CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5680, 13 June 1879, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Tho ordinary fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Miller, Greenfield, Young, Logan, Dixon, Allen, Moss, Maginnity, and Thompson. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. THE HOSPITAL, It was intimated that a copy of all contracts entered into regarding the new hospital had been received from the Colonial Secretary. endowment for the corporation. The Match : I should like to make a very short statement with the permission of the I Council. First, I would direct attention to the Municipal Corporation Act, 1376, clause 250. It reads as follows :—“lt shall be lawful for the Governor in Council, upon the request of the Council of any borough, from time to time to reserve any of the waste lands of the Crown within the provincial district in which the borough is for tho purpose of granting tho same to the Corporation of the borough ; bit tho total quantity of land so granted shall not exceed one hundred acres of land within the borough, and two thousand acres of land in any other part of such district.” Now, I have reason to believe that the Government are quite prepared to give us the amount of 2000 acres of land, and I have taken this opportunity of informally bringing the matter under your notice, asking the Council to agree to a petition to the Government, asking for 2000 acres of land, and also refreshing the Government’s memory as to some other promises not fulfilled. Tliedraftpetition was read,andbeyondasking for 2000 acres, also asked for a grant of portion of the reclaimed land recently withdrawn from public sale by auction, and in furtherance of this request the deed of conveyance was referred to, by which the whole of the land was to bo sold to the Corporation for £30,000 above the actual cost of reclamation, which agreement was never carried out owing to the abolition of provinces. The petition further drew attention to the fact that the present Ministry agreed to sell the said reclamation to the Corporation for £89,000, but that the attempt to obtain legislative sanction to the sale was unsuccessful. A short discussion ensued, in which Councillor Young suggested that for reasons he gave it might be desirable to separate the two applications. He was afraid they would get no reclaimed land. The Mayor said perhaps not, but it would be as well to prefer the request. The draft petition was then adopted. me. r, w. watson’s claim. Mr. Ollivier attended as counsel to represent to the Council Mr. E. W. Watson’s case. The Council had decided to extend certain streets, in view of the Te Aro reclamation, and Mr. Watson had the misfortune to stand in the way. He had a valuable leasehold, upon which he was erecting a number of buildings. Suddenly he received a notice that his land waa required. Instead of going on with the buildings, or putting up more extensive ones, he stopped, and the land was taken. He sent in a claim for £llOO, and this claim, after considerable delay, was sent to arbitrators— Messrs. Howard, Wallace, and C. J. Toxward, with Mr. Chas. White as umpire. They awarded £426 155., and Mr. Watson was told he could take up the money ; but then difficulties arose, and Mr. Watson’s claim seemed to tremble in the balance. Perhaps the amount might be considered large, but the arbitrators were all reliable men, and their award ought to be respected. If the Corporation would not pay, then Mr. Watson would have to take legal proceedings, involving great hardship to him in the shape of expense and the risk of possible defeat—the uncertainties of the law being proverbial. He trusted the Council would not take up that position, hut would respect the award of the arbitrators, which was made out in due form, aud had been arrived at after careful consideration. A report from a committee appointed to deal with this matter stated that the Council could not legally pay the money. Such was the advice of the City Solicitor. After some little discussion the consideration of the matter was adjourned. WHARF COMMITTEE. A report was received from the Wharf Committee recommending (X.) Payment of a bonus to the tally clerks, and its discontinuance thereafter; (2.) An increase to the salary of the collector to the extent of £25 ; (3.) The erection of a new shed on the rightband side of the outer T of the wharf on the site of the old woolshed at a cost of £660, to be completed before the commencement of the next wool season, and that that portion upon which the shed would stand should be replanked before the erection of the shed. As to the first recommendation an amendment was carried to divide the sum of £25 between Messrs. Prince and Oallan. The other parts of the report were adopted. WATERWORKS COMMITTEE. Tills committee reported that the Government had virtually promised to withdraw the Wainuiomata watershed from sale. Eeport adopted. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The committee reported that arrangements had been made by which the Bank of New •Zealand would advance £IO,OOO on account of the £IOO,OOO loan. The City Solicitor had reduced his bill of costs by £IOO, and the committee recommended £658 be paid to the solicitor, leas £l5O, paid on account. In answer to a question The Mayor said the interest would bo seven per cent. Councillor Allan thought that too high. Councillor Fisher wanted to know what the Bank was going to charge for floating the loan in London. Last time one per cent, was charged, double the rate any other Bank would have charged. A discussion arose on the point, when, at the suggestion of the Mayor, Councillor Fisher said he would give a notice of motion on the subject. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID. The following report was taken as read : “ The committee beg to report—That they have carefully considered the report received from the medical practitioners in the city, and beg to recommend the following regulations for the administration of the Wellington Hospital: Hospital be continued to be used as such, aud that the Government be asked to provide funds for their improvement and extension.—2. That the Hospital be temporarily managed by the committee of the City Council and the chairman of the Hutt County Council.—3. That the city and district be actively canvassed for voluntary contributions and subscriptions, and a day fixed for the return of the result of such canvass. Also, that a collection be asked for from all churches in town and in the County of Hutt.—4. That upon a return being made of amount of contributions and subscriptions promised, a committee of management shall bo elected from the City Council, Hutt County Council, donors of £25 and upwards, and annual subscribers of £5 and upwards.—s. That every subscriber shall be entitled to recommend patients according to the following scale, —£1 Is. per annum, 6 out patients ; £2 2s. per annum, 1 in and S out, or 12 out, patients ; and so on in proportion to the amount of subscriptions paid. Provided that recommendations from subscribers shall not entitle patients to admission unless they are deemed fit cases by the medical or surgical officer to whom they present themselves. — 6. Local bodies, public companies, and benefit clubs shall be entitled to recommend one inpatient and nine out-patients for every £2 2s. of annual subscription.—7. That donations of £25 in one sum shall be equivalent to annual subscription of two guineas.-—B. That recommendations not used during the year of issue shall not be available for the next year.—9. That the Mayor be cx officio chairman of the Managing Committee.—lo. That the officers of tho Hospital shall consist of the medical staff, house surgeon, and matron, 11. That an honorary medical staff be appointed as follows : —One consulting surgeon, two honorary physicians, two honorary surgeons. The physicians and surgeons to be legally qualified to practice medicine and surgery, and registered in New Zealand.—l2. That the honorary medical staff, as soon as convenient after appointment, be requested to examine and report upon all cases at present in the hospital. pital be vested in a general committee composed of the City Council, donors of £25 and upwards (in one sum), annual subscribers of £5 and upwards, the honorary staff, and clergymen of all congregations contributing an annual Sunday collection. —The committee beg further to recommend—That a requisition from tho surgeon-superintendent for various Hospital requirements, amounting to £287 13s. 7d., be approved. The committee have also to report that they have passedan amount for payment of salaries at the Hospital, for the month of May (£92 155.), for which they ask the Council’s confirmation.” Councillor Maginnity explained, before going on with the business, that it was owing to an oversight that iu moving for the appointment of a medical committee he had omitted f the name of one of the oldest practitioners in ' the city.

