CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5359, 31 May 1878, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The’usual fortnightly meeting of the City Council was heh{ in’tbeNProvmcial U»H at Ualf-uasfr |7 o’clock 1 resent His- Worship the MayorN anil Council ors Hunter, Dixon, (r: AJleq; l)iver, J. A. Ailaii, Fisher, Logan, Moss, ■ Greenfield,' J. R. George, T. K. Macdonald, and Maginity. ; HON Jilt. I'UAHAZVN ANd'tHE €OUNCIh. The Mayor : Gent’emen,—Since taking the chair this evening a letter has been placed in my' hands from Mr. -Fharazyn. I shall lay that letter on the table, but I shall be glad if the Council will agree not to discuss it this evening, In tordef.'to .allow ’of-:my ! lia , ltiDff*|)ffirtS2f iti the discussion. I think Mr. Fharazyn should have sent his-letter i earlieri/”JE' ;, |ttd a letter from the secretary of the Gas’Company, stating that Mr. Fharazyn would address the Council on the’subject; but J don’t "think he,.™, should have put it off until the last moment. Councillor. Diver , Will the- letter ,be - printed ? _:. ’ • 1 ■' s Councillor Hunter: I think'it' should be •- printed. X agree with you, Mr. Mayor, that it would bo inconvenient toj discuss it this evening, because none of us know anythingabout it. The Mayor : Mr. Fharazyn might-have-sent this letter in a little earlier. I understand a meeting was held on Monday, but this letter was only put into my hands after taking ' the chair this evening. , Councillor Hunter : It will be read, I suppose ! : ■•■ , , i,. - The Mayor t.-Yes; . ■ i The Town Clerk read the letter as follows : Wellington, 29th May, 1878.. Sir,—At a meeting of the directors of the Wellington Gas Company, held on the 27ili instant; it was agreed that I should reply to your letter of the 22nd instant; addressed to "the secretary, J. It. George, Esq. - In that letter you state that unless I give an under- - , taking not to raise: the question mentioned in my rfetter of the 20tU May to the Town Clerk, “you feel that ,it, is clue, to the ratepayers that, so far as this "j - company is concerned, the Corporation should’ at once t: withdraw from the proposed agreementin other words, you threaten to punish the company of which 1 am, chairman because, in my private capacity as a ■ ratepayer, and In my public capacity as a member of- - •.. - Parliament. I propose to prevent what I consider, as - I have before said,-would have been “a band uponthe ratepayers, ’’ in a matter in which the Gas Com-" pany has no interest whatever. u:i .-.nv-ti tj

lu your letter, -and in many of the discussions which' Ivavo taken place upon the foreshore question, as it is now called, an iugeniovs -attempt has been made to mix .up. two questions which" are quite distinctrtheone involving the rights of property' owners to tho * natural foreshore- at the head of the bay, and they ■ j other the rights of owners to the artificial frontage, produced.by successive.reclamation works; it is to the recognition; .these latter rights - that X obj act.“ r . L while to the former I have no objection whatever.' : That this distinction wts recognised by the To Aro .Kedamatiou Committee is evident from their report, of the 2lat March,,and. my letter of tlie 20th May.was avowedly dealt with in clauses' 2 and i of that report' just as the .interests oJ other owners are separately dealt with in clausesi and 3. . ' < Holding these opinions, and in my capacity as chairman- of the, Gas. Company, and -mainly the business in' hand.iit did not even occur, to ’ me to go into matters with which £ I conceive the GasA Company as such had nothing to do. Had I held the -opim&n with.regard to Xe Aro which I Hold wUli re-X ~ gard to the reclaimed land; t should not have"made a claim which I should.tjhen. have regarded as an unfair one... I cannot, however, allow my private interests to, clash with niyrpubfic' ditty, and;l"mu>£’therefore decline to give any pledge whatever as to mv future conduct in reference v to the - 1 question 1 'ash.'