THE CITY COUNCIL AND HARBOR BOARD BILL.

New Zealand Mail, 22 April 1887, Page 11

THE CITY COUNCIL AND HARBOR BOARD BILL.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the City Council was held in the Council Chambers on Monday night, for the purpose of appointing a committee to consider the bill promoted by the Harbor Board in reference to the Te Aro Foreshore, and to watch its progress through Parliament. There were present: The Mayor, Councillors Williams, Edwards, Smith, Coombe, Pefcberick, Brandon, Young, and Richardson. The Mayor said that they were all aware that a resolution was passed at the last meeting of tbe Council in reference to the Bill drafted by the Harbor Board. Mr Martin, {Town Clerk) had seen the Chairman of the Board,, and the resolution bad not been accepted, which meant that the Board intended to push through with the Bill. This Bill was an entire departure from the lines laid -down and agreed to by both bodies, and was materially altered. For instance, there was one provision in reference to the reclamation of the land, that if the Council did not complete part of the reclamation the Board could call upon the Council to complete it. They (the Board) laid out the streets according to their own notions, and they took the right of erection and construction of certain works. These were some of the new phases of the Bill. Another new phase wa3 that they had taken some three or four acres for a graving dock. Councillor Pet he rick : Five acres. The Mayor, continuing, said the present Chairman of the Board had said that they were willing to receive any .suggestions from the Council up to the last moment. Now they said that the Bill was in the House, and they were not prepared to accept any suggestions. The question was a very serious one, because if the Bill was carried the Corporation would be forced to carry out certain reclamations. The matter i f the wharves at Taranakiastreet and Cnba-street were entirely wiped out of the Bill, and the Board was under no obligation. He would formally move the appointment of a Committee. The Town Clerk read a letter from the Secretary of the Harbor Board in answer to one sent by. the Council, with a copy of the resolution passed at the last meeting of the Council, on the recommendation of the Public Works Committee, as follows :—“ In reference to the Bill prepared by the Harbor Board re the Te Aro foreshore, the Committees recommend that (in order that both bodies may join in a Bill on the subject) the Council express its willingness to accept the terms agreed to by the Harbor Board at the time the draft agreement was under consideration, including the Board’s clauses re boatsheds, snbject only to this modification, namely, that a clause be inserted in the Bill }

