Meetings.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1037, 15 January 1892, Page 36

Meetings.

CITY COUNCIL. o The regular periodical meeting of the City Council took place last night week Present—Councillors Smith, Pet.herick, Fraser, Parsons, Worth, Han is, Harcourt, Willeston, Vogel, Barber and Anderson. In the absence of the Mayor (Mr H. D. Bell) Councillor Smith was called to the chair. *%\ (JRASS STREET, A letter was received requesting the Council to receive a deputation of property owners in Grass street, who were anxious to have that thoroughfare opened up. It was decided to accede to the request, and the deputation, which consisted or Messrs E. B. Brown, J. Coombe, 11. Dixod, G. Worsfold, and G, A. Baker, waa accordingly received. Mr Brown, acting as upokeaman, said the propertyowuers of Grass street did not ask for any money, but merely that the obstruction caused by the fence of Mr Wilkinson’s tea gardens should be removed. If that were done the propertyownera were prepared to undertake the construction of the street. The obstructions were illegally there, and the owners of Rosencath had a right of access to the city. Mr Dixon Bpoke to a similar effect. The track which Mr Wilkinson wished them to use ran through the mire. The Oriental Bay residents were also in favour of having the street opened. In answer to Councillor Vogel, Mr Dixon said the propertyowners would not undertake the responsibility for the entire construction of the street, as that would bo a matter of £3OO or £4OO, but they proposed to have a working bee to form the footpath. They could not come to the Council and ask them to spend money on the street. The deputation then withdrew. Subsequently, when the report of the Public Works Committee was under consideration, Councillor Fraser moved and Councillor Parsons seconded, that the request of the deputation should be granted. Councillor Vogol.in supporting the motion, said if relief were not afforded the property owners would undoubtedly take the law into their own hands and pull down the fence, and in doing so they would be acting within their rights. They did not want such anosher fiasco as the Kaiwarra toll-bar. Councillors Harcourt and Barber also suoported the motion. Ultimately it was decided that Grass street should be opened clear of obstruction in six months, and that access should be afforded through Mr Wilkiuson’B property within orie month. DONATION FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY.! A letter was received from Wm. Booth, intimating that he had arranged to buy from Mrs Mair (Miss Sperrey) her painting representing a Maori boy returning from a fishing excursion, carrying fish and hi 3 fishhook in his hand. He hoped the Council would accept the picture as a gift from him, ti be hung in the public reading room of the now library. On the motion of Councillor Fraser, it waa agreed to accept the picture with thanks. LIBRARY SITE. The Secretary of the Education Board, writing in reference to the alleged encroachment by that body on the Library site, stated that the Board would give the contractor fuil authority to remove any such encroachment he might find. TELEGRAPH POLE ADVERTISING. The Pcstmaster-General, through his private secretary, acknowledged receipt of the Council’s representations on the subject of telegraph and telephone pole advertising, and promised that they would receive due consideration. KARORI CEMETERY.

The Secretary of the Diocesan Board intimated that it was intended, at an early date, to consecrate the portion of the above cemetery to be allotted the Church of England, and requested that this por ion might be defined. A formal resolution was enclosed with a view to the Council adopting it. Referred to Cemetery Com. mittee.

RINTOUL STREET. Mr Dugdalo wrote stating that ho was about to erect a concrete wall at the foot of his property in Bintoul street, and asking the Council to remove some earth which impedes the access to his property. Referred to City Surveyor to report to next Public Works Committee meeting. MANNERS STREF.T BUILDING. Only one tender was received for the Dane of building in Manners street, lately occupied by the Gulcher Electric Light Company, and it was referred to the Finance Committ-e to report upon. CUSTOMHOUSE QUAY CART STAND. In reference to the Punlic Works Committee's recommendation—that, with respect to the cart stand at Customhouse quay, bo made to lesxve a space of 30ft clear in front of the entrance to Messrs George Thomas and Co.’n warehouse, so as to give easier access to the pren.iees—G. Thomas and Co. wrote protesting emphatically agaiost such a proposal bvhng given effect to. A width of 30ft clear La front of the entrance to their premises was not sufficient, and, besides, the proximity of the cart stand would seriously militate against the leasing of the hall for concert or da.ncing purposes. On the motion of Councillor Harris, seconded by Councillor Vogel, t.his clause of the leport was referred baok to tiio Committee. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. The recommendations of this Committee (already published) re appointment of com. mittee to act conjointly with Harbour Board in the matter of To Aro railway extension ; rescinding of resolution to arrange to take the property of Mr L. Grainger under Public Works Act ; as to the covering in with timbers of sewers on Thorndon reclamation : not to undertake formation of Thorndon quay footpath (northern end) to its full width at present ; to take no further action as to formation of Macfarlano street ; to asphalt footpaths of Bute street if residents pay half the oust ; to reply to Mr A. P. Stuart, in accordance with City Surveyor’s report, with respect to the cellar of his warehouse; and l not to accede to G. H. Baylis’s request for some fenciugat the Destructor,were duly adopted. It was also agreed that clause 2 of last report of this Committee, with respect to Mr Hoby’s fence in Abel Smith street, referred back from the Council for further consideration, be paused as it stands, and that accounts amounting to £ISS 17a 5d bo passed for payment. BUILDING BY-LAWS. On the question being introduced of confirming the adoption of the special building by law, which had'been drawn up to permit of Mr Hannah’s proposed building to bo erected, Mr Martin (City Solicitor) read out some special exceptions to the by law which he had drawn up by direction of the Building Committee. Councillor Paracos moved that the building by-law with these exceptions should be confirmed. The Building Committee had sketched out the exceptions which Mr Martin had merely reduced to legal phraseology. They had taken every precaution possible to renier the by-law oafe. Councillor Worth seconded.

