CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5740, 22 August 1879, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of the City Council was held yesterday evening at the Municipal Buildings. Present —His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Moss, Hunter, Allen, Logan, Miller, Maginnity, Thompson, Greenfield, Young, Diver, and Fisher. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. FIRE SALVAGE CORPS. A deputation of gentlemen representing the proposed Wellington Fire Salvage Corps waited upon the Council with reference to the corps. The deputation consisted of Messrs. J. E. Nathan, R. Gardner, S. Palmer, J. S. Bell, and R. S. Waterhouse (secretary). The TOWN Clerk having read correspondence upon the subject, Mr. Nathan explained the object of the deputation. The [imposed corps had met with some difficulty, inasmuch as they had no legal right to more any property that was in danger, and. he had had more than one action at law brought against him for doing so. It was, however, within the power of the Council to appoint any number of fire inspectors, and they therefore applied that the officers of the corps be made inspectors. They had forty-nine members in the corps, and they proposed to elect a captain, a lieutenant, and sub-lieutenant for each ward. It was desirable that the captain and each lieutenant be appointed fire inspectors, with all powers to remove property. The whole town would be benefitted by this arrangement. With r - 'orence to an objection by his Worship, Mr. Nathan pointed out that there was no danger of the fire inspectors of the corps interfering with the duties of the inspectors of the Fire Brigades. In reply to Councillor Moss, Mr. Nathan said the corps did not propose to interfere with buildings, but only movable property. At the last fire a considerable quantity of goods were destroyed in moving through careless handling. If, however, the members of the corps entered a house without authority, and moved goods, they would be liable to an action, and, if good marks, an action would no doubt be brought, and a verdict obtained. The corps merely asked the protection of the Council in this matter.

Mr. Palmer said they only asked for the appointment of inspectors for each section, and the others would be working under him. They did not desire to interfere with buildings in any way, but their proposal was merely to form a salvage corps. Mr. Waterhouse having read the minutes of meetings of the corps, His Worship promised the deputation that the matter would be fully considered by the Council.

At a later period the fourth clause of the Public Works Committee’s report, namely,— That it is not expedient to grant the powers of fire inspector, under the Act, to the officers of the salvage corps, as the necessary powers can be delegated to them by instructions from the fire inspectors already appointed—was considered. The clause provoked considerable discussion, but it was ultimately considered desirable to postpone the consideration of the clause for the present, as it appeared that the deputation had only asked for a portion of the powers which were delegated to inspectors under the Act. THE RECENT WHABP APPOINTMENT. Councillor MAGINNITY referred to a paragraph that had appeared in a newspaper with reference to the Mayor’s action in appointing a stranger to a position on the wharf, and also another paragraph in another paper, putting quite a different complexion on the matter. He asked the Mayor whether a deputation had waited upon him (the Mfyor) as stated. His Worship said there was such a deputation, but in reply to further questioning said he did not remember how many there were in the deputation, but there were over a dozen. Councillor Maginmtt, if in order, would move that a committee be appointed to investigate any complaints as to unfair treatment upon the part of wharf officials. What was stated in the evening papers was unfair to the official, and discreditable to the writer, and he thought there should be an investigation. He therefore moved that Councillors Young, Diver, Allen, Fisher, Logan, and the mover be a committee to consider the subject, with power to call for persons, and to take evidence. Councillor - Miller seconded the motion, which was then carried.

Councillor Moss, with reference to the appointment upon the wharf, said it was filled up without hia knowledge, although he was one of the Wharf Sub-committee. He had frequently come down to attend committee meetings, although summoned at a very inconvenient hour for him, but neither his Worship nor the other members had been present. The committee appeared to be a nonentity, and he objected to being made a nonentity of.

The Mayor said he understood it to be the duty of the wharfinger to make these appointments. (.'so.) Well, then, it was the duty of the committee, and he and Councillor Maginnity had agreed to it. Councillor Moss : At a committee meeting ?

