CITY COUNCIL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7300, 2 December 1910, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. ' The City Council met last evening. Present—The Mayor (Mr T. M. Wilford), and Councillors Luke, Smith, Cohen, Frost, Trevor, Atkinson, Thompson, Barber, Fitzgerald, McLaren, Shirtcliffe, Fletcher, alorrah, Hindmarsh, and Carmichael. •COMMITTEES’ REPORTS.

On the motion of the finance and property committee it was decided; —That an offer to sell certain properties in Willis street between Mercer and Manners streets be declined; that the strip of land between Ohiro road and Maraama crescent bo taken over as a drainage reserve, the council not to be liable for fencing by adjoining owners; that the request of the Salvation Army band for financial assistance be not acceded to; that a motor-car be obtained for the city engineer at a cost: not exceeding .£250. On the recommendation of the baths and city reserves committee it was decided; That permission be granted the Primitive Methodist Conference to hold a religious service on Newtown Park 011 Sunday afternoon, January 14th; that the St. Patrick's Day celebration committee be allowed to sell tickets fox admission and take up a collectioh at _the gates of Newtown Park on March 17th; that two flame arc lamps bo installed at the Te Aro baths, in order to give facilities for evening sports meetings, at an estimated cost of : .£3s;’ that permission be granted to the Island Bay Swimming Club to take up a collection at Island Bay on Saturday nest, the occasion being their gala day; - that the Garrison Band be granted permission to give two band performances—one at the Botanical Gardens and one at Newtown Park—between now and February of nest year, with permission to’take .up a collection. It was decided; on the recommendation of the by-laws committee, that the application of the Wellington Gas Company tor permission tp erect additions in wood to an-existing wooden , cottage in Tory street, in the brick aica, be not agreed to; that the application of the Te Aro House Company for the council’s consent to an casement over the right-of-way off Dixon street so as to give the company more room to build upon be granted, subject to the conditions imposed by the city , engineer. The'special order passed, on November 3rd last relative to the raising of a loan of ,£IOO,OOO for the Wainui main duplication, reticulation and other works -was confirmed. • It was decided on the recommendation of the legislation and reclaimed land leases committee that Messrs Young, and Tripe bo informed, in reply to their application on behalf of Messrs Puller and Sons for a variation, in the building clause in their lease of section 122, Lambton reclaimed land, that the council will be prepared to consider their application when the plans of the building, are forwarded; that the transfer of a lease of the Mangahao endowment from David Crewe to Johu 1. Fox bo approved. THE BALANCE-SHEET, REPAYMENT OP LOANS. The report and balance-sheet for, the year ending March Slst, 1810, details ■ of which have been previously announced, was adopted. . Replying to Councillor,Shirtoliffe, the Mayor said that of .£5968 outstanding at tile end. of the year,’ 961800 had been collected, of Jli 32 outstanding for ■■ rates .£630 had, been collected, and the, whole of the outstanding‘water accounts. Councillor Shirtcliffe asked the Mayor if ho : had ,any suggestion to make regarding the £20,000 loan for the old •horse tramways, which matured in 1820. He suggested that some provision should be made to extinguish the loan automatically at its maturity. The Mayor explained that a sinking fund had been • established which had now reached £SOOO, and with the land in Adelaide road there was now £II,OOO in hand, leaving a debit of .£9BOO. In dus opinion the present tramways should be, debited: every; year , with a' certain sum of money to wipe out the loan. It should bo a question of liability on behalf of.tho new concern for part of the old concern which it superseded. He intended to; bring ; down before the end of the financial year,-a scheme for the extinguishing of the loan. Councillor- Shirtcliffe suggested thoadyisability of establishing a sinking fund for the whole of - the council’s loans, and thus greatly reduce the council's liability under this head. ' ‘

The Mayor pointed out. that the whole of the. later loans had .nrovision: for sinking, funds being established; : ,It would be a pretty heavy load for the present public", to: carry if the whole of the loans were dealt with. . ;He : hajl thought; it would :be wise to consolidate' the whole of the loans without sinking; funds, and, while the market was, good, raise the money' required and, by conversion at a lower, rate of interest,: nay the whole of them " off eventually. This was what would 'probably be, good finance. -, :; Nothing- definite was done in connection with the matter.