CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5553, 15 January 1879, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

WHAKP COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Wharf Committee was held at the City Council Chambers at 3 p.m. yesterday. Present—The Mayor (chairman), and Councillors Fisher, Dixon, Moss, Logan, Allen, Thompson, Greenfield, Young, and Maginnity.

The Town Clerk read a letter from Messrs. James F. Wills and J. B. Wallace, valuers for Cook Ward and Te Aro Ward under the Land Transfer Act, asking permission to copy the last corrected assessment, of these Wards.

His Worship said he had placed this letter before the committee, although it was a subject which did not properly belong to the committee. The assessment in question cost the City Council a good deal of money, and ho did not see why the assessment should be given to the valuers.

Councillor Thompson remarked that the Land Tax Department expected an independent valuation of its own, and he saw no reason why the request should be acceeded to. The general opinion of the committee being to the same effect, the application of Messrs. Wills and Wallace was declined. The Wharf Sub-Committee forwarded for the information of the general Wharf Committee, the report by the City Surveyor as to sundry additions to the Queen’s Wharf, and the cost thereof, and begged to bring under the notice of the General Committee the urgent necessity there is for extended wharf and shed accommodation.

“In reply to a memorandum received from the wharfinger I estimate the cost of the proposed extensions to Queen's Wharf as under—- “ (1.) A jetty 170 ft. long by 80ft. wide, between inner T and woolshed T, £1550. “(2.) Extension of inner T 170 ft. to the south, £4050.

“ (3.) Jetties along breastwork 6Oft. long, with an incline to the north-west, on a lino with the wharf T’s, and having an average width of 40ft., £1875 each.

“ With reference to these proposed jetties, I do not think the Corporation would be permitted to construct them where intended, as they would be upon Government land, which I believe it is intended to utilise for another purpose.

“ (4.) Extension of the two sheds on the outer T 40ft. each. The present sheds are in a very dilapidated condition ; the question is, would it be worth while adding to them ? I estimate the cost of the proposed additions at £230 each.

“ (5.) An addition of 10ft. to outer edge of outer T. I do not think this is at all practicable, unless done with cylinders. There is a great depth of water, and the old work being in iron, there would be a difficulty in joining timber work on to it, as it would have to be made sufficiently strong for vessels to be moored to.

“J. D. Baird, City Surveyor.” It was resolved only to carry out the extension of the two aheds on the outer T, at a cost of £230 each. The Mayor informed the Council that he was told it was the intention to proceed shortly with the construction of the railway wharf. Councillor Yodng : They will call for tenders just before the House meets. The Mayor suggested that perhaps it would be as well for a deputation to wait upon the Government, urging upon them the necessity for the railway wharf being constructed with the least possible delay. It was resolved that the Town Clerk should write to the Government, with a view to ascertaining when the .Government would be prepared to receive a deputatien on the subject. The committee then adjourned. waterworks committee.

The "Waterworks Committee met at a quarter to 4 o’clock. Present—the Mayor and Councillors Moss, Allen, Dixon, Logan, Maginnity, Fisher, Thompson, Young, Greenfield, and Diver. The City Surveyor submitted his report on. an extended water supply for the city, which was published in our columns last week. The report was received, and Air. Baird was instructed to continue his researches on the subject of water supply, and to prepare detailed estimates. In reply to Councillor Lcgak, the City Surveyor stated that by making a tunnel of seven chains through the hills, an unlimited supply of good water could be obtained from the Wainuiomata. DRAINAGE COMMITTEE. The Drainage Committee met at 4 p.m. Present—The Mayor and Councillors Greenfield, Young, Thomson, Fisher, Maginnity, Logan, Dixon, Allen, Moss, and Diver. The report of the City Surveyor on the sewage outfall scheme (published in our columns last week) was taken as read. The Mayor said that according to Mr. Clarke’s scheme, the total cost was £135,600, and according to Mr. Baird’s report the total cost would amount to £144,000. There was an available balance of £44,867 4s. id. of the drainage loan, so that there was nothing to prevent this work being proceeded with at once.

Councillor Fisher said that as there was a motion before the Council on this subject, which would be discussed within the next two days, he_ would suggest that the discussion on this subject be adjourned until after the decision which would be come to on Thursday night.

Councillor Moss objected to the discussion of the report being postponed. The matter of the appointment of an assistant surveyor had nothing to do with the question. Councillor Logan would support Councillor Fisher s suggestion to adjourn the discussion*

A motion would come before tho Council on Thursday night, and tho scheme might bo very considerably altered. Ho declined to have anything to do with tho report until after tho motion for Thursday night was decided on. Councillor Moss proposed and Councillor Fiver seconded, that the report of tho City Surveyor bo adopted. The Matok said that if tho object of tho adjournment was to obtain the opinion of Mr, Olimio upon the report of tho City Surveyor, ho would object to the adjournment. Councillor GREENFIELD supported Councillor Fisher's motion for adjournment. A desultory discussion ensued on tho relative merits of Mr. Clarke’s aad Mr. Climie’s schemas. Councillor Maginnity supported the motion for adjournment. Councillor Thompson would have supported the motion for adjournment but for the intemperate language used by Councillors I'ishcr and Maginnity. It appeared to him that they wished to have the adoption of th» report adjourned for a particular purpose, and therefore ho would vote for tho adoption of the report forthwith. J Councillor Logan said ho would he able to prove on Thursday night everything he had said with reference to Mr. Clarke’s scheme. Councillor YOUNG supported the motion for adjournment. There were for tho adjournment for a week, 5; against, 5. The Mayor gave his casting vote for tho adjournment on tho principle of affording more time, although ho gavo his deliberative vote against the adjournment, because he was opposed to the object of the mover and seconder —namely, that nothing should be done without Mr. Oliraie. (Councillor Fisher : No, no.) The committee then adjourned for a week.