CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 45, 21 August 1908, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

COMMITTEES' REPORTS.

VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS. The Wellington City Council mot la&t night, tho Mayor (Hon. T. W. Hislop) presiding. There wero also presentCouncillors J. P. Luke, •F. Cohen, T. j Ballinger, W. H. Hales, G. Shirtcliffe, I F. M. B. Fisher, A. S. Biss, R. Fletcher, T. Carmichael, and W. H. Morrah. RESERVES. The Baths and City* Reserves Committee recommended — (1) That the application of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council for permission to use the Basin Reserve ori" Labour Day, the 10th October, with permission to make a charge for admission, be granted on the usual conditions. (2) That scrub between the footpath in the Botanical Gar- | dens and the Botanical Gardens-road, be cut down. (3) That accounts amounting to £38 7s 9d, as per schedule attached, be gassod for payment. (4) That the reserve at Grass-street bo efficiently fenced; and (5) That there be placed on record the committee's approval of the action of the Commissioner of Police in stationing constables in the Botanical Gardens. This report was adopted. BY-LAWS AND STREET-LIGHTING. The By-laws and Street-lighting Committee recommended — (1) That the application of Mr. George Frost, for permission to build at Vallance-street, Kitbirnie, be granted, provided the frontage is increased from Bft to 12ft, and subject to the" conditions imposed by the city engineer. (2) That the track arc lamp near Mem-street be moved to the corner of Hall-street at an estimated cost of £4. (3) That in order to improve the lighting of Mem-street, the trees on the eastern side of Daniel-street be trimmed. (4) That Mr. Wiren be informed that the council cannot construct steps or ramps from the formed portion of the roadway to his section at North-terrace, but he will be allowed to construct steps on tho street for approach to his section, provided that same are constructed to the approval of the city engineer. The committee -reported that during tjie month of July last, 107 lamps in the city and 13 in Karorl wero renewed. .The report was adopted. FINANCE AND PROPERTY. The Finance and Property Committee reported — (1) That the Kelburne and Karori Tramway Co. be permitted to take a fin water service off the main in Upland-road into a. tank, the service to be metered and a ball cock and stop cock be fixed on to the- supply to the tank. The water supplied to be charged for at the rate of is 6d per thousand (gallons as registered by meter. (2) That tho city engineei be instructed to proceed with the erection of public conveniences at the junction of Featherston-street and Lambton-quay, and that Martin's Fountain be shifted to the reserve at Oriental Bay. (3) That' the. application for the construction of a footpath from the Karori Tunnel to a point near the intersection of tho Main Karori, Creswick and Old Karon roads be granted, the estimated cost being £50. (4) That the footpath be formed full width in portion of Owen-street, the owne" consenting to the batter running on his land at an estimated cost of £12. (5) That the Newtown Congregational Church authorities be informed that its application for a crossing at Constable-street could not be acceded to at present. (6) That the application of the Wellington Professional Orchestra to' be added to the list of bands subsidised by tho council, be- not granted. (7) That the wages of the undermentioned employees be as follows : — A". Wilton, custodian To Aro Baths, £175 per annum; A. Firth, custodian Thbrndon Baths, £130 per annum. Reserves :G. White, Bolton-street Cemotery, 9s per day; W. Dobson, custodian Basin Reserve, £3 per week; L. Brewer, custodian Newtown Park, £3 per week, without light allowance; J. Heath, custodian Nairn-street Reserve, etc., 9s per day; J. Quilici, Botanical Gardens (an old servant of the council), 8s 6d per day. (8) That the sum of £900 be paid to Mr. G. Denton in settlement | of his claim for land taken at the Karori watershed. (9) Th'afc accounts amounting to £7637 15s 4d, as per schedule attached, be passed for payment. (10) The committee present herewith statement of receipts and expenditure up to the 31st July, 1903. The report was adopted on the motion of Councillor J. P. Luke. ITRE BRIGADE. Superintendent Wm. S. O'Brien submitted the following report on resolutions passed at a, conference of volunteer firemen, held on the 18th day of May, 1908:— "(1) That all hose should be examined once a month. This 'is a duty for which the men in charge of these stations are paid a retaining fee, and it is paid on the understanding that they are responsible for the safo keeping and good order of all appliances provided. Should any repairs be required it is their place