- * whole, and trust that'the agreement between the Corporation and the Gas Company mil bo.at ouco,, ■ carried out, the position, you have assumed being clearly'“indefensible.” I may add that I have a very considerable interest in the reclaimedhmdpbufe' I am as little anxious to benefit myself at tho-expense of the ratepayers in this instance as I am, to see tho interests of the Gas Company sacrificed in'the other, -v - : I must also point out that even If I am entirely wrong in my opinion as to* the foreshore rights of tho Tc Aro owners, the agreement with the Gas Company involved other considerations,: on the strength of which action has, been-taken which places .the company in a position to enforce Its claims! have*.Si c., - 1 • ' ■, • \ C. J. Joe Brausfielcl, Esq., Mayor. The Town Oleiuc stated that he had only received the foregoing letter at fi Vclock that afternoon. He'had tried to. see-the ■Mayor,- ’ but bad been unable to 1 do so until his Worship attended' the meeting of* the Council 'that mglit. ’ r ’J'! '"al t' s - ii; -' i -~ :, -- ;V - / >: vu i _ Councillor Fisher : I have no intention to : make any remark, hut I should like to knowwhether you intend to adhere to the position originally taken up by you ? , *' ' ' , The Mayqii : I shall be enabled-to explain my reasons on that point by-and-bye. -

CORRESPONDENCE.The Town Clerk read out.a list of the correspondence that had beern issued and received since last ordinary meeting. ■ ■; Councillor Hunter inquired whether a letter had been received from Sir. Clark, offering his services to the Council while in England, and whether that letter would be laid on the table? 1 r - , -. * The Mayor replied that.a letter had* been received from Mr. Clark prior to his departure, and he would ask the Town. - Clerk - to.. read it, Tho Town Clerk read the letter as follows : ' • vi.' V St iTi’ilf n i > . , Wellington City Council, . ... -SOtU JSXay; IBTS.-’ Sir,—Ou leaving Wellington I desire to acknow-* ledge the courtesy and:" attention. which I has’; been so kmdly shown to me, during my visit.- ... 1 shall at all times be very pleaafed if Icm render: any assistance or , advice iu. the; carrying out of tlio very important works of drainage 'and water supply which have engaged my attention, i; When in England 1 am Consulting Engineer to tho Dude and Noliilkund Railways, one of the Government guaranteed lines ; and in my office the agency business iu- ;Eaglaud of % tho, Calcutta -Manicipality aud' the .Port Trust of.thafcityis conducted. I shall bo very pleased to take-charge of any ■ ness of this character which the City-Council may require to have transacted in England. My address is given at foot. • i hope to send you from Auckland a report on the water supply- of Auckland that will be highly-satis-factory'to'the Council and tho city.- I have, &c., W. Clajik. Address: in Chambers,! (Vi<w toria-street,3V®stminster. : - ; ■ To J. Drauslield, Esq., "Worshipful Mayor i , of Wellington. : On* the motion of Dr; -Diver, Air. Clark 1 a letter, and the terms* on'which be offered to transact business in England on behalf the Council, were referred to the Hcainaye'Committee. '; « * WATERWORKS CONTRACT. 1 Councillor Issuer : I should like to ask what -has been done with reference to the final payment on the waterworks contract;* J.. ■ understand that Air. Saunders sent a letter in. The . Town Clerk ; That, jletter/hasbeen withdrawn. •' Councillor Fisher *. Has the final certificate , been issued ? . .! <■;, ..y\ > i /. ; rThe Mayor : The final certificate has been issued, but the final payment has not yet bc<m made. . -Tho matter will come bn again.' ‘ . . WHARE REPORT. ■" Tho Wharf Committee reported as follows The committee beg toi report,; for the Information of tho Council, that they ; have authorised tho widening of the approach.to .the.wharf, as abo an extension of the inner T, iu accordance with plan prepared' by Hie City Surveyor; the . work to be executed by the Wharf Extension Contractor at schedule prices under tlie supervision of-,tho City -Surveyor,., tho estimated cost of same being: For-widening the.approach, X 1047. • The report was adopted. ■ PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE’S REPORT; ii ' " The' Report of the Public Works Committee as published by us yesterdays was read.: j CouncillorMoss-inquired if any been, received fromiMr, iKnill ? . ■ ■' The Mayor replied in tho affirmative. The Corporation encroached ou Air. Krull’a. pro* perty. on the Terraco, and both sides had agrtied to allow the matter to remain in abeyance, each party to contribute equally to the cost of the fencing.