CITY COUNCIL

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 152, 28 June 1901, Page 6

CITY COUNCIL

The ordinary meeting of the Auckland City Council was held last evening, when there were present:—Crs. P. Dignan (presiding, in the absence of the Mayor), J. Hewson, A. E. Glover, J. T. Julian, C. D. Grey, J. H. Hannan, J. Court, J. Stichbury, A.; Rosser, H. T. Garrett, J. Patterson, T. 1. Masefield, and F. E. Baume. !

Apologies were received for the absence of His Worship the Mnyoi (Dr. Campbell), and Messrs A. Kid J and. C. J. Parr. Loan of Pictures.—His Worship th-" Mayor, Dr. Campbell, wrote offer in. to loan to the City Art Gallery two cases of pictures he had received from Italy. It was .decided to thank the Mayor for the offer, and to refer the matter to the Art Gallery Committee.

Thanks from Royalty.—The secretary of the Auckland Harbour Board wrote, by direction of Ihe chairman, stating that His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall and York desired him (Mr Kidd) to convey his thanks to the Mayor for the excellent manner in which the citizens ol' Auckland carried out the arrangements for the Royal reception during (lie week ol' the Duke's stay here, aud his personal satisfaction with the way everything had been a.rranged. The letter was ordered to be returned to the Harbour Board, not having come through the proper channel. The Reception Platform.—Mrs M. Gaeth wrote asking for compensation from the Council for the damage done to her business by the erection of the Royal reception platform in front of lier shop. The Council resolved not to accept any responsibility in the matter.

The Nihotupu Fatality.—Mrs M. A. Fulton, the widow of the contractor recently killed by a fall of earth at Nihottipu, Avhile working on the auxiliary water supply contract, wrote asking- that her late husband's contract might be determined, as she had no means of carrying- it on. She also asked for payment for the work done, and for the return of deposits on the contracts. The Council resolved to send the letter on lo the Lega Committee with power to act. [It "WIS stated that deceased was in„r_T__. T>y the contractor, and that the 'jnW-i'it demand way" merely formal.

__den Terrace. —The Eden Terrace Road Board wrote'asking- the Council to complete the sewer now ending- at Suffolk-street, and to reduce the water charge to 1/ pel* 1000 gallons. Referred to the Streets Committee.

Cook-street and Vicinity.—Cr. Hannan presented a petition from property owners and residents in Cook-street,-East-street, Centre-street, and West-street, asking- that a road be made to give carts access to these streets, and suggesting- that a low level (similar to that in Upper Nel-son-street), running out to Moretonstreet, could be made at a very small cost. Referred to the Streets Committee.

Macaulay-street.—Cr. Garratt presented a petition from residents of Macaulay-street, asking- that the street be kerbed anil channelled. Referred to the Streets Committee.

The Carters' Dispute.—The engineer reported upon the proposals of the Carters' Union to be heard before the Conciliation Board on Tuesday next, in respect to their effect upon the work of the Council. He stated that the proposals in question would cause inconvenience, as the holidays proposed were double what are now authorised by the Council. The working time in the proposal agreed with the present hours, and the wages asked represented an increase of 3/ per- week. The Council resolved to adhere to its previous decision, viz., to abide by the decision arrived at in the case of the larger employers cited in the case.

Streets Committee.—The Streets Committee submitted the following report:—(l) Auckland Electric Tramways Company, Ltd., submitted plans and specifications for constructing tram line College Hill and' Beach Road sections to city boundary: The engineer having reported that the plans and specifications are satisfactory the Committee recommend the works be allowed to proceed.—(S) Department of Health re plague precautions: Reply that the Council has the matter under consideration.—(3) A. G. Lee, as to the condition of Vermontstreet, and asking for erection of street lamps: Reply that roadway is receiving attention, that the drainage is provided for and will be carried out in due course, and that the lamps will be considered at the allocation.—(4) Donaghy's Rope and Twine Co., Ltd., •as to the condition of Stanley-street: Reply that the matter is being attended to. —(s)G.Hannah,asking permission to retain flagpole as a permanent fixture, Queen-street: Granted, subject to removal at a month's notice.—(6) Mrs K. Kerr, submitting claim for half cost of fence, Western Park: Reply declining the application, as the fence is rendered unnecessary by the existence of her concrete wall.—(7) Waterworks engineer as to the advisability of re-cover-ing valve house with iron: Your Comanittee recommend that the work be done at cost of £.13, the Council supplying the material.—(S) P. Ward, submitting account for services rendered in connection with the Mechanics Bay sewer: A deputation from the Parnell Borough Council having interviewed your Committee, your Committee recommend the account for £40 as submitted be paid.—The report was adopted.

