CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4247, 30 October 1874, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Thursday, October 29. The fortnightly meeting ot the Council was held this afternoon at the Provincial Buildings. Present : The Mayor (in the chair,) Councillors George,' Dransfield, Mills, and Moss. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. PLAN OF THE CITY. In reference to this subject a letter was read from His Honor the Superintendent, who desired to be 'informed whether the memorandum agreed to by the Commissioner of Crown Lands, the Provincial Surveyor, and the City Surveyor had received the sanction of the Council. The memorandum alluded to was in reality an agreement between the parties named, that the Provincial Government should cause a complete survey of the city to be made for the sum of £IOOO, to be paid by the City Council. The Mayor supposed the proposal of the Provincial Government would be agreed to. Councillor Dransfield thought just the reverse. The Council had already decided that the information to be afforded by the Provincial Government was not what the Council wanted, and that was why the advertisement calling for tenders for the preparation of the plan was issued. ' The tenders sent in, in answer to the advertisement, were as follows :—T. M. Hardy Johnston, for a plan in accordance with the first paragraph of the specifications, £1375 ; complete plan, £1750. Wiles and Buck, foA 6 plan according to the first paragraph, £I2OO ; for the whole work, £I9OO. Moody and Wallace, for a plan according to the first paragraph, £BOO -for the whole work, £IOOO, the plan to be completed in two years. Councillor Dransfield moved that the tenders be referred to the Survey Committee, with power to confer with His Honor the Superintendent. Councillor Mills seconded the motion, which was carried. COLLEGE STREET. The tenders for the formation of this street were—Beeves and Goff (informal), £457 lis. 6d.; Robert Lyon, £409. Councillor Dransfield suggested that as there was a bare quorum of members present the consideration of this, matter should stand over. It was only right that a proposal involving a large outlay should be considered by a full Council. Councillor Moss objected to the matter being postponed simply because Councillor McKirdy, and other Councillors who were favorable to the proposal, were -absent. He objected to the expenditure, and hoped the matter would be at once put to the vote. Councillor Mills thought the expenditure would he perfectly justifiable, particularly as the Council had created a precedent by forming other streets where the inhabitants had volunteered to contribute a share of the cost, as was. the case in this instance. Councillor George seconded the proposal of Councillor Dransfield, that the consideration of the tenders be postponed. It was only proper that a fuller Council should accept the responsibility of so large an expenditure, though he reserved to himself the right to vote as he thought fit when the tenders again came up for consideration. The motion for the postponement of the decision was put and carried. town/ cleric's report. The Town Clerk's report was read, the following being the portions of general interest : —"I applied personally to the Inspector of Nuisances on Ist instant to make up his books to 30th September, and to hand me in all moneys he had received as fees for night-soil, &c. 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 pointblank 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. TJp to the 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 ho 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 wa £l4B ISs. Id.; value of horses, carts, &c.

£287 15a. ; working expenses, £lOl 3s. Id No tenders were sent in for the £IO,OOO debentures on waterworks account." Tho report also asked that that day fortnight should be appointed as the clay for fixing the general rate for the ensuing year, and informed the Council that an offer had been received from tho Provincial Government to deduct £4O a year from the rent paid by the Corporation for offices, such deduction to be made on account of the City Surveyor's offico being occupied by the Provincial Government since 18th March last. Councillor Dransfikld said that as tho first portion of the report would involve considerable discussion, its consideration should be postponed until there was a fuller meeting. This suggestion was adopted, the attention of the Waterworks Committee to be called to the matter of the debentures. The proposal of the Provincial Government in regard to the reduction of rent was accepted. A PERSONAL MATTER. The following letter from Mr. Piliner, Inspector of Nuisances, was read : —"I have heard with much surprise the allegations made against me last evening by Mr. Councillor George, and with your pel-mission I will give you my version of the matter. Immediately after the last meeting of the Council, Councillor George made a very offensive and libellous accusation against some of my children. I repudiated it, and in doing so Councillor George, in an angry and indeed in a violent manner, said to me, " Now I don't want any of your d d lies about it." I retorted in a Bimilar strain, but the word " liar" was not used by either of us. The expression above given was the worst, and it was used by Councillor George. The discussion had no reference whatever to my duties as a public officer, but was wholly of a private nature. I shall always court, and be pleased at, the most rigorous investigation into my conduct as a public officer, and trust the Council will never hesitate to institute it.—l am, &c, A. A. G. Pilmeb, Wellington, October 20." Councillor Geoege objected to the letter being received, as it contained statements which were not correct. The Mayor said it was only justice to an employe that he should have an opportunity to reply to any statements made by a Councillor, who took advantage of his position to make charges against an officer of the Council. It was only fair that there should be an inquiry. Councillor George said he had made no charge, and therefore an inquiry wa3 not necessary. No action was taken in regard to the letter. WAGES AND SALARIES. The wages sheets were submitted and passed, Councillor Dransfield remarking that the amounts for wages had largely increased of late, and hoping that the City Surveyor would keep a watchful eye on the disbursements, so as to economise the finances as much as possible. adjournment. Councillor Dransfield called the attention of the Council to the fact that the business transacted had already occupied a considerable time, and suggested that as there was yet a great amount of debateable matter to be brought forward, it would be better that the meeting should be adjourned. The suggestion was adopted, and the Council adjourned till Monday next.