THE CITY COUNCIL.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4401, 3 October 1871, Page 3

THE CITY COUNCIL.

,'Phb bi-weekly meeting of the Berough Counoil was held yesterday* in the Council room. There were present—the Mayor (in the chair), Councillors Hampton, Smart, George, Hobbs, Macready, Arthur, and fTonka. ; The Telegraph. —Councillor Tonka said [before the regular business began he would .intimate that it was his intention to more -the suspension of the standing orders, for the ; purpose of moving, " That this Council petition the Home oE Assembly to have the (telegraph extended to Auckland." ; Cmr Endowments.— The Mayor stated ithat during the ensuing week the 13th 1 schedule of the Municipal Corporations Act ,oame into force, and suggested that the time had come when some stops should be taken ; for appointing a medical officer for Auckland. He also laid on the table a letter from the Superintendent, giving a list of the city endowments. He found th«t many of the endowments did not pay any r«nt at all, and many of the houses had not paid rent for •several years. There were acres of endowments in the city. He believed the oity endowments at the present time would be worth £2,000 per annum if the renta were paid. He thought a committee should be appointed* to go into the matter, as there .seemed to be much favouritism. Some of ! the lessees had not paid rent since 1864. Coauespokdbkcb.— Several letters were i read which had been sent to various parties, ! amongst them the one to the Superintendent | opposing the use of the traction engine in the city. — Several letters were also read which had been received by the Council. One of these was from Mr. Joseph Craig, offering to I pay £2 a week for the use of the house on lithe allotment on Fort-street. Councillor Atkin moved that Mr. Craig be informed i that the Council had no power to lease the house as it stood upon the Harbour Board t property. The motion was agreed to.— A communication was received from the Harbour Board enclosing a copy of the resolution lately passed at one of their meetings, with the object of keeping the beach clean for six months. — A letter was read from Captain Daldy enclosing the tender received by the Harbour Board with reference to the object contemplated. The tender was from Mr. James Butcher, and provided that the work would be done according to specifications as follows : — Prom the first month, commencing on the Ist Ootober, £65 ; and for each of the fivo months at £28. The different sureties were named. — Councillor Tonka said this would be the only expense the Ceunoil would have to bear in the matter, and the six ,' months would carry them over the summer month. He moved, " That the Council bear half of the cost of the works in conjunction with the* Harbour Board," — Councillor Smart seconded the motioa. — Councillor Atkin said under the arrangement the Council would have to pay £100, of which they had no business to pay one penny. He was quite astonished at the audacity of the Har. hour Board in expeotiug the city to pay for j such works.— Councillor George coincided with the remarks of his colleague on the right. That arrangement came of being in partnership. The Provincial Government were to blame for the whole of the nuisance. — Councillor Macready said if the two gentlemen who had spoken did not think that it was the filth of the city that was all spread over the beach, he did not kn»w what to think of their eyes. As to the ships in harbour throwing orauge3 over their sides into the harbour, that would be prevented in the future. — Motion put and agreed to, —A letter was read from the chairman of the Dedwood Highway Board, stating that the Board inteuded to prepare the footpath on their side »f the Ponsonby Koad, and asking that the city put their side of the road in repair. They were willing to have the city do the whole work, and the Board would pay pro Tata the cost. — Councillor George moved that the motion bo referred to the Foreman of Works for consideration. — Councillor Macready moved as an amendment, "That the Board cannot at present entertain this proposal." — Councillor Tonks seconded, and the amendment was carried,— A letter was read from Mr, E. Maclean, stating that his guinea was at all times leady to join the members of the City Council in offeriug prizes for manufactured articles, &c. — Various other letters wore lead. — A letter was read from James Boucher, with reference to the repairing and use of the water-carts, when Councillor Tonics moved, " That the matter be referred to the City Surveyor, to report on at next meeting?. "

City Surveyor's Report. — The report of the City Surveyor was read. It detailed fcho various works goin# on ia the city at present. Reference was maile to tho earth-closet system, which was slattd Jo be an established fact. Thero wero difficulties in carrying such a system out, and, whenever it hail been tried, the water-closet system had been always found the most simple. The earth- J closet rules should uot in Auckland be made j absolute, — The recommendations oil the City Surveyor with reference to tapping the springs in Cook - street were oulered to be carried out. - The number of private streets in the city was stated to be 52. —Councillor Tonks showed tlio models of three closets, which had been in use by Dr. Purchas for several years. He expected to receive a report on the subject from the doctor shortly, and would lay it befoie the Council. — Councillor Hobbs said a watertight box was only necessary to be got, and if they began to order patent arrangements he was afraid they would, raise opposition. — Councillor Macready drew attention to some irregularities of the ; nightman in cleaning a closet ia Victoiia- : street. — A letter was read from Thomas Faultier upon the saroe subject, stating that he had been the contractor for the earthcloset system when in Christchurch. — Councillor Atkin moved that the matter be postponed until next meeting. — Councillor Hampton seconded the motion. — Councillor George moved as an amendment, " That tho consideration of the notice be referred to the Nuisance Committee." — Councillor Macready opposed Councillor George'H.amendiinont. He thought it was the duty of the Inspector of Nuisances to look after all those things. He would like to see the Inspector of Nuisances compelled to do his duties. His duties ought to be defined to him, and he should not be permitted to stay so much about tko Council as he was in the habit of doing. When Mr. Reilly had the offico, he went round the town at night to see what was going wrong, and he attended to the lighting of the lamps as well.— The Chairman stated that the Inspector of Nuisancos had to act as messenger to the Houncil, and that was the reason, why he was so much about the offico during tho day. — Tho original motion was lost —Councillor Hobbs then moved, ss an amendment, "That Councillors Atkin, Hampton, and Isaacs ,be a committee to report on the matter at next meeting." — This was not seconded, when the motion for referring it to the Nuisanco Committee was carried.

