CITY COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4418, 11 July 1884, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Tub usual weekly meeting of the City Council was held lust evening at G o'clock Present:—His Worship tho Mayor, Crs. Maseliold, Holland, Garratt, Burns, La Roche, Fleming, Stevenson, Muckechnio, Field, Devore, Crowther, Marshall, Montague, Aickin, and Thompson.

('oitßF.si'uMiKNCK.— Letters were received from-M. Henderson, asking that an embankment near las property in Sale-street be rut down—Referred to Streets Committee. From .1. Williams, asking for a reduction of rates in consideration of tho fact that through a lire he had for a considerable time been deprived of the use of hi" property—Referred to Finance Committee. From John Steward, asking permission to erect a gas-lamp over Ins premises in Arawa-street -Granted, i- rom A. E. Whituker, forwarding a claim of £10 from one K. Hawkes in consideration of injuries sustained through falling into a ditch—Council declined to acknowledge the liability. From Railway Manager ro state of road to railway station and necessity of a lamp—Referred to Streets Committee. From (100. Rhodes, contractor, asking extension of building permit--Permit extended for three weeks. From W. Townshend, asking that scoria bo placed in Sussex-street—Granted. ffrom .I.'l inner, making a similar application witli respect to Upper Queen-street— Granted. I'rom W, Edgcombe, accepting tbo Council s oiler for the Wewtorn Springs property, reserving only his own rcsidenoo n»d 111 acros of land.-Tlie Mayorsaid that in tlie deed Mr Kdgcombe would be required not to deal with the ten aercfi without tlio consuit of the Council. Replying to <r. Crowtlior, tlie Mayor said the exact acreage purchased by Hie Council was 100} ucics. Replying lo Cr. Montagu.;, the Mayor .-aid that Council would bo required lo pay cash for tho property. There wm a doubt concerning the legality of the Council allowing a portion uf tlio consideration to remain on mortgage. Mr Edgcoinbo himself wtiiild liuve"preferred that only a portion of tin; purchase monoy shoukfbc paid-Referred to Legal Committee. From lleskcth and Richmond, regarding Morrison's (asphalt contractor) claim.—The Town Clerk had sunt a reply to Messrs Heskoth and Richmond to tlio elfcct that there was no agreement between the Council and Morrison, and lie (.Morrison) had proceeded with certain asphalting works after a contract for thowliolo city had been let.—The Mayor said that tlio matter hod already been fully considered by tho Streets Committee, and moved that the Council's previous decision be adhered to—This was agreed to. From W. Thorne, ro Berry's claim, stating that the claim would be withdrawn provided tlio Council paid him £1 Is and supply four eight-year-old quince trees to replace those destroyed.—lt was explained that the Council had previously ollered Mr Berry £2, that was 10s for the damage to the trees und 30* for the injury to his feelings. This, however, had been declined— It "was decided to defer tho matter for further inquiry. From the manager of the National IJank, calling attention to tlio fact tha. the crossing over (.uecn-rtrcet opposite this bank had not been replaced. - The City F.tigineersaid that four '-ravings required lo ho replaced. He recommended that the work be done by contract, the wooden blocks from tho Queen street cabstand being used.—Cr. Burns animadverted on the disgraceful state of the streets through the works of the Tramway Co.— Alter some discussion the matter was referred to the Street* Committee, together with tho Engineer'- report thereon. From .1. Mullally, re a claim ho had against Wilson, ono of the Council's contractors, and asking the Council to retain certain money due by the Council to Wilson. It appeared that Mullally was a workman for a sub-contractor named Heskoth—Tho Council decided not to interfere. From J. Clark, asking Council to repair footpath in Caroline-street -Engineer was instructed to report on this matter lo Streets Committee. From W. Downs, ro state of gutter and footpath in Lower Hepburn-street —Referred t<j Foreman of Works, through City Engineer. From K. Mnhoney und Son, asking permission to erect a storo in Fort street with a tomporary back wall of iron. The ground at the back was to be cut down and a permanent wall would be erected— 1 deferred to Streets!'ommit tee. From Secretary to tho Tramway Company, stating that no metal hud been laid in Custom House-street, between Albert-street and the Gasworks, and as tho rails were HOW laid, ho asked that this bo done at once.