-' . *’-: - ■ *•.■ i>-*■■ ' The Alator said he would now take .the opportunity of replying- to * the- question previously put by- 1 Councillor Fisher with reference to the Council‘and 'the .Gas~ Company. As far* as he was individually concerned, he declined to take any responsibility ‘ considering the condition of affairs at the time of his becoming Afayor. When he.took; office he simply took the position which’ bad been taken up by his* predecessor. Ue^thought-it was about cighteen.months ago since a meeting was called, and certain proposals were made by owners of property on the Te Aro foreshore. With reference to the compcnsation they ought to receive, itW6ffid'Kp|Tear “to'gentlenlen'who had Tjeen watch’iugf the • increase?: value of property during the ..-las£' r twelv.e, or eighteen months, that what considered a small amount s sidered a very large ' amount'bow/'“Ho*’ might say that property which* hewas inwrested in himself was^soldithat very day at just donblc ■'thc'amuuutrthat-wsw’paid-foivifc'lifteeu^ttiouths •ago.* He was glad to-seevthat tho .Councils T’e Aro property was worth-so mneh." .In round numbers; the city * property*■■fhere. is worth £loo,ooo—no small estate, they would aay;*for the citv to bo possessed of. (Hoar,■ hear.) - Ho took the credit to himself for calling the first meeting that was, held in reference to: this estate! and he then strongly impressed on the ratepayers the, desirability of getting possession of it He must say the citizens had a good friend in Mr. Reynolds, of Otago.: That gentleman helped them very materially in this matter, and he (the Alaybr) might say it was through Air. Keynolda’s influence that Crown grant was obtained. So far, then, up to the- time -of -his talcing 1 When he took office he thought it right to carry out any arrangement ihafc had been entered into. They wanted *-fco make some arrangemeijt with the Gas Company in reference to the 4 continuation of Tory-street. The Gas Company wished to * make arrangements tho occupation of tho To Aro beach at tho rearbf their and

he thought a fair arrangement.had'been come to' between the partied The benclit to bo derived by the Gas Company was, that until it was settled what should be paid in compensation to owners of property ou the beach, they should have the'immediate use of their proportion of 66ft. at j£l a year, for twentyone years. As soon •as he read the letter from Mr. Pharazyn, as chaiiinan of tho Gas Company, in which lie: i took , the position of defender of ‘the ’rights of the people as against an attempted fraud on the part of..t,tio Council against the 1 ratepayers, it struct: him forcibly that having, as Hr. Pharazyn 'thought, succeeded in protecting tho interests of a company in which he ■was very largely interested, he did not care much how other people fared. (“ Hear, hear,” from Councillor Fisher.) Ho (the Mayor) wished to have the advice of the Public Works Committee, who were, just meeting at the’ time, and the Gas having taken up the position, through its chairman, of not carrying out, as he 1 thought, an arrangement made in good faith, he . (the Mayor) replied that at any rate for the present they,could have the nso of the 66ft. for £1 a year, until he had the opinion of the Council iu the matter. It was now for the Council to say whether he was right or wrong, acting as ho did ; under , the advico »of the - 'Public Works

