HARBOR BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 771, 10 December 1886, Page 11

HARBOR BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the City Council was held on Monday night, for the purpose of considering the Committee’s alterations in the amendments proposed by the Harbor Board. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Quick, Edwards, Richardson, Williams, Young, Smith, Brandon, Coombe, Petherick, and McKenzie. It was decided to take the clauses seriatim. Clause 1 was struck out.

Clause 2 was agreed to. Clause 3 (already published with the Committee’s alterations). Councillor Quick (chairman of the committee) thought that the Committee’s proviso that nothing in this part of this clause shall authorise the Harbor Board to interfere in the sites of the boatsheds, should be struck out, and the Board’s amendment agreed to. The Harbor Beard, he said, were by Legislature appointed custodians of the harbor, and he did not think that they should be deprived of the power of erecting jetties, &c., as set out in the amendment. Looking to the harbor, he said, it would be seen that it was advisable to run out jetties along the foreshore. Councillor Smith thought it would be unwise to restrict the Harbor Board from erecting jetties, &c. The Boardought to know better than they did the requirements of the harbor. Councillor Richardson would like to know what was meant in the Board’s amendment by “other structures.” If they meant wharves or sheds, that would shut out the view of the esplanade. He would not submit to the proviso being cancelled. If the Board intended to spoil the approach to the harbor by running out jetties, he did not think the Council, in the interests of the ratepayers, should agree to it. The Mayor thought the amendment with regard to “other structures” rather vague, and would vote against Councillor Quick’s motion. Councillor Petherick thought he could enlighten them on that subject. The Board’s engineer, he said, had clearly stated that the •“ other structures ” meant the erection of sheds or stores on the Btaging. The Board, he said, had no idea whatever of encroaching on the harbor by erecting wharves, Councillor Williams said that if they agreed to the Board’s amendment the Board would have absolute power to do what they pleased with that part of the contract. By such au aet the Council would lose all power except a nominal one, and he did not think they would gain anything by their generosity. Councillor Brandon also opposed Councillor Quick’s motion. On being put the motion was lost.

Clauses 4 and 5 were agreed to by the Committee.

Clause 6.—The Committee’s recommendation that the Council's clause providing that the boatshed sites should commence from the extension of Cuba-street, was unanimously agreed to. The latter part of the Council’s clause, to the effect that the Boating Clubs should have the right to reclaim and erect boathouses on such reclamation, had been struck out by the Harbor Board. It was decided, after some dieeußawn, to re-insert it.

Clause 7.—Councillor Quick thought that the latter part of the Council’s original clause, to the effect that the jetties or staging should be constructed according to plans and specifications to be approved by the Council, and that should the Harbor Board create any tenancies over, and receive rent for any part of the said jetties or staging, one half part of the rent should be paid over to the Corporation, which the Committee had re-inserted, should be struck out. The first part of the Board’s amendment, which the Committee altered by only allowing the Board to construct the proposed publio landing steps and gridiron for small boats in the distance between the western and eastern side of Cuba-street, instead of between the preceding 50 feet and the part reserved under clause 6 for the boathouse site, was agreed to. Councillor Quick said, with reference to the latter part of the clause, that it appeared a narrowminded way of dealing with the Board, and he would move that it be struck out. This was seconded by Councillor Petherick. Councillor Young thought they had better be on the safe side and leave the clause as it was. Councillor Williams was also in favor of the clause being retained. On being put, Councillor Quick’s motion was lost, and the clause retained.

Clause 8 was agreed to. Clause 9.-—The Committee’s recommendstions to this clause were agreed to. Councillor Quick moved that the report be adopted a 3 altered. Carried. Mr Brandon thought that it would facilitate matters by appointing a committee to back up the Council’s amendments to confer with a similar committee from the Harbor Board. He would move to that effect. Councillor Young seconded the motion, remarking that such a course would considerably hasten the bringing about of a final settlement between the two bodies. The Mayor did not see any reason for appointing a committee. If the Council took up a strong position and insisted on the Harbor Board agreeing to the amendments, the difficulty would soon be get over. He would oppose Councillor Brandon’s motion. In reply to the Mayor, Councillor Brandon said that the Committee should consist of Councillors Quick, Richardson, and the mover. The Mayor now said that the motion was out of order, as the present Committee had all power to deal with the matter. Councillor Brandon moved that the Committee should give their reasons to the Board for the amendments. Councillor Young seconded'.-. The. Mayor, did nob think the Council should be responsible to the Board; and if reasons were to be given to anyone, it should be to the ratepayers. Councillor Coombe thought it was simply a game of “shuttlecock,” the agreement being sent from one body to tho other. He thought the Council should make a firm stand in the matter. On being put the motion was lost. The Council then rose.