WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL

New Zealand Mail, Issue 859, 17 August 1888, Page 1

WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL

The usual fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held in the Council Chambers last evening week. There were present—The Mayor, Counoillors Cooinbe, Petherick, Heaton, Brandon, Allen, Edwards, Danks, and A. Young. Leave of absence was granted to Councillor Williams, who, it was stated, had gone to Dunedin on business. BURGESS ROLLS. Several amendments were made in the burgess rolls. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. This report, already published, was read and considered. Some discussion took place with regard to clause 4, as follows :—“With reference to the application for formation of the northern end of Owen, Coromandel and Daniel-streets, that the applicants be informed that the amount to credit of these streets is insufficient for the purpose, but that the Council would be willing to expend the amount in hand, in part execution of the work, if the owners of the land would undertake to complete the same to the satisfaction of the City Surveyor.” In connection with this a memorandum was read showing that the Engineer’s estimate for the work was £2050 ; for Coromaudelstreet, £1050; Owen-street, £450; and Daniel-street, £550, and the amount allocated for others under the street improvements Joan was—Coromandel-street, £937 ; Owen-street, £lB5 ; and Daniel-street, £442: total, £1564, the deficiency being £486. The memorandumfurther stated that Mr Turnbull was prepared to meet the deficiency as follows:—Say one-half as a donation, and to find a further sum of £250, to be repaid by the Corporation wiihin three years without interest; that the Corporation was at presept receiving only £39 7s as rates on this property, consisting of 22 acres, whilst if improved and cut up as proposed, it would yield upon tho lowest estimate five times that amount • that Mr Turnbull had for many years been paying rates to the Corporation, and at the present time pays over £350 annually, and considers he has a fit claim on the Corporation for access to this property; that the expenditure of £1564 allocated, to these streets, and now practically lying idle at the bank, would cause the expenditure of between £4OOO and £SOOO of private capital on this property. This would at once recoup the’Corporation by enlarged annual ratis, whilst it would provide occupation for a large number of otherwise unemployed; and that the improvement and placing in the market of this

property would be highly advantageous to the city generally, by inducing a considerable settlement of population within the limits of tho city.

Councillor Edwards moved as an amendment that the words “half the difference to be refunded without interest by the Council to the owners within thx-ee years from completion of contract be added to the clause.” He considered that a good offer had been made to the Council, and he hoped it would be accepted. Councillor Petherick seconded this. Councillor Heaton thought the matter should be considered by the Public Works Committee. Counciller Allen disagreed with such a matter being considered without notice. Councillor Brandon, without disagreeing with the matter, thought it ought to be fully considered by the Public Works Committee. Councillor Danks pointed out that it was the first • time that a gentleman had subscribed to a main street, and he considered the Council had been met in a very fair spirit. The,. Mayor thought the offer a very fair one, and as it would be the means of bringing in increased rates, he considered it would be worth the Council’s while to do it. On being put, the amendment was carried by 6to 3. Councillor Allen said he would table a motion to rescind the resolution.

Clause 6, recommending that the request for formation of Macfarlane-street be not complied with at present, was referred back to the Committee on the motion of Councillor A. Young, seconded by Councillor Heaton. Councillor Danks moved that clause 7, “ That the request of Mr A. P. Stuart for the drain to be laid at his property, Cuba-street extension, before he fills up his land to the proper level, be not complied with,” be referred back to the Committee. This was not seconded, and accordingly lapsed. With reference to clause 9, that consent be not given to the establishment of a right-of-way, 18ft wide, off Austin-street, at town acre 359, applied for by Mr C. P. Skerrett on behalf of Mr J. Hyde, Councillor Coom.be moved that the word “not” be struck out. A number of applications for rights-of-way had been granted that evening, and he did not see why this one should be refused.— The Mayor Baid the amendment could not be put. There were building frontages in the thoroughfare, and the Council had no power to grant a right-of-way under 40ft under those circumstances. The other clauses were agreed to, and the report as amended was then put and carried. OTHER REPORTS. The City Surveyor’s and Inspector of Nuisances’ reports were presented, ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £1668 16s 4d were passed for payment. CHARITABLE AID. A eommuuieatioa was rewfresl from the

Secretary of the United District Board asking if the Council could let the United and District Boards have this quarter’s contributions to the hospital and charitable aid, as they had sundry calls to meet. The Assistant Town Clerk stated that the amount was £I2BO. This was passed for payment. AFFIXING SEAL. The seal of tho Corporation was authorised to be affixed to a.deed of transfer between the Corporation and Messrs C. and J. Stewart and J. Hutchens. STEAM ROLLER.

A letter was received from the Secretary of the Harbour Board, which stated that in July ‘lost application was made by the Board to the Council for permission to hire their steam roller for use on Waterloo quay, and the Council consented on the payment of £5 per diem ; but as the Board did not consider that the benefit to be derived from its use was commensurate with the charge, they did not avail themselves of the offer. He was now directed to again approach the Council with a view to ascer. taining whether, having had 12 months’ experience of the working of the machine, the Council [could not hire its use lo the Board at a reduced rate. It was felt that the Board in maintaining Waterloo-quay as a public roadway were doing so for the benefit of the citizens, and that they were therefore on a different footing from the owners of private streets, who were desirous of usiDg the roller to form streets by which they would benefit pecuniarily. This being so, it would 'seem reasonable that the Council should grant the use of the machine at a charge approximating to its cost for working and maintenance, and that they should be put on a more favoured basis than private persons. , T T Councillor Heaton thought it would be a gracious act on the part of the Council to allow the Board the use of the roller free of charge. He would move in this direction. Councillor Allen objected, and the Mayor said that as Councillor Allen objected, the motion could not be put, as notice had not been given. Councillor A. Young asked that the resolution which had been passed by the Council should ,be read.' This was eventually done, aud.it was to the effect that the Council should let the Board have the use of the machine to roll Waterloo-quay on payment of £5 per diem. The Mayor said that a resolution in the direction indicated by Councillor Heaton could not be moved, unless this was rescinded.

Councillor A. Young said he would certainly like the Council to meei the Board in this matter. Councillor Allen thought the Board should have the use of the machine, provided they bore the expense. Tho Mayor did not see what they wanted to haggle over it for. If they wanted to do a gracious act, let them do it without hag. Some further discussion ensued, during which it was pointed out by the Mayor that the Council had frequently had the services of the Board’s employes, and eventually it was decided that the City Engineer should be instructed to roll Waterloo-quay. The Council then rose.