CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2542, 21 June 1895, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was hold last night. Present— Tho Mayor (in tho chair) and Councillors Anderson;; Willeston, Fraser; Penty, Myers; Devine, -Tatum, Smith; IfarcduiT; Itairio rtnd Rarbeh A QUESTION OF DRAINAGE.

Mr C. P. Worth waited on tho Council to complain that the pipe which drained the Town Belt and went under his property in Alfred street was not sufficient to carry off the water. The result was, he said, that his property had boon considerably affected, audat every rainfall floods of greater or less extent occurred there. He suggested that the sump in the College ground be raised some few feet, and a largo pipe bo put into the main sewer. The Mayor said this matter had been fully considered in Public Works Committee, and the disposition of the Council was to provide some radical remedy for tho inefficiency of the drainage of the whole of that district. They would seo to Mr Worth’s matter at the same time. Later on in the evening the Town Clerk reported that the foreman of Works stated that ho had got into the drain from Alfred street to the sea, and found it quite clear. Tho Mayor said there was proof positive that some permanent work must bo done in regard to this drain, and that a supplementary sewer must be put down. Councillor Harris moved that the matter be referred to tho next meeting of tho Public Works Committee, which was seconded by Councillor Myers, and carried. THE DRAINAGE WORKS. Messrs P. Maroney and MoAnaney attended to complain of their dismissal from tho drainage works, which they had been working on for the last twenty months. Ten men were discharged at tho same time as themselves, and eight of them had been taken on again. Their complaint was not against Mr Mestayer, but against tho foreman. A committee consisting of Councillors Penty, Devine and Smith was appointed to enquire into the matter. fiANKS TERRACE. Mr W. Madeiey wrote calling attention to tho injury done to his property by tho loose clay from tho Mount Cook hill coming down and running over the street-. The Mayor said the matter would ho brought under the notice of the Government almost immediately. Councillor Penty said they had asked tho Government to do something in this matter before; and if tho Government would not repair it tho Council ought to see to it themselves. The Mayor said if tho Government woiild not do it tho Council would repair the damage already done and ask the Government to prevent it recurring. ROAD METAL. Thd' Drainage Engineers recommended that the tender of Mr Baylis for spa win and broken metal bo accepted. Tue recommendation was adopted. BY-LAWS, Tho resolutions adopting the Deserves and Water-courses By-laws wore adopted. SANITARY BT-LA.W. The City Solicitor wrote stating that in his opinion tho Sanitary By-law passed by the Council is valid. FINANCE AND eAffITATION COMMITTEE. This committee recommended • —l. That the following applications for drainage works to be done under the deferred payment system be agreed to:—Mrs Annie Bertrand, ono house in Bolleston street; Mr E. Sunloy, one house in Gordon street; Mrs A. M. Hicks, one house iu Newtown avenue ; Mr H. Eames, ono house iu Wallace street; Mr T. D. Wrigley, ono house in Coromandel street; Mr J. Larnaoh, two houses in Nairn street. 2. That Mr J. W. Hall, of the Turkish Baths, be informed that tho Council has no power to grant his request for reduction of tho amount payable by him to the Corporation in respect of the property. 3. That a water service for fire prevention purposes ho granted to the New Zealand Candle Company, Kaiwarra, on the usual conditions. -1. That tho piice of water to the New Zealand Farmers’ Dairy Union be reduced to 8d per 1000 gallons from Ist of next month. Tho report was adopted. NORMANBY TERRACE. The committee appointed to consider Mrs Nelson’s application for a bank to be out away at Normanby terrace recommended that tho work bo done if Mrs Nelson put up a fence to protect the adjoining property. The report was adopted. ■ • • PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. The report of this committee, which has already boon published, was then considered. Councillor Fraser moved to strike out that clause recommending that the trees t n the footpath in Grant road be out down. Tho motion was seconded by Councillor Uarcourfc. The Town Clerk read a letter from Messrs Bell, Gully and Izard requesting tho Council, on behalf of Mrs Levin, to out down tho gum trees in Grant road, in front of her property, and hoping that the Council would do so befora proceedings were taken in the matter. The motion proposed by Councillor Fraser was lost by 0 to 8, Councillors Fraser, Harcourt and Tatum being tho only ones voting in favour of it. Councillor Fraser suggested that the trees should be cut down on ArbourDay. The clause was adopted. Councillor Myers moved to strike out tho clause recommending increases of salary to Mr H. F. Hanify, onglneeringand surveying assistant, and Mr G. C. Stephenson, in charge of the intercepting sewer works.

