CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Post, Volume XVI, Issue 284, 30 November 1878, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

: *_ The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last night. Present— His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Allen, Maginnity, Thompson, Hunter, Miller, \ouog, Logan, Direr, Moss, Greenfield, and Fisher. A letter was read from the City Surveyor with reference to an alleged encroachment by Mr. W. W. Taylor, on tho Te Aro foreshore. He enclosed a memo from the City Solicitor, stating that he (Mr. Travers) found, on searching^ a t tho Deeds Registry Office, that Mr. W. W. Taylor had no title whatsoever to the land on which he was building. He thought it would be necessary that the Corporation should at once g\ve Mr. Taylor notico that the land in- question is their property under the Te Aro foreshore grant, and warn him against using it. On the motion of Councillor Moss, it was resolved that the matter be referred to a committee, consisting ot the Mayor, and Councillors Thompson, ¦ Logan, Magtnnlty, and Allen. It was resolved to accede to a request of the Secretary of the Foresters' Fete Committeo, that the Mayor and Council would give their patronage to the sports on Boxing Day. A letter was read from Mr. Johnson, Inspector of Nuisances, reporting that a number of informations were recently laid by himself at the R.M. Court, against persons for allowing horses to wander. After some discussion it was found the Trespass Act of 1846, undor which the informations were laid, had been repealed by the Impounding Act of 1874. The lattor did not contain any provision as to horses wandering in the pubiic streets. This being so, and no bye-laws being in force for the purpose of impounding the animals, or prosocuting the owners, he (the Inspector) was powerless in the matter. Hb added that the matter was one of great importance. In reply to a question, the Inspector said that the by-laws were printed, but owing to some informality they were not in force. It was resolved to refer the matter to the City Solicitor. Councillor Miller thought the City Solicitor had neglected his duty in not looking into the matter before. The Mayor said that Mr. Travers had been frustrated in his endeavors by tho action of tho Legislature, and therefore it was hardJy fair to censure him before he was heard. A letter was read from the City Surveyor in reply to a question asked by Councillor Fisher, stating that under their agreement tho Trnmway Company were bound to convey roa'l metal, &c, for tho corporation, free of charge. At present he did not think tho Council could advantageously make uso of this right. Councillor Fisher moved that the Town Clerk apply to the Government for a copy cf Mr. Halei's report on the tramway, and inquire whether the Government intend to take action thereon. The motion was agreed to. A letter was read from Mr R Somerville, asking tho Council to compel the Tramway Company to comply with the requirements of the act, as to the engines being smokeless and steamless, speed, and keeping the roadway in proper repair, &c. He also referred the Council to Mr. Hales' report, in which it was stated that, the carriages were eight inches wider than allowed by the act. It was resolved to consider the letter when the Council bad Mr. Hales' report before them. I The Council then proceeded to the discussion of the Public Works Report. With reference to applications from Mr. P. Vautier and Mr. Spiller for loave to construct wooden houses on the Terrace and Boulcottstreet, the Mayor pointed out that granting permission involved the alteration of a by-law. Councillor Fishbr thought it would bd hard on the parties if they were not allowed to build in wood. The ground was precipitous, and it was dangerous to build in brick. It was resolved that the City Engineer prepare a plan with a view to exclude the Terrace from the action of the by-law in question. On the clause recommending that clause 16 in the Fire Brigades Committee's Report, adopted 25th July, 1878 (stipulating that the brigades should not canvass for subscriptions), be struck out, Councillors Thompson and Dithr pointed out that the brigades would be unable to maintain their present high state of efficiency unless they were allowed to appeal to the public. The clause was then passed. A long discussion took place with reference to the streets proposed to be formed and levelled. Councillor Logan suggested that it would be better to allow the work to stand over until the Council considered the raising of a loan for the making of unmade streets. Councillor Maginnity presented a petition from nine inhabitants of Pirie-street, against the street being levelled. He added that he thought effect might be given to the resolution already on the books, for the borrowing of £50,000 by bringing it before the ratepayers tor their assent. Councillor Milt.br presented a petition from fifteen residents in Pirie-strfcet. In favour of the levelling. Councillor Fisher strongly urged that Adelaide-road should be mado. : Councillor Young safd that nil the street I named should be made at once. The streets I and footpaths of Wellington were the worst in, New Zealand. (Cries of " No.") After some further discussion it was resolved —Councillor Allen alone dissenting— that Hawker-street, Daniel-»»reet, Coromandel-, street, Osren-street, and Adelaide-road, be metalled, &c, as recommended by the committee. Councillor Allen explained that he was very anxious that the streets should be Oiadft, but his reason for opposing was that he believed that the Council had already exceeded their legal over-draft at the Bank. He thought they should first get a loan. It was resolved that the levels of Pirio and Brougham streets be simply fixed for the present, and the streets metalled at a cost of disc* 1 " 169'I 69 ' ° f the report WM adopted without The following tenders were opened :— Birch logs.— E. Greenwood, £80 (accepted). , Kerblng Tinakori Road.-J. Morrison, £3, 11s 6d (accepted). Formation Roxburgh-street.— John Dooly. £449; C. M'Kirdy, £372 8s (accepted); J.. £6 6 S d ;T.'jf v ! 8 i.56 Pa(laey ' £^ ; It was resolved to consider the applications (27 in numbar) for the post of night watchman at the Boulcott-street Tower, tt a special meeting on Monday next, at 4 p.m. Councillor Fisher asked what had been done by the Wharf Committee with reference to the cask of brandy, ex St. Louis, alleged to have been broached ?, Councillor Miller said that it was still under consideration, but as far as it had gone at present the committee were quite convinced that the robbery took place on board the ship. Councillor Fibhbr obtained permission to postpone his motion as to the retention of Mr, D. Clirale as Drainage Engineer until the next meeting. Councillor Fishbr moved, "That with a view to the removal of the nightsoil depot from its present site at Newtown, the Inspector of Nuisances be instructed»to select a site beyond the limits of the city." Councillor Divkk said that the existence of the present nuisance was dangerous to the Hvpb of the residents in the locality. The motion was carried. On the motion of Councillor Moss, it was resolved to pass as a by-law and add to the hackney carriage regulations the following ;— "No owner, driver, or conductor of any licensed carriage shall carry, or permit to bo carried, to. or" upon any guch carriage, any coffin or deceased human body.", At the conclusion of the ordinary business, Councillor Hunter, on behalf ' of the Council, warmly congratulated his Worship the Mayor on his re-election. The Mayor said he felt much gratified by this mark of their confidence. Had he not fait that he had the confidence of a majority of the Council he should not have offered himself for re-election. During his candidature he had noticed an impression in the minds of the public that the power possessed by the Mayor was very much greater than it actually was. He thought the sooner this impression wns set right the better. Hb own intention was, as much as possible, to make every department work on its own responsibility.' (H,ear, hear.) He thought he might saj*that during the past year he hadjb#en slow to take tod much upon hi* own responsibility. Tho ¦ J&" < • ¦ c

impromptu meetings to which reference hoi fcsen made were really called to take the advice of tbe Council on matters on which ha would not act upon his own r isponsibiUty, and there not be sufficient time f> call an ordinary meeting of the Council. It was his anxious desire that the office of Mayor should bs more in the shape which the position of Speaker of the House took. He did not think it advisable that a Mayor should bring forward motions, because, being naturally anxious to carry those motions, he would be liable to become a partisan instead of simply holding the reins and guiding the Council. Councillor Divbr having called attention to the defective ventilation of the Council Chambsr, Tbe Council adjourned.