CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 11, 14 January 1881, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

• The fortnightly meeting of the Citf Council was held last night. Present — Connoillors Allen (ia the chair, the Mayor being absent) Diver, Danks, Logan, Brown, Maginnity, Miller, Fiaher, and Stafford. It was decided to hold the meetings fortnightly from last night's meeting, the last ordinary meeting having been skipped owing to the absence of several councillors, ana there being no business of any importance to transact. Councillor Millbb drew attention to tho inferior quality of the dog collars supplied. They were little better than brown paper. The Town Ci/brk said they looked as good as the pample when sent in, but certainly, after being in water, they appeared very "squashy." A letter from Mr. Waters, asking for the use of the outer T of the Queen's Wharf on Anniver-ary Day, was read. Councillor Diver did not know that tho Council had a riarht to grant the permission. He wished to support the regatta, but did not desire to exceed the powers of the Counoil. Counoillor Allek said the wharf had been granted for years for the regatta. Counoillor Mills b said the wharf belonged to the Council, and they had a rieht to do with it as they liked. If people had business, then, of course, they should not be charged for going on the wharf. He would support the granting of Mr. Waters' request. Councillor Danks said the wharf was the ratepayers' property, and ratepayers had a right to use it. Councillor Maoinnity moved that the reqnest bo complied with. It was a recognised principle that peraon3 having business on the wharf were not charged. Councillor Miller seconded the motion, which was carried. A letter was read from Mr. F. M. Ollivier, asking if section 190 of " The Municipal Corporations Act, 1876," had beon complied with. The section has reference to street levels. The Town Clebk Baid a map of the city wai prepared, showing the streets in which the levels had been fixed. Mr. W. T. L. Tbavkbi attended to givd his opinion regarding granting permission to the tramway to effeot a mortgage with the Bank of New Zealand. It was, he said, a mere formal renewal of a mortgage effected by the former proprietary, and he could see no objection to it. It wa3 resolved to grant the requ-sst of the tramway proprietors. Mr. Tbavehs stated that 'ie had not had time to prepare his account of costs in the case of Mr. Climie ; but the whole particulars would be placed in the hands of the Town Ckrk during the week. He thought there would be no further proceedings, and the matter- might be looked upon as practically dropped. The Counoil considered the explanation satisfactory. Mr. Baird forwarded the resignation of Mr. John Barton, assistant surveyor. Messrs. Kelleber and Dealy applied for one month's extension of time for their pipelaying contract. The City Purveyor reported that the work had not been energetically carried out, and recommended that the extension be not granted. Left in the hands of the Engineer. A letter w»b read from the Colonial Secretary, stating that the Government decline

to reconsid'jr their decision not to pay the costs of the Hospital enquiry. R^The question was al'owed to stand over for the present/ Councillor Maoinnity drew attention to the fact that the Government were erecting a wooden building on the Railway Reserve. The City Subvbtob said, under the Public Workß Act, the Government had power to erect any kind of building on the Railway Reserve. Mr. John Smith, of Cuba-street, waited on the Council to complain that they were covering in the Te Aro drain only as far as his property, and this would be liable to create a nuisance near bis premises. He thought the work might be extended as far as the Cuba-street drain. Councillor Allbn said it was not the Council's wish for the work to stop where Mr. Smith said. He understood the land through which the drain ran, which could not be otherwise obtained, would be taken under the Public Works Act. No doubt the Council would take proper steps in the matter. Mr. Smith was informed the Council would consider the matter, and he retired. The reports of the Wharf, Waterworks, Hospital and Charitable Aid, and Public Works Committees (already published in the Post), were read and adopted. The following accounts were passed : — Hospital, £226 8a Id; wharf, £137 Os 9d; general, £2099 13s Bd. The Council then adjourned.

UNION