Councillor • Devin© seconded the motion, and both the mover and seconder expressed the opinion that tho present moment was Inopportune for such a course, and that it would only be by the greatest care that the money available could be made sufficient for the drainage works. Councillor Fraser supported tho motion, and said if it was carried it should be taken as an instruction to tho consulting engineers not to increase wages,especially as he understood the loan would not bo sufficient to carry out the work. Councillor Harcourt supported the recom-. mendation of tho committee. Ho did not think there was any reason for stating tho loan would not be sufficient for the purpose, and'ho contended it would, bo true' economy to increase these men's salaries, as recommended by tho consulting engineers, whoso opinion was entitled to every consideration at tho hands of the Council. Councillor Smith thought wages should not be raised at present. Councillors Barber and Tatum opposed the recommendation of tho committee on the ground of economy. Councillor Harris supported tho recommendation of the consulting engineers, in whom the Council must have confidence. Ho considered every man was worthy of his hire, and if a man proved his services wore worth more than ho was getting the department for which he worked should see that ho was adequately paid. Tho motion to strike out tho clause was carried by 8 to 4. Clause 11 was amended so as to rejid that a driver’s license bo granted to tho lad W. J. Noman. Tho other clauses wore adopted. BATHS. Councillor Anderson asked when plans of the new baths would bo put before the Council ?

. The Mayor stated that the City Surveyor’s assistant in this matter had died, and no fresh assistant had been appointed, besides which some further soundings were required. He (the Mayor) would, however, impress on tho City Surveyor the necessity for haste in the matter. OWEN STREET. A letter complaining of the condition of Owen street was referred to tho Public Works Committee. RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES. The Mayor stated that the Government were proposing fresh legislation regarding rating on unimproved values, and tho Town Clerk had prepared certain details as to how Wellington would be affected thereby. It was decided that this report should be type-written and distributed among the Councillors. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to ,£3IBB Os 2d were passed for payment. A RETURN WANTED. Councillor Devine moved: — tc That a return be prepared by tho Drainage Department and laid on tho Council table showing (a) the names and salaries of all officers and permanent employees of the department since tho inception of the works ; (b) the names of the several overseei*s and workmen employed on the works, the time for which employed and the amount of wages paid for labour or piecework; (c) the amount paid for contracts already completed and paid or payable for contracts already let.” Councillor Myers seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

COMMITTEES. Councillor - Devine moved— <f That the Finance and City Reserves Committees be reconstituted.” Ho thought the wards should be more equally represented on those committees. He first moved that Councillor Smith be placed on both those committees in place of Councillor Petherick, which was agreed to. The consideration of the manner in which the two committees should be reconstituted was adjourned. EIGHT S-OF-WAT. Applications by Mr Wm. Mitchell and Mr C. W. Tanner for sanction to rights-of-way off Mein street and Adelaide road respectively were adjourned till the next meeting of the Public Works Committee. LOAN CONVERSION. The Council went into committee to consider the following report from the Finance and Sanitation Committee :—“ The committee report that they havo had under consideration the proposed conversion of the city loaps. The particulars placed

before the committee have convinced them that a very considerable saving in the amount now paid for interest could bo effected by the conversion. They will shortly place tile Cpunbii in possession of (ill tljo inforir’atio’i didc-H has been obtained on tho subject, in the meantime, In order that no time may he lost, they recommend that the City Solicitor bo instructed to prepare a Bill to bo submitted to Parliament, giving the Council the necessary power to effect tho conversion. Tho committee are advised that the present is an opportune time for the conversion, and they aio sanguine that a material annual saving can bo effected.” It was decided that tho Finance Committee will meet again to further consider tho matter, and in tho meantime the City Solicitor has been authorised to prepare tho necessary Bill.