Causes 1 and 2 were adopted. Clause 3.—Councillor Maginnity enquired how hospitals were supported in other parts of the colony.—The Mayor believed that in no part of the colony were hospitals selfsupporting. However, the Town Clerk had written for information from councils in other parts of the colony.—Councillor Thompson suggested tiie postponement of the clause until some information was obtained. The Mayor said it was a very important clause. Councillor Fisher presumed this would be a temporary arrangement, because the legislature before long must take the whole subject of charitable aid and hospital control into consideration.—Clause adopted. Clause 4.—The Mayor thought a yearly subscription of £1 would be sufficient- to give the donor voting power.—Clause adopted. Clause s.—Councillor Allen moved that the sum of £1 Is. should be made £2 25., and £2 2s. £4 4s. The clause was passed as printed. Clause 6.—Councillor Allen moved that the sum mentioned be increased to £5 5s. —-Clause passed as printed. Clauses 7,8, 9, and 10. —Adopted. Clause 11.—The Mayor repeated the arguments used when the matter was discussed in committee as reported in tho TIMES, June 4. Councillor Maginnity suggested the insertion of tho word “annually” in the first line.— Councillor Fisher agreed with the amendment, hut suggested that the question should be settled by” the medical profession.—Councillor Diver said he was quite sure the medical men of the city would object, because it would be damaging to medical men to be subjected to the chances of election.—Councillor Dixon supported the amendment. —Councillor Thompson would like to know who were to be appointed. In Victoria the medical staff were elected by subscribers to the hospital. Personal! v he did not approve of gentlemen holding office for one or three yeais. —The Mayor should altogether object to medical men being elected for life, and so depriving the management of any popular character. —Councillor Maginnity withdrew his motion in favor of the amendment, and it waa agreed to refer the question back to the Medical Committee. The rest of the report was adopted without discussion. SYDNEY EXHIBITION COMMITTEE. The Mayor reported that the committee had engaged Mr. Bragge to take about twenty views of the city, at a coat of £2 10s. each. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTF.E’S REPORT. Clause 1, insisting on the fulfilment of Messrs. Czerwonka and McKirdy’a contract, was agreed to. On clause 2, that a schedule of works in tho various wards of the city, taken from the schedule of the £IOO,OOO loan, has been prepared by the City Surveyor, which works can be proceeded with at once without causing public inconvenieuce, and recommend that the same be proceeded with with the least possible delay. Estimated cost, £9XSO, to be charged against the said loan. The Mayor read a statement of the manner in which the money was to be expended ; Cook Ward, £4350 ; Te Aro Ward, £2OOO ; Lambton Ward, £I7OO ; Thorndon Ward, £llO9. These sums were iu proportion to what was voted in the original schedule. Councillor Maginnity having advocated the claims of the Glenbervie cutting. Councillor Greenfield presented a petition asking for the formation of Douglas Wallaceatreet. The Mayor said the work should be proceeded with at the earliest . possible moment. It was not advisable to carry on such work iu the winter months. Councillor Allen said that Cook Ward had some £16,000 more expended on it than it was entitled to during the last twelve months. He thought it would be advisable to cut up some streets in ,'the winter months, instancing tho Adelaide-road as a case in point. The clause was agreed to. Tho Mayor, having suggested that the Council should meet that day week to open tenders in connection with the proposed works, Councillor Thompson moved, and Councillor Greenfield seconded, a motion to that effect, and it was agreed that a special meeting should be held on the day named for the purpose of opening tenders. The remaining clauses of the report, of minor importance, were passed as already printed. TENDERS. The Council then proceeded to open tenders. Elliee-street formation—J. Saunders, £3ll 14s. 6.1,; P. Scully, £498 10s.; P. Wills, £217 10s.; J. Kelleher and D. Mahoney, £225; Cleary and Farris, £317 10s.; J, Powell, £232 17s. 6d. The tender of P. Wills was accepted. —Draining Recreation