Accounts. — Tho Mayor read the accounts , for the past fortnight, which amounted in all to £334 18s. 'rhe amount in baiik was £1,105 17s, Gd., which left a balance, after deducting expenses, of £771 os. 6d.—Accounts were ordered to be paid.

Apsbaxs against the Valuation. — Some discussion arose respecting hearing appeals against the valuation. It was stated that the , Act provided no day when appeals would be ' heard. All objections must be made within a month, or they could not bo taken into any ' Magistrate's Court. —lt was resolved to hear the appeals as they came in.

By-XAws. — The ' by-law respecting the; paving of certain streets waa read ; and, on . the motion of Councillor George, adopted. — The by-law with reference td , licensing theatres was read. —Councillor Smart moved, ; and Councillor Atkin seconded, and it was > agreed, ,■•T hat this by-la^otand over for' the Dreaent."

• '^BfAwrißßs: — Th* regulations respecting I ,t&e .hawkers. wer ( e road.T-Uouncillor Smart moved, Councillor Vtkia seconded, 'arich it^was agreed to, ", That these regulations be > adoDted." \

t Exi?.KE& Mm, Era— A petition was wad J from tfoe express men, praying that tl\e j rales made respecting them should be '

' altered, as tlte cost; of keeping expresses was twice as much ns keepiuga cart, — Councillor Atkia presented the petition, and Councillor Hobbs supported its prayer — Councillor Smart was opposed to cabmen or 'busmen smoking, and moved an amendment "That •no smoking be allowed inside 'buses, or on outside on thu driver's seat." — Councillor Tonka seconded, when the votes were equal, and the Mayor gave lib casting vote against ■the amendment, remarking that they shonld not legislate too arbitrarily, or they would frighten people.— Councillor Tonks moved as another amendment, "That no smoking be allowed on outside omnibuses, unless the place be enclosed in wood. "—Councillor Smart seconded the motion, which was agreed to. — The regulations as amended were then agreed to.— The scale of charges for different vehicles was thon Toad over, and, on the motion of Councillor George, adopted. — The regulations respecting the licensing of carts, &c, were then read. — Councillor Macready moved that the fares of expresses be one-fourth less than dray fares. — Councillor George seconded the motion. — Councillor Atkin moved that the rates of the expresses be the same as those of drays. — Th» amendment was lost, and the original motion was carried. — The regulation respecting the removal of night soil only between th» hour of midnight and 6 o'clock p.m. was also adoDted. without discussion.

Suspension of the Standing Orders. — Suspension of the standing orders was carried, to enable Councillor Tonks to move hiß resolution respecting the telegraph being extended to Auckland. — Councillor Macready secomded the motion, which was agreed to unanimously. Health Officer. — Councillor Smart

moved, " That a health officer be appointed for the city." — Councillor Hobbs seconded the motion. — Councillor Maoready opposed the motion, as the expense would be too great. — Councillor Hobba aaid there were many gentlemen in the city who would be glad ofthe appointment as an honorary one. — Motion agreed to.

Wyndham-stbebt. — Councillor Smart moved, "That the City Surveyor be in' structed to make up the embankment in Wyndham-atreet whore it is sattled aown, the cost not to exceed £30." — Councillor Hobbs seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

City Porters. — Councillor George moved that the Town Clerk be instructed to prepare regulations for portera.—Counoillor Hobba seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

Committees. — Councillor Smart moved that the following committees be appointed : — Streets Committee : Councillors Macready, George, Atkin, and Smart. Finance Committee : Councillors Hobfes, Isaacs, Smart, and Tonka. Lighting Com. mittee : Councillors George, Hampton, and Bngden. — Councillor Tonka seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

Notices op Motion. — The folio-vying notices of motion were given : — By Councillor Smart, "That the Town Clerk prepare regulations relative to the keeping of swine and goats within the borough ;" Councillor Atkin, " That the Town Clerk prepare a bylaw to license all restaurants within the borough of Auckland ;" Councillor George to move, "That the Town Clerk be requested to write to the Gas Company to reduce the iong mound over their gas-pipe in Chapelstreet, between Wellesley-street and vin-cent-street;" Councillor Tonka to move, "That designs and plans for a market be invited ; the successful design to receive a premium of £ . The entire expense of erection of buildings, preparing site and approaches, drainage, &c, not to exceed the sum of £5,000."

Titß Water Oojipany.— Councillor Hobbs drew attention to the necessity o£ tho Mayor waiting upon the Superintendent, and trying to induce him to prevent if possible the new water company from making extortiouate charges for the water. They wanted water, aud plenty of it, but they wanted it at a cheap rate, Ho was afraid an attempt would be made to make it another Gas Company monopoly. There was no time to ba lost. — Councillor Atkin said something should be done to prevent that great abuse which existed in Auckland —by selling shares at a premium which cost them nothing. — The Mayor said he would wait upon the Superintendent on the subject.