CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Post, Volume XIII, Issue 10, 13 January 1876, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the City Council was held yesterday. There were present — His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Councillors Moss, Gillon, Cleland, Dransfield, Pharazyn, Greenfield, Ramie, and Mills. WHARF COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The wharf committee's report was read as follows :—: — "1. The committee report that, on further consideration, they have to recommend to the Council not only to assume the collection of the wharf dues, under schedules 1 and 2 of the wharf regulations, as suggested in the committee's interim report of the Gth inst, but that the Council should also take the entire management of the bonded stores and sheds into their own hands. The committee feel the responsi- j bility of this recommendation, but they are fortified in proposing it by a unanimous and strong expression of opinion in its favor from the committee of the Chamber of Commerce. "2. As it is required that seven clear days notice of any permanent appointments under the Council shall 4>e given, together with the salaries proposed to be paid to such appointments, your committee have found it necessary to advise as follows : — ' ( (a .) For a wharfinger at a salary of £400 per annum, with security in the sum of £500. I "(b .) For an accountant at £300, with security for £250. "(c.) For a clerk at £150, and a youth j at £75. "(d.) A person for the weighbridge at > £100. ; " Your committee request the sanction of the Council to these recommendations. "3. Your commitee append a proof of the wharf regulations and dues, as revised by them. Looking at the financial position of the Council, and to the fact that the management of the wharf by the Council must be regarded to some extent as an experiment, your committee do not see their way in the meantime to recommend any material reduction in the wharf dues. "4. The harbor-master will undertake to see the wharf regulations carried out in respect to the occupation of berths by vessels and the time allowed them for such occupation, and generally take the requisite supervision of all vessels at the wharf. The committee recommend that he should receive a honorarium for his services in so doing.. "5. Your committee have considered the letter from Mr. Jackson, the present lessee of the wharf, remitted to them by the Council, in which he asks for an extension of his lease till the end of April. The committee eaa see i no sufficiently good reason for the adoption of j such a course, and cannot recommend that the ; request be acceded to." ! On the motion of Councillor Dransfield, ¦ seconded by Councillor Gillon, the report was adopted. MANAGEMENT OF THE WHARF. It was resolved, on the motion of Councillor Gillon, secondedby Councillor Mills, ' * That as the management of the wharf will require the close attention and supervision of this Council, it is desirable that a subcommittee should be appointed to advise ; the wharfinger and decide all matters re-

quiring immediate action; that such sub- ; committee shall consist of thej\layor and : two Councillors, one of whom shall retire monthly, his place being taken by the '. Councillor next on the attached list ; that such sub-committee shall have full power to act, but shall report all its decisions to the Wharf Committee ; that the Councillors forming the sub-committee for the month of February be Councillors Dransfield and Mills ; that they shall determine by lot which shall retire on the Ist March ; and that thereafter the Councillor who has been longest on the sub-committee shall retire at the end of each month. " Councillor Draxsfield moved, "That the Wharf Committee be authorised to make all such arrangements with reference to the working plant upon the wharf as may be deemed advisable, in view of the change to take place on the Ist February." The motion was duly seconded and carried.