CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5667, 15 August 1905, Page 7

CITY COUNCIL.

A !MOn:Xi:i) M F.BTIXG. Tim inrf nigh tJv me (-ting, adjourn'd Horn '1 bm-day. on a-onid of tin d b of the late Coun'-illor Wilffduic. was j held yesterday al l <> ruoau. 'the re v> mn ; pieman i—II is Worst i\> tho Mayor <thr - ; Hon T. W. IlidofP, Councillors Godbei, Ballinger, MeLaimi, Coiicn. Morrali, Trevor, -Miirdoeh, Pis-, Winder, Carmichael, Gibbs, f rost, and llimlmarsh. J J V-BA W S AN I) BIG i 1 TJX O. 'the By-laws Cjic Brigade, and lighting toi/iiniii.co reported that, they had received several applied ions lor lamps iu Hie* M ids 0.-a.r m.st new < on side rat ion of the applications had been postponed until ree-upt of the Cily oolicitoiV. opin* inn as to I lie pmuni of the Council to compel the erection of lamps. The commitico i -’cammcndi’d: 'I hat tiie lamp u.i the corner of Shannon and Mersey j sliects, LMaml Pay, be moved as sue- 1 gt.su-d by Mr ,C, Chut held, provided Dial gi,nitcm.ui j;;iy,s ail costs of removal. That, a public hall license be grunted to St. John's Church. all alterations required having been carried out. That Mr J. OTa-a's application for a right-of-way oif Daniel .street, for Air T. G. .Macarlliv, bo granted on certain conditions winch were set forth. It was explained that complaints hud been made as to Mr Chalhelcl’s trees obscuring tho light, and that gentleman, while ridiculing the statement, offered to bear the cost of removing the lamp rather tlu-n lit* obliged to cut down Hers which had taken twenty years to grow. Councillor i io.-.l moved to refer back to tin* committee the ciau.so recommending I hat a right-of-way bo granted mi Mr OTlea’s application, in 'lew of tho bill before the House of Representatives to take over private M reels, they should allow nothing that would tend to tho further creation of slums. Councillor Trevor explained that tho recommendation had been referred back once before to tire committee vractically wit.h an instruction that it should bo granted. U was a lift right-of-way at one ond. Tiro Mayor said he could not understand wliy the right-of-way leading to tire houses could not bo UUft wide tli nuighout. The amendment was lost by 8 votes to J. An amendment that tho right-of-way bo -Oft throughout was agreed to. TfXAXCJJ. Tho Finance Committee recommended that the approval of the Council ho given to a right-of-way off Mercer street, applied for by Messrs Brandon, llislop, and Johxi-don.' upon the conditions laid down in tho City Engineer's report; that the Wellington Building and Investment Company bo informed, in reply to theiv application to uplift certain sinking fund securities, that the Council will he prepared’ to take tho whole of its deposit back with interest to date of,repayment, and release the whole of the securities; that in future all .sinking funds ho invested upon freehold mortgage securities at current rates of interest; that accounts Amounting to ATIIJ as 6d be passed for payment. The Mayor said the Committee was of opinion that all sinkitig funds should be invested in the usual way, so as to get the highest rate of interest. The report was adopted. TRAMWAYS.

The following recommendations were made by tho Tramways Committee:— That tho quoAion of alteration to the culvert at Island Bay bo left in the hands of the Mayor and Electrical Engineer, with power to act; that Mr (I. Field, of the Employers’ Association, bo engaged to consult with Council officers ro demands of the Tramways Union and to appear in Court in reference thereto; that a vote bo taken of f lic ratepayers of the Brooklyn and Kilbirnie Wards, for tho purpose of authorising the raising of the extra loan required for the completion of tho tramway extensions to those districts; that tho question of widening Moxham, avenue be left in the hands of the Mayor and Engineer to deal with.

The Mayor asked that consideration of the Brooklyn ami Kilbirnie loan vote bo postponed, [The discussion is reported elsewhere,! The widening of Moxham avenue was to permit of the construction of a double line at a future date. Ho moved the adoption of tho rest of the report.

Councillor Hindmarsh moved that tho clause referring to the appointment of Mr Field be deleted. No lawyer was allowed to appear in the Arbitration Court, and Mr Field was practically a lawyer. A Councillor: lie's just tho man we want.

