CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LV, Issue 2042, 27 October 1893, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

At the ordinary fortnightly meeting* of tho City Council last night there - wore present—His Worship tho Mayor, Councillors Petherick,. Fraser, Penty, Worth, Harcourt, Harris, Anderson, 'latum,' Willeston. Barber and Vogel, The minutes of the previous meeting wore road and confirmed. °

Tho in-ward and outward correspondence was read and approved. The Library Committee reported recommending :—That the stucco on tho south wall of tho library be painted in stone colour; four coats. That some shelving for newspapers and magazines be put up in tho lavatory. That some thick cork kamptuli.con be laid down in tho entrance hall instead of the matting. That the new books bo insured for 41750. That the following papers be ordered, viz:—Engineering, The Builder, The Building Neivs, The Architect, Otago Witness*, and a second copy of The Review of Reviews. That the librarian be authorised to purchase such books as lie thinks desirable at book sales in the city to the extent of 45 at a time. That hooks to the extent of 440 bo purchased from “ remainder ” lists, the librarian to make a selection of same. That tho librarian be authorised to proceed with the compilation of a new catalogue of the books in the lending department, having power to reject such books as are too mutilated to bo of service, and to include such works of fiction as he thinks proper from the reference department. That the officials at tho library be granted a fortnight’s holiday in each year, the same as the other Corporation officers. In moving the adoption of the report Councillor Fraser exx>lained that “remainders” camo cheaper as a method of buying standard works, and was recommended by their librarian, who seemed to know his work. Councillor Petherick objected to painting the building till March, as the bricks were still dam}) and, in fact, the place was not fit to paint. Councillor Vogel seconded his motion pro forma, but no one except the mover voted for it. The report was then adopted. Councillor Harris moved the adoption of the Fire Brigade Committee’s report, which recommended six new uniforms, a pair of new carriage lamps with electric head lights, and a new fire carriage be procured. They also recommended that sections 1,2 and 3of block 5, To Aro Reclamation, be reserved as a site for a central station to bo erected at some future time, but this was referred to the Reserves Committee, the rest of tho report being adopted non con.

A short discussion took place on the interim report of the Building By - law Committee, which stated that they had completed their revision of the sanitary bylaw which will be circulated in a few days. It is proposed to pass the by-law through its first stage on Monday, November Gth with a view of bringing it into force as soon as possible. Councillor Petherick stated that their task had been a thankless ono, and it would be found that under it every hack-yard in the city, and almost every house would have to be entered. —Report adopted.

On the motion of Councillor AVilleston the report of the City Reserves Committee, as follows, was adopted— That the Garrison Baud bo allowed to perform on the Basin Reserve and to make a collection at the gates in aid of the band fund; that fencing be erected at tl?o western side of the Basin Reserve to prevent visitors walking on tho grass; that steps be taken • .as recommended by tho sexton to prevent the further slipping of earth at the Cemetery, near tlio top of the cutting in Sydney street; that Mr R. Dnigimn bo granted- a 'renewal of his lease of section 58, r Town Belt, for -seven years, on condition that ho effectively. clears off the gorse from the land within two years from date, and thereafter keeps it cleared; that tlio chairman and such other members of the council as find it .convenient pay a visit to the Corporation property at. Pahiatua, with the view of reporting to the council upon tho present condition’ of ’the estate. The Public Works Committee report, which has already been published, led to a short discussion as to Hay street, and the. recommendation of the committee that the, request for repairs tliero be not’complied with was altered to, read that, 1 ,it would be considered at the' cbmmenoeiient of the next finaneiaTyear. .; . ’ ’ ' ,! li Councillor .Retherick reported that, the, Rolleston street- committee, had seen, .the .petitioners, and agreed that .when houses were erected the council would spend a sum sufficient to give them access. Report adopted.

i A number of amendments to tlie burgess roll were agrdedtot 1 ! • ■

Accounts amounting to L 8699 10s, including L7lO imprest, were passed for payment,

Councillor Barber moved, “ That the amount of the City Improvements Loan allocated to Graveyard- road be transferred to Aro street,” and, in. doing so, said tlmt- 'the,'road, which leads .to Karori cemetery/(is ' a i disgrabe-to the city, and 'ho 1 'was sill-prised' that the press had not taken notice of it before. Councillor Tatum seconded the motion, and said the street was not in a very safe state at present, and the, council would be held liable if an accident occurred there. Councillor Harris objected to deviating money from one ward to another. The Mayor said if it were a fact that the roads wore, in different wards'ho must rule the motion out, of order, as .the city solicitor had given an opinion - in that _ direction. ■ - Councillor Petherick stated that when the money was boiTowed tho roads were in the same ward. —Motion ruled out of order. ■ Councillor Worth moved that the Drainage Engineer furnish a'return of all persons at the present time engaged on tho drainage scheme, whether of tho official staff or employees j tho rate of pay of each person so engaged, and whether by the year, day, or piece- work, or by contract, and how long each person so engaged lias resided in Wellington. There was much talk outside as to tho work being done, and the money being spent, and while there were so many old ratepayers requiring employment and men from other colonies wore employed, he thought it only right to find out what ground there was for the complaints. He had no other object in view in asking for the return than to have them confirmed or contradicted. It was sgid there were too many men waiting on a very few* men, These was an impression that £22,042 had been spent on the drainage works, but the public forgot that ,£12,000 went to pay off money that was a first claim on the loan, .£2500 for floating the loan, first half-year’s interest £3600, or a total to date of £IB,IOO, of which only £3912 had been spent on work to date. While not altogether agreeing that the works should bo unduly hastened, ho thought they might be pushed on a little. Councillor Eraser seconded, and said he had heard much the same kind of complaint. The’ Mayor said the council had gone into fire ii-alt er before and found there was very little imp.qrted labour enjjjloyed. Councillor Vogel wanted to know frpni the bngiueei; the ' number ofirieu who were likely to bp employed i?! dSbliSvy next, and the mayimnih number of men aver likely to he employed bn the works. Councillor Wfileston pointed out that it was to he carried out by contract work. Councillor Vogel did not believe in contract work. Councillor Harris would

like tho engineer to give a definite reply as to whether the shifting of the earth could not bo let at so much per ctibic yard to gangs of men. The motion was carried.

On the motion of Councillor Tanner, occupiers of shops are to be requested during the dry weather to water the footpaths in front of their premises at least once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Councillor Petherick wished to prevent the council sitting after II p.m., bnt, there being a standing order on the subject, the Mayor ruled him out of order.

The council then went into committee.