CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5527, 13 December 1878, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The Council met at half-past seven o’clock last evening. Present : His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Hunter, Thompson, Logan, Miller, Young, Moss, Dixon, Allen, Fisher, Maginnity, Greenfield, and Diver. DEPUTATIONS. Messrs. Harcourt, Urwin, and Gardner, waited as a deputation on the Council, and presented a petition signed by 247 citizens, , asking his Worship the Mayor to convene a public meeting to press upon the Government the necessity of having the railway station nearer the centre of population than at present proposed. The petition would be more largely signed if required, but it was presented now with a view that as little time as possible should be allowed to elapse before tbe matter was discussed. His Worship said it would afford him great pleasure to call a public meeting at the earliest possible date. He would inquire when a hall would be available for the purpose, and tbe deputation might rest assured that no delay would take place in calling the public meeting. A deputation of seven residents in Newtown waited on the Council with regard to the removal of the nightsoil depot from Newtown, as its presence there was calculated to breed fever in the locality. His Worship informed the deputation that it was tbe wish of the Council to remove the depot from Newtown os soon as possible, and a report on the subject would be brought up that evening for the Council’s consideration. CARRIAGE OP COPPIN OR CORPSE. The by-law forbidding the carriage of a coffin or corpse In any hackney carriage was considered and agreed to. THE RECLAIMED LAND. The following letter was read *. — Public Works Office, "Wellington, 11th December, IS7S. Sir, —I am directed by the Hon. the Minister for Public Works to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 4th instant, addressed to tbe H*m. the Colonial Secretary, requesting to be furnished with a tracing of the Thomdon reclamation as originally designed for purposes of a railway station, and in reply to inform you that os tbe idea of appropriating the land to station purposes has been abandoned, the Minister does not see that any desirable end would be accomplished by complying with your request. Instructions have not therefore been given to furnish the tracing asked for.—l have, &c., John Knowles, TTnder-Secretary for Public Works. Hla Worship the Mayor of Wellington. INSTALLATION OP MAYOR, The Town Clerk stated that the meeting of the Council for the installation of the Mayor would be held on the 16th instant, at noon. OPENING OP THE TRAMWAY. The Town Clerk reported that the tramway ■was opened for traffic on Monday, the 26th of August last. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. The report of the committee, which appeared in our issue of yesterday, was then read. The report was agreed to without amendment. WATERWORKS COMMITTEE. The committee reported as follows : The committee beg to report that the following resolution was passed at tbeir last meeting, but it was decided that no action be taken upon it before a further reference to the Council: —“ That Mr. Clark, C.E., be requested to send in his account in full to date, for services rendered in connection with tbe increased water anpply to the city.” The report was adopted. NIGHTSOIL. A report was read from the Inspector of Nuisances with regard to a site for the depositing of nightsoil. The report is as follows : In accordance with the instructions of tbe Council 1 have the honor to report upon the question of a site for tbe nightsoil, rubbish, Ac., outside tbe boundaries of the city. 1 have conferred with the owners of land outside the city boundaries, and also with those who are not outside but sear the outer edge of the city; I have also obtained information as to the cost of building iron hopper barges, complete and ready for tbe work , at a reasonable notice, and beg to lay the result before you. Hopper Barges.—l have obtained the following estimate as to coat of building one iron hopper barge, ' capable of carrying seventy tons upon a draught of 6ft 6ln, namely £O6O, fitted with all necessary gear, anchors, chains, &c., for carrying out the work in a proper manner; If more than one is required, a redaction of about seven per cent, would be made; an Increase of tonnage over the above would be about £Blos per ton. A wooden hopper barge of about the same tonnage would cost about £6OO or £7OO, fittings included, complete. These are large items In themselves, and If calculated with the labor to work them—say three men at £250 a year each—would make tho cost very considerable. It would be necessary to buy or hire a powerful steam tug, so as to ensure an efficient service. These items taken together would represent & very large outlay to tho city. Independently of this. 2 apprehend that tbe refuse would have to he taken a considerable distance to sea, to prevent any chance of silting up the entrance, for when It is remembered that there is now about GO or 70 tons of rubbish being removed from tenements weekly, two-thirds of which is stuff that would sink, it would be a matter of but very small time before a process of silting up would commence, if deposited In the channel or near the Heads. This alone I take to be a fatal objection to such a scheme. Mr. Crawford’s Land.