CIVIC AFFAIRS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1171, 5 July 1911, Page 9

CIVIC AFFAIRS.

$ COUNCIL AND HOSPITAL BOARD. A LAND DEAL. The ordinary meeting of the City Council, adjourned on.Thursday last, was continued last evening. There were present: The Deputy-Mayor (Councillor J. Smith), and Councillors M'Kenzie, Frost, Godber, Barber, Fitzgerald, Fuller, Cameron, Hindmarsh, M'Lareu, Shirtclifl'e, and Fletcher. Leave of akence was granted to Councillors Atkinson and Trevor. AX ASTONISHED BOARD. A deputation from the Wellington Hospitul and Charitable Aid Board, Mc-s-rs. R. G. Kirk, G. T. London, and J. C'oyle (secretaryi, waited upon the council in reference to an exchange of land at Kclburne. Mr. Kirk said he was .-ure that if ho could show the council the exnet position, it would look at the facts from the board's point of view. The board desired to obtain possession of a narrow strip of Town Belt, which was of absolutely no value to the corporation, in order that two of its sections might have a frontage to Kelburne Parade. The matter had been the subject of lengthy negotiations. In November, 1909, the corporation had declined to grant .tho freeliold of the strip to tho board, but at the same timo stated it would grant a lease for 21 years at a rental of sixpence per foot. Later, an exchange of land was agreed upon. Tho board ceded a strip of land in •Salamanca Road to the corporation, in exchange for the strip on Kelburne Parade. The arrangement'was "made that'the respectivu areas should be. valued by the City Valuer, and that the board should pay the difference. To the astonishment of the board the City Valuer had fixed the value of the strip of land at Kelburne - I'arade — which, was thirty feet deep in the Centre' and ran to nothing at cither end—at the sum of ,£1152.- When-asked how on earth lie arrived at this figure, the valuer had replied that he' reckoned the addition of the atrip would add to the value of the board's property to that extent. The position was, said Mr. Kirk, that the council had a piece of land which was of no use to it. If an arrangement could not be made there would be a mutual loss. It was evident, Mr. Kirk submitted, that'll wrong basis of valuation had been adopted. Originally the council had offered to lease the land at a rental of Rd. per foot, but the capital value named by tho valuer was equivalent to a rental of 10=. or £1 per foot. The board asked that the intrinsic value of the land to the corporation should bo accepted as a basis. K the council could not interfere with its valuer a case might be stated so that the court coiild be asked what was a proper basis utfon which to determine tho 'value of tho land. Jlr. London supported tho position' taken by Mr. Kirk, sml added that thi> relations of tho council and the Hospital Board should bo on a different basis to those obtaining between one private landholder and another. , ,' , , Eventually it was agreed that the matter lw referred to the Finance Committee for further consideration and report.

BATHS AND RESERVES. The Baths and Reserves Committee recommended :— That permission be granted to the Boys Institute to uso tlit Basin ■ Reserve on October 21 for a joint tournament, with the cadets and boy scouts, with the right to charge, for admission. That the superintendent of reserves be authorised to do isome planting at. the entrances to the Karori Tunnel. To proceed with the planting of the. ground round the Brooklyn Library, estimated- to cost about .£lO or; .£l2. ,• .■• That the application of a caretaker of a city reserve for an increase of wages he refused.

That the .'alary of the head keeper at tho Zoo be increased from 9s. per day of seven (lays to, ,£3 7s. 6d. per week. ; Theicommittee reported thjit.jt h'ad.nuthofise'd the superintendent of reserves'to give trees to the various school committees that apply for them, provided the ground to be planted..is enclosed.and.prepared for: the trees, to his satisfaction. The , report was adopted.

PUBLIC CONVENIENCES. On the'motion of Councillor M'Konzie, it was agreed that the city engineer should report upon the cost of providing propci' convenieness in the city for women. It was also resolved, on the motion of Councillor Barber, an additional public convenience should be provided in the Newtown district. . -

' notices of motion: '■■--: ■ Tho following notices of motion were tabled:- 1 . That a ■return be submitted to the council shewing the amount expended on the beautification of the city.—Councillor Barber.

That the citj" engineer and city solicitor ba instructed to draw tip<a by-law, or by-laws, Riving the council power to prevent the erection of any private latrino on any.sito where the council d«m its presence would he objectionable; also, giving the council power to prevent the erection or use of any building in future for fnctory or other purposes where the;' considered that the smell emitted would be objpotionahls; also, giving the council power to prevent the erection of any building that they considered would be unsightly, undesirable, or depreciating to any locality.—Dr. Cameron: