CITY COUNCIL

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4530, 5 December 1884, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL

The regular weekly sitting of the City Council took place last night. Present: The Mayor, and Crs. Morrison, Garratt, Waymouth, Goldie, Kidd, Crowther, Holland, Devore, Cooper, Mackechnie, Dignan, Connolly, Montague, Upton, Aickin, Masefield, La Roche, and Burns. Correspondence.—Letters were received and disposed of as follows .—From Grainger andD'Ebro, forwarding revised plans for Free Library and Art Gallery: Referred to Special Committee previously appointed for purpose.—From H. J. Smith, on behalf of residents on eastern side of Franklin R°ad, asking that a narrow footway should be constructed-there so as to'afford access to abutting premises : Accommodation path to be constructed by contractor (Kirby).— From Eric Craig, contending that the proposed site in Wellesley-street for .the Library and Art Gallery is unsuitable, and suggesting as a preferablo site a spot betwcon Bowen-street and Waterloo Quadrant, opposite tho Northern Club: Reforred to Special Building Committee.— From VV. J. Mundy, begging that Irelandstreet may be formed during the fine season, as from want of proper drainage it was a veritable hotbed of disease: A memo, from the Engineer stated that the work was authorised, but that if taken in itsorderof rotation, itmight not be done this season : It was agreed to inform the writer accordingly.—From Thos. Holder, applying for leave to construct a crossing with stono pitchers in front of Mr Fisher's premises in Lome-street: Agreed to allow crossing to be made either of wooden blocks or of asphalt, but stone pitchers prohibited. —From J. F. Knight, complaining that the seven months allowed him for his late contract in Ponsonby Road was altogether insufficient; that ho had been delayed for a scarcity of road metal; and that he was very greatly hindered by a long continuance of bad weather, during which he had to maintain the road at his own expense ; and asking for a remission of the time penalty imposed upon him. The Engineer's report (presented at last meeting) was read. It stated that the contract time expired on the 4th May, and admitted that Mr Knight, in common with other contractors, had suffered from the exceptional severity of the winter, as well as from a want of road metal. He recommended the remission of half the penalty. In answer to a question, the Engineer stated that the contract time would have been ample had metal been procurable. — From J. Gillespie, applying for permit to erect an iron shed 9ft by 9ft at rear of his premises in Abercrombie-street: Granted.— From F. W. Grey, asking permission on behalf of J. W. Duff to erect four cottages at upper end of Grey-street, some distance down the allotment: Granted, but no casement or right-of-way to be allowed.— From W. H. Skinner, applying for leave to erect in accordance with enclosed plans a dwelling to cost about £1,500 at corner of Wakefield and.Symonds-streets for H. Noshelski: Permission to be given if the conditions re overhanging eaves have been complied with.—From H. G. Wade, submitting for approval plans for removal back from street line of building in Victoria-street West belonging to Mr A. B. Ellison : Approved.—From Parnell Borough Council, stating . (1) that through the insuflicient pressure of ball plugs on the hydrants in Parnell, there had been a great deal of water wasted-; (2) that the low pressure of tho water was a sourco of inconvenience to residents; (3) that the present force was 301b, and that if it were increased to 351b tho pressure would bo rendered satisfactory; (4) and asking that these matters might be at once attended to, and a fairdeductionfor unavoidable leakage made from the Council's account : Referred to Waterworks Committee ; waterworks engineer to report.—From S. Mncpherson, asking for re-consideration of his application for extension of lease in Domain street : Previous decision to be adhered to. From W. Gulliver, suggesting the advisability of Council acquiiing property in Cook and Albert streets for purposes of fresh-water baths, and offering, to treat for tbeirsale.Referred to Legal Committee.From G. Little complaining of destruction of his fence in Wynyard-street, and consequent Io3S of fruit through operations of Council workmen.—Referred to Secretary of Grammar School Board of Governors, which body owns the property. Exmocth-street. — Cr. Morrison presented a petition from the ratepayers of Exmou'th-street, stating that the contractor, in prosecution of his works, was blockin^up access to the thoroughfare, and praying that the inconvenience caused thereby should be at once rectified.—Referred to Engineer to report upon, Custom .street West.—Cr. Montague presented a petition from lessees of property in Customs-street West, pointing out that, as the season was so for advanced, it would be quite impossible to carry, out this season works of the magnitude contemplated in that thoroughfare; neither they nor any portion ot them should be undertaken until after the winter, as otherwise the street would be practically closed during that season. The petitioners also requested that the retaining wall should be built before commencing to fill in the street, so that by starting the work early in the spring and pushing it forward with vigour, the whole might be completed in one season.—Referred to Streets Committee.

