TOWN BOARD MEETING.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2589, 26 October 1867, Page 5

TOWN BOARD MEETING.

The Commissioners of the Town Board met at the Board offices, Lambton Quay, yesterday afteruoon, at half-past three o'clock. There were present— Messrs Dransficld (chairman), Pharazyn (treasurer), Plimmov, Mills, Quin, Bovlase, Moss, and Aickin. The minutes of tho last meeting, having been read and corrected, wero confirmed. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The Treasurer made his usual statement respecting tho stuto of tho Board's funds, from which it appeared that tho bauk book shows an overdraft of £875 12a Bd, and there is an outstanding cheque for £2 2s. £215 8s GA is required for tho current month's expenses, to meet which is a sum of £96 9s sd, due by the Government on account of the equivalent; and tho Board has still power to draw on the bank for £122 5s 4d. Mr Qnin suggested the advisability of further steps being taken to get in the outstanding rates. COKItKSPOKDE.VCK. A letter from Messrs Nicholson & Co, of Cuba street, was read, asking leave to erect a verandah in front of their premises. Tho required permission wa.s granted. A letter from the Rev A. Stock, Treasurer of the Wellington Volunteer Firo Brigade, was road, asking forja quarter's payment of tho annual sum of £100, which has hitherto been granted by the Board to that brigade. Another letter from Mr H. L. Cohen, Secretary to the Central Volunteer Fire Brigade, requested tho Board to allow that brigade a portion of the said gvant of £100 per annum. The Chairman explained the course which tho Board had hitherto adopted in reference to the Fire Brigades. Mr Plimmer asked if tho companies were formed in accordance with the terms of the resolutions of the Board. Mr Mills understood the Board had already passed some resolutions relative to the conditions upon which they would give the money ; and if such were the case, all that would have to bo ascertained was whether the respective companies had complied with the conditions ; but if no such resolutions had been passed, it would be better to do so at once. The Chairman said it was understood that three Companies would be formed, in order that the engines might be fully manned. It now appeared that Mr Stock only represented two ongincs fully manned ; and Mr Cohen one. He would therefore suggest that thu'Board should, ns formerly, contribute in proportion to the number of engines fully manned ; that was to say, Mr Stock's Brigade to have two-thirds of tho money hitherto contributed, und Mr Cohen's one-third. After a short discussion, Mr Dransfield's suggestion was adopted. A letter from Mr William Miller requested that the City Surveyor should be instructed to ascertain the amount of work and expense that would be involved in continuing Adelaide road from tho corner of Constable street. Mr Plimmer thought the Surveyor had quito enough work already on hand. It was resolved that the Surveyor's services could not be given for this work at the present; time, but should be granted as soon as practicable. A letter from Mr Waller Turnbull was rend. Tho writer askod that Mrs Paul might bo allowed to erect two posts for the purpose of supporting an awning, in front of her premises in Willis street. Mr Aickin suggested that permission should not be granted "to erect awnings or verandahs unless they were a certain height from the ground; seven to eight feet would bo a good limit. The City Surveyor suggested 7i't 6in. The suggestion being approved of by the Board, tho Surveyor was instructed to sec it carried into effect for the future, and Mr Turnbuil's application v/as acceded to. A letter from Mr R. Borthwick to tho Clerk of the Board was read, explaining that one half of the rates for which ho had been summonsed was due oa account of premises occupied by Mr Harvey, and the rent of which was received by Mr Mulntosh. The Assistant Clerk said the ease had been heard in the Resident Magistrate's Court, and judgment given in favor of tho Board for tho full amount claimed. A memorial from Mr Borthwick, on the same subject, was also read. Mr Borlase suggested that as the matter had been already sottled so fur as regarded tho past, the be3b plan would bo to instruct the clerk to remind Mr Borthwick that his best courso would bo to atfcond on the following Thursday, when the Board sat a3 a Court of Appeal, and lay the matter before them. This wa3 agreed to. A- letter from Mr O'Halloran, making a like complaint, was also read. A letter from Mr Samuel Woodward, Chairman of tho Bhodes' District Board of Wardens, was aiso read. It referred to a dobbin which had been claimed by the City Surveyor as the property of the Board ; the writer stating that it was tho property of the Board of Wardons of which ho was chairman. A written application from Mr Beck for leave to open tho streets in order to lay down pipes for supplying water to the New Zealand Times office, was also read, and the requirod permission was granted, on the understanding that Mr Beck should leave Iho streets in the same condition as ho found them. A letter from Mr Clarke called attention. to tho damage done to his property on tho Terrace through the lowering of the road. An estimate which he had caused to be made showod that to make proper approaches to his house, and to afford suitable protection to the embankniont, would cost £60 or £70. He requested tho Board to favorably consider his caso. Tho Chairman said that three or four months ago tho Blatter was referred to Mr Plimmer, himself, and another Commissioner. They made a written recommendation to tho offect that tho Board should find labor if Mr Clarko would find the necessary materials. Tho matter was left to the commissioners of tho Ward, on tho understanding that thoy should not go further than tbo sub-conimitteo had recommended. WATERING THE STBEKTB. Mr Mills, on the part of the sub-committoo appointed to confer with Mr Bock on tho subject of watering tho streets, said, from what ho liad gathered, ho thought Mr Buck had almost given up tho idea, but that gentleman had promised to see him on this subject. AI'PEAI. DAT. The Chairman said ho had appointed next Thursday as tho day on which tho Board nhould sit for the purpose of hearing appeals against the rate of 18G6-7. TOWN IMPROVEMENTS. Mv Aickin, in accordance with notice, moved " That a footpath bo formed on tho east side of Lambton Quay, and that the hard labor gang be told oiF to sweep the streets." It had been said at the last meeting, that it would bo necessary, in order to carry his resolution into effect, that tho road should be mado its full width — 100 foet — and tho footpath would thus iwvolvo a cost of some £700 or £800; but all he wished to be done was to form a temporary fjotpath, which might bo inado at a small expense. If such a path wero formod Lnmbton Quay would become a pleasant promenade instead of being as at present a disgrace to tho town. It would to a great; extent be tho means of preventing so much rubbish from boing shot there, and Lambton Quay would thus not only gain in ap> pearance but in salubrity. Tho expense, he believed, would be exceedingly small, because the hard labor gang could bo omploycd on the work and iDetal was to be had on tho spot ; and he was sure, when tho work was finished, its advantages would be appreciated both by the Board and the pnb'io. Mr Plimmer woidd very willingly have secondoc the motion, but it was impossible to carry oui

