CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4239, 21 October 1874, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Tuesday, October 20. An adjourned meeting of the City Council was held yesterday at 4.20 p.m. in the Provincial Chambers. Present ; The Mayor, Councillors Moss, Greenfield, Raiuie, Burrett, George, and Mills.

CORRESPONDENCE. From the Agent N. Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Company re further appliances for wharf ordered from England. Received. From J. E. Evans re hole near his shop on Lambton Quay. Referred to the members of the ward. PETITIONS. A petition was read from the principal merchants and shipping agents, relative to an increase of wharf accommodation. The petition suggested an extension of the middle T. Referred to the Wharf Committee. From a number of residents of Upper Taranald-streot ashing that water pipes may be layed on to that locality. It was resolve! that the Engineer should consult with the Manager of the Gas Company relative to procuring pipes necessary for the work, as it was understood that the Gas Company had some suitable if they were to be disposed of. From old nightmen, asking for a renewal of their licenses. The adoption of the Sanitary Committee’s report gives the applicants a si < months’ license. REPORTS. The report of the Sanitary Committee was read. Its chief feature was a recommendation that a bye-law be passed, somewhat to the following effect ;—“ That to every house in the city a box of a certain regulated size, provided at the expense of the owner, be attached, anil that in lieu of the method now adopted for emptying them, four-wheeled drays or waggon i be used, made in such way as to carry say twenty boxes; that each dray start out a~ night with a load of clean empty boxes, and exchange them where necessary for full ones, changing the lids from the empty to the full ones ; such full boxes to be taken to the depot for nightsoil and emptied, properly cleaned, and used again in turn ; cadi new box previous to being used to bo inspected and branded by the Inspector of Nuisances.” Councillor George said he wished to mention that the suggestion in the report just read , and which he considered a very valuable one. had been made by Mr. Hester, the Town Clerk. On the motion of Councillor Mills, seconded by Councillor Ratnie, the report was adopted Councillor Greenfield wished the Inspector of Nuisances to be asked why the instructions of the Sanitary Committee, with reference to the deposit of night-soil, had not been carried out. He said that the committee had instructed Mr. Pilmer that the use of land on Mr. Sutherland’s farm had been procured, and that in future the night-soil was to be deposited there. Notwithstanding this, a nightman was summoned to the Resident Magistrate’s Court for depositing the soil in the harbor on the authority of the Inspector, some days after the instructions were issued ; and ho wished to have some explanation given of this, for it appeared that it was of very little use for the Council to make any arrangements, or give instructions, if the officers of the Corporation were to please themselves about carrying them out. The Mayor, who seemed to have some difficulty in comprehending what was before the meeting, suddenly exclaimed : “Well ! Quesh’n is—What is the quesh’n?” (Laughter.) To the Clerk; “Put the mo’shun—put the mo’shnn.” Councillors Mills and Moss here rose and left the room, saying that it seemed impossible to get through any business; and it was simply wasting the time of the Council and their own. The Clerk : There is no motion your Worship. Councillor Greenfield wishes the Inspector of Nuisances to be asked for an explanation, and it is, I believe, for you to put the question.

The Mayor : Oh ! ia that it. I didn’t know what was wanted, I’m sure. Certainly, (rising). As long as I hold the—the—position of Mayor, and any question is asked, and information required —order or no order—l say in-in—order or out of order 111 have it answered to the best of my ability. What is the point. (To the Clerk). Read the motion, please. The Clerk : There is no motion. It it a question to he put. The Mayor : Oh ! all right. We’ll put the quesh’n. Certainly. The Inspector of Nuisances shall be asked, if he’s here. The Inspector op Nuisances _ then gave an explanation of the case to the effect that after receiving the instructions he visited the proposed depot, which he found thoroughly unsuitable, being all swampy grounj and “no man with any sense at all would have chosen it.” He then told the works’ overseer to send down some men to prepare the place; but the overseer refused to do so-—iu the meantime he thought it advisable that the soil shouM bo deposited in the harbor. It was some time . before the men were sent to do the work on Sutherland’s farm. The City Engineer explained that the Inspector of Nuisances had not applied to him iu the first instance for the men to do the work, and tho overseer was quite right in refusing to take orders direct from the Inspector. It-was three or four days afterwards that the Inspector spoke to him about the men, and they were then scut. A debate then ensued between the Mayor and Councillor Burrett, who rose and addressed each other alternately. 'They thus monopolised the attention of the Council for some time, for certainly no one else in the room could form any idea whether their discussion bore any relation to any .matter before the Council—nor could anyone but themselves conceive to what it did refer. After about half an hour had been occupied iu this interesting manner, an, attempt was made to proceed with the business. The Wharf Committee’s report was adopted. Tho consideration of the Waterworks Committee’s report was, on the motion of Councillor George, deferred until next meeting. Tho report of the Special Committee which was appointed recently to draw up an advertisement relating to tenders for the survey of the city (which has already been published) was adopted. The Inspector of Nuisances’ report was read. The Town Clerk’s report was read. The principal paragraph was as follows : —“I applied personally to the Inspector of Nuisances on Ist instant to make up his books to 3rd September, and to hand mo in all moneys he had received as fees for night-soil, &o. On the sth the Inspector applied to me for his salary for the month of September, but as he had not paid to me the fees, and point-blank refused to do so, I refused to give him his salary till he did so. The same day I received a letter from the Mayor, on the authority of which I gave him his salary. Up to tho present time I have received no fees, but I am told by the Inspector that he has paid the money into the Bank, and the pass-book shows a sum of £l3 os. 6d. paid on the Sth instant, of which I have no other account. Some of the books were delivered to me on the 6th instant, and the remainder on the 12th, but not posted up, and I am not at present able to say anything about them. The total expenditure to the end of the month of September was £448 ISs. Id. ; value of horses, carts, &c., £286 15s. ; working expenses, £l6l 3s. Id.” “ At this stage of the proceedings, Councillor George moved, —-“That tho wages and accounts be considered, and the remainder of the business be deferred until next meeting.” The proposal was readily adopted, as there seemed no probability of the proceedings being conducted in a business-like manner ; and, after passing the accounts, the Council adjourned.