CITY COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 210, 10 September 1897, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Auckland City Council was held last evening, when there were present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr P. Dignan,, CrsJamieson, Warren, Trenwith, Farrell. Cairns, McNab, Paterson, Hewson, Courtney, Stichbury, Becroft, Grey, Kidd, Julian, Glover. . The councillors who were returned unopposed were duly sworn in and welcomed back to their seats by the Mayor. Patronage. — Miss Gladys Leigh wrote asking the patronage of the Mayor and Council to her complimentary benefit. —It was resolved that the patronage be granted. Claim for an Account. — Messrs Devore and Cooper wrote stating they had instructions to proceed in the case of McCullough v. City Council, but added that their client was prepared to refer the claim to arbitration.—Cr. Dignan said this referred to what was known as Laishley's catalogue. The claim was something about £100. He understood a liability of £40 was admitted. He moved the letter be referred to the Legal Committee.—Cr. Farrell moved as an amendment that the previous decision be adhered to. He thought it was wiser to take the matter to Court.—Cr. Courtney, in seconding the amendment, said this book was ordered by a previous Mayor, and he was responsible for the expense. If any sum were paid by the Council he would take action to get the money back.—Crs. Warren and Glover both agreed with the amendment, which was ultimately adopted. Storage of Benzine.—A letter was read from the Commissioner of Customs pointing out that benzine is free of duty, and that there must be some misapprehen sion on the part of the Council as to the Collector requiring duty to be paid upon that article. The letter continued: It is probable the real difficulty is that the Collector has refused to allow free goods to be stored in a bonded warehouse. In that action he was quite right. The storage of benzine is on the same footing as other free goods, so far as the Customs Department is concerned there is no restriction or control exercised. The matter is one entirely to be dealt with from the view of public safety, and the law places this obligation on 'local authorities (see the Dangerous Goods Act, 1382) under which the City Council can license premises for the storage of dangerous or specially dangerous goods. I am directed by the Commissioner of Trade and ustoms to inform you that the Government cannot undertake to provide storage for such goods." The letter was received. Costley-street.—E. Lye wrote stating that at a meeting of ratepayers held last night, it was decided to ask the City Council to put the street in repair, to make it less dangerous by forming the channel. There is also a knoll at the top and a bank along one side that wanted removing. The letter was referred to the Streets Committee.

Building Regulations.— Messrs J. and G. Buchanan wrote drawing attention to a building that has been erected in Wel-lesley-street West by Mr Tudehope, plumber, at the rear of his shop, and adjoining their building. They hardly thought it fair, after expending £3,000 upon their premises, that other cheap buildings should be erected which shut out their light.—-A memo, by the Engineer stated that Mr Tudehope had a special permit from the Council. Mr Tudehope was willing to allow the roof to be altered provided it did not cost him anything.—lt was resolved to forward a reply in accordance with the Engineer's memo. HOPETOUN - STREET. — Messrs Ambury and English wrote offering to contribute £13 6s 8a towards the proper drainage of Hopetoun-street.—The Mayor moved that the offer be accepted.—Cr. 'Glover spoke in support of the motion.—Cr. Stichbury objected to the expenditure of more money in the South Ward, as Ponsonby had not had its fair share of expenditure.—Cr. Jamieson supported the motion, as lie thought the Council should at least drain its own leasehold property.—Cr. Farrell strongly supported the motion, andref retted the parochial nature of Cr. Stiehm_?s remarks.—Cr. Trenwith moved that the matter be referred to the Streets Committee, which was agreed to. Right of Way.—Messrs Thorne and Reed wrote asking the Council to grant a permit for the formation of a right of way 12 feet wide as a back entrance to property in Hamilton Road, Ponsonby. The letter was referred to the Streets Committee.

United Fire Bigrade. — The Hon. Secretary of the United Fire Brigades' Demonstration wrote asking the Council to allow their names to be placed on the Committee list for the demonstration which takes place in February next.—The request was granted. Exeter-street. — Cr. Jamieson presented a petition from the residents of Exeter-street, asking to have that road kerbed and channelled. The petition was referred to the Streets Committee.

Building By-laws.—Cr. Kidd_ submitted a report upon a special revision of the building by-laws, which contained certain recommendations of the Engineer fixing the area of permits for wood buildings in the city.—Cr. Hewson contended that the amendments did not go far enough. He moved that the whole building regulations be revised from beginning to end.— Cr. Trenwith seconded the motion. Ultimately the report was adopted. Streets Committee.—The report of this Committee was adopted as follows:— L. P. Skinner, for permits signboards Albert Hotel and Victoria Arcade : Declined, no plan being submitted.—G. H. Powley, re water closet charges Victoriastreet factory : Your Committee recommend reply that Council cannot depart from the fixed water supply charges.—G. W. Wilcox, re defective chimneys m city : That the Council do not undertake the inspection of erection of buildings—This report was adopted. Finance Committee.—The report was adopted as follows :— Letter from Miss Ann Chalmers re extension of lease of allotment in Domain-street: Your Committee recommends that application be declined. Letter from Benjamin Gilmer alleging statements by the Council's employees : Your Committee has no recommendation to make. Letter from Edward Jones re permits granted for wood buildings, etc., in Symonds-street and Mountstreet : Your Committee has no recommendation to make. Licensing election expenses, Mr John King, Returning Officer, present: Your Committee recommends payment of a further sum of £5 7s 6d in rail discharge of all demands.