f. he idea until Mr. Tonks had given over possession of the reclaimed land. Mr Aicken said it seemed to him that it was more important that a footpath should be formed on the part of the Quay beyond Mr Joseph's store, than on tho pavt between Unit stove and the Oaa Fellows' Hall. Mr Moss would support tho motion if the road were made 100 feet wide, otherwise it would be a waste of money, because ha understood that buildings would shortly bo erected on the reclaimed land, and then a new footpath would have to bo made. Mr Borlase made some remarks of a like tendency. Purchasers of the reclaimed land would bo entitled to hare a footpath made in front of their promises, so that if the proposed footpath were made, it could only be a temporary one. Nor did ho think its formation would prevent the shooting of rubbish complained of. Mr Pharazyn saw two difficulties in tho way of carrying out the proposal; one, that the ' Board had no mont»y to spend on tho work, the othor, that they had no right to touch the land wbilo it was in the possession of Mr Tonks. After some remarks from Mr Quin, Mr Pharazyn moved, as an amendment, that the words " as soon as practicable" should be inserted after " Quay." The Chairman would suggest to Mr Aicken that he should divide his motion, as it referred to two different subjects. Mr Aiclien was in tho hands of the Board. He did not see why a footpath might not bo formed from Mr Joseph's store to Pipitea Point. The first part of the motion, as amended by Mr Pharazyn, " That a footpath be formed on the east side of Lambton quay as soon as practicable," was then put and carried. On the second part of tho original motion being put, Mr Borlase remarked that the hard labor gang would not bo allowed to perform such a duty as sweeping tho streets, as it would disporse them too much. The motion was negatived. NEW COMMISSIONER. The Board then proceeded to the election of a new 'Commissioner in the place of Mr Hunter, resigned. Mr Qnin moved that Mr J. M. Taylor be i elected to fill the vacancy. Mr Dransficld moved, as an amendment, that Captain Sharp be elected. Upon the amendment and the original mot'on being put to the meeting seven commissioners voted for Captain Sharp and one for Mr Taylor. The former gentleman was accordiugly declared to be duly elected. MUXG-BA.VJ3 STREET. The City Surveyor reported that he estimated the continuation of tho drain in Mulgrave street would cost £88. It was decided that the work should be done as soon as practicable. The Board then adjourned.