Councillor Vogel thought provisions should bo made to secure access to the backyards of Mr Hannah’s building by a passage at the side, say, three feet wide. This was necessary so as to permit of ready access to the back in case of fire. —After some further discussion Councilor Harris moved that by-law should bo referred back to the Public Works Committee for consideration. The exceptions had b_er. hnriiodly drawn up and hurrmrlly brought down, and in view of the importance of the matter it was only fair they should have time for further considera. tion. The amendment having been negatived, Councillor Harris called for a division as a means of recording his protest against the hurried adoption’of any by-laws. Councillors Harris and Fraser were the only Councillors who voted against the immediate adoption of the by-law, which was accordingly carried, after the following amendment, proposed by Councillor Vogsl, had been agreed to, viz.:—“A passage not Ibbs than 3ft 6in wide giving direct access from Wellington terrace to the yard at the back of the building shall bo provided in or at the side of every such building.” It was agreed that the by-law should come into force on the Ist of February. NEW VERANDAH. James Wilson (architect) applied for leave to eroot a verandah to W. Wiggins’ pre. raises in Lambton quay. Granted. DOG TAX. The cog tax for the ensuing year was fixed at 10s. FINANCE COMMITTEE. Councillor Worth proposed that Councillor Fraser should be placed on this committee in the place of Councillor Moeller, resigned. The motion was seconded by Councillor Willeston and agreed to. ACCOUNTS Amounting to £7791 I6a Id were passed for payment. FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY. Councillor Anderson moved—“ That a suitable marble tablet be fixed in the Free Public Library in a proper place, bearing the name of W. H. Levin, Esq., inaugurator, also the name of John Duthie, Esq., M. H.R,, ex-Mayor, with their respective donations ; also all sums of £SO and upwards with the names of subscribers.” He thought the Council ought spontaneously to have resolved on this.jNo doubt it was au oversight. Councillor Fraser seconded. This w»s a sort of thing that was usually done to induce others to follow the example so celebrated.

Councillor Vogel suggested that the permission of those proposed to be honoured should first be obtained.

Councillor Petherick thought it would be an unwarrantable liberty to place the names of private individuals on a public tablet without first gaining their consent. Councilor Anderson was willing that thiß condition should be added to hia motion.

Councillor Worth opposed the motion as calculated to establish a bad precedent. He objected to the tablet that had been placed in the Old Men’s Home. There were some people who had given only 50s, who were as much entitled to have their names

on tbis proposed tablet as some of those who had given £SO. The “ tabletising of donors of sums of £SO and upwards was an insult to those who had not been able to afford so much. Let the names of ail donors, both large and small, be entered m a boot kept for tbo purpose. Councillor Smith was somewhat of Councillor Worth’s opinion. It would be an objectionable thing to single out the names of the larger donors for inscription on a public tablet. He agreed that it was better tto enter the names of all donors in a book. Councillor Parsons also considered this the preferable course to adopt. . , Councillor Barber considered it would be a good idea to merely inscribe on the tablet a history of the inauguration of the hreo Library. The motion having been amended as sug.•{rested by Councillor Vogel, it was negatived 3)y.5 to 3, the division being as follows Councillors Anderson, Vogel, and vFraser. Against Councillors Parsons, ipotherlek, Barber, Smith, and Worth. The Council adjourned at 10.30 p.m.