CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5503, 15 November 1878, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Allen, Dixon, Fisher, Greenfield, Hunter, Logan, Miller, Moss, Maginnity, Thompson, and Young. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. *i A letter was read from the Marino Department stating that any plana for wharf extension must be submitted for the approval of the Governor-in-CounciL—Councillor Allen inquired whether that would cause delay in the work, and was informed it wonld not. AUDITORS* REPORT. This was read. It referred to the increase of the Wharf Committee’s honorarium, £lO a month,'and the increase of the Mayor's salary by £157 iOs., bat raised no objections thereto. It testified to the capital system of balancing adopted in the Council offices. The report was adopted. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE'S REPORT. . This was read as follows : The committee recommend,—!. That the City Surveyor has been instructed to have the permanent c levels of Molgrave-strert and Pirie-street fixed, with a view to. lowering the readway and repairing the streets. 2. That a cl dm from Mr. Hutchens for expense incurred in connect on with the severance of Te Aro and Cook Wards, has bae'i referred to the Council- 3. That the City Surveyor has been authorised to obtain from Melbourne 100 tons of waterpipes for immediate use, pending the arrival of the contract mpplyfrom England. 4; That the application of the Ttlunteer Fire Police for a grant In aid of a fire escape la referred for the favorable consideration of the Council. 5. That the City Surveyor hhs been instructed to have the present pound temporarily repaired,.and to report as to a more suitable site. .The committee beg further to recommended that crossings be laid down across Caba-street and Dixnn-street at Te Aro House corner. 6. That the transfer of lease of Town Belt Reserve No. 17, from Messrs. Thrush and Hillier to J. H. Newman, be agreed te. 7. That a drain bo laid down Cottleville-terrace from Grant- : road; estimated c-st, £25. 8. That accounts amounting to £970185. Bd. be passed for payment. In reference to No. 2, the letter from Mr. Hutchens was read. It set forth that he bad solely, by his own exertions, raised public feeling so that Te Aro Ward was divided, and the people at that part of the town given increased representation. By his action he was out of pocket £5, although some gentlemen had subscribed a certain amount.—Councillor Fisher though he might be accused of high crimes and misdemeanors in consequence, should move that the request be acceded to.—Councillor Dixon seconded.—Councillor Young inquired whether the payment could be legally made. Would it be passed by the auditors ? —The Mayor said he believed the Council had the power, and without expressing an opinion cither way,he wonld remark that Mr.Hufcchena did a great deal of work.—Councillor Thompson could not see why the Council should pay anything,—On a division the motion was carried by 7 to 5. A letter received from the fire police stated that a fire-escape calculated to cost £IOO in Wellington had been ordered, and that they had £3B in band. It was referred to the Public Works Committee, As to No. 6, Councillor Allen moved the addition of the words, u and across Charlottestreet and Barrett'a corner,”—Agreed to. The report as amended was adopted. WHARF COMMITTEE’S RETORT. The following report was read Xho committee beg to report that a claim has boon sent la by P. Morgan, a carter on the wharf, for damages sustained by his horse when employed there. The claim, amounts to £SO as value of the horse, and £4 for expenses. The committee are advised that the horse has-been seriously damaged, and though likely to recover sufficiently to do light work, is not likely to be able again for the same work as up to the time of the accident. The committee are farther advised by the City Solicitor that the man has no legal claim against the Corporation. The committee, however, consider, under the circumstances, that a sum of £2O might be voted him as an act of graco, and beg to recommend same to favorable consideration of the Council. Councillor Allen, in connection with this matter, called attention, to the necessity of newly planking the wharf from the commencement to the middle T. The Engineer said it would take about 33,000 ft. of timber. He had proposed to bring the matter before the Wharf Committee on Monday. Councillor Maginity thought as the Council had granted a man £5 for doing a little electioneering work on his own account, it could well afford to give more than £2O to a ; ma.n who had been deprived of his livelihood by the dilapitated condition of the wharf. The horse, ho believed, was not worth a £5 note now, while the man had been offered £45 for it just before the accident. - ‘ After hearing the Inspector of Nuisances, ‘ Councillor Fixhjbr moved that the sum be increased to £3O. He defended Mr. Hutchens from Councillor Maginity’s remarks, and said Mr. Hutchens had acted simply from public spirit, . , The amendment was duly seconded and carried, and a farther amendment authorising ' the City Engineer to call for tenders for the supply of timber for replanking the wharf vas carried. ■■ Tho report as amended was agreed to. Councillor Maginity, before tho Council left the subject, would be glad if hfa Worship ' 'the Mayor, in viow of what had been said out- . side, would give an explanation as to tho hours of ■the Corporation wharf laborers having been increased. ' Xho Mayor said there had been no change whatever in tho hours of labor on the wharf bo far as the Corporation laborers were concerned. As soon as he had learned that the Government had lengthened the Customs - hours to suit the convenience of business people, ho, Inquired whether it would bo ncoessary for the Corporation , to make any change, and was assured it would not be necessary. 1 urther, he had perhaps gone a little beyond his powers, for he had stated that if any change was necessary the Council would at once increase the pay of its employes. (Hear, hear.) But he.understood that no change was necessary, and he might aay he had spoken to a, number of captains, especially to Captain Rose the agent for the New Zealand Shipping Company, on tho subject. Every on© agreed that,

