MEETINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 771, 10 December 1886, Page 10

MEETINGS.

WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of the City Council was heldlaatFridaynighfeintheCouncil Chambers* Present—His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Petherick, McKenzie, Young, Coombe, Brandon, Smith, Edwards, Danks, Richardson, Williams. OFFERS FOR CEMETERY SITE. The Mayor stated that five offers had been received for the cemetery site. The matter was referred to the Cemetery Committee. TOWN HALL COMMITTEE. The report of the Town Hall Committee (already published) was considered. Councillor Coombe, Chairman of the Committee, in moving the adoption of the report said that he hoped the Council would look at it from a fair and practical point of view. He /- estimated that the twelve offices on the ground floor would bring in a rental of £SOO a year ; the smaller hall, £l7O a year; and the other hall, he thought, would bring the estimated rent up £750. The cost, he said, would be £15,000, which he thought could be borrowed in the London market at per cent. He pointed out that there was not a place in the city fit to hold a ball or concert,. and a building like the proposed hall was sadly needed. The building, he said, would be of considerable advantage in supporting the charitable aid of the' city, for the reason, that concerts could be given in a building which would hold a large number of people. It would be a great boon to the musicians of the city. He was surprised that the musical portion of the public had shown so much, apathy in the matter. He felt assured thais, if the money was advanced it would be well, spent—the building would be self-support-ing. Councillor McKenzie said he would Beeoad the motion, aud hoped that the report Would proceed to the City Solicitor for the purpose of getting his opinion as to whether the money could be raised. With regard to the utility of the building, there was no need of discussion on the matter. He thoroughly coincided with Councillor Coombe on the question of having twelve or thirteen offices, on the ground floor, which, he thought, could be let at a rental of £1 per week. Councillor Young asked if any tenders had been received on which to base the cost of the new building ? The Mayor .- I think not.

Councillor Young went on to say that, although Councillor Coombe had said it would cost £15,000, be felt sure it would cost considerably over that in the long run. Councillor Danko would very much like to see a town haJ ’ erected, but he thought

the streets wanted repairing first. He did not think the Corporation finances could permit of the outlay. It was a serious mistake, he said, on the part of the Council to entertain the idea of building a town hall. He ,alluded to a remark Councillor Coombe had made in moving the adoption of the report, that one of the halls in the new building would be better than the Athenfeum. How, he did not see why they should enter into competition with the Athenaeum. Councillor Richardson would support the motion, and felt assured that the Finance Committee would recommend that the loan he raised; He would like to know whether the Council were hound to adopt the present plans of the building. He had a great objection to the hall being up stairs. With reference to Councillor Danks’ remarks about the state of the streets, he said they would have to be repaired, whether the hall was procured or not. ' Councillor Smith opposed the motion. He did not think that the city required a town ball, at least for a number of years, and he said they had better let the matter drop for a while. j,. Councillor Edwards would support the motion, because it was a rule of his always to support things that were harmless, and he did not see that there was any harm in supporting a proposal to hand the matter oyer to the Finance Committee for consideration of the best means of getting the money. He did not like the idea of letting offices in the now building—it was beneath the dignity of a town hall—and he objected to the hall being upstairs. Councillor Petherick would certainly support the question of submitting the report to the Finance Committee. As to anything further, he would wait and see if they could see the means of raising the money without making a special rate. The Mayor said he was sorry to see the question of repairing the streets brought up in antagonism to the Town Hall. He was much surprised that Councillor. Danks' had —made a statement to the effect that the finances of the Corporation were in a bad condition. He had been in the Council six years, and he would not hesitate in saying that the finances of the Corporation were never in a better condition than they were now. With regard to the question of competition with the Athenaeum, of course it was to be assumed that the city would advance, and then there would be need, of another hall. He felt sure that there was not one present who would not cordially agree with the statement in the report that the capital city of the Colony should no longer be without Its town hall. They all knew how wretchedly inadequate the present building was for their purposes. He could see no objection to having the hall upstairs, as in other large cities. *He would like to see them go in for something large and comprehensive, a building where they could have a free library and a room set apart for fine arts. He poiuted out that the report did not commit them to anything, and It would do an act of gross discourtesy to the Committee not to adopt it. Councillor Young explained that when he asked Councillor Coombe the estimated cost

of the building, he had no idea of preventing the motion. What he meant was that although Councillor Coombe said it would only cost £15,000, it might mean £25,000, or even more. He would not like Councillors to run away with the idea that it was only ,going to cost £15,000. Councillor Coombe said he would not like Councillor Danks to go away with the idea that the hall was going to be a burden on the ratepayers. The money, he said, that would be expended on that building would not be thrown away. He hoped it would be a reproductive work. The report was adopted. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE.

