CITY ITEMS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1217, 28 June 1895, Page 35

CITY ITEMS.

The engineer of the Harbour Board has been authorised to call for tenders for the supply of 20 hydraulic jiggers for erection in the new brick building and in shed O and in the extension to sheds B, G- and H on the Queen's Wharf. The engineer has also been instructed to prepare plans and specifications for an hydraulic accumulator to be erected in the new brick wool store. It has been decided that tenders be advertised in Wellington, but that provision be made to enable the successful tenderer to import the cylinder and ram. The Harbour Board has appointed Messrs Gale (chairman), Jack, Eraser and Beauchamp as a Legislation Committee to watch proposed legislation during the session as affecting the Board, with power to act.

There was a fairly large audience in the Wesley Church Schoolroom last week to hear Mr J. H. Helliwell's lecture on " Landmarks in English History." The lecture was a very interesting one, Mr Helliwell evidently being well versed in his subject. Some excellent views were shown on a screen of the most notable of England's abbeys, halls, bridges and castles, and Mr Helliwell related the historical facts in connection with them in a very able manner. During 1 an interval Mr E. W. Haybittle recited Tennyson's " Defence of Lucknow," and earned an enthusiastic recall. He responded with a coster's recitation, which was very amusing. Mr W. Costello had charge of the magic lantern. It being the anniversary of Queen Victoria's accession, her portrait was shown on the screen, and after the audience had sung a verse of the National Anthem, the entertainment ended.

The roadway between the Bond and Harbour Board office is to be paved with wood blocks, and the Board's engineer has been authorised to make special arrangements for obtaining the timber. Captain Kemsley has submitted to the City Council his annual report for 1894-95. The Brigade received 48 calls for their services during the year. The losses have been: On buildings within the city, .£2412 10s; on contents, .£3080; on buildings without the city, ,£2450; on contents, JJ4OOO. He recommends that electric communication be erected between all outstations and headquarters at Manners street, and call lines between headquarters and Brandon street, Mulgrave street and Molesworth street, and that speaking-tube communication be put in at headquarters. He urges the pressing necessity for a good steam float and a very light steamer for hill work. He hopes to be able to propound a scheme for a central station during the forthcoming year. The increased expenditure proposed is below the annual cost of the Brigade 15 or 20, years ago. The Corporation Inspector (Mr J. Doyle) states that since measures have been adopted for the thorough scavenging of the cily the number of deaths from typhoid has steadily decreased. Although the meat exposed for sale in the shops in Wellington (with one exception) is almost perfect as regards condition and appearance, Mr Doyle says private slaughtering without inspection should not be permitted. At the present time sheep are being killed for boiling down, and the legs are hawked ; about and sold for 6d or Is each. He

suggests that the Council consider the question of establishing public abattoirs. A man named Henry Self, who went Home in the s.s. Eimutaka about six months ago as carpenter and returned as assistant carpenter in the s.s. Ruapebu, was committed to the Mount View Asylum yesterday week on the certificates of Drs Whitehead and Young. The second annual report of the Drainage Engineer (Mr R. L. Mestayer) for the year ending 31st March last was submitted to the City Council last week. The Drainage Engineer states that the total amount expended out of that portion of the sanitation loan appropriated to the drainage scheme now amounts to .£30,100, as against .£9170 at the end of March, 1894, thus leaving a net expenditure of £20,990 for the year's working. The actual expenditure on the sewage scheme up to the 31st March last amounts to £28,851. Owing- to the large amount of water which has been met with in the shaft and tunnel the progress has not been quite so rapid as could have been wished, but there is so far no reason to doubt that the work will be completed within the specified time. Ihe Wellington City Drainage Empowering Act passed last session has already proved of great service. A report was received by the City Council last week from Captain Kemsley, of the Municipal Fire Brigade, stating that the first alarm of the Lambton quay fire was given at the Brandon street station by a Mr D. Henry. Foreman Woolcott and Assistant-Branchman Howard, who were the first to reach the scene of fire, continues the report, stated that they found a jet of water leading from the Government Buildings was being played at Crespin's building by a constable and a nightwatchman, who said they could get no closer, as their hose was too shor t. Captain Kemsley denies that the fire was put out before the arrival of the brigade. Councillor Harris remarked that he thought the brigade deserved every credit for the manner m which they had dealt with the fire.

