CITY COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 207, 3 September 1886, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL.

The weekly meeting took place last night, Present; The Mayor (Mr W. R. Waddei), and Ore. Laßoche, Evans, Coopor, Dovoro, Dignan, W. Buchanan, Atkin, Orowther, Aickin, Kidd, Goldie, Waymouth, James, Garratt, Daviea, and Clarke.

Correspondence.—Letters were received and dispoaed of as follow -.—From Dr. Lawson, asking for the insertion of hia name upon the burgess roll in place of Dr. Richardson's : Granted.—From T. Upton, pointing out that the works being carried on in Oliphant-street would have tho effect of causing storm and drainage water to flow upon and damage his property. The Engineor reported that a temporary measure would bo adoptod to obviate tho cause of complaint: Reply to be forwarded to this effect.—From Thomas Carlesa, complaining of tho removal of a street crossing to his place in Summer-street, and requesting that it might bo restored : Referred to Streets Committee, applicant to bo invited to attend,—From Edmund Bell, applying for tho placing of his name upon the Burgesß Roll for residence in Princes-street : Roferred to Legal Committee.—From Henry James Turner, stating that Glonny and Turner wore rated for stabloa which had not existed since thoy camo into possession moro than a year ago, and therefore asking that the matter might be rectilied. The Collector reported that thero wore no stableß, but that thore was a good workshop : Roforrod to Finance Committee.—From Henry White, stating that by the bursting of a water-pipo in Queenstreet on the night of the 31st ult. he had sustained inconvenience and damage, particulars of which ho intended to forward : Deferred.—From Lawrenco Burke, complaining of injury to his business by Council at tboir last meeting ignoring the tender of himself and Mr Lovett for sewerage, though tho lowest by £87, and the acceptance of Sheldon and Hewitt's tender at £1,380. He insinuated a charge of favouritism against tho City Engineer : Referred to Stroots Committee. — From Truetoes of Auckland Public Comotery, stating that tho ro building of the Symond.sstreot wall —rondered nocossary by Council's alteration of levels—had been completed ut a cost of £110 ISa Cd, and representing that Council ougbt to contribute half of this expense : Roferred to Finance Committee. —From F. G. Whiting, complaiuiug that the contractor for works in Somorsot Place had taken down his fence and careloaaly reorocted it. A memo, by the Clork of Works stated that tho fence was carefully orocted, but that it oonßistod of very porishablo and dilapidated materhl: Referred to City Engineer, in ordor that conditions of contract may bo carried out.—From W. F. 1 Jiidson, requesting that the footpath in front of his property in Albert-street should bo made good, so as to givo proper access to tho place : Roforrod to Stroots Committee.—From S. White, applying for the erection of a dividing fenao between his property at Point Chevalier and Cotporation property, and offering to pay half the cost. The Inspector of Abattoirs reported that a post-and.rail fence was out of tbo question, and that a stone wall would alone suffice : Referred to Inspector for o-timatoof cost of atone wall.—From Secretary of Institute of Architects, renewing application for uso of room in new Free Library for tho Institute: Considoration doferrod until building is completed. — From Paul and Fripp, torwurding for approval plans of building to bo orocted in Market Square for Hosltoth and Aitken : Tho Englueor ro commomled tho planH being npprovod, providing ceitain oltorations wero made: Re solved to approve plans upon this condition. — From Edward Vvatora, complaining of a charge for £_S la Od, rates in rospoct of W. If. Ponton's promi-of, which ho had already paid. 'I ho Rate Collector reported that tho rat— bad not been paid : Referred to Finance Committoo, Mr Wators and Collector lo attond.

