CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Post, Volume XV, Issue 156, 6 July 1877, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the City Council was hold ycsterdny .afternoon in the Provincial Hall. Present the Mayor and all the Councillors. CORRESPONDENCE. The following letters were received :— From the Colonial Secretary asking, for a plan showing the proposed sewerage outfall. Referred to Mr. Cliinie. — From the Town Clerk, Christchurch, requesting the U6e of the Council Hall for the conference of municipal delegates which it was suggested should take place about the second week of the Parliamentary session. Referred to the Mayor. — From Mr. Ebenezer Baker claiming £25 as fee for acting as native interpreter in the negotiation with the Maoris for the extension of Taranakistreet. Referred to the Public Works Committee. — From the Colonial Secretary asking for a nominal return of the • Corporation officers and their salaries. ' Ordered to be supplied. — From the Customs to the effect that the signalman on Mount Victoria would be instructed to fire a time-gun. — From E. Wilson, asking for the formation of an entrance to a section on the Town Belt. Referred to the Public Works Committee. — From several ratopayers, asking for a crossing to be laid down opposite St. George's Hall. Referred to the Public Works Committee. — From Captain Holliday, harbor master, suggesting that, in constructing the proposed Te Aro reclamation, provision should bo made for berthing vessejs, so as to lie head and stern to the prevailing winds, 2nd. Pointing out that to carry the reclamation, as proposed, into 20ft of wafer would bring it too close to the Queen's Wharf, and seriously impede navigation, j 3rd, That no provision appeared to be made in the plan for watermen and their boats, a necessary adjunct to the harbor. '• TENDERS, The following tenders were opened, the lowest in each case being accepted : — Forprinting and advertising the Burgess Roll : Robert Burretr, £33 ; New Zealand Times, £41 12s. Another tender was received after the specified time, and was thrown out accordingly. For forming and kerbing that portion of Lambton Quay immediately opposite the new Government Buildings : W. J. Roberts, £210 : — O'Malley, £-283 8s 3d; W. Neale, £285: Patrick Scalley, £295 ; R. Carswell, £325 103 Cd ; G. Pudncy, £328 17s Gd ; J. Doolie, £367 4s ; W. F. Oakes, £429 ; J. M'Leau, £441 10s. For forming and kerbing a portion of Ghuzneestreet: G. H. Akroyd, £40 10s: J. M,Lean, £55 8s; J. Doolie, £59 15s; W. J. Roberts, £G0 ; Webber & Co., £75. For Walker-street : W. Neale. £89; Isaac Morrison, £150; J. M'Lean, £154 10s; G. H. Akroyd, £157 10s. l*or drain, Featherston Terrace, Isaac Morrison, £258 12s ; W. J. Roberts, £291 : J. Eowall, £299 10s Gd ; J. M'Lean, £317; Webber & Co., £345 ; W. Neale, £309 : F. Doolie, i £379. The acceptance of the tender was ponditional on the prescribed contribution of £55 being made by the residen,{s. INSBEGTQR QP NUISANCES' REPORT. The Inspector of. Nuisances made his usual report. THE ODD FELLOWS. , The special committee recommended that £200 should be paid to the Odd Fellows as I compensation for the encroachment on their I land, Lambton Quay. I Councillor Greenfield thought the proposed sum too large, and moved that the report be referred back to the committee. The Mayor doubted whether the Odd Fellows would accept the £200. They had actually to spend £300 in consequence of the Council's encroachment on their land, besides other loss. Councillor Ramie thought the proposed sum was a very handsome one, and the Odd Fellows ought to be quite content if they got it, seeing that the land cost them nothing, but he should second tb,e motion to refer the matter ' back to the committee, Councillor Mills thought it much better to pay this sum than fight. The matter had been well considered by the committee. .Councillor Dixon contradicted Councillor Ramie's statement, that the Odd Fellows got the land for nothing. On the contrary, they had to pay £1000 for it besides the cost of reclamation. Councillor G. AtLEN urged Councillor Greenfield to withdraw the motion. ' Councillor Moss knew that the Odd Fellows sustained a loss of fully £400 through the action of the Council and thought the proposed sum very moderate. Councillor Greenfield then withdrew his motion and the report was adopted. i PUBLIC AVORKS COMMITTEE. I The Public Works Committee's report dealt with various local requirements, See. ( It also expressed the opinion that no nuisance was caused by Mr, Gear's stable in Cuba' Street, that opinion being supported by a report from" the Inspector of Nuisances, and other evidence. This led to a very long discussion, which resulted in tho item being referred back to the Committee. Tho report further recommended —(1) That the full commission of 5 per cent., charged by Mi*. R. J. Duncan on the sale- of the Town "Belt leases, be paid, as no agreement' had been made previous to the sale for any smaller commission ; (3) that Mr. Marchant's salary, as. Engineer fa ftc Waterworks and Wharf Extension, he tl»e same as hjs present salary, via., «£4SQ per annum, and £52; forage | allowance ; (3) that Mr. C. O'Neill be ap- , pointed Inspector of Publio Buildings; (4) that a very old and ruinous house on Lambton Quay, belonging to Mr. Brady, be pulled down under the power given by section 240 of the Municipal Corporation Act, 1876; (5) that the application of the Government for permission to connect the Government buildings closet soil pipes with the Corporation sewers be not acceded to, such a proceeding being very objectionable; (6) that Messrs. Thos, Kennedy Macdonald and S. parroll, the, late City Auditors, be called on to "complete the audit of the halt' yearly statement of account to 31st March, within a week, and in the event of their failing to do so, that tho new Auditors be requested ti perform the workj (7) that the rent of tbe portion of the Town Hall, let

to Dr. Johnston, be £20 per annum. This last item was referred back to the committee, and the others Mere agreed to. WAGES. The wages account, £562 3s 4d, was passed. CUSTODY OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. Councillor J. A. Allan moved, pursuant to noti(\ — "That tho Mayor in any matters of importance, such as the safe custody of important public documents, shall consult with the City Council before taking any action in the matter ; and that it would be dangerous in the extreme to municipal privileges .and_the rights of the citizens that tho Town Clerk should he simply in the position of the Mayor's secretary." He asked permission to withdraw the latter part. The Mayor refused permission. - - Councillor J. A. Allan; in that cnseTvroul'd ask permission to withdraw tho motion. Tho Mayor refused permission. ) Councillor J. A. Allan asked the Mayor to put it to the Council. The Mayor refused. Permission could not be given by the Council unless unanimous, and they could not be unnnimous, for he, as n member of the Council, would not agreo to it. Councillor Moss hoped the ' May4r|%|uldJ not persist in this course, as it would compel him to voto for the motion, which lie would rather see withdrawn. The Mayor declined to notice this suggestion and asketl if the original motion were seconded. Councillor George said he would second it in order that it might be discussed. . Councillor Allan explained thathe brought in this motion in consequence of the Mayor having instructed the clerk to remove a certain document from the custody of the City Solicitor. The Mayor delivered a vigorous philippic on the action of the mover and that of the Council generally towards himself. ,He should take the motion as' a vote 6f ' censure and' aa his conduct of tho business had not .been satis-^ factory to the Council ho 1 should in future do' as little as he could consistently with the interests of the ratepayers, who,' he was BureL I'^1 '^ would not endorse the action of the Council. Probably in less than two montlis the Council would be inclined ,to reverse fits- -present action as a new Council would sit at that table, and no doubt the ratepayers at the elections would express their opinion on the questions at issue between the Council and himself. The Council had passed a resolution that the 'Town! Clerk should be the executive Officer of-^the* Council, and he should take care in future to leave to him those many little matters in respect to which it was necessary action should bo taken at once, and without waiting a fortnight for the next Council meeting. Ho fe .red this would not work satisfactorily, but that would be the Council's look out. Councillor MiLLssupported the motion, and took exception to the Mayor's view. The Mayor explained that he referred to those matters which required instant action. In future all orders would havei:o be given by the Town Clerk,, but there'was'no doubtTtHovp' • ought to proceed from the Mtafor. J I ill Councillor Mills regretted that the Mayor , should tnk->, umbrage at the action of tho Council, which he evidently had taken in a wrong spirit, and in consequence should abdicate his own duties. The Mayor remarked that Councillor Mills evidently did not himself understand the effect of the Council's recent action. ¦ ¦> , 1 Councillor GREENFiELDthoughJ; the Town Clerk had gone quite beyona"-his power, for when the Mayor directed him to write to tho Solicitor for certain necessary documents, Mr./ Hester had the impertinence to add on his own authority that there was no safe place to keep them if they were sent. Councillor Rainib held that the motion was to define the power of the Mayor, who was simply the chairman qf 'the" Council, from ¦which alone all authority iriust proceed. He should support the motion. Councillor Cleland opposed dt.' / ./ . . , -17 j Councillor J.A..Ali^an said he. had noticed ' several times, with much' pain, a tendency on the part of the Mayor to snub the Town Clerk for doing What appeared^ to him to Too' hisldalyVF The Mayor' (indignantly)— l most "flatly deny that I have ever snubbed the Town Clerk, or have ever done anything towards him which one gentleman might not do towards another. Councillor Allan's statement is utterly incorrect', bo much: >so rtlfat'Mtettm I hardly bo made in. mistake.. It iaf wholly inaccurate, and I might almost say untrue. Councillor Mass wished to express his opinion on the matter, - ~. t , The MAtQH— You are too late, ~l ' <! ' r ' ''' l Councillor Moss— But af any' rate' 1 may ypte. 1 The Mayor— Then sit down and vote. ' Councillor J. A. -Allan—Do you! still refuse * me permission to withdraw the motion, ?