CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5443, 6 September 1878, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting ef the (jity Council was held last night in the Council Chambers, Present—Councillors George (in the chair), Allan, Hunter, Allen, Maginity, Logan, Dixon, Macdonald, Fisher, Greenfield, and Diver. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. The following letter was read from the Wellington Underwriters* Association : “ Wellington, September 4; V Sir, —I have the honor to inform you that the following resolution was passed at the last meeting of the association re clause 9 of the Fire Brigade Committee’s report furnished by you : —“That the contributions be increased from £IOO to £SOO from the first of October, 1878, for one year,—provided that the Corporation supplies all necessary plant, and whatever further sums may be necessary to the efficient working of the brigade;" and that the association strenuously urges upon the City Council the 'advisability of levying a fire rate on all city property, tor the purpose of furnishing sufficient funds to maintain the brigade.—l am &c., “,Wm. Bendall, “ Secretary.” Councillor Fisher remarked that he understood that the Corporation had agreed to raise the Fire Brigade contribution, and moved that the thanks of the Council be accorded to the various insurance offices for their increased contribution, as suggested by the Council, and that the report be sent back to the committee. Councillor Allen seconded the motion.— Carried. A letter was read from the City Surveyor, calling the attention of the Council to the state of the Clyde-quay-road leading round to the Tea Gardens. Councillor Fisher remarked that there was a very offensive drain at the end of Courtenayplace, which could be looked to at the same time. Councillor Maginity said there was also an offensive drain near the Tinakori-road. He thought if it was desirable to remove the One at Courtenay-place it was also desirable to remove the one at the other end of the town. - It was decided that the drain in Courtenayplace and also the Clyde-quay-road should bo looked to. A letter was read from the Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, a copy of which has already appeared in print. The debate on the subject was referred to the Wharf Committee meeting, to take place on Tuesday next, at half-past seven o’clock. The Inspector of Nuisances tabled a report relative to the chimney of the Phoenix Foundry not being built high enough, also the dangerous state of the chimneys erected by Mr. T. Kay, of, Tory-street. It was arranged that the matter should be looked to as soon as possible. MARKET SITE. Councillor Maginity moved, —That it be an instruction to the City Surveyor, in laying off the Thorndon Reclamation, to reserve a portion for a market. Councillor Maginity, in support of his motion, said' that he considered that the growing population of Thorndon District entitled it to have a market reserve. He thought that probably a market would not be absolutely necessary at once, but there was no doubt one would be required in time to come. Councillor Abrek seconded the motiori. Councillor Dixon considered that Te Aro district was a far more suitable site for a market than Thorndon. Councillor Hunter remarked that the land was not in reality in possession of the Council yet. He thought that two markets would be eventually required. Persons from Thorndon would never go as far as Te Aro, and persons, from Te Aro would never go to Thorndon.' Councillor Maginity then withdrew hismotion until the purchase of the land was completed by the Council. DRAINAGE. Councillor Maginity moved that steps be taken to carry out the resolution of the 6th June in respect to drainage of the city. The Chairman pointed out that everything was being facilitated as quickly as possible. Councillor Macdonald thought that this motion should also be withdrawn. Councillor Diver said that the Council had done all they ceuld ever since the drainage scheme had been in hand, and he hoped that the motion would be withdrawn.

Councillor Maginitt then withdrew the motion, and said that as probably’ his present appearance at the Council might be his last he would say he hoped, ,if at anytime during his office as a Councillor he h«d by any means hurt the feelings of any other Councillor, that they would look over it. He assured them if he had made use of strong words it was in his zeal to do good for the town. ■ . FORMING STREETS. • ' * Messrs. T. IC Macdonald and Co. madman application to form, at' their own expense,; twonew streets, one connecting Willis and Wool-combe-streets, and the other between town, acres 187 and 188. The application was; agreed to, and it was also agreed that Dixonstreet should be formed at au expense of £415, on condition that Messrs. T. K. Macdonald and Co. contribute 25 per cent, of the same. RESERVES. The following report relative to the city reserves was read : . “ The committee have to report that they have experienced considerable difficulty in dealing with the question in consequence of the complication of the various transactions that have taken place with respect to the original reserves and Town Belt. To enable a thorough understanding to be arrived at it will be necessary that the City Solicitor should make an exhaustive search into the whole question, as there can be little doubt that the interests of the city have been sacrificed, and many of its reserves alienated from it without just cause. The committee beg to recommend—l. That the City Solicitor be requested to advise the Council upon the following points :— A. —-Upon what authority, if any, the reserves and part of the town belt, shown upon the original plan of the city, have been alienated from the city? B. —Whether such authority, if any, was justified in so dealing with the land reserves and town belt, and if not, what action, in his opinion, should be taken in order that such lauds should be recovered for the benefit of the city. 2. That the City Solicitor be requested to watch the progress of certain Bills affecting the reserves and town belt lately introduced into the General Assembly, and, if necessary, that the Council should petition against the said Bills becoming law.” Councillor Macdonald spoke at some length, and said it was a disgrace to notice the way in which the city reserves were being alienated,' and specially referred to the grant reserved for the Wesleyan College. He moved the adoption of the report. Councillor Allen seconded.

