CITY BOARD.—Monday.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 2962, 22 January 1867, Page 4

CITY BOARD.— Monday.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the City Board of Commissioners was held at two o'clock yesterday afternoon, at their offices, Queea-street. Present :— Messrs. J. W. Bain (Chairman), George, Slater, Asher, Wrigley, Keetley, Macready, Swanson, The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. LICENSE OK HAWKERS. The. Secretary read the following letter from his Honor the Superintendent in reference to this subject ;— " Superintendent's Office, "Auokland, January 17, 1867. " Sir, —In reply to your letter dated the Bth instant, requesting that a bill be prepared to invest th<: City Board with the power of imposing a license fee on all hawkers and pedlars trading in this province, I have the honour to state for the information of the Commissioners that, inasmuch as it is intended to take steps (as requested by the Provincial Council) for the organisation of a Corporation for the city of Auckland, and as the task of regulating hawkers is a peculiar funotion of such a body, it appears desirable that the matter should stand over, in oraer that I^*7 be dealt with thereby.— l have, &c, > "Fbedbbiok Whtpakeb, " Superintendent. "The Chairman of the City Board," On the motion o£ Mr. Geobge, the letter was received. OPENING OR STREETS FOB LAYING GAS-PIPES. The following letter, received' from the manager of the Gas, Company, was read ;— "Auckland Gas Company's Offioe, "lfth January, 1867. "John Ogilrie, Esq., Secretary; "Sir,— On behalf of the Gas Company, lam instructed to apply for permission to open the streets, as necessity may require, on the distinct understanding that you get previous notice of such intention, and on the assurance that the streets bo opened shall be put right again to the satisfaction of jour Foreman of Works.— l am, &c, "J. N. Wark, " "Manager. "City Board of Commissioners, Auckland." Mr. George observed that all that was required by the Board was that the Gas Company should put the streets in a proper state. If they did so there could be no objection to allowing the Company to open the streets, fie moved that the letter should b6 referred to the Streets Committee, with power to act. . , Mr. Wbigley seoonded the motion, -which was carried. BATES. The Secretary intimated that the rate 3 collected •ince last meeting amounted to £257 15s. 3d. He also stated the amount of arrears of rates due was about £2,982. Mr. Diddams mentioned the names of those persons who were due the largest amounts, Mr. Maorbady Baid that some steps should be taken to enforoe payment of rates due. STONE-BBEAKING MACHINE. Permission was sought and obtained by the Foreman of Works to start the stone- breaking machine for one month. IMPROVEMENTS IN DRAKE-STBEET. The following tenders were received for the carrying out of the improvements in Drake street :— « George Akers, £1,029 19a. 2d. ; Robert Martin, £1,217; Robert Kay, £1,183; James McLeod, £1,060; John Duggan and Co., £1,070; John Brett and-Co , £1,120 53.; MartinTDonahef, £908 ss. On the motion of Mr. Macbeady, seconded by Mr. Slater, it was agreed to acoept the lass-men-tioned tender, provided the Finance Committee were satisfied as to the sureties. Mr. George moved that the promissory note for £100 should be accepted as the contribution from the inhabitants of Drake-street towards the improvements. Mr. Slater seconded the motion. Mr. Wbiglby moved, as an amendment, that the amount should be paid in cash, » Mr. KkeHiEY seoonded the amendment. The amendment was put and lost, and the original motion carried. IMPROVEMENTS IN COOK-STREET. The following tenders were received *for carrying out the improvements in Cook - street :— Daniel Dempsey, ' £544 7s. ; Thomas Rawdon, £448 15s. 3d.; Alcock and Co., £478 125.; James MoCormiok, £556; Robert Martin, £568; John Duggan and Co., £620 ; John Harker and Co., £408 ; Cnarlet Darley, £566 ; Martin Donaher, £579 10s. On the motion of Mr. KEETLtfr, seconded by Mr. Giohge, it was agreed to refer the tenders to the Finance Committee, with power to act— the committee to meet on the following day at noon. DRAINAGE OF THE MARKET BESERVB. The Foreman of Works submitted plans and specifications of the proposed drainage of the Market Reserve. Mr. George moved that