CITY COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 74, 20 December 1907, Page 10

CITY COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last night.. There,were presori.t: The Mayor (Hon. T. W. Hi,slop), and Councillors Smith; , Cohen,. Ballinger, Hales, Shirtcliffo, Fletcherj Carmicliael, Hindmiirsh, M'Laren, Morrah, Murdoch, and Godberi A Special Order was passed accepting surrender of lease of Section .70, Lambton claimed Land, City,of Wellington, hold by Messrs. George and Kersle.v,:Ltd., and granting a new lease for the balance; of'the existing term at an increased rental of 100 per cent, on the . present rental, with perpetual right of renewal for successive periods of fourteen years, at a ground rental; only tlie rental under such renewals to be fixed by valuation. The Baths and City Reserves Committee, recoriimended that tlie application of the Wellington Centre,of the New Zealand Athletic Association for permission to use the Basin Reserve oh Saturday, December 21 > for a' sports meeting, be granted on -the usual, conditions; arid, that the application of the Woolston Brass Band for permission to use , tha Basin Reserve on February. 24, aiid to .take up a collection, be granted oil the' same terms as last'year. Tho report was adopted. Tlie By-Laws and Street Lighting Coriiriiittee recommended that tho application of Messrs. F. and W. Ferkins for permission to erect six houses on Town Acre 437, Woolcoliibe Street, be not granted, 'the application not being in accordance with the bylaws ; that. the application of Mr. G. G. Schwartz, on behalf of Mrs. Horlor, for permission to form a right-of-way oft Ilawker Street, be.granted, subject to the conditions recommended, by tlie- City Engineer. The Comiiiittee reported that they, had given furthor consideration to the application of Mrs. Wright to erect a dwelling at Seddbri Terrace, and, ns the Building Inspector. ljad reported that there was ample air-space, it saw no' reason to ask the Council to rescind its resolution granting a permit for tlie erection of .the dwelling. Councillor Godber, in moving the adoption of tho report, stated that, tho application referred to in the first, clauso was, strongly oppored by tho Engineer,,.arid unanimously disapproved by tho committee. The; now intended to'submit fresh proposals. : Councillor .Ca'rriiichael declared , that - tlie recommoridatibn embodied;in the:last-Clause was not in_'accordance with what tlie Engineer.. hid.insisted.,on previously. , •• -Councillor 'Fletcher; movetl, arid-Councillor M'Laren seconded, that the clause be referred back.... , 1 . , : Thq/Simondment. was ,rejected,-.arid the re-port-was then,aebpt-ed., . The Firmrice arid Property::G,ommitieo recommended, that a subsidy, of,£s bo grapt«d to tho Sailors' ..Restthat - tlio .City &)licilor s bo granted, one monthjs , leave of absence, commenciiVg. at the boginuing. of;. : January,; that-a bonus of £50 bo granted .to, ,'t.ho City Solicitor for . tlie exceptionally heavy wdrk dqno during tho ljvat, year,.; arid .that' accounts au'ouritmg to £9840 9s. ,10d... bo passed for payment.- ( Tlio report was, adopted. ..... .Tho Libraries Comriiitteo reports that they had approved the draft, plans, vjiroparod fey Mr. ;B._-W. Petherick, for the,proposed extensions to tho. Newtown Library, and had requested'liini to proceed with the plans in order that' tenders might bo called for the work of erection immediately. Councillor Godber asked . where ■ the. moi'ioy was coining from if .'tenders'"were callod.'. • 1 :-Tho Mayor :' Out''of,the'-Gerieral'Funds, I suppose...,'■: -•. '/ .- . Councillor Godber: Increase the library rafco to that extent? . . ' The Mayor - I don't know about that. Tho next, Council can consider that. Tho report was adapted. Tho. Outlying Districts Committee., reported that they , had received aii offer ifrorn Air. C. J. Johnson to, sell to tho Corporation a strip of land ten feet-in width; part of section 18, and six feet in width, part bf section 89, Thames Street, Island Bay, for the sum of £120,' subject, to the Council undertaking, to continue the drain from Clyde Street to Parade at once, Mr. Johnson to do all the necessary fencing oil tho line of the right-of-way. The 1 committee recommended the acceptance of tlie offer on the above terms. . The report was adopted. The Power Stations and Tramways Committee recommended : that Mr. G. Lauchlaii, Public Lighting Superintendent, be gra'ntod an increase of salary from £6 10s. to £7 per week, the increase to date from December 1, 1907; that, for a time, Miramar cars shall run via Jervois Quay instead of Lamb- • ton Quay as at present; all; Seatouri cars to' run via Lambton Quay; and that the matter of the proposed par-repairing pit at Clydo Quay (estimated cost £40), be left in the hands of the officers to deal with. Tho committee reported that.they had:considered the application of the Tramway Sick-Benefit Society for .a subsidy to their funds,, find ivere prepared to consider the giving of .'a subsidy to a scheme properly drawn up by a competent actuary, that would satisfactorily, protect the employees rand, at. the. same time, conserve the funds. of the Society. The report was adopted. . , ■Councillors Cohen,' Sniith, Fletcher, and Shirtcliffe were appointed to confer with representatives of, local bodies . (in, accordance with the Act) as to the-weekly half-holiday. The conference will be held oil January 28, I'JUSi. ...

,11. L. Godber was appointed Acting-Col-lector of Hates and- Acting-Registrar of Dogs during Mr. Chappie's i absence. ...The dog tax was fixed ,at the same rate as last year. Councillor Fletcher asked why the agreement with respect to the blocking of Custom Hbuse Quay and Jervois Quay .had not been signed. The Mayor replied that'the matter was being attended to. . .It was mentioned by the Mayor that, at tlio next meeting, the chairman of the Firo Brigade Committee would, submit a' comprehensive report on the-question as to whether they should determine to work under tlio Firo Brigade Act or revert to the old : system of management under the Council. The Mayor mentioned that objections to ■portion of Karori being included within the City limits could be made on or before; January 11. Councillor Carmicliael said it would be a serious matter if the city were- going to saddle itself with the cost of putting in order the roads in the portion of Karori in question. - The Mayor pointed, out that the Council woilld not meet again until' January 16, but thertfwas nothing to prevent individual Councillors from lodging objections. Ultimately it was decided that application should be made to have tho time extended, in order to enable the Council to have an opportunity to consider the matter. The Council then adjourned until January 16. .