Finance Committee.—The Committee recommended:—(l) Letter from Margaret Gill re drainage account, £7 16s. That Treasurer arrange to take the amount by instalments, Council to pay Bolton and Company's account.— Letter from Thos. Slater, re erection of shed, Market yard : Committee cannot recommend the request being granted.—(3) Memo, from Town Clerk re allotments, section 53 : That the conditions of sale be altered in the following manner, viz:— allotments to be leased for 50 years, the rent to advanco 50 per cent, on the original amount. After expiration of 30 years, the whole of the frontages iii Ponsonby Road to be utilised, if desired, subject to the prior approval of the plans by the Counci}; one-third value at the expiration of lease and other ordinary conditions.—(4) Memo, from Town Clerk re abattoirs: That plans be prepared for two (2) new buildings (as per sketch No 3. 2 and 3), and Mr Wade be instructed to prepare same.— On the motion of Cr. Devore, clause 3 was amended by the insertion of the words "and Hopetoun-street" after "Ponsonby Road."—The report as amended was then adopted.

Victoria-street East.—Cr. Dovore called attention to the dangerous condition of Victoria-street East, between Queen and Lome streets. Tho recent rains had washed away the road metal, laying bare a number of large boulders.—The Mayor replied that both he and the Engineer had examined the place, and that action had already beou determined on.

A Little Difficulty.—A letter from the Engineer in reference to some difficulty with the men at the waterworks was referred to the Waterworks Committee.

Patteson street Woeks.—Cr. Montague M'ished to know how the cost-of carriage of earth proposed to be taken from Hobson-street for the filling up of Pa ttesonstreet was to be allocated. If the intention was to saddlo City North with the entire expense, the thing would amount to nothing more nor less -than public plunder.—ln answer to questions, the Engineer stated that 35,000 yards of earth were required for the filling up of Patteson-street, of which the North Ward was to be held responsible for 15,000 yards, South Ward for 12,000 yards, and Ponsonby Ward for 8,000 yards. The South Ward's proportion could .be taken from Union-street and the endowments. The cost of carriage to Pattesonstreet would be 2s 6d per yard, or L 2.500 for the 20,000 yards for which the South and Ponsonby Wards were responsible.—After a long and very spirited discussion, it was agreed, on the motion of Cr. Devoro, " That the charge to the Ponsonby Ward for its share of the cost should be L 250," being at the rate of Is per yard.'—lt was then proposed that the South Ward should pay a similar proportion in respect of the earth for which it was responsible.—Cr. Waymouth proposed, as an amendment, "That any charge for earth in that portion of Patteson-street within the South VVard be charged to the city endowments and the Harbour Board,"—The proposition lapsed for want of a seconder."—Cr. Masefield then moved as an amendment, " That half the extra earthwork in Patteson-street be charged to the city endowments."—The amendment was negatived and the resolution carried.

Tenders for Street Works.—Tenderß wore received as follow for earth-cutting in Lower Hobson-street, and earth-filling in Patteson-street: — James Wilson, L 5.155 12s; John Irvine, L 3.509 6s 8d ;W. and J. Wiustone, L 3.147; Larkins and O'Brien, L3j517. A tender -was also received from William Blewden, but as he has now been placed on the Council's black list, it was not entertained. W. and G. Winstone's tender was accepted. In answer to a question, the Engineer said that the contract time was ample. Police Statutes Act, 1884.—The following memo, was received from the Town Clerk:—"l find the Police Statutes Act, 1884, just passed, embodies nearly all the offences and penalties provided for under various city by-laws, and as the Act was silent as to the disposition of penalties, I

wrote to the Under-Secretary of Justice for information, and the reply is that tho Penalties under the Statute go into the üblic Account, the result of which will be that a large amount of fines, &c, for offences, will be diverted from the Corporation funds. I recommend that the subject bo referred to the" Legal Committee, with a view to some concerted action with the municipalities in other leading towns of the colony to the effect that the fines and penalties for offences in boroughs shall be paid into the Borough Fund."—Cr. Masefield moved in terms of this recommendation, and the motion was carried.

Re-Metalling of Streets.—The |Tramway Company's offer to bear half the cost of re-metalling streets through which the tramways run was accepted. East - street.—The Engineer reported upon Mrs Wells's application for compensation for destruction of fruit trees in Eaststreet, that the trees referred to were outside her property.—Referred to tho Streets Committee.

Pitt-street.— In reference to J. H. Bratby's complaint of imperfect drainage in Pitt-streot, the Engineer reported that the drainage escaped from a neighbour's pipe.—lt was agreed that he should give notice that this pipe should be lifted, and laid in a proper manner. More Works.—lt was decided to authorise tenders being called for the construction of the George-street culvert and the drainage works in the Grey-Btreet gully. The Library Question. — After Cr. Upton's motion re Library Committee had been negatived, the Council adjourned upon the proposition of Cr. Masefield, leaving some motions still upon the order paper. The time was 10.55.