During the year ended March 31st last the Corporation inspector made 6651 visits, with the result that 33 informations have been laid, and penalties amounting to £34.. 9s imposed for breaches of the various bylaws. The city, says Mr Doyle, is, on the whole, clean. On the recommendation of the Public Works Committee, the City Council have decided that the Wellington Scenery Preservation Society be informed that the Council does not sees its way to comply with their request that the shelter sheds for vehicles may be removed, the Council being still of opinion that the sheds are exceedingly well adapted for the purpose for which they were erected, and, further, that they will prove to be a great public convenience.

At the request of the Carriers' Union, the City Council have decided to refuse to sanction the issue of any more drivers* licenses to Chinamen until the next meeting of the Council, when the Union will put before them their objections to such licenses being granted. The librarian of the Public Library reports that the total income from the lending department during the year has been .£174 7s 7d. The total number of readers in the reference library during the year was 1358, of whom 1-43 were ladies. The Post and Telegraph officers hold their fifth annual "social" in Thomas* Hall on Friday night. The proceedings commenced with a programme of vocal and instrumental music, songs being sung by Misses Collier and Brock, and Messrs G. Redmond, Waters, J. F. Carr, Strachart and T. E. Jones. Misses Cenci contributed an overture, and Miss Luckie played the accompaniments. An excellent programmo of dances was then gone through, Minifie's: String Band providing the music. Messrs Carr, Gibson and Harton satisfactorily carried out the duties of M.'sC. Refreshments were supplied by M.v T. Powell, an(E the arrangements were carried out in so. capable manner by a committee consisting: of Misses Brock, Kenny, Luckie, McLeod and Seed, and Messrs Beswick, Harton', Gibson, Fordham, Carr, Buckley, Redmond,, Levy, Willis and Simons (hon secretary). The " social" was in every respect a pronounced success, and the manner in which it was carried out reflected great crediifc on all concerned.

The "Wanganui Camera Club's first exhibition was opened on Thursday afternoon, and is very successful. There are exhibits, from all parts of the Colony. The Wellington Camera Club is very largely represented > Messrs W. F. ■ Barraud, G-. Crichton* Pringle, W. C. Marchant, H. E. Taylor, T. M. Hardy, G. Hardy, W. Beswick, F. W.

Pilcher (jun.), Easton Taylor and P. Denton having sent pictures, x all of which have received very complimentary notice*

The Customs duties collected in Wellington last week amounted to .£5473 4s 4d, and the beer duty to .£l3B 17s Gd< A man driving up Cuba street on Sunday afternoon was subjected to some anil oyando by a band of larrikins, and, as his patience ultimately gave out, he gave chase in liis Cart after his tormentors along Webb street and up Broadway terrace, hurling tile contents of his cart at them the' while. His last missile was a longhandled shovel. The larrikins succeeded, ■however, iu evading him and his missiles, and left huh to his own sad reflections. Messrs Harcourt and Co.'s auction sale on Friday last was well attended, but the bidding did not in most cases reach, reserve prices. One of the Woolcombo and Mount street sections, namely, No. 9, with a frontago of 3Sfc to Mount street, was sold to Captain North, at £9 per foot; the others were passed in at prices ranging fron £3 103. to £7 103 per foot. The bidding for No. 43, Courfcanay place, a baker's shop, almost reached the reserve, and after the auction the sale was concluded, at £630, with" Mr R. P. Collins. .

Considerable alterations are about to be made to the Exchange Hall, and a contract for the work has been let to Messrs Rountreo and Darke, builders, Wellington. Tho side galleries will be removed, and a gallery in the form of a crescent will be erected at the far end of the hall, capable of seating about 150 persons. The stage will be brought further out, and everything done to make it moi'e suitable for theatrical performances, while for the back portion of the hall a portable sloping flooring will be provided which will enable visitors to obtain a good view of the stage, andean be removed when the room is required for dancing &c. The plans were prepared by Mr W. C. Chatfield, architect, and the work is to be completed at the beginning of August. Avery enjoyable concert was'given on Saturday night at the Working Men's Club by some members of the crew of H.M.S. Pylades. Encores were frequent, and they were well deserved, some of the seamen possessing very good voices. Mr Doody was the success of the evening, and received a double encore for both of his comic songs. Mr Thwaites also sang well, his first song, "The Ship I Love," being loudly applauded. He contributed two comic songs with much spirit. Mr Best for his clog dancing was recalled. The others contributing to the programme were —Messrs Gore, Dempsey, Boddy and Mr Blackwell, of the Ruapehu. Mr Chamberlain played two selections on the piano, and also acted as accompanist. Mr Chamberlain plays entirely by ear, and his performance, considering the lengthy programme and the number of encores, is a very meritorious one. He acts as organist at church service on board H.M.S. Pylades. The council of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors held their usual monthly meeting on Saturday evening. Present — Hon G. V-. Richardson (president), and Messrs J. W. Davis (vice-president), Gordon, Pulton and Ward" (secretary and treasurer). Messrs A. P. Rawson and M. McNicol were elected members. It was decided to draw the attention of the Surveyor-General to the necessity of having the various standards throughout the Colony tested and brought to exact agreement; also, that a proper trig, station •was required on Soames Island. A deputation was appointed to wait upon the Sur-veyor-General'on the subject of a board of examiners, the regulations for which it is understood were nearly ready. The president was instructed to arrange for the introduction of the Surveyors Bill in the Upper House. The secretary was instructed to write to the various surveyors' institutes in Australia, asking how many Australian certificates had been issued since the conference of surveyors was held in Melbourne in 1891.