Committee. ■ Although <ut 1 the time- the I thing - was" done very hurriedly, he was satisfied then that -- he did what was right, iand ’ that in 'doing it he was study-* ing the interests of the ratepayers. .(Hear, hear.) Ho thought that if he had come to the Council after allowing the Gas'Company to get what ho considered by far the best of the transaction, he should have been blamed, by them for not having looked after the interests of. Mie ratepayers. Having told the Council the whole transaction, it rested with them to say what" should be' done., He should- have also added-to what he-had - already said that he thought Mr. Pharazyn, who had abundance of time, might have had the courtesy to have allowed twenty-four hours in sending his letter, so that he might have had an opportunity of remarking upon it. (Hear, hear.) Was it the pleasure of tho Council that clause 2 should pass? •• , . r Councillor Hunter-: I have no objection i whatever to the resolution 1 passing in tho form it;,is, no>v/ putj'but ias one of. the' directors of the Gas Company, I wish, to qay that I eu-. tirely repudiate any idea' or impression that' the letter was written with the wish or consent of the Gas Company. The company did,not consent either to'the writing of this letter or the previous one. The Gas: Company entered into an arrangement with the City Council in perfect-good faith,-and ’the company have none other than a desire to carry "out" that, arrangement entirely iu the spirit in which it was entered into. (Hoar/hear.) ’ That,'l think, is adopting a course between both parties, which, I think, is only fair and proper; hut I wish again to state ' that -thisMjiW letter entirely emanating from Mr Pharazyn ; it is a letter ofhisown—from him’enly—andhaa not the consent; or, I may say approval,'pf the other . directors ,of the . company. - / .‘(Hear, hear.) i ” The Match :I am very glad:to hear It/"'/Councillor Allen : Have ydni had any official communication from the. Gas Company except this letter i . •< / ” The Mayor : None. ■ ‘ ” ; Councillor Dixon : I should like to know what tho position of the Gas Company will be if the use of this is not granted to them. The Gas Company having come to the conclusion that they'-'were to have had it 'for -fil'd year, they may have ordered'plant; :and if this question is to stand over, would, it .not be dishonorable on our part to do'a dishonorable act, because one man says -he objects to the whole system ? I think: we ought', to act faithfully in the matter to the Gas Company, Councillor Hunter VI may‘say in reference to Councillor Dixon’s remarks that the Gas Company have sent to England for material and plant, on the faith of this agreement being carried out. , Councillor Fisher : I think it is very unfortuuatetbat the Gas Company should have ordered' plant and material from England. I shall not enlarge upon the question now, Because we shall have to discuss it in a larger phase when we come to discuss Councillor Macdonald’s motion. I regret that Mr. Pharazyn and a great many other people have not treated this matter in the same generous and equitable spirit as the Corporation endeavored to treat it in from . the . beginning. (Hear, bear.) I admit myself that it was possibly a large concession to grant , those who held foreshore rights. If wo can complete this work, there is no doubt it weald tend very much to the progress of the city, and whether these people have any righ ts which they could substantiate at law, I think it was far better to grant them V this compensation at the outset,'and settle this, > 1 questiononce and forever. I have gone through’ the Crown grants this day, and although not set forth in absolute language, still the claims are of such a nature as to involve nice legal points. The difficulties I perceived iu the beginning are now coming upon us. It is possible the motiou to come ou later may help us out of the difficulty a little; but it is-olear to me that we shall only be landed in a “ sea of trouble.” There is much to he said ou both sides, and so good a claim do I think these holders of the foreshore rights have, that I am pretty confident they will prevent any Bill passing the Legislature to carry out the work. I am-convinced-that the -terms of the grants themselves are such that the owners nf-'pro) perty can. raise such objections as will be fatal beyond donbt.to the proposal;- . ■ /. The jVIATOB :,The 'question ‘is, that ’the: clauses do pass. "j . “Clauses 2,' 3, 4,. 5; 6,7, and. 8, were then passed. . >. Some discussion ensued on the last clause of the. report' referring -.to' tho : erection* of brick works on the Town. Belt,’ and on-the motion of Councillor George i the motion was postponed.