-J The Mayor— l do. It is a matter'purely personal to myself, a distinct vote of censure qn me. For some tiraerpast, I haye seen,,wiUi regret a tendency on, the pajrt (i df 'the Council to oppose and obstruct me at every- step and an attempt to destroy confidence in me, Councillor Allan especially ever since .he hag bee« elected has done aH in'nis^power'tofofii ' pose me, although he has not the slightest knowledge of the Council's business. The motion then was put and noydteivis J given, but the Mayor called for a division, when the votes were as follows : — Ayes : Councillors Gsorge, Ramie, J. A. Allan, Moss, and Mills. Noes: Councillors Greenfle!d>:Cleland, G. Alleu ; and Dixou., - ! dil'Vi! Councillor Moss— Your Worship, lias not voted. The Mayob— l shall not vote. -¦ • . , y ., T/v Councillor Moss — But you must.' ' ' r " J - />v The Mayor— No I won't. It is a matter affecting me personally, and therefore it would be higljy improper for me to vote. Councillor Cleland thought the Mayor was, obliged by the rules to vote. If he did so, tli'p votes would be equal, wfyen he also cpuld give a casting yote. < sts t The Mayqiv declined to vote, and declared, the motion carried, /'>• •;• , THE WATER RATE^ < The Mayor said he should -not proceed with the'motion of which'h'e Had given notice, relative to striking a water rate, as the Town Clerk had chosen, on his own authority, to obtain an opinion from the jCity fiolipitor that"} it would be illegal to do so* ,f J 1 | % I \ 1 Afj The Town Clerk said" that'he had merely asked Mr. Traver's opinion privately, but he thought it his duty po Jet the Mayor know what it was. ' • : The Mayo«? remarked that it appeared to .be a public opinion obtained privately;'/ Jlo'w-' F ever, the Council had chosen to leave tho direction of everything to the Town Clerk, who, no doubt, would himself propose a water rate when he saw fit. , r •; , <ro'[> n 1(Councillor George thought, the .Mayor was taking a most extraordinary course. He regretted there should be any difference between the Mayor and the City Solicitor. The, Mayor said there '¦ was ,rione. He always asked the Solicitor's opinion on any question touching which he was in any doubt. , In this case he had no doubt at all. '>J ' ' Jl '"' '- Councillor Cleland did not see why they should recognise a private opinion. The Mayor said the Council had put all power into the hands of the Town Clerk, and must abide by the consequences,of thphvowa action. He refused to proceed with the motion. SHOULD TOWN CLERK-JURA. SOUIQeiOTg+I A Councillor Cleland moved, pursuant to notic(5 — " That, in the opinion ot this Council, the time has now arrived when the office of - Town Clerk should be filled by a solicitor. The ' Mayor seconded the motion "pro forma, in order that Kemight'have ih'e opportunity of stating that, in his opinion, there was no department more in need of thorough reorganisation than ' that of the Town Clerk. He had heard only lately that a report was being industriously > circulated that he himself was seoking the office of Town Clerk. Not only had suph a thing never entered his mind, but ho would not take the office even if offfered to him. His ambition took quite a different direction, and the report .was utterly r» untrue and unfounded. ;' "" ''"'•'•"' Councillor, George opposed the motion, and advocated leaving the matter to* the* new " Council. He condemned 'the present " triangular duel ?' - which was always going on between- the Mayor, the Town Clerk/and tUeyCjty Solicitor, „' ' , ( '-.¦ .',, "* f I Councillor Grbenfieu) came to.th'eiCpuncll • , intending to oppose the motion, but now should*' support it, for he thoiignt-the Town.Clerk')iadU, acted in very bad taste. The Mayor jbaa^'beeri' .put in his present position by the 'ratepayers, and was entitled to a certaindegree of .respect* j which the Town Clerk seemed not to give, lie moved the adjournment of the debate. >, , >-^ This was carried. " CITY BOUNDARIES. Councillor George withdrew' hfs motion '' relative to the city boundaries on ttie, £f ayor strongly opposing it, and expressing^ Is Opinion that it would be giving un a most important principle, 'to tho grave7 disadvantage of Ine ratepayers.- ' • • " '"''•¦• ¦* OTHER MATTER. (J O O O Several other routine mattersweredealtlwijth, -and the Council adjourned at 7 p.m. '•••-¦ ; '» > i I f.' >UTF->A% WHW