At the Exchange Hall on Sunday before a large audience, Mr W. W. Collins commenced a winter series' of lectures, taking for his subject '/ Prom Dark to Dawn; or The Triumphs of Reason." In the course of an address, which occupied more than an hour in delivery, Mr Collins traced the effects upon social conditions resulting from scientific discoveries and their consequent modifications of philosophic thought. Science and philosophy, he said, were not the end but means to an end, their object, when "properly applied, being social advancement and human happiness. All other triumphs were insignificant when

compared wfth the one great victory which was gradually dispelling the darkness of ignorance ,and prejudice, and illuming the mind with' the joy and brightness begotten of clearer perception and wider knowledge. Reason slew man's superstitions, but strengthened that conception of religion which taught him to mould his conduct for the good of his race. In reference to the Queen's Drive, Mr H. M. Hayward has written to the Melrose Borough Council stating that he is agreeable to adding the balance of 26ft wide to the 15 chains previously given 40ft, thus making the whole one chain wide, under the following conditions : —(1) That his or his lessee's occupation of the land 26ft wide be not interfered with for five years; (2) that the extra width be laid off so as not to interfere with anydwelling; (3) that as the new line will run through part of the rock known as the Hermit's Cave the Council act with him in preventing it from destruction. Tho Council resolved that the plan be referred back to Mr Hayward, so that it may be altered to show the road as 66ft wide.

At a special meeting of the Melrose Borough Council last week a general rate of 15-l6ths of a penny in the £, and a hospital and charitable aid rate of 1-5 th of a penny in the £ were struck. The above rates will be payable on the 9th July next.

Councillor Baylis will again represent the Melrose Borough Council at the Municipal Conference. A deputation from the Melrose Borough Council consisting of the Mayor (Mr J. Collins), Councillors Baylis, Kershaw and the Inspector of Works (Mr W. J. Poster) is to wait upon the City Council and ask for its assistance in repairing the Kilbirnie main road, which is now in a very bad state.

At the monthly meeting of the Board of College Governors on Tuesday, there were present —Sir James Hectoi (in the chair), Rev J. Paterson, the {Mayor, Messrs C. B. Izard, and J. Young. The Board confirmed the appointment of Mr Gifford as one of the masters of the College at a salary of .£2OO a year. Great satisfaction was expressed at the fact that the number of pupils had so increased that the employment of an additional master was warranted. The resignation of M. Naverne, French master at the College and Girls' High School, who is about to return to Europe, was accepted with regret. M. Naverne, who is an able linguist and litterateur, has been French master at the schools named for a considerable period, and is widely esteemed. The fortnightly meeting of the Hospital Trustees was held on Tuesday, at which Mr P. H. Eraser presided. The other Trustees present were the Rev H. Van Staveren, Messrs R. C. Kirk, J. Danks, J. Collins, L. L. Harris, C. E. Willeston and.G. Allen. At the request of Mr Allen it was decided to relieve that gentleman of the duty of supervising the furnishing of the Allen Ward, and the steward and carpenter were appointed to look after the work. The Trustees decided that Mr Morison's bust of tho late Mr Henry Blundell should be placed in the main corridor of the building instead of on the Blundell memorial cabinet in the children's ward as proposed. The Trustees accepted the tender of Mr E. Anderson of .£99 for the supply of crockery, and in connection with this tender it was mentioned that it was considerably less than the Trustees, could procure the same goods for from English merchants. The Trustees, in committee, decided that the guarantee of Mr Wilkes (the secretary and steward) should be increased to ■£4oo.

