CITY BOARD.—MONDAY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3057, 14 May 1867, Page 6

CITY BOARD.— MONDAY.

Thb usual fortnightly meeting of the City Board of Commissioners was held at their office, Canada Buildings, at two o clock yesterday (Monday). Preset : Messrs. J. W. Bain (Chairman), George, Asher, Macready, Swanson, Graham, Slater, and Keetley. The Secretary read the minubea of last meeting, which were confirmed. PETITIONS. Mr. Mao ready presented the following petition: — "Auckland, May 10, 1867. "To the Chairman of the City Board of Commissioners. " Sir, — I beg to mako'the following application in reference to my payment of the city rates. I find myself unable to pay them on account of the distressed times lately in Auckland. Being the testatrix under my husband's will, it was my business to receive the rents, and I have found since that those rents are in arrears for over, six months. Besides this, my shops in Queen-street were left by Mr. Kemp when he went to England, he leaving it in my debt, and also leaving certain rates due to the City Board. Under these circumstances, I beg to apply to the Board to reduce the rates, or to deal as favouiably as the Board may deem meet. — I have, &0., : " (On behalf of Mrs. Leary,) " Wm. Leary, I" Solicitor, Auckland." On the motion of Mr. Swanson; seconded by Mr. Asher, the petition was referred to the Collector, the Board having no power to reduce the rate. Mr. GBOBaB presented tlie following petition :— *« Auckland Cart Stand, ' ! " Queen-street Wharf, May 4, 1867. " To the Chairman of the City Board of " Commissioners. " Sir, — I am' advised by the cart-owners and carters of this city to ask the permission of the City Board of Commissioners to allow me to use their house of refuge, on the cart stand, to supply them I with refreshments' during the winter weather.' Respectfully requesting your recommendation of what would be a great benefit to me and others, I am, &c, ' | . "James Howard, " Carter. " We willingly subscribe our names, believing it would tend to promote temperate habits." (Here follow 20 signatures.) . Mri Graham said they should pay for the use of the place. Mr. Macready said it would be unfair to those who paid rates to grant the house for the purpose stated. Mr. Swanson moved that the matter should be referred to the Inspector of Nuisances. If the petitioner could supply coffee to the carters without interfering with their use and occupation of the place, the Board should not interfere with him. Mr. George said a rental of 3s. or 4a, a week ' might be got out of it. Mr. Graham said the petitioner should not ba granted any exclusive privilege. If the carters did not object, and the Inspector of Nuisances did not complain, the Board should not interfere. He would second the motion. Mr. MaCREADY moved an amendment to the effect that the place should not be used as a coffee shop, as it would be unjust to those who paid rates. Mr. Asher seconded the amendment. The motion was carried.

RATES. The Secretary intimated that the rates collected since last meeting amounted to £222 15s. 7d. KOSIE Y. CITY BOA.ICD OF COMMISSIONERS. The Chairman intimated that a new trial was granted in this case. On the motion of Mr. SWANSON, seconded by Mr. SiATER, the Secretary was instructed to request the solicitor to the Board to take the necessary steps to have a special juryj ury empanelled.

ROAD METAL. The Foreman of Works reported that a quantity of broken metal was required— about 2,000 yards — for the winter. On the motion of Mr. KeetliEY, seconded by Mr. Asheb, the matter was referred to Messrs. Macready and George, in conjunction with the "Foreman of Works, with power to instruct Mr. McLeod to break a3 much metal as was required, with the view of carrying out his contract.

BANK ACCOUNT. The Secretary intimated that the amount in bunk to the credit of the Board, and cash in hand, was £565 10a. 9d., but he would have to. gay (including £500 to Provincial Government) £927 2s. lid., which would leave an overdraft of £361 12s. 2d. He would not pay the £500 until more rates were collected, so as to keep down the overdraft.

FOOTPATH TN QTTEEN-STJREET. The Secretary reported that the footpath opposite the old Supreme Court-house was in a bad Btate of repair, and that Mr. Hidings .had refused to pay rent for the Court-house until the footpath was repaired. The Foreman had estimated that the making of a permanent footpath would cost £45. <■ On the motion of Mr. Macreadt, seconded by Mr. George, the Foreman of Works was instructed to carry out the improvement so far as the Courb- house extended, and Mr. Diddams was instructed to asbertain if the inhabitants would contribute anything towards the expense of repairing the footpath opposite their premises, as far as Wellesley-street, and to inform them that, in the event of their contributing one-half of the expense, the contract would be carried out. t

SEWER IN GKEY-STKEET. The Secretary read the following reporb from the Foreman of Works :—: — " To the City Board of Commissioners. " ( Gentlemen, — I have the honour to bring under your notice the dangerous state of the sewer under Grey-street, caused by large stones being washed down the sewer from Mr. Wallace's property. Mr. Wallace has continued the sewer from the east side of Grey-street through his property, and covered it over under his house. The, walls of his sewer have been built of rubble-stone work in a very imperfect manner, as they have been almost totally washed down through the sewer. Some of the stones have been carried as far down as Queen-street, and the sewers through which they have passed have been more or less damaged ; the next heavy rains, in all probability, will sweep it all away, and the damage caused bd the 1 Board's wdrks may be very serious. This is the second time that the same thing has occurred. Some action ought to be at once taken in the matter to prevent further damage. — I have, itc, " William Anderson, " Foreman of Works. "Auckland, May 13, 1867." On the motion of Mr. Graham, seconded by Mr. George, the Secretary was instructed to acquaint the party with the 65th clause of the Act, amd, if he failed to carry out the work, the Board would do it, and oblige him to pay the expense. ACCOUNTS. The usual accounts were examined, and cheques signed for the payment of the respective amounts. NOTICES OF MOTION. The following notices of motion were given for next meeting : — Mr. Asher to move, " That, in the event of the ratepayers contributing a portion of the expense of kerbingthe west Bide of Princes-street, the Foreman of Works be instructed to carry out the necessary works." Mr. Keetley to move, " That tenders be invited for erecting a bridge across the gully in Howestreet." The meeting then separated.

The Paris correspondent of the Morning Star states that, while going through a. lunatic asylum at Ch»renton the other day, he saw two of the most learned Professors of France deprived, of their reasoning faculties by having studied Renau's "Life of Jesus,''