, ■ MB. BAKEK’h CLAIM. , The Town Clerk reported as follows: , ■ In accordance with instructions, I have endeavored - to arrange with Mr. S. M. Baker on account o( the ; claim anbmittcd by him for the nee of the rood to the WatciwOrks through Im properly, and damage and ; lose suffered bjr him in consequence'olthe > use of the said, road, and.'have to report that I have failed to induce him to accept the amount which I was authorised to offer Mm jin-(nit settlement of ail claims, viz., £l5O. I believe," however, that Mr. Baker would he willing to accept the sum of £2QO, being one-half of the amount s originally demanded by him ; and I beg to .recommend tlu.t the,Council agree to pay tills amonnt r as-tliey.bare been raved the very considerable outlay to whlchthoy.would have been pnt bad they not obtained the use of this road, inasmuch as by thoccbntractwithcMr. Eaunders-the-Corporation were bound toflud a road to- the Waterworks, the ccntnictQri being i only liable ; for the, maintenance of the same, and forsony.losa or jianiagee, canoed, by, any neglect or negligence .011, the part of those .using the road, .The' aforesaid sum of "£2OOI propose should be cqnallydividcd between tire Corporation and the contractor. 1 v ■' 1 - - ■ ' ' <• - 1 1 ■ Councillor George , moved that the Town Clerk be authorised, to make the necessary arrangements forcariyingout-therecommenda-tions of the report. ‘ - • 1 ' ’.i' Councillor BisHER considered that the Corporation was liable for any claim for opening the road, bat the contractor.was liable under two clauses of his contract for any damage done after the opening of the road. He hoped the right of toad would be reserved by the Council. ' ;.... The Matoe : Do I understand;the Couticil approve of this motion, subject to the right of road being given to the Council,- (“Aye,”) REMOVAL'Of NIGIITSOIL. ; ' The report by the Town Clerk and City Engineeronthis subject , was -read. A summary of the report appeared in our issno -of yesterday." ‘ ’ .The following report of the Inspector of Nuisances was also -read : , ■: I* have the honor to-report for your information upon Certain nuisances in the sewers of the city, add to’ask for instructions respecting their removal. ’ frequent complaints have been lodged at 1 this office, and also appeared in the public newspapers, regarding the fearful atenchos arising from 1 the Sewer gratings. After examination,'! have no hesitation in stating .that to a very .large extent these poisonous exhalations .are the effects of the patent watorclor.cts, now so numerously used hi the city, discharging their contents Into the wooden sewers at present In use. In many of; these'sewers the fall Is not sufficient to carry off the* deposits made; and there the -nuisance remains, poisoning the atmosphere for yards In all directions; until a heavy l rainfall occurs..-1-am confirmed in this view by ; the City Surveyor, who could, in a very, short time,,uncover portions of the sewofs and discover the presence of bocal matter. - As an instance, 1 i may mention Uut on f rlday last, thelOth instant, while In Murphy-street, my attejitloa was arrested by,a- terrible , effluvia near the Princess Hotel, and on looking about saw that a .portion: of 1 the: covering of the drain connected- witii .tbeltwo patent waterclosets in use at the 1 hotel whs broken, and on looking down a mass of fcocal matter met the eye.-; . • V, . " * - . ~ The fact of these -patent yvaterclosets discharging .into the sewers 1* no doubt to a very large extent the cause of the great , effinvla : which has pervaded the atmosphere of the city; and as there Is no guarantee tliat the excreta is that of healthy persons the evil is much increased. Another point is that while the inspector is (endeavoring to get occupiers to thoroughlycleanse, the whole of their premises, this foul- , log of,the sowers Is going on every hour of the day, and a considerable amount of water running to waste by the use of these closets. - draw Uio attention of the committee to the fact that a short tlmo slneo they approved and confirmed, the .action, .taken; by the,. Inspector of. nuisances In .the. To Aro , stream - case for exactly a similar- offence to-what is taking-place hourly by a largo number of persons in the city. ■ .Coudcilloit;. (Jed'Hob.-said- ho~thought the Cotmcil could uqt da better than, carry out the recommendations of Menem. Graham and Baird. There wd 4 no subject surrounded with greater