£500 CoMi'-SSATION. — Richanl Lynas wroto stating that by the alteration o{ tho levels of Norfolk-stroot he had sustained considerable loss and damage, and claiming £500 compensation in respect thoroof. Hkunk Bay Road.—Cr. Devoro prosentod a petition irom oight ratepayers of Home Bay Road, praying for an extension of tho water supply to that thoroughfare.—Referred to tho Waterworks Engineer for report. Gkoroe-street.—Cr. Evona submittod a petition from 11 rosidonts of Goorgo-st. and \icinity, urging tho drainago and formation of Georgo stroot from Rylo-atroet to the gully,— Referred to Streets Committee. PROBPE-I---TRKKI. —Cr. Evans prosentod a roport from the rot-idente of Prospectstroot, praying for tho erection of a gas lamp at the corner of Prospect and Blako streets, and for tho gravelling of the footpaths.—Referred to tho Streets Committee. LKOAL Committee —This Committee report das follows : —(1) L-tter from David Nathan, requesting allowance on rates Pitt-street property, lately destroy! d by lire : That Council cannot comply with request. (2) L-tter from Pi tor Oliphant, requesting extension of lease, Allotment 11, section 34, Wynyaid-strei t, t' rminating 1891 : That it is not desirable to comply with this requost. (3) Letter from Mrs Woodward, r quisling acceptance of 10s pr month, drainage account Gundry-Btrect: That request be granted. (4) Letter from Edward Bortley, on behalf of Auckland Society of Arta, suggesting alteration to Art Gallery room : Your Committee, after reading Mr Wade'e roport, cannot recommend application to Council. The report was adopted. Finance Committee — Tan Village Settlement Scheme. — Thia Committeo submitted tho following interim report: Letter from John Lundon, re Punakitoro ondowment for village special settlement: Committee recommend that cne - half endowment be leasod upon tho terms suggested—viz., 5 per cent, on annual value of £1 per aero (plan of survey submitted). Lottor from Hosketh, Aitkon, und Co., ra permit forgo, City Market: Committee recommend that request be granted subject to conditions submitted by Building Surveyor, and that tho funnel bo at least higher than the parapet of adjoining building. Letters from Mrs Cecelia Doull, re remittal of rates Seafield View ; Recommended that same bo re- ; mitted. Memo, from tbe Town Clerk, re insurances : Committed that same be renewed on same terms as previous year.— (Signed) W. R. Waddel, chairman. The Chairman moved the adoption of the report. - Cr. Kidd moved as an amendment upon Clause 1 that the whole of the endowment, instead of one-half, should be leased on tbe terms stated. He urged the desirability oi the Council helping on the village settlement scheme, and mentioned that the land contained some good purirj. —Cra, Crowther and Waymouth looked upon Mr Lundon'a connection with the scheme as an electioneering trick.—Cr. Aickin considered the Council should make its own terms for leasing instead of accepting the Government programme. The amendment was rejected. A subsequent amendment by Cr. Garratt to defer the matter until a report upon the value of the land had been procured from a competent person to be sent down for that purpose waa carried. The reat of the report was adopted. Richmond Road.—A letter from H. C. Tripp, announcing his intention to erect buildings at tho corner of Lincoln-atreot and Richmond Road, and requesting the Council to cut down to permanent level the footpath in Richmond Road, between Lincoln and Norfolk Streets, was referred to Streeta Committee along with a report thereon.

Corporation Loan. — ft .was resolve 3, upon tbe Mayor's motion, "That in' pursuance of provisions of the ,Gity of Auckland Additional Loan Act, 1883, the necessary certificate of authority to raise a further sum of £25,000 in January, I$S7, be issued by this Council." Specifications fob Machinery.- In reference to the complaint of local engineers that specifications for machinery had no. been fully drawn, Mr Errington sent the following letter :—" I have the honour to acknowledge tho receipt of your memo., together with a letter enclosed re pumping machinery. The reason I did not give a detailed specification was that in this particular instance, seeing that water would have to be pumped to a height of 230 feet for condensing' purposes, a condensingengine is out of the question. We require a compound high-pressure engine, using steam at Jl2olbs per inch, and which is proved necessary to the best economy in fuel. I ' therefore decided to adopt that particular class of eugine which the most recent practice in England has demonstrated ;by actual test ; ana also, I was under the impression at the time I wroto the specifications referred to J thought I wao giving to tenderers some latitude in allowing thorn to submit otters suitable to their special appliances aa to the machinery they use and to their patterns on hand. The remark made in reference to the non-payment of 80 per cent, may be passe* over, as it is well known by every one contracting thateuch is stipulated in all city works of whatever extent, However, I aro now engaged on detail planß, which I hope will make things more clear. I may say I have no object or desire to see the machinery made elsewhere, but the contrary ; yet, wherever it is made it will have to be up to the standard of first-class work in every particular. Further, I claim to be tbe first who designed ond constructed the tirßt locomotive in Victoria, the result of which

is the exten.ije manufacture of rolling stock in Ballarat. The firm referred to made their first locomotive from my plans for a railway in West Australia, and knowing, as I do, that we have bb good mechanics here as anywhere else, why not do the fame here? But in this case, where only one machine is required for a special purpose, and wo may say an isolated case, whether it would pay any firm to construct what we require in this instance is a matter for their consideration. — I have, etc., William Errinoton, C.E., Engineer." Valedictory.—Tho Mayor moved a formal vote of thanks to tbe retiring councillors—Messrs Aickin and Waymouth - in recognition of the services they had rendered. In graceful terms he referred to Cr. Aickin'a long connection with the Council and faithful discharge of duty, and also to the aervico Cr. Waymouth had rendered.—Cr. Devoro seconded the motion, and spoke in its support, as did alsoCr.Crowth.r.— Tho motion was then passed. —Cr. Aickin, in returning thanks, eaid that discharge of duty as a City Councillor during the past eeven years had boen a labour of love, and had been undertaken and carried out with a single-minded desire for the good of the city at large. This concluded the business.