i providing that if at the end of the first 21 1 years the interests of the port require the removal of the sheds from the proposed site, the Board shall provide another suitable site.” The reply drew tbe attention of the Council to a former letter of the Board, to the s effect that the lodgment of the Bill was uot to be considered as a bar to the consideration by the Board of any modifications or proposals promoted by the Council with a view to their embodiment in the Bill. The letter further stated that the Board was gratified that the Council had seen their way toward the solution of the difficulties between the two bodies, but were of opinion that the matter must be put into a different form before it could be considered as an amendment on the Bill as deposited. They were also of opinion that owing to the lapse of time which had occurred it would be necessary, with a view to ensure that the Bill should have a fair chance of becoming law this session, that any proposals the Council might wish to make would have to partake of the nature of amendments to the clauses of the Bill, and that the time had elapsed in which it would have been possible to have substituted a Bill based on the former negotations. In conclusion the letter stated that in the event of the Council at its special meetingsuggestiug amendments on the Bill which would have for their effect the removal of the Council’s opposition, and being of such a character as f could be aocepted by the Boird, the Chairman of the Board would convene a special meeting to consider the amendments, or to confer with a Committee of the Council thereupon. The Mayor said it had been suggested that the Committee appointed to watch the passage of the Bill could also confer with a committee of the Board if necessary. It had also been suggested that it would be wise to appoint the former Committee (Councillors Richardson, Quick, McKenzie, Danks, Coombe, Williams and Brandon) of the Council. (Hear, hear.) Councillor Young thought it would need ‘ a large committee to handle the matter. Councillor Petherick asked whether three would not be enough. The Mayor said that the Committee would have a good deal to do. Councillor Richardson thought that Councillor Petherick’s name should be on the Committee in place of Councillor Danks (a member of the former committee), who is away. The Bill, to be carefully watched, needed a large committee. He would second the motion. Councillor Young thought it would be better to leave Councillor Petherick’s name out of the Committee. It was a case of the old story—a man could not serve two masters. Councillor Petherick was a member of the Harbor Board, and he might find himself in an awkward position. Councillor Williams thought that the duties of the Committee were somewhat ambiguous. Alluding to the Bill, he said it was one of the most iniquitous and barefaced things that ever emanated from a public body. All thiough this reclamation business he had been termed the opposition—in fact, the newspapers had characterised him as the leader of the opposition. He was very glad to say that he had been the leader of the opposition. Rather than move that the Bill should be watched he would ask the Mayor to convene a public meeting aud let the citizens know what the Harbor Board were doing. They not only wanted to confiscate tbe endowments of the city, but they wanted to control the reclamation, to dictate how and when it should be done. The city members should be asked to oppose tbe passage of the Bill through the House. After the very willing manner in which the Council had met the Harbor Board in this matter, and to find a Bill of this bind the outcome, showed plainly how genuine the Board’s proposals were. There were astute gentlemen of the Harbor Board who trusted to back-door influence to get the Bill through the House. The Council should strive strenuously to meet these astute gentlemen, and defeat their iniquitous project. He would move that the city members be asked to strenuously oppose the passage of the Bill through the House. The Mayor said that was the line the Committee would take up. He thought the matter should be put fairly before the citizens. He felt bound to say that the Council had acted in a most liberal spirit throughout. Councillor Richardson thought the Committee should not watch the passage of the Bill, but should oppose it by every legitimate means. Councillor McKenzie thought the letter from the Harbor Board was of a friendly nature, and the Harbor Board were willing to withdraw the Bill—(Several Councillors : No, no.) —if the amendments of the Council were satisfactory. It was no use stirring up any more ill-feeling over the matter, but if it was the firm intention of the Harbor Board to carry the Bill, then they must give it. a most strenuous opposition. He characterised the Bill as a most unconstitutional measure, and the whole thing was so dreadfully absurd that no intelligent member of Parliament would Bupport it. He felt certain that no honorable man would lend himself to such a measure. However, he thought the letter a conciliatory one, and hoped that all legitimate efforts would be used to effect an amicabie settlement before any Btrenuous action was taken. The Mayor explained that Mr Martin had drafted amendments on the old line of agreement, which wiped out the Bill, and the Chairman and the Socretary of the Harbor Board had said point blank they would not have them. Councillor Young thought a public meeting would be a good wav of letting the public see what the Harbor Board were trying to do. It was a great shame their turning round and toying to rob the citizens. Councillor Smith felt certain that if the citizens actually knew the real facts of the case they would strenuously support the Council. The Mayor asked Councillor Williams whether his morion would not go with the original resolution. Councillor Williams had no objection. Councillor McKenzie said they should let the Harbor Board know their amendments, and if they did not agree to them, then the Council should oppose the Bill. Councillor Brandon asked whether the

Committee was a resuscitation of the old Committee, or a new one. The Mayor said' it was deoided that the old Committee should act. Councillor Brandon then asked that his name should be taken off. Hfc felt that he could not work harmoniously with one member of the Committee, and until an apology was given him for certain statements made concerning his actions in the Council he felt he could not take any part in the business of the Council except at public meetings. Councillor Petherick preferred that his nane Bhould also be left off the Committee. Alluding to the relations between the two bodieß, he said it was now too late for the Council to approach the Harbor Board. It was not so easy as it would have been a fortnight before. (Councillor Young : No.) The Council should have bestirred themselves a few weeks ago, although he hoped it was not yet too late to come to a settlement. After some further discussion, the following motion, moved by the Mayor, and seconded by Councillor Richardson, was put and carried :—That the following Committee be appointed to consider the Bill promoted by the Harbor Board re Te Aro foreshore, to watch the progress of the Bill, and to request the city members to oppose tbe Bill in its present shape ; the Committee to consist of the Mayor, Cou cillors Quick, Richardson, McKenzie, Coombe, Williams, and Smith. The Council then adjourned.