difficulty, and this appeared to him, to-be.the | , only way by which the nuisance at present existing could be satisfactorily - removed. Therefore, without taking up the time of the Council with talk,-bo begged to move that: the report bo adopted, and that'the officers of the Council be instructed to proceed and carry out •the recommendations contained in the report. ' Councillor Allan said he had much pleasure in seconding the motion. . , ,‘ .. i Councillor Maoinity begged. to move‘the postponement of this report for a fortnight. •The report had only been printed that day, and placed in the hands of Councillors that evening. There were a great many important matters contained in that report.- . Councillors had not had time to give them due consideration, and although not nuder-estijnating the value of the report, and the clauses .which the report contained, yet some Councillors might probably be prepared - with suggestions after consideration that might make tho report more valuable. Although “recognising the value of seveial clauses, still he was under the impression ’ that there were several objectionable clauses which he shbuld like to see eliminated from tho report. (Hear, 1 hear.) And with that view he begged ’to move that this report be postponed for a fortnight. s Councillor Divek said ho hadmueh pleasure in seconding Councillor Magiuity’s amendment. If that amendment was likely to be carried) he should leave the discussion of tho subject ufitil another time ; but he would only say now that he was sure statements in the report of the Inspector of Nuisances were wrong, and he khew 1 -'nothing of - the "matters ’stated 'in 'his' report. ' ■' >jlJ /, ’- , Councillor Greenfield :■ said he should support Councillor Hagiuity’s amendment. There was no doubt that the Town Clerk and Mr. Baird were entitled to great praise tor - the able report they brought up about this question,because tho removal of this nigh tsoil was a very delicate question, and ever-would be. He quite disagreed with ’ what • Councillor Diver had said, that the Inspector of Nuisances did not know what he was talking about, because there was no man of common sense but must know that these-wooden drains, and private' closets thrown ■ into - thempmust be a great nuisance'. At the dost meeting 'Mr. Clark suggested that these drains-should be cut away ; but wheu Dr. Djver made - a certain remark about these closets) Mr. Clark very ingeniously got out of it—he didn't'know how. i Councillor Diver, by leave-of the Council, 'read what Mr. Clark; had stated .at the previous meeting. 1 ; , „ ■’ j Conucillor Dixon quite" agreed'with Cdun.cUlor George’s motion, and iu the first place he thought that great praise was dvio to' the 'lnspector of Nuisances for undertaking to report on 1 the 'subject; 'and ho thought the ; reebmmeudatipns, should bo carried out at as eariy a date as'possible.'- Jf■ 1 thy Inspector went into ‘ a) man’s back yard, and 'found a nuisance existing; ffi - e‘%a'fc‘Suthm6nd, blit here" they were allowing an increase of waterclosets with no means of carrying the-cause 1 of the nuisance away. If they had earthenware pipes it would ’riot be of such consequence,'but at the present 'time private- - closets ■■ wem- increasing, 'and the ; matter - ' . 1 was’- running - into ;w6oden : : drains. s - -l The sooner - this -affair )was attended to the hotter it would be for the public health. There - ' was no time to be* lost' in seeing the present- system remedied.' It' would not do. to leave this evil growing hi the’way it was, and the public health mode I to-'sutful' from the evil effects arising-from -these -private waterclosets. He thoroughly agreed with- every one. of them beingcut Off. Thtf peoplewhoputup private waterclosets did not pay tho' -nightsoil-mau, buti allowed‘the matter to run into the Corporation drains and remain there. --He hoped all private waterclofetsvvquld he cut- off. - > i CouuOillOr'E)SHEß”said‘he-would suggest that in the estimate of working expenses it would be as-well i-td provide'for £i complete plant.; fHad Mr-CGtaham provided for horees," harness, &c. 2, ‘Ho hadiheardthat Mr. Graham had arranged with, the Tramway Company to convej this to the isthmus - at .the. head of Evans Bay. . (Laughter.) He was glad ,to hear the Tramway Company was so accommodating. - ~ . , ■ 1 ■ . ■. .The question of postponement of tho report was then put and agreed to.'' WATER KATE, f .Councillor George moved * that tho.- waterrate be struck ou the terms agreed to at tho last meeting.; . Councillor Fisher opposed:;an ' additional rate on dwellings, and moved that the rates be 2i per cent, on stores, ou dwellings 4 per cent., and 2 per cent, . where the: water was not taken. ' r [The Mayor pointed; out* that those members who voted iu favor of the rates as agreed to at the last-meeting .could not now. support-Gpua--cillbr Fisher’s amendment.. The resolution had been carried unanimously. Councillor Fisher being the only .member ■ absent,: consequently no one could now vote with Councillor Fisher. , q V...'