The s.s. Hinemoa has been thoroughly overhauled and fitted with a new Stone's patent bronze propeller. This is the result of the recommendations made after the experimental trial with the old propeller in 1890. On Friday a trial was made and carried out by the Chief Inspector of Machinery (Mr W. M. Mo watt) and Mr P. J. Carman, the result showing a gain of nearly three-quarters of a knot in speed and a saving of two tons of coal per day on the ordinary run at the original speed. Mr Wilkes, secretary and steward of the Hospital, has drawn up a most voluminous report, giving the former residences, nationalities and religions of the inpatients for the year ending March 31st. The patients came from—Wellington, 81G ; Manawatu, 72; Wellington suburbs, 69 ; ships, 54; Wairarapa, 50; Upper and Lower Hutt, 36; Otaki, 32; Petone, 28; , Levin, 20 ; Johnsonville, 12; Westport, 4;

f Hawke's Bay, Wanganui, Chatham Islands, , Timaru, Paremata, Auckland, Blenheim ' and Port Chalmers, 1 each; Reefton and [ Rangitikei, 2 each; Nelson, 4; Napier, 6; ' Christchureh, 3 ; Greymouth and Taranaki, 2 each. The religions of the in-patients were as follow : —Church of England, 586 ; i Roman Catholic, 243 ; Presbyterian, 151; Wesleyan, 88 ; Salvationist, 17 ; Methodist, 22; Baptist, 21; Greek Church, 4; Bible Christian, 1; Brethren, 6 ; Dissenters, 2 ; Unitarian, 1; Evangelists, 2; Church of Christ, 11; Lutheran, 9; Confucians, 4; Hebrew, 9; Congregational, 3; Episcopalian, 3; Mahommedan, 1. Fifteen of the in-patients professed no religion. The nationalities of the in-patients were as follow :—England, 382; Scotland, 78; Ireland, 122; New Zealand, 479; Germany, 13; Wales, 5; America, 11; Sweden, 13; Italy, 5; Tasmania, 2; Norway, 11; Australia, 25 ; Denmark, 4; Greece, 4 ; Russia, 3 ; China, 4 ; France, 2; Nova Scotia, 3 ; Assyria, 5; Canada, Poland, Finland, Portugal, South Africa,, India, and Newfoundland, 1 each. The report was a most exhaustive one, and Mr Wilkes is entitled to credit for his research. The chairman of the Trustees of the Benevolent Institution (Rev H. Van Staveren) stated at Tuesday's meeting that the supply of coal available for the poor of Wellington was exhausted, and he hoped that people who are comfortably off would give contributions to the Society. Reference was made to the entertainment to be given in aid of the funds of the Society by tho Dramatic Students, and the chairman remarked that tickets were going off very freely.

The Trustees of the Benevolent Institution held their weekly meeting on Tuesday afternoon. Present—Rev H. Van Staveren (chairman), and Messrs G. H. Baylis, R. Mothes, T. W. McKenzio, R. Lancaster and J. Collins. The master of tho Benevolent Home applied for material to erect a small cottage for the accommodation of certain of the older inmates. The chairman and Messrs Baylis, Lancaster and McKenzie were appointed a committee to deal with the matter. A donation of £2O to the funds of the Society was received with thanks. The schedule for the past month showed that 21 cases had been taken off the" books and 40 added. Several cases were relieved, and the Trustees adjourned at 3 p.m. Mr F. H. Fraser, chairman of the Hospital Trustees, at Tuesday's meeting mentioned that a clergyman had suggested that the cards placed over the beds of patients should bear a large initial letter, denoting to what religious denomination they belonged. Mr Fraser, as chairman of the House Committee, said the committee considered that the idea was a good one. The Rev H. Van Staveren remarked that he did not favour the innovation in the slightest degree. If the cards as suggested were provided, they would lead, he fearlessly believed, to a state of " confusion worse confounded." He believed that the less ministers of religion talked to patients who were suffering intense pain the better it would be for the patients. Mr Kirk asked Mr,;Van Staveren it' that dictum was his religious belief. The rev gentleman finally replied in the affirmative. Mr Allen remarked that the proposed tion was "rot." Nothing was done in the matter.

