CITY COUNCIL

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 147, 22 June 1888, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL

The ordinary meeting of the above body was held last evening. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr A. E. Devore), Councillors Paterson, Hewson, Phillipps, Crowther, Cooper, Swales, Dignan, Holland, Lennox, Trenwith, Kidd, Davies, Garratt, James, Evans.

Burgess Roll.—Seven applications were made by ratepayers to have their names transferred on the Burgess Roll: They were referred to the Legal Committee. Correspondence.—The letters received were read and dealt with as follows :— From Richard Hughes, calling attention to the state of the drainage in Brunswickstreet. A memo, from the City Engineer was to the effect that he had already reported upon the street, and furnished an estimate of cost. Cr. Lennox said that he was of opinion that the work should be done as soon as possible. This suggestion was adopted.—From New Zealand Frozen Meat and Storage Company, thanking the Council for reduction of £22 17s 6d upon _ their quarterly account for water ; also, pointing out that the defect in the meter must have caused the heavy charge for the pres-ious quarter. They asked that retrospective allowance be made by the Council. I lie Mayor remarked that the meter was the property of the Company. He moved, "That the application be declined." On the motion of Cr. Crowther, the letter was referred to the Streets Committee. — From E. .7, White, Nelson-street, stating that the Sanitary Inspector had notified him to drain into the channel, while at the same time he was refused permission to open up the footpath for the purpose of laying the drain. He asked for instructions as to what course to pureue. The Engineer reported that the main drain in this street would be laid within the next two months : Resolved that a copy of this memo, be forwarded to the writer.—From Messrs Dignan and Armstrong, on behalf of Mr P. Gleeson, claiming £3 per week from the Council on account of non-fulfil-ment of contract to supply him with clay to fill in the back of his premises. The letter also stated that Mr Gleeson had applied to the Council for permisionto copy a certain letter, which permission had been refused him : Referred to the Streets Committee. — From Air B. C. Roberts, asking the Council to give him tho same consideration as other ratepayers in the matter of valuation. He complained that he was over-rated, owing to a mistake of the valuator: Referred to the Finance Committee. -FromW.C. Daldy,askingtohavethe road formed and footpaths made near his property in Hackett-street: Referred to the ward members.—From the Secretary of the Harbour Board, forwarding resolution of the Board to the following cflect: —" That the sum of £10 extra be paid by this Board on account of Quay-street contract if the crossing be placed at the corner of Quay and Queen streets." The Engineer reported that the alteration had been arranged for : Resolved that the crossing be laid.

Petition. —Cr. Evans presented a petition from the residents of Brewers' Lane, asking that a lamp hhould be placed in that vicinity: The petition was received, and referred bo the Streets Committee.

The Streets Committee's report recommended as follows :—Letter from Peter Olipbaht, on behalf of Mrs Gilmour, re drainage, Pratt-sfcreeb : Your Committee have no recommendation to make. —Petition from ratepayers Upper Union-street, re repairs to street: Your Committee report that Engineer states the matter has been attended bo. —The report was adopted. Legal Committee.—This Committee recommended :— Re transfers Burgess Roll : Thab the following applications be granted in terms of Act : a 2,963, Jas. B. Malcolm ; a 2,976, Patrick OTCane ; a 2,95 8: Jas. A. Stichbury. — Letter from C. D. Whitcombc, re. permission to publish, as by authority. Art Gallery catalogue : That Mr Whitcombe's request be granted, reserving to the Council the right, at any time, to prepare and publish, or to agree with other persons to prepare and publish, similar catalogues to thab proposed by Mr Y\ hitcombe, without paying compensation to him.—The report was adopteJ. Finance Committee.—This Committee recommended : Letter from T. J. Harbutt, offering £50 in full demand to be allowed to surrender leases. That the .sum of £50 (and costs) be paid by Mr Harbutb to the Council, to be held pending the consideration of his application under " The Public Bodies' Powers Act, 1887," about to be gazetted.—Memo, from Kate Collector, re collection of current rates. Your Committee cannob at present recommend any advance in the time of collecting rates ; bub, thab they be collected as usual during the current year. The report was adopted. Tenders.—The following tenders were received for works in the Domain :—Martin and Co., £236 9s 2d ; W. Hughes, £257 7s lid ;J. McAmieny, £3518s 3d ;G. Knight, £347 5s lOd; E. Murphy, :fc337 7s; D. McMahon, £359 14s 3d ; F. Smith and Co., £437 ; B. Berry, £358 3d ; James At twood, £278 93 4d ; J. O'Brien and Co., £315 3s 3d ; Thomas Regan. £325. The estimate was £350. Martin and Co.'s tender was accepted, the amount to be charged to the Domain Fund.