the should be referred to the Finanoe Committee, with power te act. Mr. Keetley seconded the motion. Mr. Wbigley moved, a* an amendment, thai tenders should at once be advertised for. The matter had been long enough delayed. Mr. Asher seconded the amendment. Mr. Macbeady said it was only right andproppr that the mattei should be referred to the Finance Committee, as it waa a matter which would involv< a large expenditure of money. He thought there would be some difficulty in obtaining-the money, but, if the committee could obtain it, let them recommend that the work should be commenced without any further delay. Mr. Wrigley said that no advantage could be gained be deferring the matter. Mr. Swanson said that much had been stated as to delay. His object was to ascertain the opinion oi the Engineer-in-Chief on the matter in a sanitary point of view. He hoped the Board would consider carefully the result that would follow if the proposed work were carried out, and also see iE they had the money for carrying out the work. The Secretary read a letter on the subject from Mr. Weaver, which has already been published ; also a copy of the letter which had been forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting his Honor to have the whole matter brought before the Provincial Council. Mr. Wbiglet said there was no difficulty in obtaining the money required for the improvement of the Market Reserve. There was £1,640 out of the loan for performing the work according to the statement of the Superintendent. Mr. Swanson read the report of Mr. Wrigg on the state of the Ligar Canal, to the effect that the cure proposed would be worse than the disease. Mr. Keetley supported the motion. It was time the proposed work was commenced and carried out. The amendment was put and lost, and the original motion carried. MR. WBIQG-'S CLAIM. Mr. Swanson, after expressing his opinion on this matter, proposed, " That the opinion of the Law Officer be taken as to the legality of the payment of the sum of £105Jto Mr..Wrigg." Mr. Keetley seconded the motion pro f orm&. Mr.MACBEADT moved, as an amendment, that the matter should remain as it stood, the money having been paid. t Mr. George seconded the amendment. He believed Mr. Wrigg had a proper claim, and he (Mr. G.) had sanctioned it. Mr. Wbxgltsy spoke in favour of the justness of the claim preferred by Mr. Wrigg. Mr. Swanson, in reply, considered the payment of the claim as a wanton throwing away of the public money. The fullest investigation should be made into this matter, for the credit of the Board. The amendment was carried, and the original motion was consequently lost. APPLICATION FOR £1,000. Mr. Geobge moved, "That application be made to his Honor the Superintendent for £1,000 out of the loan of £7,000 agreed to be advanced to the Board." Air. Keetley seoonded the motion, which was carried. LEAVE OF ABSENCE TO SECBBTABY. Mr. Giobge moved, "That the Secretary be granted 21 days' leave of abaence, and at the rising of the Board it do adjourn for that period, 11th February, 1867." v Mr. Macready seconded tne motion, \tnica was carried. , FIRE-ENGINE. Mr. Macready directed attention to a complaint made by the Foreman of Works that the hose of No. 1 engine was not kept in proper condition by the person in charge of the engine. He also suggested that an inventory of the engines, hose, &c., should be made. The Secretary was instructed to have an inventory made. ACCOUNTS. The monthly accounts were examined, and cheques signed for payment of the respective amounts. NOTICES OV MOTION. Mr. Wbigley gave notice of motion for next meeting, " That the amounts in the Secretary's letter to {

his Honor, dated the 19th December, mm the anms about to be expended upon certain drainage works m the Market .Reserve, Cook-street, and Drake-street, be the only gums expended out of the balance of the loan." Jk Mr. Kertmjt to move next sitting day, "That the Foreman of Works be instructed to report as to the making of bridge across the gully in Howe-street, and the formation of the approaches thereto. ■ Mr. Wriglet to move, "That the curb and channelling be laid on e&oh sids of from its junction withViotoria-street to its junction with Wellesley-street." , _ Mr. Wingmt to move, "That each side of the embankment in Upper Qneen'Sbreet be fenced," This terminated the business.