Councillor Hindmarsh thought the cases should be conducted in a good-tem-pered way, if not settled by mutual agreement.

Councillor McLaren seconded the amendment. It was most desirable, he said, to come to an amicable settlement by conference.

Councillor Ballinger supported tho appointment It was necessary that Mr Field should confer with the City Solicitor. and officers. Unionists had their little weaknesses in asking for a little more than they were likely to get. Councillor McLaren: They are not alone in that.

Councillor Ballinger; Employers have never taken a case to the Court or Board. It is ponce I want. The Mayor: I think that the whole history of the Arbitration Court shows the utter folly of excluding solicitors from practising—the absolute muddle into which the Courts have got, and the delay that has taken place in decisions. I don’t suppose Mr Field's services will actually be engaged until it is nearer a dispute than it is. Councillor Trevor was not very sanguine as to a settlement being arrived at. The amendment was lost. Councillor Gibbs moved another amendment that the appointment should only take place if an agreement was not come to between the two parties. This was agreed to, and the report as amended was adopted. PUBLIC WORKS. The Public Works Committee recommended;—That the application of Messrs T. Ballinger and Co. for a Gin connection from tho water main in Panama street, for the supply of water for a patent sprinplor and fire alarm at the new premiere of the D.I.C. be granted, provided an approved sluice vavle is fixed on the footway where directed, and that an overflow pipe from the tanks be made to discharge in each position as may be approved by the City Engineer. That the application of Mr W. 11. Nimmo for permission to erect a verandah to building at the corner of Lambton quay and Bowen street, bo acceded to. That the application of Mr IV, C. Chatfield, to construct a collar at Messrs P. Hayraan and Co.’s premises', Victoria street, be granted on the usual conditions, and provided that no sanitary arrangement or connections to sewers be made in such cellar. That the application of Mr R. S. Bounthwaito for approval to a plan shewing proposed extension of tin main round Wellington College, principally 'for fire extinction purposes, bo agreed to, provided the main bo laid by the Corporation at the coat of the college authorities., the conditions specified by the City Engineer to bo carried out. That a tank with a ball-tap be fitted in Roseneath in order that the residents may obtain a supply of water in summer. . That Mr G. Gi'Uow be asked if his previous offer to contribute tho sum of £l9O and dedicate a strip Bft Sin in width, on condition that the Corporation construct a portion of the North end of Owen street in accordance with the City Engineer’s report, is still open. That the request of Corporation employees to be allowed to cease work at 12 o'clock on Saturdays, be referred to the Staff Committee for a report t-c the next meeting of Conned. That the fence in front of Mrs Evatt’s property. Stokes street, be lowered, provided the ground is removed inside the fence and tho batter thrown on her land. That consideration of a petition from J. Odlm and others, for repairs to streets at Island Bay. bo postponed until the construction of the tramway to that district

in completed. That condtUrat on of tho! appli'-ai ion of Mr It Ik Richmond tor | subdivision of piopdty at Miramar be j po-t pond until proper plans are pro . pared. Thar Aorangi Unace be now i taken over by the Corporation, the tdrea * j having luen completed (o tin- eat is ad .on j ( ilv Engineer, provided., however,; h i 'tho plantat. on bo not used as a -o-.v-l-ruu. 'That the application ot the ; \U>v Walker that the schoolroom a! Balm . drove be drained under the deterred payment be not aoc-dcd to. l»at the letter from the Fubiic Health Hcp.i ft in cut. with i ele i due t.o plum rung wi.rk in the Mtlv. v’Wanl. lie rof.'iTed t . , tho JJy-lav.s (.'oiiuiiHUc for coiwiaei-Htion . —Agreed to. AITHCKLLAXKOU.S. 1 Councillor Winder drew the attention . of the Regulation OmjniUce to hie dm- i sioa of ihe Appeal Court regarding .street widening given a few days a-o. Lnder ; this decision the Council wouul have m j pay a lot of compensation. H would at- : led the revenue by some thousands or i pounrl.-j a year. Councillor Godbcr stilted tlmt the Jxgisia'uon Committee wouul give immediate attention to the matter.