CITY COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 98, 24 April 1886, Page 8

CITY COUNCIL.

The weekly meeting was hold on Thursday night. Present :-Crs. Holland, Evans, Devore, Dignan, Crowther, Waymouth, Garratt, Laßoche, Montague, Masefaeld, Goldie, Stevenson, Burns, Aickin, and Kidd. . New Councillors.— Cr. Chas. Atkm (newly-elected member for North Ward) was introduced by Cr. Montague, and Cr. Frank Phlllipps (^ewly-elected member for Grafton Ward) was introduced by U. JUa Roche. Both gentlemen subscribed to the usual statutory declaration and took their Letters were received and disposed of as follows :-From Jas. Mason, offering Council a road through his gardens for the purposes of .a carriage drive into and through tho Domain, on consideration of receiving £10 per foot; frontage-Re-ferred to the Legal Committee. From J. C Macky, asking permission to erect tour brick buttreeses to support and strengthen theeasternboundarywallofhisleaseholdproporty in Hepburn-street. The Engineer recommended the granting of the application. Granted on the condition that no injury is done to the trees of the Park. From John Buchanan, agreeing to allow Wil ow-street drain as it is so long as the Council keep the filth from settling on his propertyAccepted on condition named. 1! rom. J. m. McLachlan, J. Levy, and 13 other Queenstreet tradesmen, protesting against tne erection of a hoarding across the eastern footpath in Queen-street by Mr Upton (contractor for Halyday's buildings). The Eneineer reported that the Building Surveyor assured him that the hoarding was absolutely necessary for public protection, and that it would only be required for about i_ days—Reply in accordance with Building Surveyor's memo, to be forwarded. 1 rom H. W. Heath, applying for leave to raise the roof of his house in Princes-street in order to add another story to it —Referred to Legal Commitee. I rom 3. P. Maxwell (General Manager of railways), stating in reply to Council's representations re refusal of certain tenants of Government at Auckland to pay city rates, that the Public Works Minister had directed him to point out that as the legislation of this colony specially provides for the exemption of Crown property from rating, he did not see his way to comply with Council's request—Referred to Legal Committee. From George Smith, stating his inability to attend Council meetingas invited, and reiterating his affirmation that "two good all-round men would keep the Albert Park in thorough order, and thus permit of a saving of £150 per annum." He was prepared to state a price for the work if asked to do co-No action taken. From Colonel Lyon, requesting the use of the Domain Cricket Ground for Saturday, May Ist, for the purposesof a Volunteerinspection-Refused. From E. W. Morrison, offering to erect a large new urinal beside tho Rising Sun Hotel, in Karangahape Road, if Council will undertake the lighting and water supply of same. The Engineer promised to examine aßd report—Referred to Streets Committee -From F. W.Dawson, praying for answers to a set of questions re the carrying out of nighteoil contract, viz., (1) if contractor neglects the 14 days' service is there any need to apply for a special order in every such instance, or can one sue him 1 (2) did the contractor get the 2a for the special order besides the quarterly payment? (3) had the contractor a legal claim for work which he does not perform ? (4) is he empowered to demand from a present owner or occupier payment fer services performed for a former owner or occupier '/-Referred to Legal Committee. From Samuel Whito (nightsoil contractor), stating, re Miss Birtles's complaint, that there was neither box nor pit attached to her closet, and that the nighteoil was simply allowed to run down a hill—Referred to Legal Committee. From Paterson and Co., asking leave to shift their Mount Eden 'bus stand from Shortiand-street to Queen-street (opposite late Auckland Hotel)-Referred to Streets Committee, Inspector Geldie to report, From John Chambers (Sheridan-street), complaining that his namo had been placed on the defaulters' list, when he had paid his rates, and that had he not been informed of the fact, it would doubtless havo been retained there. An attached memo, stated that it was quite another John Chambers whose name was upon the defaulters' list.— Referred to Finance Committee, Mr Chambers to attend. From A. G. Bartlett, applying for leave to utilise as a garden a waste piece of ground between his boundary fence and the Kyber Pass ReservoirReferred to Finance Committee. From Tom Duppuy, claiming for himself and wife expenses as witnesses in the case of Goldie v. White and Knappmann for alleged deposit of nightsoil in Upper Unionstreet—Referred to Leeal Committee. From Thos. Corless, complaining that the Summer street gully was being filled up to about 21ft. instead of 16ft., as he had been informed was tho Council's intention. The Engineer replied that the permanent levels required 21ft. of filling-—No action taken.— The Mayor stated that a letter had been received from G. H. Walter re sloping in Brook-stroet, and that he had taken the responsibility of dealing with it. Stuart-street. —Cr. Evans presented a petition from some 25 residents of Stuart, Vermont, and Summer-streets, praying the Council to take into favourable consideration " the oponing out of Stuart-street into Summer-street, now in course of construction," and alleging that " the making of Stuart-street into a thoroughfare would be of immenpe benefit to all surrounding residents."—Referred so Streets Committoe.