to report to /headquarters, when it will be at once rectified. Periodical visits are paid by myself and one of my officers. (2) That the City Council should send out a lecturer or instructor to the different brigades once a month. This is carried out and has always been done when the strength of brigade will allow it or weather permit. (3) That firemen should have free use of tramcars when on duty and be supplied with badges for use when not in uniform. I would recommend that badges similar to those used by tho Fire Police Corps be issued to Island Bay, Brooklyn, and Kilbirnie brigades; the' Kelburne brigade will not require them, not having the tram service in their district. (4) That plans of each district showing fir© plugs should be supplied to the respective brigades. These plans are being prepared. (5) That a general call from the Superintendent be given to all suburban brigades to muster all men so that he knows his full strength in case of "emergency. These brigades' were formed to protect their own district. No number of calls as proposed would ever give me an idea as to their strength. I base that on the roll book. Calls have been given to each brigade at intervals, and I consider that is nil that is necessary in that direction. (6) That uniforms be supplied to men after three mon.ths' service in place of six mouths. I consider this a reasonable request. (7) That the City Council should be approached with reference to paying men left to watch fires. These men being volunteers, no pay is allowed for extinguishing a fire, but in the case of watching premisses after a fire is extinguished that is a matter of arrangement with the insurance company interested ; in such case tho officer in charge of brigade 'attending the fire will make arrangements. The pay for such duty being two (2) shillings per honr. (8) The conference also takes exception to uniform being issued to fifteen members of each brigade, and that the uniform should include byott> and pants. Considering the big expense in fitting these brigades out with uniform I would suggest that the request that uniform be issued to more than fifteen men be not entertained, as the efficiency obtained does nob warrant the expense. Boot 3 aro an article of uniform not required by this branch of the service at present ; they are only issued to the permanent staff. The request for trousers is a reasonable one because the uniform is not complote- without them. List of Requirements. — Kelburne — J, firebell L 1 additional branch^

1 life line ; 1 single headed hydrant ; water laid on to station. KilbLmie — 1 additional branch, I life line, reerection of present bell, water laid on to station. Island Bay — 1 fire bell, 1 additional branch, 2 lamps for reel, 1 life line, water laid on to station. Brooklyn ■ — 1 additional bell, 1 additional branch, life line. The fire appliances at present provided are sufficient for the requirements of the respective districts. Water services. Island Bay and Kelburne. — As tho necessity does not warrant the expense I cannot recommend this connection. In the caso of Kilbirnie your committee have in view the removal of the present station, and on that account I would recommend that this request be also refused. Tho Fire ' Brigade Committee recommended :—: — (1.) That Garmichael he appointed, to the committee. (2.) That furniture, etc., amounting to £15 16s be obtained for tho Newtown Fire Station. (3.) That the superintendent's replies to the requests of the conference of volunteer firemen for various plant, uniforms, etc., be sent to the conference, with the exception of his reply to request No. 8, tho committee not recommending the granting of same. (4.) That notice be' given on the Ist September to the auxiliary firemen as to the alteration in pay, as under : — Auxiliary firemen will receive pay in accordance with the following scale : — Men in charge of stations, £10 per annum; firemen, £7 10s per annum. In addition to the retaining fees, pay will be allowed for attendance at fires in accordance with tie following scale : — Auxiliary firemen, first hour, 3s; auxiliary firemen, for each subsequent hour, 2s. No pay will be granted for attendance at drills, false alarms, or chimney fires, unless under special circumstances, and .no fireman will be entitled to receive pay under this schedule for services at any fire -.unless he shall havo received orders to attend such fires from his superiors. The ringing of the firebell to constitute an order for all firemen to turn out. (5.) That accounts amounting to £29 15s 2d, as per schedule attached, be passed for payment. > Councillor Ballinger, in moving the adoption of the report, said with refeience to clause 4 that there were no auxiliary men in charge of stations at present. The item was included in order to provide future requirements. In