CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5431, 23 August 1878, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The general meeting of the City Council was held last night in he Council Chambers. Present—His Worship, the Mayor and Councillors Dixon. Moss, Logan, Allan, Hunter, Allen, George, Maglnlty, Macdonald, and Diver. Th - minutes of the previous meeting having beenread and confirmed, The Mayor laid on the table tho following returns, showing the amount paid for Lbor in connection with the Queen’s wharf during tho first four months of the year 1577-S and IS7B-9: 1877.

—'Received. It was resolved that a special meeting be held next Thursday, at 4 o’clock, for the consideration of the by-laws. Councillor Macjikity laid a petition from cab drivers on the table relating to several amendments in the city by-laws.—Received. It was resolved, on the motion of Councillor Macdonald. that the question of municipal reserves should bo adjourned for a fortnight, and that Councillors Logan, Allan, aud the mover be a committee to bring up a report. CORRESPONDENCE The following letter was received from the Government relative to an annual subscription for the Fire Brigades. s Colonial Secretary’s Office, Wellington, August 13, 18/8. Sir,—l have to acknowledge receip of your letter of the 31st July, forwarding c-»py of the report of the Fire Brigade ommltteo of the City Council, which has b -en adopted by the Council, and calling particular attention to clauses 6 and 10 of the same, recommending that the Government be asked to contribute annually the sum of 100 towards the maintenance of the Fire Brigades of this city. In reply. I am directed by the Colonial Secretary to inform you that the Government cannot agree to carry out the proposal in question. —I have. &c., G. S. Cooper. Councillor Macdonald suggested that a deputation should wait on the Government. He thought ifc would be far better if some member of the CopncU or the Mayor alone should wait on the Government. If this course were adopted the Government would more likely come to a decision. The Mayor thought It would not be advisable to wait on the Government at present. Councillor Hunter was also of this opinion. The matter then dropped. * PUBLIC LIBRARY. On the adjourned debate rc the public library coming forward, his ‘Worship the Mayor said be was sorry, but he must ask the Council to farther adjourn the debate. ’ Councillor Hunter remarked that there was no time to lose, as the Bill was before the Upper House. Councillor Diver suggested that a copy of the Bill should be circulated araongsfthe Councillors, Councillor Hunter explained that the Bill was not a municipal one. It had been brought in’ by the Upper House. Councillor Macdonald thought if Councillor Logan’s name was added fco those of the committee ia connection with the Bill it w« mid be very desirable. Councillor Diver asked again that copies of the Bill should be obtained for the perusal of Councillors. Councillor Logan remarked that he had several copies. The debate was then adjoutned. PUBLIC WO*KS REPORT.

