The Re-division of the Wards. THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT ADOPTED.

The Committee of the City Council recently appointed to consider the question of re-dividing the wards submitted the following repoit last evening:— "The Committee bog to report that after careful consideration of the subiect remitted to them by the Counoil, they have decided to recommend that the wards of the city be altered, bo that the dividing lines between them be as under— l. Between Tliorndon and Lambton : From the sea along Whitmore Btroet, Lambton - quay (Whitmorestreet to Bowen-street), Bowen-street, Bolton-strcet, and Botanical Garden-road to Upland Farm. 2. Between Lambton and Te Aro— From the sea along Cuba-street to Abel Smith-street, Abel Smith-streot (from Cuba-street westward), and thenoe along the westward boundary of aores 431, 432, 433, and 434, and through the Native Reserve to Upland Farm. 3. Between Te Aro and Cook— From the sea along Tor}'street, Buoklo-street (from Tory-streot eastward), Sussex-square (from Buokle-stroet to Dock-street). Dook-street (to Adelaide-road), Adelaide-road (to Riddiford-street), Riddi-ford-Btreet (to Rhodes-street), and Russellterrace to the southern boundary of the city." Councillor Richardson, in moving the adoption of the report, said that the committee now offered the Council what was in their opinion the best solution of the difficulty. The groundwork of the oommittee was to put the new reclaimed land into Lambton Ward, to divide the foreßhoro equally, to reduce Cook Ward, and add something to Te Aro Ward in order to make up for the loss of the reclaimed land. He explained that the ratings in Thorndon Ward were now 1078, and the rateable value was i>49,113. By the now division the ratings would be increased by one, and the rateable value by .£4O. In Lambton the ratings were 541, and rateable value .£78,915. By the division the ratings wonld be increased bj 843, and the rateable value £47,571. In Te Aro the ratings were 1823, and the rateable value £81,019. The division would mean an increase ot 523 in ratings, but a de< crease of £14,293 in rateable value. Ir Cook Ward the ratings were 3208, and rateable value £81,787, and the re-divi-sion would make a decreoso of 1366 ratings, and of £33,278 in rateable value, He hoped that the Counoil would accept the report, and that no time would be lo&i by the ratepayers in endorsing it, so that legal effeot might be given to the recommendations. Councillor Coombe, in seconding the report, endorsed all that Councillor Richardson had said. The oommittee had gone to a lot of trouble in the matter. Councillor J. Young objected to have a lot of figures thrown at him. He wanted time to consider the figures quoted by Councillor Richardson, and also the committee'! recommendations, and he therefore moved the adjournment of tlie discussion for a fortnight. It had boen said that the report had been submitted only after a good deal of consideration; but he would like to point out that the previous committee had also devoted a deal of time and attention to the subject. Councillor Edwards thought the proposed inorease of Lambton Ward was a very good thing. He considered the oity should be divided according 1 to its natural features, Councillor Edwards urged that the question should be settled that evening. Councillor Danks was of opinion that the report was a very good one, although he oonfessed Lambton Ward had cut pretty hard into To Aro Ward. He believed that during the next few years the value of pro. perty in Lambton Ward would inorease enormously. The amendment was seoonded by Connoillor Petherick, who explained that he was anxious the boundaries of Te Aro and Cook Wards should be altered so that the former might havo a bit more foreshore. Councillor Smith objeoted to the large increase of Lambton Ward. It was proposed to, take away portion of Te Aro Ward and put it into Lambton Ward, which did not want it. He suggested that the boundary between Cook and Te Aro Wards should be through the, Basin Reserve and down Cam-bridge-avenue to the sea. Councillor Heaton «aid that the great difficulty in dividing the city was that eaoh ward would insist on having water frontage. Although he represented Te Aro, he had been favourable to shutting Te Aro out from the water, but he had been overruled. Councillor Williams urged that the matter should be settled at once. Ho pointed out that owing to the configuration of the city it was impossible to get anything like block wards. Councillor Williams expressed the opinion that it would be a very good thing if there were no wards at all. The amendment was lost. Councillor Smith moved another amendment, to the effeot that the dividing line between Cook and Te Aro Wards should be between Cambridge and Kent Terraoes and through the Basin Reserve, instead of down Tory-street. This amendment was seconded by Cotuw oillor Petheriok. Councillor Coombe opposed the amendment, maintaining that if it were carried about 2060 holdings would be put into Te Aro Ward, and a valuable pieoe of the foreshore would also be taken from Cook Ward. Councillor A. Young intended to vote for the adoption of the report because it had been prepared by several able members after a good deal of careful consideration. Councillor Edwards would support the amendment, as he considered it a very sensible one. In his opinion Cambridge-avenue was a proper dividing line between the two wards. This amendment was also lost, and the resolution for the adoption of the report was passed almost unanimously.