! .; The rate; was,then confirmed. ; ; Councillor .Fisher called for a division. :■ ..The Mayor said he . adhered to his ruling, aud no one could vote for the amendment, except Cqtjpoillor Fisher, and jie would only take down Councillor Fisher’s name. , : - Councillor. Maoinity -had/taken . exception :to. the; increase, and spokerto-the Council against raising the rate to 5 per cent. ■ - In answer to the Mayor, Countilloy Fisher said he was perfectly satisfied that his name should be recorded as the only objector; ■ TENDERS FOR CEMENT.' 1 The following were received :—E. W. Mills, 18s.v 3d. j .Guthrie'and Larnach,l9s. 9d; ; : J. Saunders, 19s. 6d.; and Dawson and Co.,‘lSs, j,j “The last being the lowest was accepted; ■ TENDERS FOR METAL. • , ‘ - The following were received —Richard Diguau, second class 6s. 2d.; .Webber and Co.,’ second class.ss. 4d.; Kelleher, first class Bs. Bd., second class ss. 4d.; Puduey and Carswell, first class 95., second class ss. 5d.; W. R. Welch, firsk class :10s. 15d.; .J)ohn McLean, first class . 10s) 10d., second'class Cs. lOdl; Daniel Skarratt, fil-at class Bs. 6d., second class ss. 74.; Collie, Scott, and Co.,.first.class 9s. 64.,■ second class 55., 7d.;"J. Saunders, first class 7s. 64.', second class Ca.,.4d. The first class metal, was to be equal to Ngahfkufauga stone aud .the second class equal to that from tho OrientalBay quarry. The ■ tenders accepted were J.. Saunders, 7s.‘ 64/for first andiSs. dd/forjsecon’d class. M -i* -. 1 ■ Councillor - Fisher hoped the stone supplied would be small enough to pass ‘ through a 2in, ring., .... ... i . '.STEAM BOILER OHIJINEY SHAFTS. * It was resolved,;— I That steam boiler chimney shafts shonld lie - allowed to be erected on the condition suggested by the Engineer; that Miould it be deemed necessary by' the Council, a smoke-consilming.--apparatus ,would 'be attdchdd/and tliat iu all easeEf the chimneys should be, so fastened as to prevent the escap/j of sparks. : / .. PROPOSED-MUNICIPAL LILUiUK.' ;.- The Clerk read a letter-from the Borough of Thames, forwarding auggestious as to. thc meeting, of - tho conference and the appointment of : a clerk who should watch the passing of i Bills through Parliament, was asked that the Mayor of Wellington should summon the first meeting, to;be held in .Wellington. f< 'The Mayor said he ha<l .been -consulted by the. Mayors of Christchurch, Taranaki, and -Wanganui,, who u were -- in favor, .of- haying a meeting of the conference}: at,which jt would bo decided whether a permanent league should be formed. Personally, he thought that a. conference of representatives of mmuicipal - bodies should beheld here a short time before the meeting of Parliament, to consider measures to he brought before Parliament. .3 j. ; , . Councillor FiSHER moved that tho consideration of the matter bo: postponed, as there were more practical , and important subjects to he considered. - - - ~ Councillor George thought such a-confer-ence would he highly beneficial. They had a meeting of delegates before the last session. ’ * Councillor;Fi3Hßß:, And a dinner too. •-•

Councillor G-koboe .said tho~ result was generally r satisfactory last • year. Any Bill , approved by such a ".conference would in all ■probability bo named through the legislature. The' expenditure would not. bo , scriousj and .would i be bump . by; many. bodies, iwhilo . the saving iu Parliamentary expenses would -be? very "large indeed. 1 He suggested that. the. Mayor land deck, should reply to.lho lotCef, and moved,—That the Council approve, ■generally of the suggestion of the Thames; Council,- and recommend that, the meeting be convened for the first week in July. . ■ Councillor. MACilifiTY, “in supporting the .motion, pointed out - that Since the abolition of provinces municipalities had become far more important * than; they; were previously. ' As to■the.cry about tho dolcgates’ banquet, ho wouldsay '.it '.was' all bdnkum, ahd’he' thought that' they wore bound to show some hospitality to the delegates. , Ho would second Councillor George’s motion. , , . ’ ' ' Councillor George Ailen, thought" ;it would -be .an act of bad grace-.cn their part to oppose the conference,' because beiug at the. seat of Government - they had an advantage which .others did not .possess. Councillor Diveb had much pleasure in supporting the motion; and rather regretted that

tho proposition had not emanafod from the douncil. - 'I"--** I/, - . ■ ; 1 Councillor Hunter cordially supported the motion;-for -ho : thonght'they should'enoourage a - spirit of good feeding’between members of municipalities in various, parts o( the cqlony. 5 - The motion),.was agreed t 0,... Councillor Fisher objecting,‘; '■ ' ■ ■ |. 'cl , - i.-flji.