—Mr. J. O. Crawford, at Mlramal, has some land about a mile beyond his house, which would be admirably suited for the purpose were it not for the great difficulty of an easy approach. I have been In correspondence with that gentleman upon this subject, and gather therefrom that he is endeavoring to get suitable tenants as market gardeners upon this land, and would then probably endeavor to arrange with them to pay the extra haulage of manure thence. I have appended tbe correspondence received from him hereto. 1 hare visited the recreation reserve lately taken over by tbe Council at the end of Mansfleld-street. This would make a good site, but has a fatal objection, that of being too near a largely populated and rapidly increasing locality. After that I visited section 24, Town Belt, at present leased by Mr, W. Miller. This is a very good alto fora depot; has an easy approach, is a good distance from any populated district, and when the streets on the plan of the city, already made to near (his point, are metalled, would form an exceedingly convenient depot. The prevalent wind, north-west, would blow any odour that might arise from the deposit not being properly burled straight to sea. The land also falls towards the sea to a certain extent. Section 25, occupied by Mr. Mark Bird, was the last site ln r thla direction that I visited. This is in my opinion the site most adapted for the purpose. This land lies to the south and west of any settled locality, and is a considerable distance from the city proper, near its outer edge. It is watered by a stream running out and emptying towards Island Bay; the land dips considerably In that direction, and has an area of 12 acres 1 rood 18 perches. From Its position I think It exceedingly improbable that any nuisance could arise from the deposit of the refuse of the city upon It, provided only moderate care were taken In the disposal of tho matter; any drainage that came from it would run towards the ocean beach. The prevalent wind here, north-west, would drive any odour straight to sea, while the southerly wind would take anything that might arise In this way up beyond tho rear of Vogeltown. Brikomart-street (not yet made) leads right up to It, and with tho expenditure of £4OO (bo I am Informed by the City Surveyor), could be made a perfectly easy approach at a grade of about 1 in 15. The following roads would have to be metalled to make tho traffic to cither of these depots passable ia tho winter timeßlntoul-streot, South-road, Luxford-atreet. Adelatde-road, and Brito-mart-street to go to section 25; and Duppa-street would, in addition to these, have to be made and metalled to get to section 24. These are all streets upon the plan of the city, which I presume must bo made and metalled at some time or other. I havo seen Mr. Bird, the occupier of section 25, and he has sent me a statement (attached) offering to take the whole of the city refuse, and properly bury and dispose of it, for tho sum of £l6O yearly; tho sura paid to the present nightsoil depot keeper being £2OB yearly. Both these sites are well solted for the purpose, but I prefer section 25 (Mr. Mark Bird’s) owing to Its being the greatest distance from the centre of the city, and. for Its other advantages already described. 1 have been offered other sites, but their inaccessibility has proved a fatal bar to tbeir consideration. I have also waited upon Mr. McKirdy with the view of getting an estimate of the ex'ra haulage to either of these sites for tho first year, but that gentleman declines to furnish me with tho desired information. It waa resolved, on the motion of Councillor Fisher, that section 24 or 25 bo used as a depot; and that the necessary roads thereto be formed. DRAINAGE ENGINEER, Councillor Fisher postponed moving the following resolution until tho next fortnightly meeting“ That Mr. D. Climie be retajae# as Drainage Engineer." CORPORATION OFFICERS. Councillor Fisher moved,—That it is undesirable that any officer of tho Corporation should become a member of a County Council or other political body. The resolution was carried on division by 8

to 5, after a iew personal exchanges between Councillors Fisher and Maginnity. BORROWING £IOO,OOO. Councillor Diver moved, That the Mayor shall call a meeting of the burgesses, within two months, to consider the propriety of borrowing the sum of £IOO,OOO, to be expended in making, forming, and improving the streets and footpaths within the borough. Councillor Diver pointed out that if the ratepayers were consulted in this matter, and they thought that £IOOOOO was not too much to borrow, Councillors would be relieved of all responsibility, and would merely carry out the wishes of the people in the matter. It was necessary that money should be borrowed in order to provide for the requirements of a city which was progressing, at so rapid a rate aa Wellington. Wellington from its natural advantages had taken the lead, and it was necessary that the improvements required should