The report of the above Committee, with the exception of clause 15—that tenders be called for a supply of cast-iron tap covers for bot water services—was adopted. HARBOR BOARD COMMITTEE. Councillor Richardson, in the absence of Councillor Quick, took charge of the above report, and said that as the Council had only recently sat on the matter, he thought the report had better lie on the table, and be considered at a special meeting. He according moved &hat the report be considered at .a special meeting to be held on Monday next. This was seconded by Councillor Brandon .-and carried. The Committee recommended that the Harbor Board’s amendments should be further amended as follows : Clause 3, as to reclamation between the <Qneen’s Wharf and Taranaki-street. The Harbor Board added a proviso, allowing the Board full powentodredge outside the agreed I mq, and erect jetties, &c., thereon. The Committee struck otd; that part of the proviso relating to the erection of jetties, and substituted “ provided that nothing in this part of clause contained shall authorise the Harbor Board to interfere with the sites for boatshed® -referred to in clause 6.”

Clausa 6, as to the boating sheds’ sites. The Board altered this clause so as to provide that the site should commence from a point on ;the agreed line 50ft south of the Cuba-streqt extension. 1 The Committee recommended that the Council’s clause be retained, presiding that the sites should comjanenee from *fche extension of Duba-street. Clause 7, (empowering the Board to erect .quay, jetty, «nd staging as tfar as the boatasbeds’ sites, .and a jetty or quay from 'ffiaranaki-streefc to be constructed on the Corporation plains, and specifications; and providing that one-half of the .money received for any tenancies should go to the Cornoration. The Board amended this by allowing the jetty to be constructed to the eastern face of Cuba-street (produced), and for 50ffc beyond the street. The Committee altered this by allowing the jetty to extend only to Cuba-street (produced), ana reinstated that part of the ei&uee (struck oat by the Board) providing that the work should foe done under the Corporation plans and Specifications, and as to tenancies. city surveyor’s RETORT. This report was read and adopted. \ NOTICES OF MOTION. In accordance with notice, Councillor Young moved, That tenders be called at the end of March, 1887, for the continuation of the Riddiford-street drain up to Newtown Park. Councillor Young said that it was on® of tbs most important works in the city, and

he thought the drainage of Newtown, if not i properly looked after, would affect the whole of the city. .... , ■ Councillor Edwards seconded the motion. Councillor McKenzie did not think the Council should be pledged to do this work without any estimate of the cost being furnished. He thought the wisest course for Councillor Youmr was to obtain the cost of the work from the engineer, or better still, leave it till the beginning of the financial year. .. ... The Mayor suggested that Councillor Young should withdraw his motion. He did not think the drain wsb wanted, nor did he think it a fair thing that the Council should put on the Financia 1 Committee the responsibility of providing money for this drain. The Mayor went on to say that he hoped drainage works would not be done out of the rates. If he were going to remain in the Council he would pile up an overdraft for drainage purposes. He questioned very much the wisdom of passing this motion. , Councillor Richardson strongly opposed the motion. Councillor Coombe thought that Councillor Young should amend his motion by substituting Rhodes - street for Few town Park. ...... Councillor Petherick did not think the Council should pledge the Finance Committee to do this work before they knew what works were wanted for next year. Councillor Brandon opposed the motion, because the Finance Committee had said there was not sufficient funds to do the work. Councillor Young, in reply, said that the Councillors would acknowledge that Cook Ward was the most rapidly growing in the . eity, which was a great reason why it should have more money expended on drainage. He said he would take the opportunity of bringing the matter forward again, but would now withdraw his motion. Councillor Coombe moved that the name of Councillor Edwards be added to the Finance Committee. In doing so, he pointed out that Cook Ward was not represented on the Finance Committee. The Mayor suggested that Councillor Coombe should withdraw his motion, _ and move that the present Committee be revised. He did not think it a question of the different wards being represented, but that the Committee ■ should consist of the best financiers of the. Council. He remarked that the present Committee could be revised with advantage to the Council; Councillor Richardson endorsed the Mayor’s remarks, but thought the proper time for revising the Committee would be the end of the financial year. Councillor Williams thought it was a matter of sentiment that there should be a Councillor from Cook Ward on the Committee. While he had been in the Council the Finance Committee had well • looked after the interests of Cook Ward. Councillor Coombe failed to see the necessity of withdrawing his motion. On being put the motion was lost. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £825 were passed for payment. The Council then rose.