Hia WoßSHiPsaid the committee had met together, and he' and Councillor Maginnity formed a quorum.. He might say that he was on the wharf frequently, and when-asked for advice he gave it. Councillor Moss asked if the meeting referred to had been called at the proper time, and whether proper notice had been given? If not, it was a hole-and-corner meeting. As a member of the committee, he had a right to know something about it. He simply looked Upon hia Worship as the chairman of the committee, and nothing more, and he had no right to take things into his own hands as he was doing. Councillor Maginnity rose to speak, but was interrupted by Councillor • Moss. Councillor Maginnity was however proceeding, when Councillor Young rose to order. Councillor Moss had asked a question, and Councillor Maginnity had no right to speak until the question was answered.

The Mayor said the appointment had been made by the wharfinger on the recommendation of two members of the sub-committee. If Councillor Moss knew nothing of it, then he was not attending to his duties as a member of the sub-committee. Councillor Young wanted to know if the new man had been legally appointed. How many members constituted the committee, and how many formed a quorum ? What time the appointment had been made, and when the meeting was called ?

Councillor Allen thought the appointment would no doubt be brought before the committee for confirmation. He thought applicants for the vacancy should have been invited by advertisement. . '

Councillor Moss again rose, and proceeded to speak amidst cries of ct order ” from Councillor Maginnity. The Mayor thought the proceedings were very irregular. If _ any gentleman had a motion to make let him make it, but no discussion should take place.unless there was a proposition to make. Councillor Moss was about to ask another question upon the subject, when the Mayor stated that this was a waste of time. Councillor Thompson thought the discussion was a most useful one. After some further discussion the question dropped. CORRESPONDENCE. A list of correspondence was read, and with reference to the floating of the £IOO,OOO loan, Councillor Hunter asked what the information was. ' The Town Clerk read a telegram upon the subject, to the effect that it had been floated at an advance of 4 per cent.; but this being by cable, was subject to correction. Councillor Fisher made an inquiry concerning the new £130,000 loan, but the Mayor stated that that would be dealt with by the Finance Committee; STEAM FIRE-ENGINE COMMITTEE. This committee reported that they had had a conference with the representatives of the insurance companies, who declined to contribute anything towards the cost of a steam fire-, engine, either for land or water. They also reported that steps had been taken to ascertain whether any supply of fire-hose could be obtained in the colony, to snake good the defi-

ciencies until the supply ordered from Home should arrive, the result being that none was available.

The report was adopted. finance committee.

The following report was submitted :—“ 1. That they have examined the City Solicitor’s accounts to 30th June last amounting to £l3B 7s. 7d., and recommend that it be paid, with the following deductions :—Dr. Bailor's covenant, £5 9s. Bd.; G. H. Bayliss’s do., £4 16s. 7d.; costs of further Loan Biil (understood to have been included in last settlement of account), £3l 14s. 4d.; also £4O in full of accounts re Port v. Corporation, making a total of £136 7s. 2. That the Hutt County Council decline paying any share of the grants in aid of the Benevolent Institute, in consequence of the chairman of that body having declined to distribute any aid to any claimant outside of the city boundaries. Under the circumstances, the committee do not consider that the claim can be enforced against the County Council. 3. The Hutt County further desire that the present arrangement by which they should pay their share of the cost of Hospital maintenance in proportion to the amount of subsidy received from Government should be altered. The committee see no reason for such proposed alteration, and recommend that the original agreement be enforced by appeal to the Government if necessary. 4. A detailed statement of accounts prepared by the City Treasurer has been carefully considered, from which it appears that owing to the un-looked-for and exceptionally heavy expenditure in street repairs and maintenance during the last few months, the estimates have been considerably exceeded, and that for the remainder of the financial year it will he necessary to exercise the most rigid economy in order to keep the expenditure within due bounds.” Some discus-ion took place with reference to the proposed payment to Mr. Travers of £4O, in connection with the action referred to, but the report was eventually adopted. wharf committee. The Wharf Committee proposed, with reference to a crane that was out of order, that it be made a moveable crane, and that it be put on a carriage, at a cost of £35, as recommended by the City Surveyor. The report was adopted. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID COMMITTEE. The committee reported that as representations had been made as to the inadequacy of the pay of the present Hospital staff, they had taken the matter into consideration, and recommended the following increases :—House surgeon, from £250 to £350 per annum; house steward and dispenser, from £l5O to £175 ; and matron, from £6O to £l2O. Accounts amounting to £52 10s. 6d. were passed for payment. Considerable discussion arose upon the proposed increases, which it appeared were not the unanimous recommendation of the committee. Ultimately Councillor Young proposed that there be no increase, and Councillor Fisher seconded the amendment.