Books.—The following tenders were received for the books required for the lending library:—Champtaloup and Cooper: Commission of 4 per cent., all expenses of importation Co be paid by the Council. Upton and Co. : Commission of 1\ per cent. —The matter was referred to tile Library Committee with power to accept. Returning Oiticer.—TheMayor referred to the decease of the Returning Officer, Mr Ridings. It was resolved that applications be invited.

Sinking Fund Commission.—Cr. Phillipps was appointed to fill the vacancy on this Board, caused by the death of Mr Waddel.

New Works.—The Engineer notified that plans and specifications were on the table for the following drainage works : 1. Kyber Pass Road, between Gaol Road and Symonds-street;2. Seymour-street, between Jervois Road and Cameron-street. After some discussion at other works being delayed, the plans were adopted. Motion.—Cr. Davies moved, " That the Engineer be instructed to report to the Streets Committee at their next sitting the approximate length (in chains) of all the formed or principal streets in the city, and class them first, second, and third; and that the Committee; report to this Council bow much light would be required in the different class of streets." — Or. Kidd seconded the motion pro forma. —Cr. Grow-' ther moved as an amendment, " That the Streets Committee confer with the Gas Company with a view to securing a reduction in the amount paid."—Cr. Evans seconded the amendment, which was adopted. Council Expenditure. — Considerable desultory discussion took place with regard to the Council expenditure. Cr. Garratt drew attention to some mistakes in the accounts of the Karrtngnhnpo Word.— Cr. Crow ther then took up the tale and referred to the fact that the Baths were being worked at a loss. Ho thought that it wastime that they were made self supporting.—The Mayor hoped that next summer the Baths would prove self - supporting.— Cr. Crowther said that they hud better take care that the proposed lending library did not also prove another burden on the ratepayers. —Cr. Phillipps said that money had been spent upon the Free Library for the benefit of-non-ratepayers and loafers. It had also been spent on baths and other things which were not. a benefit to ratepayers. The truth wus that they had been spending :too much on posterity, thinking too much of the unborn millions. ~ After some further discussion it was resolved, on the motion oi Cr. Phillipps, that itbe an instruction to the Finance Committee *o investigate the Public Library ac-

counts, and take a solicitor's opinion with reference to charging the Cosbley bequest with the proportion of office expenditure of the Public Library and Art Gallery. The accounts wero then settled and authorised to be signed. Uiter Queen-Street Levels Agaix. — A number of persons attended the Council for the purpose of supporting the objections lodged by them against the proposed levels of Upper Queen-street.—Mr Hammond and Mr Ussher addressed the Council on behalf of the objectors.—Mr Jamieson spoke in favour of the proposed levels.—Cr. Cooper moved, "That the fixing of the levels be deferred, and that the Engineer bo instructed to prepare fresh levels whereby no filling in will be necessary."—Cr. Paterson seconded (he motion. — Cr. Garratt thought that it would be fatal if the amendment were carried. A public meeting had been held to which property-owners had been invited. They believed that they were acting for the property-owners when the motion for a 10-feet cutting was adopted. Now the property-owners objected to the filling in. What were they to do ? That was the only portion of the ward in which levels were not fixed. He would like to know if the ?ft 6in level would be satisfactory. What they wanted was that something definite should be done.—On the motion of Cr. Crowther, it was resolved to adjourn the matter for a month, the ward members to consult with the propertyowners.—Cr. Cooper accepted this motion.