CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 9463, 27 November 1891, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting was held last night. Present—The Mayor (Mr A. W, Brown), and Councillors Harris, Worth, Fraser, Barber, Petberiok, Parsons, Smith, Harcourt; Vogel, and Willeston. Grass Street.—The Melrose Borough Council requested the removal of a fence and other obstructions in Grass street, so as to permit access to the Roseneath Estate.— Referred to the Public Works Committee. Rival Tenderers.—R. Martin and Tiogey Bros., as tenderers and ratepayers, wrote drawing attention to the ■* slovenly manner” in which the painting of the Fire Brigade stations wao being carried out.— After Councillor Worth hud seconded the protest, the letter was leferrcdtu the Fire Brigade Committee. Overcrowded Opera House.—The Cap-

tain of the Fire Brigade reported that tho Opera House was greatly overcrowded on tho night# of the 18th and 19th inst.— Councillors Barber and Harcourt demurred to the statements of the officer. A motion by Councillor Vogel to send tho directors of the Opera House a letter of warning was negatived on division, Tho matter was then referred to the Public Works Committee, and in the meantime Captain Kemsley la to be asked to explain. Soapwomkh.—W. H, Quick wrote on behalf of certain city burgesses residing near the Melrose boundary pointing out thac the Council of that borough had given permission for soap works to be established at Mitohelltown, and asking to be protected against any nuisance arising therefrom. —Referred to tho City Saveyor to report on at next Public Worts Committee meeting. BuiLDisa Irregularities. The Inspector of Buildings drew attention to irregularities in tho erection of certain buildings, and the Council resolved that he should be directed to enforce the by daws. Public Library. Six tenders were received and opened for the work of erecting the Public Library,—On tho Mayor’s motion the lowest tender (R. R. Carmichael and Sods) was accepted, tho work to include the tower, if found iu order. His Worship explained that the tower would make a difference of £4OO, and that it would be wise to have it.—Councillor Petherick thought the foundations were defective. A Clock for the Basin Reserve.—The

family of tho late Edward Dixon applied for leave to erect a suitable clock on the grand stand at the Basin Reserve to per* petuate the memory of their late father. Tho intention was to present the clock to tho Wellington Cricketers* Association, and in the event of this Association at any time acquiring a cricket ground of their own the applicants desired permission for its removal. The clock was being manufao-

tured by Messrs Littlejohn,—On the Mayor’s motion the application was granted, subject to the work being carried out to tbe approval of the City Surveyor, .New By-Law. —The Corporation Leasebold ByLaw was duly confirmed. Gulcher Company’s Building. Mr 1), Sidey’s award as to the value of this building was read. The amount stated was £385. Tbe Mayor said that the Council, in referring the matter to arbitration instead of accepting the offer of the company, as originally recommended by the Public Works Committee, had simply thrown away £42 10s, for which they could have obtained 340 square yards of as phaltlng, or 1000 feet of kerbing, or 550 feet of a Gin. drain, or 2200 lineal feet of channelling. He moved that the Engineer should be instructed to repot t at the next meeting of the Public Works Committee what repairs were necessary to the building, and tbe eost of making it lit for letting. At the request of Councillor Hards the original report of the City Surveyor was read, assigning £3OO as the value of tbe building. Councillor Harris went on to say that this fully justified those Councillors who had supported the reference of the matter to arbitration.—Councillors Petheriolc and Fraser followed in a similar strain, the latter depiocating the tone of the Mayor’s remarks in relation to tbe Councillors who had favoured arbitration. —Councillor Worth twitted the Mayor with having cost the Council far more money by having forced into Court Mrs Meech’s compensation claim, in respect of the removal of Te Aro baths. It was Bis Worship’s cantankeroamess that had contributed to the loss Incurred over that affair.—Councillor Vogel also expressed regret at the Mayor’s remarks, but at the same time felt that tbe debate was rather unseemly. He blamed the Council for ignoring Committees’ report.—The Mayor replied, contending that his action in tbe matter of thoTe Aro Baths was perfectly right, as Mrs Meeoh prosecuted the Council after it had spent hundreds of pounds in building retaining walls, &o. It was ia view of this fact that he suggested that the Council should fight her. He concluded by withdrawing his previous motion, and moved that the matter be referred to tbe Finance Committee, with power to fix an upset price and call for tenders. This was agreed to. Sanitation. Councillor Harris moved that Messrs Higginson and Ferguson and the City Surveyor be appointed a committee of experts to report on the main features of tbe sanitary by-laws.—Councillor Parsons thought those gentlemen were unsuitable as they were the authors of tbe by-laws which bad led to the poisoning of tbe city. A medical gentleman at any rate should be a member of the committee. He suggested that Dr Kemp should be appointed a member. —Councillor Harris substituted Dr Kemp’s name for that of Mr Ferguson in his motion.—Councillor Yogel proposed that Councillors Smith and Parsons should also be members of the committee.—Councillor Smith declined nomination.—Councillor Vogel then proposed Councillors Parsons and Petherick. —Councillor Harris agreed to incorporate this proposition with bis motion. Councillor Fraser objected to the inclusion of any Councillors ia the proposed Committee of Experts.—Councillor Worth concurred in his view.—Councilor Barber moved as an amendment committee foe empowered to call in expert evidence.—Tbe Mayor put the amendment in this form—“ That the appointment of three experts for the purpose of reporting upon the sanitary by-laws be referred to tbo late Sanitary Committee with power to sot/ 1 This was carried, the motion being withdrawn in its favour.

Finance Committee. — This Committee reported that the Controller and AuditorGeneral having taken the opinion of Mr Martin Chapman upon the question of tne city improvements loan sinking fund has now definitely declined to allow any reduc* tion in the amount of the special rate for interest on the city improvements loan. His letter on tho subject dated sth iaat. is attached hereto. The Controller and Auditor-General further refers to the queation of the sinking fund in his report on the ba)ance*abeet of the borough for the half year ended 30th September last. On full consideration of all tbo oircamatanoes the Committee recommend that in future the whole amount produced by tho special rate, after payment of interest and expenses, should be handed over to the Sinking Fund Commissioners, and invested by them with the usual £7OO per annum until the amount of the deficiency In tbo banking fund account has boon cleared off. —The report was adopted. Public Works Committee.—The report (published in our issue of Wednesday) was adopted, an amendment by Councillor Eraser to expunge the clause requesting the Government not to allowadvertising on the Wellington telegraph posts,being lost On division. Allen street ExTENSj[ON-~rlt waa resolved on tbs motion of Councillor Vogel—** That prior to the taking of any steps under the Publio Works Act in accordance with motion No. 751, the City Solicitor or some officer of the Council negotiate with Mr Hook for the purchase of the said property, and report to the Council.” Sundry. —Marsh Bros’, painting contract was extended as to time; the adjourned debate on the question of the Mayor’s salary was allowed to lapse ; and accounts amounting to £2663 19s 7d were passed for payment. The Council adjourned at 10.53 p.m.