CITY COUNCIL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3246, 8 July 1871, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The City Council met at their offices yesterday attornoon at half-past three. Present : — His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Plimmer, Quin, Borlase, Ramie, Carpenter, Mobs, and Mills. THE MINUTES of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. Outward correspondence was read by the olerk. A letter was read from Robert Somervillo, asking leave to open the footpath in Garrett street for the purpose of making a cellar, and intimating that he would not encroach on the footpath more than a couple of feet. Refused, being contrary to previous decisions of the Council. A letter was read from Honry Meoch, complaining of tho dangerous state of the footpath at Clyde Quay, several persons haviug already narrowly escaped being hurt. Left to the discretion of the Surveyor. A letter was read from C. D. Barraud, asking tho Council to bear the expense of lighting a lamp which he had erected in front of his shop on Lainbton Quay. Refused. A letter was read from J. E. Brown, praying ? for a remission of six years' rates, for which ho had been unfairly made liable by Mr Hiokson, his landlord, who had previously been applied to for tho rates. Tho applicant Btated that he was not aware on occupying the house that 1 any rates were duo, otherwise he would not 1 havo occupied it. On these grounds, aud that ' he was a poor man with five motherless chil- * dron, tho applicant hoped tho Council would f give a favorable consideration to his appeal. ; I The case was unanimously considered to be

very hard ; and as the six years' rates came under the operation of two acts, it was decided not to press the matter in the meantime, but to put itjinto tho hands of the solicitor to the Council. A letter was read from the Provincial Secretary, informing the Council that a bill would be brought into the General Assembly as early as possible to enable the purchase of the wharf, custom house, &c, to be carried out, and requesting the Corporation to make arrangements for the payment of the £19,000 as soon as the bill shall have passed the General Assembly. His WoiisniP said, in reference to this matter, that he intended to advertise for conditional tenders for these debentures. The tenders ho proposed to submit at the next meeting of the Council. ACCOUNTS. Bank balance in band, £74 16s 3d ; accountspaid since last meeting, £129 16s Id. The usual salaries and monthly wages accounts were passed. CARTAGE. Considerable discussion ensued as to the way tho carters work for tho Council, some Councillors being of the opinion that it would ' be advisable to call for fresh tenders, or to pay by tho load, as the carters had been seen idling their time. Tho majority of tho members, however, together with his Worship, considered there was some mistake in tho matter, as they had every reason to be satisfied with the working qualities of their carters. The Engineer, too, bore similar testimony. He felt that the carters for the Council were the best working men of any of the carters in the town. AN EXTENSION OF TIME was granted to the sub-committee appointed to report upon tho financial relations between the Corporation and the Provincial Council before bringing up their report. Several motions dependent upon this report were withdrawn until it was brought up. STONE BREAKING. Councillor Quin brought forward a motion that the Council should procure a stonebreaking machine. He read soveral particulars regarding some of those machines. The one he would recommend the Council to purchase was a machine capable of crushing from 80 to 100 tons per day, and might be moved on wheels to all parts of the town. No doubt the machine would be a little expensive, but it would be a real economy, as he felt certain they could get thoir stone crushed at Is 6d per yard. The time had come for them to launch ahead a little, and they could not da it in a bettor direotiou. Councillor Carpenter did not think it advisable in the present condition of their finances ; besides, if they got the machine, they would have nothing for the prisoners to do on a wet day. Councillor Mills proposed that the matter stand over till next meeting, in order to enable the Engineer to report on the question. He had himself sent to Melbourne for all the particulars regarding these machines, and to see if one was to be had there. As soon as he received un answer to his communication, he would lay it before the Council. Consideration was then postponed till next meeting. may's practice. Councillor Carpenter asked leave to move, without notice, that the Clerk be authorised to procure a copy of " May's Practice" for tho use of tho Council. He had often pointed out the necessity for this book as an authority to settle little disputes which continually cropped up in tho transaction of their business. Agreed to. THE STATE OF THE HOADB. Councillor Borlase said/as that concluded all the business before the Council, ho felt bound to call their attention to the wretched state of the main roads of the town — now in a worse condition than he had ever seen them before. He must ask the Board to pass a resolution enforcing that the main thorough — fares of the town and its approaches be put in a good state of repair immediately. The thing had been pointed out time after time, and resolutions to remedy it had been passed, but nothing had been done ; and if things were to continue in that state he would feel it was no use in attending the Council any longer. The proposition was then put in writing and agreed to, viz,— That Molesworth street, and Pipitea street be attended to forthwith. A VOTE OF THANKS was passed to His Worship, Councillor Car penter, and Mr Wallace' for making up and presenting to the Board, a complete Bet of the Provincial Council proceedings. The Council then adjourned for a fortnight.