumstreet entirely at the public expense what reason could there be that other private street-* should not be treated in the same way? They were just now putting a dram down Featherston-terrace at an expense of which the residents contributed £SO, and another in Nelsoa-street, of which the residents contributed £25 ;—what possible reason could there be for not treating some other private streets in the samo way ? He found no fault with this expenditure, but he wished everybody to he treated alike. He might point out to the Council also that they spent a farce sum in forming much to the” injury of one of their own public streets, Vivian-street -—and if so, had not other private streets as good a claim as Collegestreet ? Looking at these various facts—looldn" at the amount of rates paid by some of these older private streets—he submitted to the Council that they should take each one of them as the necessity for dealing with i t arose, and treat it as the circumstances of the case justified. He thanked the Council for their courtesy in allowing him to make this statement. EXPLANATION. Councillor Maginity made a personal explanation, saying it was out of no discourtesy to the Mayor and Conn oil that he left the Council at the special meeting in the matter of the re-organisation of the Corporation staff. The Mayor said he was sure no discourtesy was intended; but he would advise Councillors Dot to run away, but to fight it but. It had been said that he (the Mayor) ought not to have voted; but he would point out that as the " J£ing never dies,” so it was with the Mayor, who had as much authority up to the time of the termination of his office as when he was first elected. Councillor Diver said he did not wish to •“run away," but he declined to go into _ a matter hurriedly put before him which he did not understand. He did not leave through any discourtesy to the Mayor. Councillor Macdonald said the report was read clause by clause, and the Councillors who left the room had quite as good an opportunity of judging of the report as the others, except those who formed the committee who drew up the report. He considered the Councillors should have remained and argued the matter, and then if they liked they could have asked for further time. Councillor Moss said he left through no disrespect to the Mayor, but from a sense of justice to himself and his constituents, MOTIONS. The Mayor moved that the following resolution be withdrawn, as there was a Bill before the “ Lords ” respecting it,—That the report of the committee on the Te Aro reclamation be adopted, and steps he taken to have the work proceeded with at once. Councillor Allan withdrew the following

motion, —That in future all tenders for contracts must be accompanied by a deposit of cash or banker's marked cheque, good for at least seven days from date of reception of tender, such deposit to amount to 10 per cent, on contracts up to £2OO ; 5 per cent, on tenders over £2OO and not exceeding £500; 2S per cent, over £SOO and not exceeding £1000; and per cent, on contracts exceeding £IOOO. All tenders will be receivable up to°the advertised hour for consideration of contracts. Councillor Allajt withdrew the following motion, —That when any member of Council calls for a committee, the number of such committee shall be determined by vcte of the Council, and the members be drawn from the whole Council, as in the manner the Supreme Court special juries are chosen. CORPORATION OFFICERS. The Mayor read an opinion from Mr. Travers to the effect that the officers of the Corporation were removable at any time without notice or compensation, although it was not usual to remove them without notice, except for misconduct, although the absence of notice afforded no legal ground of complaint. WATERWORKS. Councillor George moved that a committee eonaiating of Councillor Diver, Dixon, Logan and George be appointed to report on the state and progress of the waterworks.—This was agreed to. Councillor Logan said he understood it would take at least six weeks to finish the work. Councillor J. A. Allan gave notice of motion to the following effect:—The City Council having inadvertently exceeded its powers by granting to private individuals a tacit right to enclose and occupy a public street in the borough, do hereby rescind such resolution, and notify the same to the parties interested residing on Oriental-terrace. RETIREMENT OP THE MAYOR. At the conclusion of the meeting the Mayor said there would be one more sitting at which he would be present, and he would then have the honor of introducing his successor.