CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1291, 26 November 1896, Page 42

CITY COUNCIL.

The Wellington City Council met last -week. Present—Councillors Fraser(inthe chair), Anderson, Myers, Lingard/Willeston, Higginbottom, McG-ill, Lindsay, Smith, Devine and Harcourt. After the meeting commenced, Councillor Anderson was granted leave of absence. The New Zealand Electric Syndicate wrote stating that they had erected four new lamps in the city. Mr A. Gray wrote as to rights-of-way, Victoria Block, asking that the bond be released. It was decided that a report on the condition of the streets be obtained. Messrs Mason and Richmond wrote protesting against professional work being given altogether to Mr Ward by the Council. The street alignments was the last work given him, on the plea of urgency. Other professional men should be given a show. No action was taken.

A deputation from the express drivers of the city, for whom Mr Orr acted as speaker, asked that the by-laws be amended in a number of respects, and that portion of the shelter sheds be closed in for the convenience of drivers. They also pointed out that there were a number of vehicles carrying corresponding numbers. This should be seen to. After consideration it was decided that the matter stand in abeyance until after the return of the inspector from Australia. Mrs Fitzgerald's application for santion to right-of-way at Pirie street was referred to the Public Works Committee.

Mr W. Adams' application for sanction to right-of-way in Devon street was granted. The Public Works Committee recommended: —That the application of the Wellington Working Men's Club for leave to erect a structure not in accordance with the Building Regulations be not granted; that the application of the Public Works Department for an additional 2in water service to the General Post Office be not granted, there being already several other services laid on to the building; that the application for asphalting the footpaths at Holland street be considered with She supplementary estimates ; that the Drainage Engineer be instructed to lay a sewer in Aro street to serve the houses erected, and about to be erected, there by Mr R. Keene and others ; that Mr J. Morris be granted an extension of three months' time to remove his old building in Tara-" naki street; that no action be taken with reference to the letter of Mrs McCarthy, demanding removal of handrail and highlevel footpath at Shannon street. —The report was adopted without alteration. Councillor Lingard proposed two motions, one in respect to licensing private vehicles and the other in regard to tyres. In regard to the former, he said cabs and expresses had to pay a fee of «£1 each. Private carts and dray?, many of them carrying two and three tons weight, were charged 2s 6d per annum, and private carriages and conveyances paid nothing. This was not equitable. Personally he would like to see the fee brought down to a shilling all round, private vehicles included, so long as the Corporation had control over them. With reference to the narrow convex tyres now used, they acted as wedges, cutting up the roads and dislodging metal. A flat wheel, of wider gauge, would not only roll but solidify the streets. If a by - law were passed prohibiting coachbuilders and wheelwrights from making any new wheels, except under the proposed new gauge, or from re-tyring with other than flat wheels, in five years time no harm would be done anyone. The first motion was lost, and the second lapsed for want of a seconder. Councillor Smith's motion re widening certain streets was hold over.