be carried out by means of borrowed money, in order that those of the future might bear their just proportion of the burden. He felt confident that when tbe opinion of the ratepayers was taken on this subject, a large majority would be found to be in favor of the proposal. His reason for fixing the amount at £IOO,OOO was this—that by going at once to the money market for such an amount they would be able to raise the loan more easily and under more advantageous terms than if the loan were negotiated by instalments. After a short discussion. Councillor Diver made the following addition to his motion ;—“ This sum to include the sum of £50,000 recommended to be borrowed by resolution of the Council passed on October 11, 1877, interest to be paid by special rate.” Leave was given to make the proposed addition. Some discussion ensued as to the question of the special rate which would require to be raised to pay interest on tbe proposed loan. Councillor Allen then moved as an amendment that only £50,000 be borrowed. The amendment was lost, and the original motion was agreed to by 11 to 1, Councillor Allen being the only dissentient. RETURNS. Councillor Allen moved,—That the following returns be laid before the Council at its next meeting Amount of money expended in each of the wards from Ist April, 1878; also the amounts of contracts accepted to date, and the rates levied for each ward, terminating with the financial year 1879. Agreed to. WHARF COMMITTEE. Councillor Thompson moved, —That the remuneration paid to the Councillors who from time to time act on the Wharf Committee be discontinued. The payment of members of this committee was a relic ef the system which prevailed in the Council a year or two ago, when matters were not conducted at all satisfactorily. He believed the payment was illegal under clause 61 of the Municipal Corporations Act, the opinion of the City Solicitor notwithstanding. Further, he believed that very few ratepayers really knew that each Councillor drew £3O a year from the city funds on account of the work done. Councillor Diver seconded. The opinion of the City Solicitor was read. Councillor Fisher regarded the opinion of the City Solicitor as another instance of the flexibility of that gentleman’s mind, for he was sure that a different opinion could be obtained from the same gentleman if it were asked for under the 61st section. No doubt it was illegal, but while the Council voted the money and its legal adviser told them it was legal to do so, he should not martyrise himself by .declining to take the money. Councillor Maginnity said it would be impossible to get Councillors to give so much of their time as the committee demanded for nothing, especially when some Councillors did not take their share of the work, as for instance Councillor Fisher, whose occupation prevented him from attending any committee meetings for four months in the year. If the wharf were to be again let by public auction, the motion would be proper enough. Councillor Dixon believed a man who attended to his duty ought to be on tho wharf every day, therefore that the committee should receive remuneration.

Councillor Allen considered that his constituents by their re-election of him had approved of his receiving the money, and therefore he should continue to take it. It was well earned, and he was surprised that a man of each sensitive honor as Councillor Fisher should have taken money when he believed the payment was illegal. Councillor Hunter believed the present arrangement was a good one for the city, after past experience of letting the wharf. He felt great difficulty in giving a vote on account of the anomalous position Councillors must hold in connection with the question. Councillor Moss looked upon the Wharf Committee as a Harbor Board, and as all Harbor Boards were paid the Wharf Committee should be. . He had taken the money, but had done work for it, not like the Councillors with scruples, whodid not work but took the money. The honoranium was not ratepayers’ money, but came out of the profits of the wharf. The Mayor, speaking from experience, considered it would be unwise to do away with the sub-committee, for that would be the practical result of tbe motion being agreed to. The wharf was now better managed than it had ever been before, the charges had been reduced by some £2OOO, and the mercantile classes were well satisfied. Most of the credit of this was due to the sub-committee, and the present arrangements ought not be disturbed. Councillor Thompson replied. Councillors had no right to vote to themselves indirectly that which the law would not allow them to vote directly. The motion was rejected by 9 to 4. THE RAILWAY SITE QUESTION.

Councillor Hunter by leave moved without notice, —That in the opinion of this Council it Is highly desirable that the station of the Government railways should be removed to a more central position, say near the Lion Foundry, and that a memorial to that effect be presented to the Government, to be signed by the Mayor on behalf of the City Council, The motion was carried unanimously. LAYING WATER MAINS.

The tender of John McLean, at £194, was accepted. The Council adjourned at 11.15.