CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume 12869, Issue 12869, 19 July 1906, Page 8

CITY COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last evening 5 present the Mayor (Mr Lawrence), Crs Gore, Crust, Arkle. Loudon, Walker, Oomior, Wilson, Rutherford, Cole, Shacklock, Harrison, Fiddis, Small, Burnett, Scott, Brinsley, and White.

Cr Wilson moved tho adoption of the. Works Committee's report. Ho said that the formation of recently widened roadways—King Edward street, Main South road, Forbury road—was urgently required. The traffic on the tram liues was at present vciy heavy, and whon the roads were r.efoimed 'the traffic would be largely diverted from the tram lines.—Gr Cole se'eonded.— The report was adopted after discussion, an am. ndment being put, but not seconded Cr Burnett moved the adoption of the Reserves Commit ee's report! Ho said that the Committee regretted having to decline applications by Messrs Thcomin and W. Livingston to constrret a. gateway entrance across portion of the Town Belt to Mr Theomin's residence, and to make a metalled road on the Town Belt from the gate of Mr Livingston's premises in Royal terrace to the road behind ; but the Committee felt th.it if they allowed these privileges to one, others would claim exactlv the same privileges.—A lot of discussion on the wisdom or injustice of these refusals was indulged in, and it was mentinned that no such privilege had been granted for years.—Cr Walker put it in a nutshell when he said that the Council had no power to grant these privileges.—Cr Burnett put it more clearly when he stated that their legal advice showed them that whereas they could not prevent any man from walking through the Town Belt to hi, premises, they prevent him from driving through the Belt.—Cr Cruet (an ex-chairman of the Reserves Committee) said that no permission to make roadwuvs or private entrances to property adjoining the Bolt bad boon granted in his time. Where such roadways existed at present the owners mi -ht before long be startled to find them blocked by being fenced off. lie agre d that the Council had neither right nor power to "rant S"ch permission. —The re-port was then adopted. CV Brinsley moved the adoption of the Electric Power and Lighting Committee's report.—The report was adopted.—Cr Brin ley moved as a supplementary report —'• That the portion of the electrical engineer's report of the 11th June (already publ.shed in these columns) relating to charges for supply of electrical energy for power and lighting purposes be adopted." The matter was urgent, and the Cominittiv thought the charges recommended by Mr Goodman should be accepted and advertised for the benefit of intending consumers. The question of staff could be con later. —Cr Wh.te seconded the report. It was iinjiortant that the citizens should know what the cost of electric light was going to bo, as compared with gas.—Cr Wilson: Will the recommended appointments to staff come before the Council ?—The Mayor : Certainly.—Cr Brinsley said he would' get a comparative statement of the co t of gas and electricity for lighting.—Tho report was then adopted. The report of the Public Library Building Committee recommended that "the tender of Messrs J. and R. Scott for hot-water heating for the Carnegie Free Public Library Building for the sum of £594 be accepted, and that four extra radiators beyond what is shown in (he drawings he installed, at a cost of £4O. as rccommendf" l by the architects. The report also stated that Mr R. ,7ohn?ton had been appointed clerk of works for the Carnegie Library Building at a salary of £4 10s per week, and that the offer of the contractors to substitute Oamaru stone in place of cement facines, etc., for the «.m cf £859 in the library buildings had been declined.—Cr Srott moved and Cr Brinsley seconded the adoption of the report, which was agreed to. Mr G. M. Barr's charges for the construction of filter bed- in the Leith were referred to the Water Committee for a report, a;; was also the nnestion of the sunolv of wter to Tnslvn anrl : n "t"n. Reports from other committees were adopted with practically no disoussion.