Councillor Diver said the salary proposed for Dr. Gillon was the very salary that Dr. Johnston had under the Provincial Government. He lived in the institution, and was always at hand to meet any demands that were made upon him. He (Dr. Diver) was surprised at the opposition shown, and spoke highly if Dr. Gillon.

Councillor Maginnity asked if it was competent for Dr. Johnston to attend the meetings of committee and move motions? The proposed increases were moved by Dr. Johnston and seconded by Dr. Diver. The Mayor replied to the effect that Dr. Johnston was a member of the committee.

Councillor Fisher was about to speak upon the same subject, when The Mayor ruled that the question was foreign to the matter under consideration.

Councillor Hdnter asked if Dr. Gillon had any assistant, for if he had not, and was doing Dr. Johnston’s work as well as his own, it was a matter that should be considered when voting the salary. He did not think the proposed salary was an out-of-the-way one. After a further lengthy discussion, it was resolved to postpone the farther consideration of the subject until the report was printed and in the hands of the Councillors. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. ' This report was considered. Clause one was an application from J. Osborne for refund of half a deposit forfeited to the Council. The man had contracted for the erection of a woolshed on the wharf, and some mistake had been made in the matter. Councillor Young moved that the amount be refunded. A very general expression of feeling in favor of the motion was made, Councillor Diver, amongst others, making some remarks in support of it. Councillor (Fisher was glad to hear Dr. Diver express an opinion in favor of the motion, for on a previous occasion ho had spoken against a similar application. Councillor Young deprecated such remarks as not tending to promote harmony amongst the Councillors. The Mayor thought it was very undesirable to make such remarks. Councillor Hunter thought no hard and fast rule should be laid down with reference to refunding deposit money. He had on a previous occasion protested against the hands of the Council being tied up, as he thought they should be in a position to deal with each case on its merits. He thought good reasons had been given for the present amount being refunded, and should second the motion. Councillor Diver rose in reply to Councillor Fisher’s remarks, but the Mayor prevailed upon him not to proceed, as it would not be conducive to order. Councillor Fisher said if Councillor Diver explained he would also have to ask for permission to explain. The Mayor hoped the councillors would endeavor to transact the business in an orderly manner. (Hear, hear.) Councillor Maginnitt thought the amount should be subscribed amongst the Councillors.

After some further remarks the motion was carried.

Clause 2, with reference to the postponement of laying of water mains, Wallace-street, and clause 3, that a notice board had been authorised to be erected at Oriental Bay, calling attention to a quicksand, were carried. Clause 5, that temporary arrangements have been made for the deposit of night soil on Mr. Crawford’s land, Evans Bay, was adopted after some remarks by Councillor Thompson upon the disgraceful state of the road. Clause 6, authorising the City Surveyor to obtain another 1000 yards of Hutt river boulders to be broken as before, in order to give employment, was carried. Some discussion arose upon clause 7, which recommended proceeding with the formation of Hunter and Stokes streets by day labor at the rate of 6s. per man per day. The Mayor said that this proposal had been made in consequence of the want of employment, and he suggested that Hawker-street be also included. He stated that the Minister of Public Works had written to him, and stated that the Pipitea reclamation and West Coast railway works wmdd be shortly proceeded with, and this would give employment for many. Councillor Logan stated that there were 309 people unemployed in the city, and if the Council did not take some steps in the matter they would soon have to support these people by charity. He thought a deputation should be appointed to wait upon the Government, requesting that the West Coast railway would be commenced about a mile and a half beyond Wadestown, as this would give employment to a great number. g Councillor Greenfield thought steps should be taken by the Government to push on these works, so as to relieve the present distress. The clause, with the addition of Hawkerstreet, was then passed, and Councillor Logan moved' that a deputation, consisting of the Mayor, Councillors Allan, Greenfield. Maginnity, Thompson, and the mover, wait upon the Government and ask them to employ a portion of the unemployed of the city on the West Coast railway at day labor. Carried. Clauses 8 to 10 were then passed.