Reserye, Newtown— F. Stevens, £646 ; P. Parsy, £559 25.; Webber and Co., £622 2s. 6d.; J. Powell, £528 17s. 6d.; Cleary and Farris, £478 4s. OjM. The last-named tender was accepted. LETTER FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. A letter, dated some time back, was read from the Chamber of Commerce referring to the question of the removal of the powder magazine, the Supreme Court buildings, and the railway terminus, and suggesting that the Council should co-operate with the Chamber in pressing these matters on the notice of the Government. Councillor Thompson moved, that a committee be appointed to act with the committee of the Chamber in bringing these subjects to tho notice of the Government. The committee to consist of Councillors Greenfield, Young, Maginnity, Dixon, and Moss. Councillor Hunter asked why snob long delay had occurred before the letter had been brought to the notice of the Council, and the Town Clerk said he had unfortunately overlooked it. The motion was agreed to. a new cemetery. The Mayor informed the Council that he had received an influential requisition asking him to call a public meeting to take into consideration the urgent necessity of providing a new cemetery for Wellington. He said it Was bis intention to call a meeting as requested. Would the Council suggest what day would be most convenient ? The day was left to the discretion of the Mayor. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £1457 14s. 2d. were passed for payment, and the Council proceeded to the notices of motion. TENDERS AND CONTRACTS. Councillor Fisher moved, —(1.) That all informal tenders be rejected; (2.) that all contracts date from the date of acceptance of tender by the Council, except in cases where reasons may be given by the Surveyor, at the Council table, for departing from this rule; (3.) that the City Surveyor present, in printed form, at the fortnightly meetings of the Council a return showing contracts in progress, date of acceptance of tender for such contracts, date of completion, and penalty for non-completion. He thought his motion, if carried, would be productive of advantage. The first clause of the motion was carried, and the second negatived. There was a short discussion on the third, which was ultimately agreed to by 8 to 5. THE DRAINAGE SCHEMES. Councillor Maqinnity’s motion, That the two drainage schemes submitted to the Council by Messrs. Climie and Clark be referred to a board of engineers, consisting of the Government Engineers, or a board selected by the Council, aud that on their report the Council take immediate action, — was tho next business. The Mayor informed the Council that he was afraid he could not allow the motion to be put. A resolution had been carried by the Council in reference to Mr. Climie’a scheme, and by the 80th clause of the Municipal Corporations Act it was necessary that notice should be given to each Councillor of an intention to rescind that resolution. That had not been done, and he could not allow the motion to be put. He had informed Councillor Maginnity of the state of the matter. Councillor Maginnity thanked the Mayor for his courtesy in sending him word that his motion was out of order, and the subject shortly dropped. A HARBOR BOARD. Councillor Thompson moved, —That the resolution of the Council of 29th May relative to a Harbor Board be rescinded, aud that steps be taken in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce for introducing a Harbor Board Bill for Port Nicholson.—Resolution of 29th May:—.That while the Council does not desire to oppose the formation of a Harbor Board, it does not deem it its duty to take the initiatory steps to secure the establishment of such a Board.—He was in favor of a Harbor Board independent of the City Council. The members of the Council were not he thought, the proper parties to be invested with the duties of a Harbor Board. They had quite sufficient to do already. Further, there was little probability of the Parliament vesting the control of the harbor in the City Council, nor would the Legislative Council agree to the necessary endowments being handed over to the Corporation. He instanced the pressing reasons there were for the formation of a Board, and thought it a pity that antagonism should exist between certain members of the Council and the Chamber of Commerce. Those bodies shquld pull together iterests of the city.

