CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Post, Volume XLII, Issue 129, 27 November 1891, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of tho City Council was held last evening, there being present— The Mayor (Mr. A. W. Brown) and Councillors Potherick, Harris, Frasor, Barber, Smith, Harcourt, Willeston, Worth, Vogel, and Parsons. Apologies were received for tho absence of Councillor Moeller, who iB away in Napier, and Councillor Anderson, who is ill. A letter was read from the Melroso Borough Council, asking that tho fence and other obstructions in Grass-street should be removed, so as to enable acooss to be obtained to tho Kosoneath estate. The matter waa roferred to the Publio Works Committee. Mr. W. H. Quick wrote on behalf of certain residents in Mitoheltown, protesting against the action of the Melrose Council in allowing soapworks to bo orootod in the district, and expressing a hope that the City Conncil would not allow a nuisance to bo felt by the city bnrgesses from tho rofnse of the faotory. The letter was referred to tho City Snrveyor for a report. A letter from Mr. R. Martin and Messrs. B. and E. Tingey, complaining of the manner in which the contract for painting the Fire Brigade Station in Mattners-Htroet ia being oarried out, was roferred to the Fire Brigade Committee. The Connoil considered a report from the Inspector of Buildings drawing attention to the manner in which certain premises are being erected, and on the motion of Councillor Fraser, seconded by Councillor Vogel, it was resolved to enforce compliance with the by-laws. The Corporation Leaseholds By-law was confirmed. The award in connection with tho pnrohaae by the Council of the brick building in Manners-street, formerly used by the Gulcher Electric Lighting Company as a station, was laid before the Council. The award, which was that of Mr. F. Sidoy, the arbitrators (Messrs. J. Lookie and Short.) having disagreed, was that the company fthonlu bo paid £385, each party to pay their own coats. The Mayor regretted that the Conncil had not taken his advice to accopt the company's offer to uell tho building for J6350, as tlio Council hail lost *E42 10s through reference to arbitration. Bio moved that the City Survoyor bo instructed to report as to tho cost of putting tho building in order so that it will be fit for letting. At the request of Councillor Harris the Town Clerk Toad a momo. from the City Snrveyor, valuing tho building to tho Corporation at .£3OO. Councillor Harris maintained that the Conncil were justified in referring the matter to arbitration, and expressed surprise that an architect or builder had not been aoleoted as referee. Councillor Fotiierick thought that the value of the building assessed by Mr. Sidey was too great. He suggested that the building should bo pnt up for leaso. Connoillor Fraser contended that tho Council hod done right in referring the matter to arbitration, as, the slip had been taken in the best interests of the ratepayers. He regretted the tone of the Mayor's remarks, considering that they were not justified. Councillor Worth said hfl took his full ataare of the reproaohei which the Mayor had cast upon the Counoll, but he contended that on the report of the City Surveyor the 'Council bad done but right in referring tho natter to arbitration. He denied most emphatically that tho Council had wasted tnonoy in referring the question to arbitration. The Mayor, ho (inserted, had pressed the Council into reforring Mm Mceoh's olaims regarding Te Aro Baths to the Supremo Court, with the result that the Counml Had Jost heavily. In the matter of breaking gpawls, the Council had nearly suffered a loss through taking his Worship's advico. Councillor vogel also regretted tho Mayor's remarks, and characterised the discussion as a most nnseemlv one. He (Councillor Vogel) thonght that the Council ought to pay more attention to the_ reports of their committees than was now given them. Tho Mayor said that the whole committee were unanimous that JE3SO waa a fair price. Referring to Councillor Worth's remarks about Te Aro Baths, his Worship explained that he had only urged that toe claim of Mrs. Meech should go before the Court, becamo the Council had done all in their power i , to abate tba nmsanpo from the Destruotor. Tho Electric Lighting Committee went into the matter Tory fally, and he regretted that their recommendation to pay £350 had not been adopted. After farther discussion, tho Mayor withdrew his previous motion, and moved that the matter should be referred to the Finance Committee, with power to fix an upset rental and call for tenders. This was seconded by Councillor Vogel, and agreed to. The report of tho Public Works Committee, which has already boon published, was considered. Councillor Fraser moved that tho, clause recommending that the Government should bo requested not to allow advertising on the tolegraph posts in Wellington be struck out, as ho thonght that tho polos might as woll be covered with advertisements as with dodgers, as was now the ease. Connoillor Worth seconded pro

f,ema. Tho amendment was lost, and the Jiiuso whs pas>» <d w in-mrcrt. All the other oiauso.-. uxvu alno adopted without .literati n. On Uio motion of Councillor Vofel, u-condod by Councillor Smith, it was rctolved that prior to any steps being taken under tho Publio Works Act for the taking over of Jlr. Hook'» property, required to continno Allen-street, some official of the Corporation should ei.ter into negotiations for the purchase of the land and report to the Council.