■ Upon clause 11, that Mr, E. W. Mills be offered £IOO for a fire hose imported by him, with all faults, a discussion arose. It appeared that the hose was not such a one as had been ordered, but as the brigades were short of hose it was desirable to purchase this one at a fair value, until a better one could be procured. Ultimately Councillor Thompson moved that the amount be increased to £l3O, ard, this amendment was carried on a division by 6 to 4.

The remaining clauses were carried, the one recommending the new crossings being passed after being objected to by Councillor Logan on the score of economy. The concluding' clause recommended that accounts amounting to £362 14s. lOd. be passed for payments, &c. Councillor Hunter suggested that a statement of such accounts should be provided for the information oi the Councillors. GOLD PROSPECTING. The Mayor stated that he had received a long letter, from Mr. Moore, gold prospector, while the Council was sitting, but it was too late to bring the matter up. He, however, stated that Mr. Moore believed in the existence of a payable goldfield in the vicinity of

Wellington, and was prepared to prospect for it, but he wanted money to do so. The Government had promised that they would give him pound for pound upon what he might raise by subscription, up to £SOO, and his Worship suggested that the Council might head the subscription list. After a slight discussion, the matter was referred to the Public Works Committee. THE NBW ELECTORAL ROLL. The Town Clerk, with reference to what had appeared in the papers concerning the new rolls, explained that he had prepared a list of ratepayers whose names should be inserted in the electoral roll, and bad sent it in, and supposed it was quite correct. He bad, however, recently found that these names had not been inserted, having been objected to for some reason by the revising barrister. He had written to Mr. Fitzherbert upon the subject but had received no official reply. Mr. Fitzherbert had, however, called while he was out, and had told the City Treasurer the list was so full of inaccuracies he could make nothing of it. Mr. Graham was, however, confident the list was correct. The Mayor said that it was clearly the duty of the revising barrister to have written to the Corporation upon the subject. At present they had no official record whatever concerning it, and it was very unfair to the citizens to be treated as they had been. The fact now remained that the ratepayers who had sent in separate claims to vote were not on the roll. Couhcillor Hunter also commented upon what had been done. It showed the necessity for the burgesses not relying too implicitely on the Town Clerk’s list, and for sending in separate claims themselves. He did not wish to reflect upon the revising barrister, but thought he had acted in an ill-advised manner. It was much to be regretted that it had happened, and he was afraid there was now no remedy for it, but he hoped that whoever represented the city iu the new Parliament would move for a searching inquiry into the matter. After some remarks from other Councillors upon the subject, in which the Town Clerk was held blameless, the matter dropped. ACCOUNTS. General accounts to, the amount of £2043 odd were then passed for payment. THE WATERWORKS. Councillor Fisher enquired whether the reservoirs had lately been cleansed, and was answered iu the affirmative by Mr. Baird, who said the water had been turned off two or three times, and the reservoirs had been thoroughly cleaned. Councillor Thompson thought those Councillors who had supported the raising of the new loan for increased water supply should be congratulated upon the action they had taken. The result had been a very satisfactory one. Councillor Young advocated telegraphing at once for pipes, as the iron market was at present very favorable. Councillor Hunter was pleased at the result of the polling for the new loan, and should support another loan for drainage it brought forward. He advocated the pipes being ordered, as there signs of a revival in the iron market. MARKET HALL RESERVE. The proposed sub-division of the Market Hall Reserve, as shown upon a plan submitted for inspection, was agreed to. CAB FARES. Councillor Fisher, pursuant to notice, moved, —That the schedule of cab fares be so altered as to permit hansom cabs to charge la. for the ordinary Cd. fare within the defined boundary.—Carried. MISCELLANEOUS. Several miscellaneous subjects were mooted, but it being after 11 o’clock, and several of the Councillors being anxious to leave, but little business was transacted. Upon the further consideration of the proposed building regulations being called on, it was found that there was no quorum. Upon a quorum being formed, Councillor Fisher moved, and Councillor Thompson seconded, —That the Council adjourn. Councillor Hunter would like to know how long the consideration of the regulations would take, to which the Mayor replied, “ Two hours.” After further consideration it was resolved to postpone their consideration to next meeting night, to take precedence of other business. The Council rose at 11.40 p.m.