Councillor Moss asked whether the fact of its being the intention o i the Chamber of Commerce to act independently would not do away with the necessity of the motion 1 Councillor Diver having seconded the motion, Councillor Young proceeded to speak in support. He dwelt on the few improvements that had been made in the harbor. They could not have their English ships coming in and having to wait for eight or ten days for a berth. He was informed that English ships were put to an expense in port of £2OOO each. It was time this state of things was remedied, and he had much pleasure in supporting the motion. Councillor Dixon opposed the motion. Councillor Fisher : Will you walk into my parlor, said the spider to the fiy.—and if this was not an invitation to walk into the parlor of the Chamber of Commerce he did not know v/hat was. He (Councillor Fisher) attributed the bad state of the harbor to the Chamber of Commerce. Deferring to the Te Aro reclamation, supposing they lost their hold on that, how were they to pay for the large works of the city ? The citizens were already sufficiently taxed. Let them by no means loose their hold on this Te Aro reclamation. Councillor Allen said the harbor was finished by nature, and man could not spoil it. Councillors should not undervalue the early efforts made to erect wharf accommodation. Comparing Wellington with Lyttelton, the comparison was altogether in favor of the former. He opposed the motion. Councillor Logan would on this occasion vote in a different manner to what lie did on a former occasion, solely on account of the action of the Chamber of Commerce. He.was _aUogether opposed to the Harbor Board obtaining the Te Aro reclamation as an endowment. He approved of the formation of a board, but if that board was going to turn round and say we will take your property, whether you like it or not, he would not submit to it. For the reasons he had stated he would oppose the motion. Councillor Moss objected to the Council taking the initiatory steps for the the formation of a Harbor Board, and that was the reason of his vote on a previous occasion. _He would, as he did previously, oppose the motion. Councillor Hunter understood the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce to say at the meeting the previous day that he formed one of a deputation to the Premier, and as he (Councillor Hunter) understood it the intention was to vest the control of the wharf at Te Aro in the board, but he was not aware that the intention was to take away the land. He thought there was a misapprehension in the matter. It was necessary to have a Harbor Board to have separate management, as the Council would not get the necessary endowments. He thought this fighting of the Council against the Harbor Board was a mistake, they should all pull together. The Mayor desired to say a word or two by way of explanation. He was not opposed to a Harbor Board, but he thought the entire management of the harbor should be conferred on the City Council, and as a first fruit they should have a steam tug. Further, the Council, he thought, should have the right to the whole foreshore right round the bay. Then might the city hope to emulate such cities as Hamburg and Bremen. He thought the idea that the City Council would not get endowments was a misconception. However, if the Council could not get the control of the harbor they must make the best they could of a bad bargain. He was of opinion that a board entirely distinct from the City Council would be a great mistake. The multiplication of local bodies all over _ the colony was, he submitted, bad policy, and the experience of Auckland and other places showed it. All eminent men who had studied the subject differed from the opinion of those members of the City Council who considered that the Harbor Board should be separate from the Corporation. The opinions were in favor of keeping the control of local matters in one body. He thought it was a pity that it should be said that Wellington was behind other ports, and deprecated the assertions that the Council did not do all it could for the mercantile interests. Going back to the subject of endowments,'he repeated that the assertion that the Council would not get such endowments was merely an assumption. The speaker spoke deprecatingly of the action of the Chamber of Commerce, and said he did not consider it was at all clear that the Premier was opposed to handing over the control of the harbor to the City Council. Councillor Thompson replied at some length. The arguments used by the Mayor were the same as he had used when stumping for the Mayorship. He (the Mayor) was doing all he could to set the City Council against the Chamber of Commerce. He (Councillor Thompson) thought the Mayor spoke in an unworthy manner of the Chamber of Commerce. Sarcastic remarks, ouch as he had used should not fall from him as Mayor. When he got into the Mayoral chair he should have forgotten his hustings speeches. He had made a statement as regards the Premier which was positively untrue. The Premier said he was entirely in favor of a Harbor Board, and it should not be constituted out of the City Council. The Mayor was misrepresenting matters. The speaker considered that the Chamber of Commerce was simply advocating what it thought was for the best interests of the city, and it was not the Chamber alone which wanted a Harbor Board. People outside also desired it. As to the constitution of such a'Board the Mayor must know that it was not the Chamber of Commerce alone that would constitute it. It was proposed to constitute the hoard on a most liberal basis, from many different sources ; he thought it could not have had a more liberal basis. Deferring to some remarks which fell from Councillor Young, the Chamber of Commerce distinctly stated that all they wanted was outside the line of reclamation of the Te Aro foreshore. There was no intention whatever on the part of the Chamber to take the reclamation itself. Proceeding, the speaker stated it could not be said that the wharf accommodation of the port was sufficient, and he concluded by saying that tho Chamber of Commerce had in its action the best interests of the city at heart.

A division was taken on the motion: —Ayes, 5; noes, 7. The motion was therefore lost. The Council adjourned at twenty minutes to twelve o’clock.