CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4139, 26 June 1874, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Council was held yesterday in the Provincial Chambers. Present; The Mayor (in the chair), Councillors Greenfield, Mills, Dransfield, Moss, Krull, and Rainie. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. DRAINAGE 01? THE CITY. Councillor Drausfield asked the Mayor what steps had been taken in furtherance of the following-resolution passed by the Oouncilon the motion of Councillor M'Kirdy, on the 2nd April last, viz., “That the Mayor and the City Surveyor wait upon the Superintendent to ascertain what would be the cost of data without map to enable them to get the levels of the City for drainage purposes.” His object in alluding to the matter at the present time was to prevent so important a question being lost sight of altogether. The question of drainage had been brought before the Council upon many occasions, but somehow or other its consideration seemed to have dropped out of their proceedings altogether of late. The Council had decided that a scheme should be prepared, but it seemed that there was a link wanting somewhere. When Councillor McKirdy’s motion was. passed the Council were under the impression that the subject was to be brought up again, but nothing appeared to have been done since, and he now wished to ascertain from His Worship what was the present of affairs with regard to the drainage of the City. The Mayor said that all he knew about the matter was that such a plan of the City as the Council required would cost about £IOOO, and for that sum the Provincial Government would be prepared to place the Council in possession of all necessary data. Of course they had been told that all that was required could be obtained for about £IOO, but there was a great difference between those two sums, and he felt satisfied that the Council could not get a complete plan of the town for any sum under £IOOO. Councillor Dransfield ; But that’s no answer to my question. The Mayor : If you want an answer, you have the reply of His Honor the Superintendent. Councillor Dransfield : Where is the reply, Mr. Clerk ? If there is a reply, we ought to have seen something of it before this. The Clerk : There is no reply. The Mayor : You have got all the information you require, and what more do you want ? Councillor Dransfield ; We have all the information you seem to be able to afford, but that is by no means satisfactory. The Mayor : Of course it’s not satisfactory to you. Councillor Dransfield : It’s not satisfactory to the Council. What you call the reply of the Superintendent is a letter received before Councillor M'Kirdy’a resolution was passed. The Mayor : Well, that’s all you’ll get. Councillor Dransfield : Now, Mr. Mayor, do be rational and let us do business in a busi-ness-like way. Do you know whether any steps have been taken to comply with the terms of the resolution. The Mayor ; I tell you the Provincial Government will do the thing for £IOOO. Councillor Dransfield : Yea, but what are we to get for the £IOOO 1 The Mayor : A complete map of the town, which cannot be got for less. Councillor Greenfield : May I ask the Engineer if anybody has waited upon the Superintendent in accordance with the request contained in the resolution ? The Engineer said he had ascertained from. Mr. Jackson, Chief Surveyor, that the Provincial Government possessed no such information as the Council required, and that if iris staff were charged with the duty of procuring the necessary data they would have to proceed de novo, just as the City Council would themselves. Under these circumstances an application to the Provincial Government would be without result. Councillor Dransfield : That’s just the information we wanted. The Mayor : And now we have got it. Councillor Dransfield: No, “we” have not got it, for you seem to have done nothing. The Mayor ; You haven’t got what you want ; I know you want to be iu this chair instead of me. Councillor Dransfield ; Now, Mr. Mayor, I do wish you would address me in a becoming manner. I always endeavor to act respectfully to you. The Mayor : X beg your pardon, it’s all the other way. At any rate, you ought to be content to allow the matter to drop. You say you have got the information you require. Councillor Dransfield would, then, move that the Engineer be requested to prepare specifications, and endeavor to obtain from the Provincial Government a tender for the production of such data as the Council may require for the preparation of a scheme of drainage for the City. Councillor Moss remarked that it was very strange that nothing had been done since the 2nd April, the day upon which Councillor Mclvirdy’s motion was passed, and the 24th of June, a period of over two months. Councillor Mills did not wish such an important question to pass over without stating that twelve months ago he suggested that a similar course should be taken to that now decided upon. Although such an amount of time had been lost it was