—The Engineer appended a memo., asking—Did tho Company wish it done at their own expense, or at that of tho Council 1 -Tho Mayor moved that the Council decline to metal the portion of the road referred to in thelcttcr, butth.it the Engineer be instructed to take steps to repair the road near the Auckland Timber Company's works and the Gasworks. From Mr Maguirc, asking permit to remove a tree in Wellesley-street that hindered tho erection of a verandah—Permission granted Pktitions.—Cr. Holland presented a petition from residents of Seufield View ask. lug tho Council to till up the thoroughfare to its proper level.—Referred to Streets Committee. Cr. Mnsetie'd presented a petition form residents in Pitt and Hobsonstreets, asking the removal of the trees in these thoroughfares. — Referred to Park Committee. UaTK Noticks.—Cr. Dcvore asked the Mayor to oxplain when the rates were pay able. Ho asked because there was somo misapprehension amongst ratepayers on tho matter. —The Mayor roplied that tho general rate must bo paid at onco, and the special rate in half-yearly instalments. Lkvkij.—lt was decided to fix the permanent lcvols in accordance with I ho modified plans. It was decided to advertise the levels of Brown-streot, Fit-zroy-street, and Douglas-street, Ponsonby. It was decided to postpone tho fixing of the levels of Chapol--trcot for ono month. Main Skwkr.— An intotim report was received from the Special Sewage Committee as follows :—" Your Committee having considered tho reports obtuinod from Messrs Napier, Bell, and Kisto, who, with tho City Engineer, concur in approving of tho line AA, us previously submitted and approved by the Committee, have, with a view of preventing unnecessary delay and cost to the Council, urged tho Harbour Board to reconsider thoir previous decision and consentjto tlio lino carrying it down the centre of the Breakwater Road, as suggested by tho engineer, Mr Bell. And your Committee bave to roport that tho matter hns been referred by tho Harbour Board to their Special Drainage Committee, and the resolution of tho Harbour Board on tho Committee's report will, on receipt, bo submitted to tho Council."—Tho Mayor made an cxplnnation as to tho nction to bo taken. New Memhkk.—Cr. Masotiold apologised for tho abseuco of Cr, Upton, who was unwell. The Domain.—The Under-Secretary of Lands forwarded " Gazotto " notification of the vesting of the Domain in the Council, and fixing tho dato of the first mooting for Thursday, tho 17th instant. Works in- Svmon'ds-strkkt. — Cr. La Roche moved, "That the Engineer be instructed to prepare a modified plan of works in Symonds-strcot, showing paths 6ft. instead of proper width in front of Cemetery v.a 11." In moving tho resolution, ho said he had conferred with the Engineer, who said the thing was perfectly practicable, und what ho would recommend.—Cr. Burns secondod.—Cr. Holland supported tho motion, saying that if the plans wero not mo filled, the work would tako tho wholo ullocution for, tho Grafton Ward, whereas the modification proposed would bo quite auiliciont for years to como.—Cr. Crowther moved an amendment that the proposal contained in the motion bo referred to tho Streets Committeo to consider and roport.—The amondmont was carried. . Gaol Road.—Cr. La Rocho moved that the Town Clerk be instructed to ask It ho Government to contribute a sum, in aid of filling up tho hollow between Gaol Road and the railway bridge in Kybor Puss. In doing so he said that tho hollow referred to was outside the city, and ns tho Council would havo surplus oarth from Kyber Pass, ho thought the Government might be glad of it.—Tho motion, aftor discussion, was curried. Channelling and Kf.kiiinh. — Or. Montague moved that in connection with the channelling and korbing authorised May 29th-.by tho Council on the western side of Queen-street from YVollesley-street to Darby-strcot, tho sumo bo extended from Darby-street to Victoria-street West. —Cr. Crowther seconded.—Carried. This concluded tho business.