CITY COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 12, 15 January 1892, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The usual meeting of bhe above body was held last night. Present : The Mayor (Mr W Crowther), Crs. Garratt, Warren, _. arrell, Grey, Kidd, Holland, Atkin, Luks, Dignan, Swales, Cooper, Wrighb, Layer, Hewson, Paterson, and Dr. Walker. Naming Stkekts. —The secretary ofthe Patent Letter and Enamel Co., London, wrote offering to supply metal letters to name the sbreebs.—Referred to tbe Streets Committee. Portrait for Art Gallery. —Mr Cheeseman wroto on behalf of Captain Gilbert Mair, Wellington, offering to lend for exhibition in the Art Gallery an oil painting of Sir George Grey, the work of Mrs Man. —The offer was accepted with thanks. Resignation.—Mr J. H. Upton wrote resigning his position as representative of the Council on the Harbour Board.—Cr. Wright wa3 appointed to fill the vacancy. Dog Collars.—Mr G. F. Hill wrote stating that be had finished his contracb for dog collars, and as ho had lost money be asked tbe Council to make an allowance seeing thab he had made a mistake in his estimate.— On the motion of Cr. Garratt bhe letter was received. Dog Registration.—A petition v was read from a number of residents asking that the price for collars be reduced to ss. A letter was also read from Miss S. Spilsbury offering her services gratis to send in the names of those keeping dogs without a license. — Cr. Swales moved thab bhe fee be 10s as usual.—Cr. Garrabb moved thab the fee be ss. This was seconded by Dr. Walker.— Ultimately the petition was referred to the Streets Committee, and Miss Spilsbury's application was declined. Mortuary Chapel.—Mr R. Hill wrote notifying that he had discontinued holding services in tho Morbuary Chapel Waikomiti.—Mr W. Beaumont wrote asking on behalf of the Pitt-street Wesleyan Church for permission to continue the services.—The application of Mr Beaumont was granted. v Domain Fencing.—Mr Thomas Fernandez wrote calling attention to the dilapidated condition of thab portion of the Domain fence thab abutted on his property in Grafton Road. He requested bhat it should be repaired.—Referred to the Legal Committee. Depositing Refuse.—Mr James R. Walters. Chairman of the Mount Albert Road Board, forwarded resolution arrived at by thab body, "That no more city refuse be allowed tc be deposited in the Mount Albert disbricb, on account of ib becoming a dangerous nuisance." A letter waß also read from Mr Casey asking bhe Council to appoinb a depot for city rubbish.—The Mayor 6aid the Council bad nothiug to do with the depot.—Cr. Cooper said that he understood a great nuisance had existed at Kingslahd. — Cr. Atkin pointed oub that Mr Casey was not a contractor under the Council to remove the du3b.—The Mayor eaid that Mr Casey simply made, arrangements with householders.—Cr. Garratt was in favour of burning the rubbish.—Cr. Atkin pointed oub that where the depot had been was on the source of their water supply.—Cr. Paterson thought thab the lands in the suburbs could do with bhe refuse as manure.— The matter was referred to the Legal Committee.

Allowance on Contract.—Thomas Mulvihill wrote stating that he had lost by his drainage contract in Carlton Goro Road, owing to having encountered very hard scoria formation. He asked for an allowance of £13 16s Bd.—The letter was received.

Nelson-street. —A petition was received from the residents of Nelson-streeb praying that the eastern side mighb be kerbed and channelled, also that the footpath should be formed.—The letter was referred to the Streets Committee.

Albert-street Baths,—The Auckland Swimming Club wrote offering 10a per night for tho use of the Albert-street Baths. —Tho letter was referred to,the Baths Committee.

House Allowance. —' Superintendent Hughes again wrote asking for house allowance, pointing out that his salary had been reduced by £50, besides performing the duties of Building Inspector without additional pay.—The letter was received.

Cab License.—Samuel Given wrote ap plying for a cab driver's license.—The ap plication was granted.

St. Paul's Site.—The vestry of St. Paul's wrote stating that, the sites suggested for St. Paul's Church by the petition were declined.—The letter was received.

Gbeen-street.—Cr. Swales presented a petition from the residents of Green-street asking that the drainage in that street should be attended to.—The petition was referred to the Streets Committee.

The Morgue.—Dr. Walker asked what steps had been taken with regard to the morgue. —The Mayor said that the site had been secured and steps would now be taken to erect th 6 morgue.

Application for Increased Salary.— Mr B. Bennett, collector, wrote calling attention to the fact that he considered himself unjustly treated as regards his salary. Ho pointed out that when salaries tvere reduced he understood that he would be reinstated when times improved. Mr Bennett proceeded to say:—"ln fact, when Mr Payne Was made Treasurer, I was made to understand that I would receive an increase then ; and now, when the Council, by their own action, haye shown that they can consider the adequate remuneration of their officers, I have been deliberately passed over, and the assistant clerk, who is my junior by some six or seven years, and has absolutely no responsibility, has had his salary increased until he is now above me. I believe, gentlemen, that it requires only to have your attention drawn to this glaring injustice to have it remedied."—Cr. Hewson said that surely the Council would never think of sending such a letter as that to a Committee. He moved that it be received,—Cr. Cooper moved that the applicant's salary be increased by £25. He pointed out that some years ago Mr Bennett was promoted, and afterwards salaries were reduced, and now the occupant of the position vacated by Mr Bennett was receiving the higher salary. Mr Bennett had given every satisfaction. He had been treated with the grossest injustice, and the Council had acted very inconsistently.—Cr. Hoi- 1 land seconded tho motion, as he believed that injustice had bean done.—Cr. Garratt questioned whether the matter could be dealt with, seeing that the salaries were annually fixed. He must say that this was the worst kind of letter he had ever heard read there. As to the facts, Mr Gorrie had received £200 after six or seven years' service, while Mr Bennett got the same sum for the same position long'before ho had been six years in the employ of the Council. He considered that the letter was not gentlemanly, and as he had a high opinion of Mr Bennett, he felt sorry that he had somewhat departed from his usual conduct. —Several Councillors seated the opinion that Mr Bennett had been hardly treated, but considered that salaries were fixed for the year, and it was unwise to re-open matters.—The Mayor here ruled that under an unrescinded resolution passed some years ago salaries were fixed for a year.—The letter was then received.

Reports.—The Legal Committee recommended as follows : — Memo from City Solicitor covering draft assignment by Bank of New Zealand Estates Company of Tramway Company's concessions.—That Council assent to the draft agreement with the clauses added by the City Solicitor in his letter of 9th December last. Letter from Robert Cranwell re additional hours for ladies, Albert - street Baths. — No recommendation to make. Memo from Town Clerk (new) re admission school children Albert - street Baths.—That the concession re baths be

nob extended to schools outside the city Memo, from Engineer (new), re repairs t« pumps, Ponsonby.—That tenders be called for the work, returnable ab nexb meetW Re chairmanship.— Thab Cr. Cooper ba a p. poinbed chairman of the Legal Committoe —W. Crowther, Acting Chairman.—Th. report was adopted, a motion by Cr Hewson to strike oub the last clause being negatived. Water Supply.—The Mayor said that the amounb of water now being usod w as frightful. In December, the amou a |j pumped was 57,800,000 gallous, about 10,000,000 moro than any previous, mootb known. —On tbo, motion of Cr. Dignaaife was decided to appoint the assistant turn. cock on the wharf, J. H. _3.igg.n_, to the position rendered vacant by the death.of Mr F. Hearling. . - Library Rate.—The Library rate% B fixed at one half-penny ia tho £.