CIVIC MATTERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8348, 7 February 1913, Page 3

CIVIC MATTERS

MEETING OF COUNCIL. PROGRESS OF WORKS IN THE CITY. The City Council met last evening. Present ; The Mayor, Mr D. McLaren. Councillors J. Smith, I' 1 . Cohen, G. I rest, J. Trevor, A. R. Atkinson, J. Godber. Vv. H. i’. Barber, E. Tregear, J. Fuller, L. McKenzie, J. E. Fitzgerald, G. Shirtclifle, K. Fletcher, R. a. Cameron, and A. H. Hindmarsh. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The finance committee recommmended : That the council coi tribute the sum of ,£35 towaids tne Maugatainoka nver protection works. , . That the application of the Wellington Ltugoy Union that the rates for 191 a on the Athletic Park be remitted, be not granted. - .. That an offer of £l, without prejudice, Oe made in full settlement ot a claim on accjuut of alleged damage sustained io cyclist consequent upon a break m the water main on the J.nil road. That an offer be made to the Government. without prejudice, with respect to the Manners street police station site on the basis suggested in the city solicitor s report. This report will ue laid on the table. . Tuat £l3O of the cost of erection ot ivaitin< shed aud conveniences at General Post Office square be borne by the district fund account. The committee reported: That they have instructed the city solicitor to file defence with respect to damage alleged to have been sustained through stormwater at Rosencath, and authorised an offer to be made without prejudiceThat they have authorised the city solicitor, acting with the city engineer, to take the necessary steps in order to secure separate titles for certain of the corporation properties at Te Aro reclamation. The report was adopted. TRAMWAYS. The tramways committee recommended: That provision be made for the erection of a tramway waiting shed at Dee street. Island Bay, during the next financial year. That the pay of a tramway employee be made up to full for the time he was absent from work owing to accident sustained whilst on duty. That the request of the Boaeneath Municipal Association for a tramway extension to Boseueath stand over for the present, Tnat the electrical engineer be authorised to install in approved cases a tworate meter which will differentiate between the current used in the daytime and that used during the night. That no liability be admitted with respect to claim made owing to withdrawal of oar advertised to leave Newtown on Sunday morning at 7.10 a.m. . The report was adopted. BATHS AND RESERVES. The baths and reserves committee re- ■ commended: That a telephone be erected at Newtown Pack, as requested by the grounds committee of the citizens' oarnivaL ■ That the city engineer be authorised to proceed with the fencing of Newtown -Park in accordance with a plan to be laid on the table. . That the propagating house at the Botanical Gardens be opened to visitors on ■ Sunday and Wednesday afternoon, wear ther permitting, from ii p.m. until 4 p.m. Taat the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board be granted the use of Newtown Park on the 15th and Kith instant in connection with Hospital Saturday and Sunday. That the St. Patrick’s Day celebration committee be granted the use of the Newtown Park on March 17th, with permission to charge, on the usual conditions. . That the question of erecting screens at Anderson Park to prevent cricket balls dropping over the embankment he considered in connection with next year's estimatesThat notices be erected at the Te Aro Baths forbiddidg expectoration in or about the baths. That permission 'be granted to No. 17 senior cadets to use that portion of the Basin Reserve reserved for the use or women-and children between the nours of i p.m. and - a.bo p.m. during week nights, in order to - practise marching, squad drill, etc., for the Easter carnival. The committee also reported that they had granted permission to Mr Shields to teach swimming at the ladies’ baths at Te Aro on Wednesday afternoon from 3.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. in compliance with the petition from Dr Platts-Mills ana others, and as asked for by the Wellington centre New. Zealand Amateur Swimming Association. The report was adopted. BY-LAWS, ETC. The by-laws, file brigade, and street lighting committee recommended: That the application of the Hataitai Electors’ Association for a lamp at Kainui road be not granted. . Tnat a property owner at Ngaio road, Kelburne, be allowed to fence in part of the road reservation on payment of the usual fee, and provided she undertakes to remove such encroachment when required. That a property owner be informed that the council will be prepared to extend the sewer to Nortn terrace, Kelburne, for the purpose of providing a connection to his residence, provided such owner pays half the cost of the work, such amount to be refunded when another house is connected to the sewer. That the applicatioi of a resident of Plunkct street, Kelburne. for lermission to erect a temporary shed on part of the roadway for the purpose of housing his motor cycle be not grunted. The committee also reported: That they have severely censured a cabman in connection with a cnarge brought against him for misbehaviour, and informed him that any further complaint will result in the cancellation of his license.. He has been granted, a license on probation from fortnight to fortnight. That they have cautioned a cabman, charged with overcharging a passenger an dinformed him that a repetition of the offence will result in the cancellation of hia license. . That they have instructed the chief inspector to bring down a report embodying his suggestion as to simplifying the present scale of cab fares. Tne report was adopted. LEGISLATION COMMITTEE. The .legislation and reclaimed land leases committee recommended: That it is desirable that the jurisdiction of this committee with respect to the leaseholds of the city be more clearly defined, and that the city solicitor and city valuer be instructed to furnish a report on the subject. That no information be supplied by the officers with respect to values without proper fee, the terms to be the same as those charged by the Government. That the city solicitor be instructed to draft a Bill, in connection with street widening, in order that the existing law may be amended, so that it shall be perfectly clear that in any case where the corporation purchases or agrees to take any interest in land whatever it shall be entitled to applly to the Governor and obtain from him a proclamation vesting Ihat interest in the corporation. The rep. rt was adopted.