I the present hours were sufficient to enable the employes to carry out their work. Councillor Fisher pointed out that the extension of the hours was the act of tho Government, and that the Council had nothing to do with it. This should be clearly understood, because a great deal of political capital had been attempted to be made out of tho matter. Councillor Allen should always oppose the extension of tho hours of labor, and said that since 1841 Wellington had set the example to the rest of the colony in regard to eight hours. Tho Mayor said the Council of course would recognise he stood in a peculiar position just now— (Hear, hear)—but he would assure Councillors that had he been told an increase of hours was necessary he should have consulted them on the subject. That was all the explanation he had to give. , • Councillor Hunter thought the explanation of tho whole thing was very simple. The Government had directed that the Customs officers should bo kept at work two hours longer than heretofore, if it was necessary to enable goods landed to be put under cover. But no one was to suffer, because if they worked longer hours they would be paid extra. However, he believed it generally had been found that extra hours were not necessary. Certainly the Corporation had nothing to do with the matter, and as they had heard from the Mayor the Corporation employes had not been called upon to work longer hours. The matter then dropped. WATER WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT. Tho following report was read : Tho committee bo? to report that the Olty Surveyor has prepared plans of several schemes for supplementing the present water supply from the South Karori and Walnuiomata streams, and that ho has becu further Instructed to report on tho same, with Tho City Surveyor has been further Instructed to water the streets in futuro by means of salt water, to bo supplied by syphons worked by pressure,’ and only consuming fresh water In the proportion of 1 to 3. In answer to Councillors Allen and Miller respectively, the Crrr Engineer said, (1) At tho present time tho water supply was ample, (2) That the first new water cart was to be delivered within a month of the acceptance *f the tender, and the other within six weeks. THE OPENING OP THE TRAMWAY. Councillor Fisher, by leave, moved without notice,—That the Town Clerk be instructed to entre upon the records the date upon which tho Wellington City Tramway was opened for public traffic. Such a record might be found useful hereafter. The motion was agreed to, it being understood that the date of opening to be recorded should be the date on which his Excellency the Governor proclaimed the line open. THE NIGHTSOIL CONTRACT. The specifications of the contract were read, and the following tenders were opened. Charles McKirdy.—Cook Ward : Removal nightsoil, 3Jd. per bucket; removal of dust, Bs. per cubic yard; horse and dray,per day, 12a. Te Aro Ward: Night soil, 4d. per backet; dust, Bs. per cubic yard; horse and dray, 12s. per day. Lambton: Nightsoil, 4£d.; dust, 3b.; horse and dray per day, 12s. Thorndon, 4Jd.; dust, Bs.; horse and dray, 12s. John McLean.—Cook Ward: Removal of nightsoil, Is. 3d. per backet; removal of dust, 6s. fid. par cubic yard; horse and dray, 15s. per day. Te Aro: Nightsoil, Is. 2d; dust, fis. 6d.; horse and dray, 12s. 9d. Lambton Ward: Nightsoil, Is. Id; dust, 6s. fid.; horse and dray, 6s. fid. Thorndon : Nightsoil, lid.; dust, fia,; horse and dray, He. per day. Joseph Saunders.—Te Aro Ward; Removal of nightsoil, sd. per bucket; removal of dust, &c., 7s. fid. per cubic yard ; horse and dray, 14s. per day. Thorndon : Nightsoil, fid.; dust, 7s. 6d,j horse and dray, 14s. Cook Ward: Nightsoil, 5d.; dust, 7a. fid.; hors© and dray, 14s. Lambton: Nightsoil, 5d.; dust, 7s. fid.; horse and dray, 14. George Pudney.—To Aro Ward : Removal of nightsoil, fid. per bucket; removal of dust and rubbish, fis. per cubic yard or 4s. per hour. not tender for other wards.) Charles Dowaett.—For all wards fid. per bucket for removal of nightsoil ; fis. per cubic yard for removal of rubbish. The tender of Mr. McKirky being the lowest was accepted. THE TRAMWAY COMPANY’S CONTRACT. Councillor Fisher asked the Engineer whether he was conversant with ithe condition in the agreement between the Tramway Company and the Corporation by which the former bound themselves to provide haulage for conveying metal from point to point on the line, as the City Engineer might direct; whether such haulage had been provided ; and whether he had availed himself of the privilege or intended to do so ? The City Engineer would p-efer that the question should be asked at next meeting. Councillor Fisher said he would defer the question till then. This concluded tho ordinary business. BY-LAWS. The Council then resolved itself into a special meeting to consider the new bylaws. After some discussion the draft presented to the Council, and which has been published as a supplement to the New Zealand Times, was adopted. Councillor Moss gave notice of his intention to move for a new by-law in reference to disallowing the carriage of corpses in hackney carriages. In answer to Councillor Moss, The Mayor said although the Council might fix stands it could not compel the cabmen to keep them occupied* Councillor Moss remarked that there was a stand at the Princess Hotel, bat no cabs ever stood there, and the Thorndon people in that locality were put to, inconvenience in consequence. The consideration of a petition from expressmen, praying that cabs should not be allowed to carry luggage unless passengers accompanied it, was postponed. The Council then adjourned.