MEETINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 873, 23 November 1888, Page 12

MEETINGS.

WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of fcfyq City Council vya'shel'd last week. Fresent—Councillors Williams, Heaton, Seed, Harris, Moeller, Willestort, 'Fraser, Chapman,' and Smith. '' In the absence of the Mayor, Councillor Williams was yoted to the chair. Lealve of absence was giyehto Councillor Muir for that meeting! ~ YoOTPATir IN AUSTIN-STREET. Qn the motion" of Councillor Moeller, seconded by Councillor Fraser, an application for fpotpath extension in Austin-street was referred to the Pqblic Works Cqmmittee, and the City Engineer was instructed to report on thpjnatter in tlie meantime. r : PRIVATE STREET^. The resolution pi the Council of tho 4th October as to taking over private streets, was confirmed- ■ Councillor Seed entered a protest against taking over streets which were only culs-de-sac. Councillor Smith said many of these streets had been in existence for many ye.ars. v" The Chairman said the Council had expended public money on these streets, and it was only lately that it became known that they were not really public streets. FIRE BRIGADE COMMITTEE. This Committee recommended that with a view of increasing public interest in the Brigade, three daylight practices bo held during the summer months ; that the city be re-divided into four districts for fire alarm purposes as follows :—No. 1 District. —All that part of the city to

the southward, a line drawn from the College Reserve along Buckle-street, up Taranaki-street to Bidwell-street, and along Bidwell-street to the Town Belt. No. 2 District:—All that part of the city to the northward of the lirie mentioned in No. 1 up to Boulcott-street. This last - mentioned street and Churchstreet to form the dividing line between No. 2 and No. 3 Districts, No. 3 district—All the city lying between the last-mentioned line and another line drawn from the sea across the reclaimed land to Bowen-street, and thence by way of Bolton-street to the hills. No. 4 district —All the city lying to the northward of the line forming the northern boundary of district No. 3. The strokes of the firebells to be one for district No. 1, two for district No. 2, three for district No. 3, and four for district. No. 4. The Committee further recommend that Government be asked to make provision for the erection of a flagstaff on tho tower or some other part of the General Post Office, to be used for signalling purposes by means of different coloured lamps on the occasion of any outbreak of fire at night. Councillor Smith moved the adoption of the report. Councillor Heaton asked whether it would not be inconvenient to divide the city into districts again. Councillors Seed and Fraser thought the proposal was a very gpod one. The.report was adopted.

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. The Committee reported that they were unable to recommend the Council to take any action with reference to the petition of the Rev R. Coffey and others, praying the Council to prohibit bands from playing in the Basin Reserve on Sundays. Councillor Fraser expressed a hope that the Council would keep control over this matter, with a view to preventing theatrical companies and others from playing on the Reserve on Sundays as they chose. Of course people interested in Sunday school work should endeavour to make them attractive enough to keep children there ; but he would not like to see the privilege of playing on a Sunday abused. The Chairman said the Council had power to prevent any such performances. The clause allowing the Oriental Bay Boating Club to erect a boat-shed on the foreshore was discussed. A letter having been received from the Harbour Board with reference to its right of access to the foreshore at this particular spot, it was decided to refer the matter back to the Committee, by 6 votes to 3. Clause 3,. that the proposal to carry out the following works be not entertained at present : —(1) Asphalting half-width of footpath on east side of Wellington-terrace, between Boulcott-street and Churchstreet ; (2) removing fence to boundary line on east side of Wellington-terrace, froin Woodward-street southward ; (3) asphalting Farish-street ; (4) kerbing, channelling, arid forming footpath from Newtown Hotel to' Newtown Park ; (5) channelling in Riddiford-street. Councillor Harris moved that the asphalting on Tlie Terrace be done.— Councillor Chapman said that expenditure on a work at the other end of the city was shown to be more necessary by Councillor Moeller, and it could not be done because of the expense. The amendment was carried after further discussion by 6to 3. Councillor Harris moved that the work of removing the fence on tlie terrace fie' done. ‘ Lost. Councillor Moeller moved that the kerbing and channelling referred to in the fourth sub-section be done, from the hotel to Donald McLean-street, at a cost of LSO. Councillor Fraser seconded the amendment, which was carried. Councillor Fraser moved to refer subclause 5 (channelling in Riddiford-street) back to the Committee. Carried. 1 , The report as amended was adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE. Councillor Harris moved, pursuant to notice, “ That the Finance Committee be appointed to inquire and report to this Council as to the manner. in whicji accounts for all municipal expenditure are examined qiid certified to before Being laid before the Council foy authorisation ; also as to tfie checks that are adopted for insuring the accuracy of those accounts.” He explained fhat he made this motion in consequence of the loose and'unsatisfactory manner in ydiich the accounts were dealt with! While he did pot qast any reflection on the officers', he thought it would relieve them greatly if such a system as he suggested were adopted. Councillor Wiileston seconded the mQtiqn.

Councillor; Seed supported tfle mo.tion, Which was put and carried, The Cquncjl tfign rpse.