Legal Committee.—This Committee reported as follows: — (1) Re letter from J. Martin, submitting specimens of photographs of Library and Art Gallery for placing on board mail steamers: Recommend that half a dozen copies be obtained at cost of 12/6 each. —(2) Board of Advice (Art Gallery) submitting rules for guidance .of students: Your Committee recommend that the rules, as submitted herewith, be adopted.—(3) Board of Advice (Free Library), suggesting the employment of a catalogue clerk: Your Committee recommend the employment of a cataloguing clerk for one year at a salary of £200, application to be invited.— (4) Librarian, asking- for shelving for the newspaper files: Agreed to. — (5) Superintendent of Parks, asking for assistance in Albert Park of two men for one month: Agreed to. —(6) W. Williams, asking additions and repairs to house in Domain: Your Committee recommend that the work be done at a cost of £9.—(7) Women's Christian Temperance Union, as to .the overcrowding of 'buses: The Traffic Inspec-

tor to recommend the appointing of stopping places throughout the city.— (8) Auckland Electric Tramways Co., Ltd, re time-tables: Reply to be sent to the Tram Co. in accordance with the Traffic Inspector's report, that his enquiry has shown the trams to be quite as faulty in observing their startiiv times. The Traffic Inspector to report why action has not been taken .'-> such cases. —(9) Auckland Harbour Board, as to the maintenance of road at entrance to the Railway Wharf: ' ileply in accordance with the engi- ; :cer*s report that ike roa_way from \ the Freezing Co.*s premises to the I Uuilway Wharf should be maintained Soy (he. Harbour Board.— (10) J. ChamI hers aud Son, re lire hose: Deferred for explanation as to the urgency for ordering hose. —(11) fire Inspector, reporting on fire at Contacts Hospital: Received, the insurance company and i lie Defence Department having been communicated with. — (.12) Town Clerk, Parnell, submitting account for firemen's services at lire in Stanley-street: Ileply that Council does not consider il

is liable for the calling out of ihe i'arncll brigade.—The report was adopted.

Finance Committee. —The following report was submitted by the Finance Committee:—(l) Re Grafton Ward members' report as to works in (Irafton Ward: Your Committee recommend that Dundonald-street kerbing and channelling be done at a cost of .I!) '.)/; that Winchester-street, formation be done at a cost of .£ Ii I/; and that the kerbing and channelling of West, Burleigh, Sussex and Suffolk streets stand over in the meantime. —

(2) Old Brighton's (iardens lease: Report thereon by Chairman and Cr. Patterson: Your Committee recommend the adoption of the reports as follows: That the ground be enclosed with a fence consisting of puriri posts, 2 barb and .'J plain wires, with oue large gate about the centre of the road frontage, aud three wicket, g-ates in (lie most suitable places; that the stones of the old wall be carted away as Council require them, and that the land be used for the Council horses, also for public grazing at a small charge, and for volunteer camps, under regulations to be drawn up.—(3) W. 11. Webbe, objecting- to the penalty on rate account: Your Committee recommend that the ;J /penalty be paid by Mr Webbe, and the. cost of the summons be remitted. —(4) E. O'Hara, asking remission of rates on property in Wakelield-street: Judgment to be registered against, the property. —(5) J. 0. Webster, re summons for 18.9 rates: The valuation being an evident error, your Committee recommend the rates thereon be remitted and the summons withdrawn.—(_) Collector, re summons for rates against E. Wilson, Grahamcs_reet: The town clerk to be authorised to settle, and the summons to be withdrawn.—The report was adopted*.

Frederick Place.—Cr. Glover's motion, "That the roadway in Frederick' Place be cut down and that the footpath be formed, kerbed, aud channelled." was, at his request, referred to the Streets Committee.

Sanitary.—Cr. Hannan stated that the night soil contractor was in the habit of taking away the pans from tenants of houses in cases where the previous tenant had left without paying the cost of the service. This was a very bad practice, and might lead to an epidemic. The contractor wanted tenants to pay the debts of their predecessors who evaded payment of the rate. The matter was referred to the Legal Committee, with power to act.

Payment of Workmen.—Cr. J. T. Julian brought up the matter of payment of overtime to the men in the employ of the City Council in connection with the Royal reception arrangements. He asked that for the 22 days' overtime the men be paid overtime at the rate of time and a half. They had worked well and energetically at all hours and in all sorts of weather, and it was the least the Council could do to grant, this request. Cr. Stichbury (chairman of the Finance Committee) said the men were satisfied with the ordinary pay which' they had received, and the matter dropped.

The Minimum Wage.—Cr. Garratt moved: "That the minimum wage of the City Council employees be fixed at 7/ per day." Cr. Julian seconded the motion, which most of the Councillors supported. Councillors Stichbury, Baume, Court, and Masefield voted against it on the ground that the resolution would inflict injustice on the old men who were not capable of earning 7/ a day, but who were still capable of earning a lesser wage, and of doinguseful work. The motion was carried.