satisfactory to find that some steps were now to be taken. The motion of Councillor Dransfield was then put and carried. election of mayor. Councillor Bainie asked the Mayor whether any steps had been taken to . secure an alteration cf law with reference to the election of Mayor, in accordance with the resolution passed at the last meeting of the Council. The Mayor said he had no information to give Councillor Rainie. No doubt the proper steps would be taken. Councillor Moss considered that no answer to the question. The Mayor said if Councillor Rainie wanted an answer he would have to give notice of his question. Councillor Moss intimated to His Worship that that method of conducting the business was simply absurd. Surely an answer could be given at once to such a simple question. Councillor Bainie, to avoid further loss of time, moved that the Clerk be instructed to communicate with the solicitor to the Council and see that the necessary steps were taken to secure an alteration of the law. Councillor Greenfield seconded the motion, which was carried. TENDERS. The following tenders for cartage were received : —Beeves and Pudney, 10s. 6d. a day (accepted) ; Saunders and O’Malley, 13s. ; ‘ W. Dore, 12s. ; C. McCarthy, 12s. 3d. ; A. Green, 12s. 3d. For the formation of the Terraco Eoad belt ween Bowen and Woodward streets the fol-

lowing 1 tenders were received : —Collie and Co„ £416 ss. Sd. ; Lyon, £315 ; Saunders and O’Malley, £315 ; S. Brown, £455. It was decided that the two lowest tenderers should draw lots, anil that the tender of the successful drawer should be accepted. For forty cases of kerosene one tender was sent in by Mr. Clelaud at 2s. Od. per gallon, but it was not accepted. EVANS’ BAV EOAD EXPENDITURE. The Clerk announced the receipt of a letter from the Provincial Treasury informing the Council that the balance of the vote in aid of the Evans Bay Hoad formation (£OBI 15s. 3d.) would be payable at the office of the Treasury on the 12 th proximo. THE BANK ACCOUNTS. The Clerk stated the position of the Bank accounts to he as follows : General, overdrawn £3709 8 3 Waterworks, overdrawn 6191 10 10 Wharf, credit of 2830 11 9 ADVERTISING. On the motion of Councillor Dransfield, seconded by Councillor Krall, it was decided that the Tribune should have a fair share of the Corporation advertising. OUTWARD CORRESPONDENCE. A large batch of outward correspoudence arising out of the proceedings of previous meetings of the Council, was read and approved. ADELAIDE ROAD. Mr. E. B. Briscoe and five other owners of property on the Adelaide Eoad forwarded a petition to the Council, requesting the Council to form a quarter of a mile of the Adelaide Eoad beyond the present formation. The petition set out a number of advantages which would accrue from the formation of the road, the principal being the facility it would afford to persons desirous of forming residences in the district. It was also pointed out that the continuation of the road would form a pleasant drive to Island Bay. The Mayor said he always had the idea that it would be highly advantageous to the City to push the Adelaide Eoad through to Island Bay. Councillor Dransfield asked what the probable cost would be. The Surveyor said that to carry the road to Island Bay would undoubtedly be a very expensive work. Councillor Mills thought it useless to talk of entering upon a large expenditure on a work which could he done without, while the streets of the City were in their present condition. The general opinion of members was in accord with Councillor Mills' view, and the Clerk was instructed to make an entry to that effect. CONDITION OP LOWER CHURCH STREET. A communication was received from Mr. W. Whittem, calling attention to the condition of Lower Church Street from the Queen’s Hotel to the steps on the Terrace. The City Engineer was instructed to attend to the matter. 31R. WORTH’S LEASE. The City Solicitor forwarded another letter of advice to the Council, in reference to Mr. Toxward’s claim to be put in possession of the 1 foot 7 inches of land, in which he reiterated the opinion that Mr. Worth had no grievance whatever, and that the Council should insist upon his lease being re-drawn, so that it should include 23 feet 5 inches instead of 30 feet. The cause of the erroneous insertion of the figures “30" feet, instead of the lesser quantity, was explained, and the letter went on to say that Mr. Worth was aware from the first that he was only entitled to 28 feet 5 inches. The Solicitor cautioned the Council, that if they issued a lease to Mr. Worth for more land than they were entitled to, they would involve themselves in claims for damages which might he serious in extent. The Mayor said, that in the face of such a decided opinion the Council was bound to abide by the opinion of its legal adviser. Councillor Dransfield proposed that the matter be left in the hands of the City Solicitor, who should be instructed to place Mr. Toxward in possession of the 1 foot 7 inches of' land which he had bought and paid for.