Finance Committee.—This Committee recommended as follows:—(1) lie letter from Peter Lawson re half-pay allowance while sick.—That usual course be adhered to. (2) Re letter from Alice Townsend, requesting rents to be taken in payment of rate arrears, Collingwood-street That request be granted, tic Faulder's Asphalt Contract. —That a deed be duly executed by Mr Knight, in accordance with the terms of the contract re Fauldor, whon balance of money be paid. (4) Memo, from Collector, asking for authority to sue in cases of emergency without reference—That authority be given to act according to his discretion in reference to suing rate defaulters (without reference to Committee in cases cf emergency) and when such action has been taken, to report same at next meeting of Finance Committee. (5) Memo, re asphalt arrears—That immediate action be taken for the recovery of asphalt rates in arrears. —The report was adopted Hobson - stueet. — Tho Hobson - street Joint Committee reported tbat having read the draft deeds prepared by tho City Solicitor they hod agreed to the following resolution ;—" That this Committee approve of the draft deeds as altered, and recommend the Council to endorse their action and have deeds prepared for signature."—The report was adopted, and it was resolved that the work should be completed within three years of the signing of the contract. Ponsonby Leveus.—The matter of the deferred report on the Ponsonby streetlovels was further ajoumed for a fortnight upon Cr. Devore's proposition. Cox's Creek Bridge. —He "Mr Hales's lotter anent the making of approaches to Cox's Creek Bridge, the Ponsonby Ward members replied that they had found that the whole of the moneys allotted to the Ward for the year 1886 would be absorbed for works authorised and contemplated within the ward. They were therefore unable to recommend that the £385 required should be paid out of tbe ward moneys, there being none available. They thought the £385 should be contributed by the Government, the work being one for tho benefit of the public in general, and they recommended the Council to write to Mr Peacock, M.H.R. for Newton, and request him to obtain the sum required from the Government. —The Mayor said that he understood only £85, and not £385, was required.—lt was therefore resolved, on Cr. Devore's motion, that the matter should be still further adjourned, the Town Clerk in the meantime writing to Mr Hales in order to get from him an answer in writing as to whether £385 or £85 was required for the purpose indicated. Dust.—An application from John Howard that the dust cart should be allowed to visit his cottages in Upper Queen-street, was referred to the Streets Committee.

Alleged Hospital Practices.—Cr. La Roche said that it was reported that the Hospital authorities allowed the fraces of typhoid patients to find their way by the ordinary means into the Stanley-street sewer instead of being burnt. If this were true, the risk of infection was great. He moved that the Town Clerk should be directed to communicate with the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Board on the subject.— Agreed to.

Legal Committee.—Crs. Phillipps and Atkin were elected to this Committee.

Proposed Reservoir at Mount Eden, W, Errington (Waterworks Engineer) reported that the additional cost of reservoir on the next plateau on Mount Eden would be £1,845. It would be 26 feet above the ridge of the highest house on Mount Eden, and owing to the formation of the ground; would be larger than the one for which the original estimates were made. It would have a capacity of 500,000 gallons.—On the motion of Cr. La Roche, the Waterworks Engineer was instructed to prepare plans

and specifications for the proposed reservoir. - Customs-street; East. — The Mayor moved, " That effect be given to proposed exchange of land with Mr Fenton in Cus-toms-street East, as per plan submitted by Engineer."—Secondod by Cr. Aickin and agreed to. - _, ~ Books for Free Library.—The Mayor moved, "That the Library Committee consider the question of preparing a list of books for order for the Free Public Library."—Seconded by Cr. Devore and agreed to. Alleged Laches of City Solicitor.— Cr. Garratt moved, " That the Finance Committee be requested to inquire (1) the reason of the City Solicitor's non-compliance with resolution of Council, viz., ' that the Solicitor be required to furnish his account quarterly ;' (2) as to the non-prosecution of a contractor after the Council had decided to prosecute." He said that tho City Solicitor's work for tho Council was not as properly done as they would expect pri- : vato work to be done. With regard to the non-prosecution of a contractor, if the fault was that of the City Solicitor; they would have to fall back dpon the scapegoat of the Council-the Town Clerk. The Solicitor, at any rate, was to blame for not having the leases of the abattoirs prepared. —The motion was seconded by Cr. Evane, and carried. Upper Queen-street Levels,—Or. Garratt moved "That the Jingineer be instucted to prepare plans for the levels of Queen-street from Karangahape Road to connect with the levels alieady fixed." He explained that the portion of Upper Queenstreet referred to was that between Karangahape Road and East-st. -The motion was soconded aud carried.