OUR SPECIAL INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8780, 28 April 1894, Page 7

OUR SPECIAL INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

FROM OUR OWX CORRESPONDENTS

AUCKLAND NOTES.

April 27.

No little excitement wa3 caused in Onehunga yesterday when the borough workmen, under the personal supervision of the Mayor, Mrs Yates, dug up the drain leading from the residence of Dr. Erson. It is stated that years since Dr. Ersoa erected his present residence, and obtained in writing from the theu Council consent to connect; a drain, 150 ft long, with a culvert

leading into the sea. The rain from the roof, and water also from the bathroom can only pass into thie drain, which is now trapped. Dr. Erson's agitation for sanitary improvements in the borough culminated ia that body ordering Dr. Erson to remove this drain. Yesterday matters came to a crisis, and the drain was broken up by the workmen of the Council. A good deal more is likely to be heard on the matter.

Some discussion over the valuable collection of pictures, lent to the Aueklaud City Council for exhibition in the Art Gallery by Mr James Read, of Kohimarair.a, arose at the meeting of the Council. Mr Read wrote stating that the time for his pictures to remain on exhibition in the Art Gallery expired in April If the members of the Council wished to purchase the pictures, the proposal the writer would make would be as follows: —There were thirty oil paintings and the price for them would be £310,000. If the Council was not at present ia a. position to pay for them an arrangement could be made to pay interest on the sum named ; such agreement to terminate at the end of seven years, and the purchase money to be theu paid in full. Cr. Garratt moved —" That the offer be declined." He said that unnecessary expense had been gone to over the pictures already. Cr. Farreli said that even if they did spend a little money, still the public of Auckland had been afforded au opportunity of seeing some pictures which they would probably never otherwise have seen. The Mayor said he would moA'e —" That Mr Read be informed that the Council has no money at it 3 disposal for the purchase of pictures or for paying interest on tha purchase of pictures, and therefore cannot entertain the request, but that Mr Road can leave the pictures until it is convenieut for him to remove them." Hβ considered that the thanks of the Council were due to Mr Read for'his loan. Cr. Garratt said that Mr Read, in depositing the pictures iv the Art Gallery was only consulting his own convenience not that of the Council or tiio

interests of the citizens, for he felt na doubt that it was better for him to have them there than in an isolated place like Kohimarama. The Mayor's proposition was agreed to.