answer to Councillor Biss, tha chairman stated that freo use of tramcars was only to be allowed when men were attjending fires. Continuing, ho oxplained that there had been some negotiation with reference to a station at Wadestown. The proposed work 1 would cost £100, and tho committee, owing to want of funds, was not in a position to recommend a station there at present. By next year a new station would be erected at Kilbirnie, and the Kilbirnie Station could be removed to Wadestown. The report was adopted. LEGISLATION AND LEASEHOLDS. The Legislation and Leaseholders' Committee reported that it had received an application from the Mutual Life Association for the elimination of the provision imposed by the council requiring the association to build within two yearb. The committee recommended that the application be granted, provided the lessees agree to commence building operations immediately upon the expiration of their present lease, which has nearly six years to run. Councillor Fisher explained that the application was principally based upon a desire to avoid having to compensate subtenants. The Mayor said it seemed to him that it was a bad thing that the council should penalise its good tenants by mailing them pay higher than the bad tenants who had not put up good buildingß. It seemed to him that was the effect of what the council had been doing. The committee's recommendation was adopted. LIBRARIES. The Libraries Committee recommended : (1) That the receipt of the following gifts to the Newtown Museum should be acknowledged withthanks : Mr. A. Forbes Orr, Hindoo carved ivory ; walking-stick; Mr. Roberts, nest and specimens of the red mason fly ; Rev. D. C. Bates, specimens of trapdoor spiders' nest and spiders from Oamaru ; Mr. E. W> Petherick, one large iguana and one Californian puma. (2) That the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire be informed that the council regrets it is unablo to add the Public Library to the list of subscribers. (3) That Harmsworfch's. atlas be obtained for the Public Library. (4) That accounts amounting to £136 4s lOd, as per schedule attached, be passed for payment. The report was adopted on tho motion of Councillor Cohen, in the absence of the chairman hi the committee. TRAMWAYS. The Power Stations and Tramways Committee recommended : (1) That the tender of Messrs. C. A. Parsons and Co. be accepted for the supply of a, turbo alternator for the lighting department. (2) That tenders be called for the supply of 310 meters for the lighting department, delivery to be within six months. (3) That tenders be called for the supply of tho rails and materials for th 6 proposed tramway extension to Maranui, with a vie%v to the work being proceeded with. (4) That the tender of the Electric Construction Company, Ltd., be accepted for the supply of the 750 kilowatt tramway set. (5) That the resolution of the council passed on the 26th March, 1908, agreeing to connect new premises to lighting mains free, provided the cost does not exceed £2, bo rescinded, and that in lieu thereof, new premises up to 40fo from the lighting mains be connected free of coat. (6) That accounts amounting to £1592 18s, as per schedule attached, be passed for payment. The committee had to report that it had considered the recommendations of the Electrical Engineer with reference to the cash office staff, and the proposed discontinuance of the sectional return and return of accidents included in the four-weekly tramway returns at present supplied to the council, and advised that his recommendations be adopted. On the motion of Councillor Ballinprer, tho recommendations, fxcopting clause (1), were adopted. This clause was leferred back to the committee.

A droll domestic comedy was staged at tlin Christchurch Magistrate's Court on Wednesday morning. The trouble started within a "private bar," but not in a hotel. A man named August Ullrich applied to have one .of his sons bound over (to keep the peace, and the examination of the father by counsel (Mr. M. Donnelly), for the defendant produced some acusing passages. "What about this private bar that you keep?" asked Mr. Donnelly. Ullrick*(reports the Press) explained that he was a cooper employed by a brewery, and was allowed two gallons of beer a week from the brewery, and kept it in a shed. His family would not let him call a friend in to share the beer with him, and he had to drink it himself or throw it away. In reply to another question from Mr. Donnellyj complainant stated that his family grudged him sugar and milk for tea, and consequently beer was more palatable. He did not drink whisky with the beer. "You hay« your tea with a pitchfork lying across your knoes," said Mr. Donnelly. "That was about two years ago. When I had the pitchfork I could cat my meals in com1 IpiV rejolied Ullrich*