Councillor Hunter believed that everything in connection with the reserve had been done in a' straightforward manner. Councillor Diver thought that the reserves ought to be dealt with to advantage by granting long leases. Councillor Fisher said that he had taken a great interest in the reserves, and he thought Councillor Macdonald deserved great praise for the pains he had taken in connection with them. The report was adopted. COMPENSATION. The following letters for compensation from Mr. J. C. Crawford and Mr. H. Mace were referred to the Drainage Committee ' “ Whereas by a notice dated the 25th day ef July, 18"8, it was announced that the Corporation of the city of Wellington had determined to take certain lauds in the Evans Bay and Watts Peninsula district for certain works connected with the drainage of the city of Wellington : And whereas I have an interest in such land as owner of the fee simple of inheritance; And whereas certain lands adjacent to the laud so taken, in which I have an interest as owner of the fee simple of inheritance in possession, will be injuriously affected by the said work by reason of the smells created by the sewage,—This is to give notice ihat I claim the sum ot forty thousand pounds (£10,000) as compensation _ for all loss and damage done to me arising out of the taking of the said land and the construction of the said works, and that I further claim that the dividing fence shall be erected and maintained by and at the expense of the l Corporation, Given under my hand at Wellington this 2nd day of September, 1878. JAMES 0. CRAWFORD." “ Description of lands taken—364 acres. Watts Peninsula district. Description of lands injuriously affected—7oo acres. Watts Peninsula and Evans Bay district.”

” Gentlemen,—My attention has been called to a notice dated the 25th day of July, 1878, signed by J. D. Baird, City Surveyor and

1 Engineer, and published m tbo Bvcni if/ Posto n the-Ist day o£ August instant, in which it is intimated that tliu Municipal Corporation of the City of Wellington have determined to construct certain works connected with the drainiv'u cf th? city on the lauds mentioned in the notice in question. The ram? notice calls attention to the fact that all persons who may he affected by the execution of the proposed works arc required to set forth in writing any well-grounded objections to tiro same, as to the taking of the lands required therefor, and to send such writing to the Town Clerk of the city within the specified time. As one of the owners of section No. 6, divans Bay -District, and of sections Nos. 1 and -1, Town District, .1 hag to move the following objections to the taking of the above lands:—

“That some considerable period previous to the publication of tbo above mentioned notice arrangements had been completed by tbo proprietors for the survey of and laying out the said sostious Isos. 1,4, and (! in suitable building allotments, with intentions of offering tbo same for sale. That the distribution of the sewage from the City of Wellington on the lands mentioned in the said notice must, of necessity, cause a constant effluvium to arise and to bo c-arx-ied over the lands comprising the said sections No-. 1,4, and 0, thus rendering these lauds’ unhealthy for dwellings and frustrating entirely the object of the proprietors, who will, ixx consequence, suffer very heavy pecuniary losses. “ I beg, therefore, on behalf of myself and the other proprietors of the said sections Nos. I, -1, and 6, to protest strongly against the distribution of the sewage upon the lauds contiguous to our property, and also hereby to give notice that if \uch works as contemplated are carried out by the Corporaliuu it is our intention to claim compensation in full for any damages arising from the nuisance.—l have, &0,, “ Henry Mace.” Wellington, August 31. TDRLIC WORKS. The Public Works Committee's report, as already published, was adopted with but very few alterations. TENDERS. The following tenders wore accepted J. K. Morrison, £*225, formation of Cotteville* terrace ; Webber and Co., £3 7s. per chain for terbiug Tory and Ghuzueo streets. The Council then discussed the various bylaws relative to licensed cabs, ami made several slight alterations, after which the Council adjourned.