1 Accounts amoimting t0:fi4489 Os. lOd. were passed for payment.; , 1 . ‘ \ * Councillor Fisher referred to the fact that the Waterworks contract had not .been room-, pleted 1 within the specified time, and he moved that the penalties under tho contract be enforced. 1 • , ; The Mayor pointed out that a great deal of delay had been; caused by the late, Waterworks Engineer, and which being the case it would be well to let the matter drop. - Mr.-Blackett had certified that the work had been well done,iand it would bo better to pass the amount, q_ ■ . ; Councillor Fisher withdrew his .■ i INSPECTOR OP .TRAMWAYS. The Mayor said the company would bo prepared to pay what the Corporation thought they ought to pay as salary for the Inspector of Tramways. < DRAINAGE. ' ■ ■ - ; Councillor Diver, with the: permission of tho Council, postponed the: motion tor the adoption of Mr. Clark’s: drainage. scheme Ito Thursday next, when-it:will be considered at a special meeting of the Council; ;:, 1 * ■.: ’ . i :;: ""FIRE BRIGADES; ■ j On the motion of Councillor Fisher, it was agreed,—That a committee, consisting of the Mayor, Councillors Greenfield and Logan, aud the mover; be appointed : to confer with the volunteer fire brigades, mid report on the subject referred to in the letter of the Wellington brigade dated' April 22, 1878, and generally. ' , ' ; “ • RECREATION GROUND. " Councillor Fisher moved;—That five acres of that portion of the eastern - Town Belt at present leased to Mr, Sutherland be resumed and applied to tho - purposes of -a'-recreation I 'ground for the use of tho inhabitants of the city.' - ’ _ ; Councillor Hunter thought -a ,much larger area than five acres should be takeu,' aml it was desirable that’the very best land should bo taken. The Basin Reserve was •10 acres, and it was hot large eaoughifor the, accommodation of cricketers and - football "players,- ;It Would be well that the Surveyor should rap'ort upon the matter. E ' i: ‘' 7 - ■'• " r ■• •' I - ] Councillor. George moved that the matter be postponed' until the' Surveyor had' reported upon it. , ' 1 Gouiitiillbr Hunter 1 explained'that he had lio interest direct or indirect in this ground. ; Councillor Diver suggested that the-addi-tion’ -of *" the’ ’following- - ‘words • to' Councillor Fisher’s motion—That 200 ft. should be reserved'between the -private l property and' any recreation ground to be uspd as an avenue, Ac. j Councillor ’ GbEbnFiEdd: was iii- favoTof a recreation reserve being secured; but would likd' to * postpoue all-actioh until the Surveyor had reported. . 1:i /"'i . Councillor ALLBN.hoped some recreation ‘ reserve would be secured'for the Thorudon end of ■the’ tdwn; and ’suggested; that the-Mayor should report on that question.' - 11 ) Councillor Maginltt } would; support" the motion if the acreage wete left blank. ’*‘ ; Various; additions and alterations were made to the motion; the acreage being left blank, Councillor Diver’s'beiug added, and Councillor Allen’s suggestion'being-'embodied. It was then carried. - ■ * ‘MOUNT VICTORIA; 1 "-■' ' ■ ! Councillor Fisher moved,—That Reserve B, Mount Victoria-district, *be‘fenced and planted, in' accordaueo ‘ witii tlie purposes ’ for which the reserve was aet apart. Councillor Log as thought it would be better to reserve the- two- next' allotments through which tho'Kilbirnie-x-oad ran, aud the Reserve B might'be'leased; 'h - v-G'ioq-iG-'.'! ’ Councillor Fisher obtained leave to amend his’ motion by ; adopting Councillor’ Logan’s suggestion, and tho motion was agreed to. ; „, j , TXI ABO,RECLAMATION - .. , . , ..., ; The' inotiob relating' to the Te • Arb foreshore,, notice of - which had been given by Councillor'Macdonald, was postponed to tho next ordinary meeting of the Council, Councillor Hunter having pointed out that seven days’ notice, as required by the by-laws, had not been given. It appeared to be the general wish of .Councillors that the" matter should-be fully considered before it was d bated. ',* ’ The Council adjourned at 5 minutes past 11 o’clock. . ~ ■ '