CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2427, 5 February 1895, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

THE BUILDING BY-LAW COMMITTEE. A special meeting of the City Council was held last night, called, among other reasons, for the purpose of considering a notice of motion by Councillor Fraser r» the Building By-laws Committee. There were present—The Mayor (in the chair) and Councillors Anderson. Myers, Fraser, Petherick, Barber, Harris, Tatum, Peuty, Willeston and Devine. Councillor Fraser moved, ‘‘That the Building By-law Committee bo now discharged, with.the best thanks of the Council for its labours.” He said he did so in the interests of the public and the ratepayers generally, and also of the committee itself. They had done their work well, and now it would bo advisable to- bring the by-law before the Gdpjyyl as ’soon $s jossible." The committee/ he thought, had jeen too small, and frequently only twq

■wort? present, and it would bo for tho best if they wore now discharged. Councillor Harris seconded the motion, and said ho thought the Council owed Councillor Fraser a vote of thanks ior having taken the initiative in this matter. Tho committee certainly had worked hard, but there appeared to he a feeling amongst them that their work should not bo reviewed, "and, therefore, it was better that their duties should cease, and the by-law be considered by the full Council. Councillor Tatum thought the best plan would have been to ask the City Surveyor to draw up a sot of by-laws, which could then bo considered by the Council. The committee certainly was small, but ho did not think the other members of the Council would care without previous consideration to consider these by-laws, and say what should and what should not be included in them. Most of the recommendations made by the builders of Wellington he thoroughly agreed with, and he had tried to have them embodied in tho by-law, and bo had hoped the committee would have mot and considered the recommendations of tho Society of Architects. If the Council passed this resolution, they would bo to blame if they discussed anything except tho recommendations of tho architects, builders and the city engineer, and their hearing on the by-law as it had been prepared by the committee. Tho motion was carried.

The Mayor said ho was sure the Council had no desire to cast any reflection on the committee—on the contrary, every member felt grateful for the work they bad done, and recognised its value. (Hear, hear.) Cdunoillor Penty spoke in terms of high praise of the valuable assistance rendered to tho committee by Mr Mestayer, the Drainage Engineer. The Building By-law was then considered, and on the motion of Councillor Tatum, seconded by Councillor Petherick, the Town Clerk was instructed to fllo a copy of tho by-law ns brought down by the committee.

A report from the Building By-law Committee, signed by the Chairman (Councillor Potorick), was road. This report stated that tho committee had held S 8 meetings, and had taken into consideration the Building By-laws of Auckland, Dunedin, Christchurch, Melbourne, Manchester, Birmingham, the Board of Trade Model By-laws, in addition to the present City of Wellington By-law. They had also had tho advice of tho Wellington Association of Architects, the whole of whoso suggestions they had adopted. They also invited by letter the Wellington Builders’ Association to submit suggestions, which they declined to do. They received valuable assistance from Mr Mestayor, tho Drainage Engineer, by request of the Council; also from the City Surveyor and Mr Watson, Building Inspector. The committee had kept In view the desirability of removing, so far as is consistent with sound construction and sanitation, all objectionable restrictions which had hitherto caused more or less friction. They had come to tho conclusion that, owing to the configuration and other peculiarities of the city, it was impossible to draw up a by-law which would meet every case, and therefore they strongly recommended tho absolute necessity of appointing a standing building committee, having power to deal with exceptional cases not explicitly dealt with in the by-law. They strongly recommended that in all cases of conviction for infringement of the by-laws, tho continuing penalty bo rigidly enforced; and further, that the officer whoso duty it is to inspect shall also be the officer to set the law in motion. The committee thanked Messrs Mestayer, Drainage Engineer; Mr Wiltshire, City Surveyor; Mr Watson, Building Inspector; and the Architects’ Association for their valuable assistance, and also Mr Tait, Assistant-Clerk in the Town Clerk’s office, •for his clerical assistance.

The Council then went into committee, and considered the suggestions made by the City Solicitor, and about half the recommendations made by the Architects’ and Builders’ Associations. At 9.43 p.ra. the committee adjourned until Thursday evening.