Councillor Greenfield seconded the motion. Councillor Moss pointed out that before such a motion could be earned the Council must rescind the resolution passed at the previous meeting of the Council. He did not wish to express any opinion on the matter, but he had a strong objection to that resolution being rescinded in the absence of its proposer and seconder. The course now proposed by Councillor Dransfield was exceedingly unfair to Councillors MoKirdy and Burrett. Councillor Mills did not see that anybody would suffer injustice by the matter being postponed for a few days. Councillor Rainie drew attention to the clause in the Act which required that seven days’ notice must be given of any motion for rescinding a resolution passed by the Council. The Mayor said that in accordance with that clause notice would have to be given in a formal manner. Councillor Dransfield then gave notice that at the next meeting he would move that the former resolution be rescinded, and that the City Solicitor bo instructed to issue to Mr. Worth a lease for 28 feet 5 inches. The motion was seconded and agreed to. In reference to the matter, Mr. Worth forwarded the following letter to the Council; — “To prevent any misunderstanding in the Council through Mr. Dransfield’s remarks on the 18th instant that I was aware that the one foot seven inches would have to be taken off, I wish to state that I took Mr. Dransfield’s word that the section contained 30 feet frontage, and it was only upon Mr. Toxward showing me differently that I wrote my first letter to the Clerk complaining, and asking for a reduction in rent proportionately. The question is not between me and the Provincial Government and Mr. Toxward. It is between me and the Council. IVhy I should not have the land first promised, and then confirmed by lease, or that my small claim should be allowed for my loss. My last receipts will show that I pay at present the same rent for each section. I make my claim upon equitable grounds, and hope the Council will be pleased to grant it.— Yours, &c., C. I'. Worth. Wellington, June 24, 1874.” Councillor Dransfield objected to being called to account in this manner by individuals outside. Persons who had grievances should address the Council as a body. Mr. Worth had no right to single out the remarks of any one member of the Council for comment, and he should move that the letter be not received. Councillor Mills, who considered Mr. Worth had no just grounds of complaint, seconded the motion, which was carried. AMENDED WATERWORKS HILL, The amended Waterworks Bill to be presented to the General Assembly at the forthcoming session, for the purpose of authorising the Corporation to borrow a further sum of £25,000 to complete the waterworks, was laid on the table for approval. Since the preparation of the Bill, the City Solicitor had appended an additional clause empowering the Council to waive the conditions contained in Clause 35 of the former Act, which gave the Corporation power to' take up any mortgage and pay it off when it might seem advantageous so to do. 'The effect of the clause being disadvantageous to lenders, the Council would very likely experience difficulty in raising money, and the object of the new clause was to alter the period of loan to a specific term. Councillor Dransfield suggested that it would be a far more simple plan to strike out clause 85 altogether. There was no necessity for introducing a clause to modify or alter another when their intentions would bo best carried out by the non-existence of clause 35. Ho should propose that the City Solicitor be instructed to take steps to carry out this suggestion. The motion was seconded and agreed to. WHARF EXTENSION. The following letter from the City Solicitor to the Town Clerk was read :—“ With reference to your letter of this day’s date, on the

subject of obtaining a grant of laud for ■ wharf extension, I beg to say that there are 1 two courses open. The one is to apply to the General Assembly for a Bill authorising the General Government to make the grant; and the other the course pointed out by the Public Eeserves Act, 1854. In the former case, it would bo proper to obtain the consent of the Superintendent and his Executive before applying to the General Government on the subject, and in case both agree to the wishes of the Council, there will be no difficulty in getting an Act. In the latter case, the matter would have to go through the same stage as in the ease of the proposed To Aro reclamation. I shall be glad to receive the instructions of the Council as to which course to pursue." The City Engineer was instructed to wait upon the City Solicitor and furnish him with such information as would result in the most speedy transfer of the laud to the Corporation. TE ARO RECLAMATION. A letter from Dr. Pollen, in the absence of the Secretary for Crown Lands, was received, stating that the Te Aro reclamation grant had been signed by the Governor, and forwarded to the Commissioner of Crown Lands for regis-_ tration and delivery. TAS3IAN STREET. A petition from Henry Anderson and nineteen residents of Tasman street, called the attention of the Council to the fact that the street was in a very had condition, and requested the Council to continue the formation of the street from Mrs. Howe’s house across a gully (the exact position of which was indicated) to the junction of Drummond street. In answer to several Councillors the City Engineer stated that a large outlay would be required to continue the formation of the street, but that ho would be in a better position to give an estimate of the cost of the work at the next meeting of the Council. DEPUTATION TO HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT. The Town Clerk read a report containing results of the representation of the deputation appointed to wait upon His Honor the Superintendent with reference to the construction of a dry dock, and the extension of the AVharf accommodation. The report in substance was similar to that which has already appeared in this paper. Councillor Mills hoped the Superintendent if he were going to charge rent for the breastwork, would let the Council have it at a peppercorn rent. Councillor Dransfield 'considered it the duty of the Provincial Government to provide wharfage accommodation for the port, and he should therefore object to pay anything for the use of the breastwork. Additional wharfage accommodation was required, and whether the Provincial Government chose to provide that additional accommodation, or to place it hi the power of the Corporation, mattered little, hut certainly had no right to appropriate the ratepayers’ money to provide accommodation which should be provided by the Government. The Mayor differed with Councillor Dransfield. It was foolish to stand with their hands in their pockets looking on while the accommodation was urgently needed. Surely it was a very short-sighted policy to say, because the Provincial Government did not choose to carry out a work which might or might not properly devolve upon them, that, therefore, the work should not ba done at all. There should be no such thing as allowing the trade of the port to come to a standstill, and if the Provincial Government would not provide increased wharf accommodation, the Council should step into the breach. The report was received. SALARIES AND WAGES. The wages sheets and lists of vouchers were submitted to the Council, and approved. The Council then adjourned.