The honorai'y treasurer of the Boys' Institute acknowledges the following subscriptions : —His Excellency Lord Glasgow, £2 2s; New Zealand Insurance Company, per W. Bolam, £1 Is; J. P. Blair, £L Is; T. W. .McKenzie, £1 Is; Mrs Joseph Burne, .£1 Is; T. W. Glasgow, £1 ; Kev C. S. Ogg, .£1; A. A. Barnett, 2s 6d. Messrs Bethune and Hunter, of Old Customhouse street,"have written to the Trustees of the Benevolent Institution stating that the manager of the Bank of New Zealand lately wrote to them informing them that the sum of .£36 os2d remains standing in the books of the bank to the credit of George Hunter, Lancashire Pelief Pund. How it came that this money had been permitted to remain tor ovei 30 years in the bank they did not know, and they thought the late Mr Hunter did not know the money was there. Probably some belated subscriber or collector paid it in after the fund was regarded as closed. They had arranged with the bank, and they now enclosed a cheque on the bank, signed by George Hunter, administrator of George Hunter, deceased, for .£36 Os 2d, to be applied for the purposes of the Wellington Benevolent Society. The Chairman (Rev H. van Staveren) remarked that this was a little windfall they were very glad to receive.

RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES.

The Town Clerk (Mr J. E. Page) has presented the following report to the City Council on this subject:— With the assistance of the City Valuer, I have looked into the matter of rating on the unimproved value of property, with the view of ascertaining how it would affect the city, and now beg to state briefly the result.

The annual rating value of property in the city is .£345,000, bringing in, at Is 3d in the pound, .£21,562 10s for the general purposes of the city. We have, of course, other rates for various purposes (water, interest, &c), but the one rate will be sufficient for the purposes of compai'ison. The total capital value of property within the city is put down by the Government at .£5,865,778. The value of the "improvements" is put at c£2,432,749, leaving unimproved value to bo .£3,410,182. (These figures do not quite agree, but I have taken them as they appear in the tables.) I have to take these values as the basis of my calculations, as we have, of course, not had sufficient time to go through our own rolls and make a valuation of the " improvements." In order to produce the amount now raised by a rate at Is 3d in tho pound on the annual value, a rate of l-|d in the pound would require to bo levied on the unimproved capital value. Then, in order to sea how it would affect property

in this city, we have taken 59 properties of diffeient kinds from the rate books. They are made up as follow:—(1) 13 blocks of land without buildings; (2) 29 houses with land ; (3) 4 hotels; (4) 2 offices ; (5) 2 stores; (6) 5 shops; (7) 2 shops with dwellings attached ; (S) 1 sawmill ; (9) 1 bank. The above are fairly representative of the properties in the whole city. We have made an estimate of the unimproved value of these properties, and we find that the result would be as follows :

(1) Land now paying .£34 12s 6d per annum Avould pay, under the new system, £77 lis per annum, an increase of 125 per cent.

(2) Houses with land now paying .£132 6s 3d per annum would pay £l3l 14s 7d, a decreaso of lis 8d on the 29 properties. (3) Hotels now paying £139 Is 3d would pay ,£l2O 10a lid, a decrease of about 13 per cent. (4) Offices now paying .£32 lis 3d would pay £3l 17s 2d, a decrease of 14s Id. (5) Stores now paying .£62 10s would pay £6O 12s 6d, a decrease of £1 17s 6d, or about 3 per cent. (6) Shops paying .£146 17s 6d would pay £145, a decrease of .£1 17s 6d, or about 25s per cent. ;

(7) Shops with dwellings now paying «£lO 6s 3d would pay £5 13s 9d, a decrease of about 40 per cent. (8) Sawmill now paying ,£lB 15s would pay ,£34 7s 6d, an increase of 85 per cont., owing to its standing upon a valuable block of land in the heart of the city. (9) Bank now paying £2B 2s 6d would pay .£SO, an increase of nearly 75 per cent., for same reason as above.

The point to be noticed is the fact that the rate on land, as was expected, would be greatly increased, while the rate on valuable buildings standing on comparatively small blocks of lands would be much reduced. It does not affect the smaller properties as much as I expected it would have done, as I find that all properties up to about £SO annual value would continue to pay very much the same rates as now. Where there is a difference it is in their favour.

Of course we may find, when we go into the question of imprpvements ourselves, that the Government valuations are not quite accurate. I am. inclined to think that this must be the case, as I think it would be found, if a strict valuation were made, that the " improvements" bear a greater proportion to the total value than is put down by the Government (£2,432,749 to ,£5,865,778). Should this be found to be the case, and the unimproved value be thus reduced, the rate required would of course be proportionately higher.