CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Post, Volume IX, Issue 250, 5 December 1873, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

ft The usaal fortnightly meeting of the *City Council was held at the Provincial Council Hall yesterday afternoon. Present — His .Worship* the Mayor (int the 5 chair), I Councillors Mills, Moss, M'Kirdy, Barrett, Borlaae, Bainie, Paul; and KrulJ, „ ,,, iJSho minutes H q(', t the previous meeting were duly read and confirmed. The outward correspondence was read and adopted. The Bank accounts were stated to be— General, overdrawn, £3,556 2s Gd ; water* works, ditto, £408»l2a 3d ; Wharf and Reclaimed Land, credit, £2,328 12a 9d. The wages and some other aconnts were passed. The inw&rtf cdnfesponflende read!, ) A letter was received from Messrs Saunders and O'Malley, forwarding an account, for extras in connection with tbe water- . works, amounting to £1,152 2a 4dt, including £1,633 15%' 4a " for concrebe. ' The contractors stated they were very short of funds in consequence of losses on the work done during the winter. The application 'W3S,Veferretfto the Waterworks Committee for their fe#rt;- " " '",' > ' ' • A letter- Wa*fe<i6iVdd froitf some residents in Taranaki-street,,askingthat water should, be laid on inj thii street ' tie^ond the 1 C6nstabplary Barracks to the top of the street. -' ttf was resolved that the application should be l adeeo!ed i ttt'if it' proved that- sufficient plan* trere 'available^ for that prirpose. i A letter was received from the Town Clerk and his assistant, ; challenging Councillor JRainie's atatement that he had seen the officers of the Corporation "loafing about," and asking that the charge might be investigated, and wholly denying its truth. The letter was laid on the table for the present, A letter was received from his Honor the Superintendent in reply to one from bis Worship the Mayor, stating that the Provincial' Executive was considering the question of calling a special session of the Provincial Council, and if that question were decided in the affirmative, a bill should be introduced providing for the sub. - jeef of toe'T* A«> reclamation. Meanwhile it would be advisable that the City Council •hould definitely 5 indicate its views to the' Provincial Government, The following remarkable letter Was re* ceived and read, much to the amusement of $he Council i-J* "To his Worship Joe Dransfield, Esq, Mayor of Wellington. Jfew Zealand. — Sir — I request you WBl order the sinners in your employ never again to discharge Water on my premises —my shop is not lined — my Books are dusty — Water driven between boards tarns dust into mud— in short, rusty water don't improve Dry Literature; i I believe even Brother Fox would not sing ' Bright water for me/ if discharged over his Books by your street watermen. Liquors from vessels of Glass, not rusty water from pipe of Brass, tbe dullest Government Clerk will inform you is the correct liquid with literature. I hfte ' Did not know* excuses as much as old Sawaroff. Sin no more, or prepare to

liquidate any future datffSge. I remain yourHumbleservant, Robert Carpenter." The letter having been read amid much laughter, Councillor Krull objected to such letters being read and reported. It was really making the Council a laughing stock. Councillor Borla.se thought the public might just as well have a laugh at the absurd document. It was agreed that the hydrant men should be cautioned to be more careful. The subject then dropped. The Mayor, in introducing the water rate aaaehsment, remarked on the present financial position of the Corporation^ He thought that under their present circumstances, looking at their liabilities and expenses, they could not properly assess the city properties at a lower rate than the maximum authorised by law. Councillor Ramie objected to the sum put down for working expenses. Councillor Borlase urged that provision be made for the erection of a free drinking fountain, where at present those curious engines, which he did not profess to understand, had been placed, opposite the Court House, The Council approved this suggestion, and the City Surveyor explained how he proposed it should be done. The Council also unanimously agreed that the water rate assessment for the first year should be at the full rate allowed by law. Tender* were received for watering the streets, the City Surveyor explaining that he had called for tenders on his own responsibility in consequence of the great expense and loss of time resulting from the employment of the Corporation laborers on that service. Councillor Moss suggested that a special rate should be levied for the purpose of street watering. He considered that would be much fairer to all parties. The tenders were as follows ; — Grimstone and Morrig, £13 per week ; J. M. Milne, £16 10s per week ; Morris and Hawthorne, £12 per week; John Morris, £11 10s per week ; Thomas Reading, £14 per week ; H. Davis (No 1 contract), £0 per week ; John Fairfiuld, £12 p«r week, t Councillor MOSS objected to the specifications, as dos providing for sufficient watering. Ho thought that instead of being limited to curtain hours, they ought to be compelled to keep the dust down at all hours of the day. Councillor Borlase proposed that the question should be postponed until next sitting day. g Agreed to. Councillor More brought up the motion standing in his name, to the effect that a deputation should wait on the General Government with reference to obtaining a Crown Grant for the Te Aro foreshore. He asked leave *io amend it by substituting the Superintendent for the General Govern* ment. It was agreed that a deputation, consisting of the Mayor and the Councillors for Te Aro Ward, should wait on his Honor the Superintendent for the purpose of obtaining a Crown Grant for the 70 acres on the Te Aro, as agreed to by resolution of the Provincial Council. Councillor Knvhh brought up the motion of which he had given notice, that an investigation should be made into the charge made against Mr Ramie, jun, by Councillor M 033. Councillor Moss seconded the motion. Councillor M'Kirdy moved that the mocion be amended by adding the words "and other employees of the Council." Councillor Moss objected to the amendment. Councillor Borlase supported the amend* ment. The amendment was carried. Councillor Moss moved that a chain fence should be erected on the breastwork from the weighbridge to the Lion Foundry. He pointed out the great danger of the present unprotected state of the breastwork, which already had occasioned several fatal accidents.' He had ascertainsd that the cost would be. about £40. * '^Councillor iiORtiASE/seconded the proposition. * ' i " Councillor M'Kirdy considered a chain fence insufficient protection. ! ; ' ?** It was resolved that a committee, consisting' of Councillors Mills, Moss, and M'Kirdy be appointed to carry out the proposed work. t Councillor M'Kirdy brought up the question, of the Brougham-street contract, which had been thrown up by the contractor, and proposed' that the Council should finish it at once. The City Surveyor said if the Council did so it would only cost about £60, and they would have a claim on the contractor for about £75. The Council decided, that this course should be adopted. The City Surveyor reported that the -cost of kerbing and improving MulgraveBtreet,.as suggested, woul,d be about £1,200. He remarked! that some arrangement might be made with the reclamation contractors, who were working near the spot, and who might use the mwterial excavated. j The mattep was postponed.; : ', ,' The City Surveyor also stated that the cost of the suggested retaining wall at the north end of the Terrace, and other necesoary works in connection .therewith, -would be -£578.; ' t ' ,''' , ".' -\ The Consideration of the matter was postponed.' On the question of the appointment of an Inspector of Nuisance being brought up, Councillor Borlase proposed the. Adjournment 61 the question until this after* noon, at 5 o'clock'. The motion was* carried, and the Council adjourned at 5.25 p m.