The Public Works Committee’s report was then discussed, and several alterations were made. Tn regal'd to clause 12, which was as follows—Tiiat Willis-street be at once reduced to its permanent level, as agreed to by tbo Council, and that tenders bo at once called for tbo necessary work—Councillor Maginut moved as an amendment, and his Worship seconded,—That the matter be adjourned for three months. Councillor Hunter remarked that he understood there was a record iu the minutes of the C mncil that the work s ould bo done. He considered the present the best time for doing It H* explained that it waa not one street alone that was affected, but four. He said that it was au mportant junction of the city. The amendment was ost. MOTIONS. Councillor Allan moved,—-That the town sections 18 a*> 19 be resum-d possession of by the Corporation, with the ultim >te object of converting them into tplant»tion reserve;andin order hobetterto fit them for this purpose, and as the only convenient locality available, the sections be used as a temporary, manure de. ot till the water system of sewage Is available. The motion was withdrawn. Councillor Divrr. moved, —That the Mayor«hall call a meeting of the burgesses, within three months, to consider the propriety of borrowing the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand pounds, to be expended in raaki *g. forming, and improving the streets and footpaths within the borough The move said ho should only make a few observations He might say that in this matter ho was supported by tbo-Engineer, who was convinced of the necessity of having this work undertaken. Ho had been twitted by some of the Councillors beuaus- they thought hi* proposal waa rather premature. He was quite sure that £150,000 was not 100 much for the purpose. a»d would like to see a estimate from cab drivers and others who were in the habit of driving as to what it cost them for repairs to their vehicles iu twelve months through the disgra *ef «l state of tbo streets. Borne of the Councillors paid great attention to matters c nceming themselves, out very little to matters of public interest. He concluded by Hating that many of the public streets were a disgrace to the city. Councillor Macdonald, in seconding the motion, said that he considered one great mistake the Corporation had made was by having formed their road* and footpaths out of municipal revenue instead of out of raised capital. The bad stato of the roads had become a bye-word. (Cries of hear, hear, and no.) Councillors George, Hunter, and Magmity spoko against the motion. "The Mavor moved, as an amendment, —That the matter bo postponed for two months. He did so because he thought it was a matter of the utmost importance for the Council to know how Parliament would deal with the matter of the Te Aro foreshore reclamation. If the Bill passed the municipality would be in a far better position to obtain tbo rcquslto loan on favorable terms. . , . Councillor A&lkk seconded the amendment. Councillor Loo an ‘aid he had ascertained from estimates that £50.000 would bo ample for some timo to come for the formation of streets. Councillor Moss supported the amendment. CounoillorDtvEß thought that It wasi presumptuous on the part ot Councillors to ray that £ ; O,MO was sufficient w nn the Engineer Mid ttat£ljo.°W was necessary. Ho thought that there was a feeling amongst some of the Councillors to get on with the To Aro reclamation at all risks instead of borrowing money for the improvement of the streets Ho was quite willing to withdraw bn motion, and would sup. P °liie^ioUon d was n tiicu withdrawn and the ameudni rmmciUor' MarnoxALii obtained leave to withdraw the following motion,-That the Mayor bo rcniiested to call a meeting of burgesses, in accordance the terms of clause HI of the Municipal Corporations Act. lS7d. to consider the authorisation of a loan of one hundred and fifty thousand pounds, forth© purpose of completing Hie formation of the various streets of the city, The following tenders wore opened, and the lowest in each case accepted -Formation foo path in AdeUlde-road—J. McColl. £290 10s Cd. ;P. Sc lly, £257 Lss.; J, l»ooloy, £349; J. Mclean, £424 10s, Five crossings—J. Morrison, £549 10s. lid.; J, McLean. £436 13s. 4d.; J. Jay. £302. Accounts amounting to £1519 I2s. ScL were passed lor payment. ; The Council then adjourned.

— General Account. Tolls. Total. April May .. June .. July .. £ s. d. 413 18 6 323 10 11 482 6 0 455 11 C ■ £ s. d. 101 5 0 129 5 0 103 0 0 104 5 0 £ 8. d. 513 3 5 452 15 11 585 6 9 559 16 0 Anri!.. May .. June.. July .. 1675 7 7 137 490 17 8 599 7 3 280 IS 3 499 7 0 437 16 0 , 142 10 0 189 0 0 126 12 0 121 4 0 2113 2 7 633 7 8 788 7 8 413 10 3 620 II 0 Returns show during the and 1S78-9 1877 10 2 ng Receipt first four m 197 579 6 0 s at the Ql*e oatha of tho 7. 2455 16 2 sn's Wharf years 1877-S — General Account Tolls. Total. April., May ., June.. July .. £ 8. d. 552 1 7 931 3 0 694 18 6 559 14 6 £ 8. cl. 369 11 2 740 2 9 834 5 11 477 15 8 £ a d. 921 12 9 1671 6 0 1529 4 1037 U 2 April.. May .. June.. July.. .. 2737 17 7 , 187 1237 3 5 785 0 0 947 19 3 711 19 7 2421 Ifi 6 3. 720 S 4 70S 3 2 666 7 0 638 2 2 5159 14 1 1957 11 9 1584 12 2 ■664 6 G 1350 2 1 76S3 11 7 1 2823 0 S 6556 13 S