CITY COUNCIL.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4714, 2 October 1872, Page 6

CITY COUNCIL.

The "ortnightly meeting of the Council was held y o9terday at 2 o'clock Present : The Mayor (in the chair), Councillors H. Isaacs, W. J. Hurst, J. Cosgrave, F. L. Prime, It. Hobbs, — Williams, and S. Jones.

Leitbrs Sknt. — A list of letters sent by the direction of the Council since last meeting \rere read by the Town Clerk. Arrears of Rates. — The Mayor laid on

the table of the Council a list of those who were in arrears with their rates for the first five rates that were struck. The list of defaulters for the remaining portion waa being prepared as fast as it could be.

Bills —The Mayor also laid on the table copies of the Auckland Water Bill, and the Municipal Corporations Water Loan Bill. He explained that the general Aofccontained principally the clauses in the former Auckland Water Bill, and the chief point of difference he saw between them was that in the bill he got drafted it was provided that water could be obtained from an area having a radius of 25 miles. Now the area was unrestricted as to the limits.

Tenderers and their Cash Deposits. — Councillor Isaacs, before the regular business of the meeting began, wished to draw attention to the notice which appeared in the papers calling for tenders for filling in the Market Place, and erecting the markethouse. He saw that £200 was asked as a cash deposit for each tenderer, and considered that such a demand was extraordinary, and prevented many from sending in a tender who would otherwise compete for the Tirork, perhaps at a lower price than one with £200 Bpare cash to deposit. — The, Mayor explained the rule was that 10 per cent, cash deposit was required from each tenderer upon the estimated value of the work for which tenders was sought. He learned from the City Surveyor that something over £3,000 was the estimated cost of the work referred to ; and, in consequence of the large cash deposit that would be required, the sum was reduced from 10 per cent, to about 74 per cent. If he were to go by his opinion alone he thought five per cent, deposit upon the estimated cost of the work would be enough, but the City Surveyor was of opinion that some substantial security would be required, especially in a work of such extent as the market-house. — Councillor Isaacs dissented, and considered that £50 would be quite enough to ask as a cash deposit. If more were required, the names of one or two gentlemen could be given as a guarantee. Fixing the deposit high limited the number of tenderers, and raised the price of the work — A lively debate ensued for some time, in which Councillor Hurst, Councillor Jones, and others took parb, when the Mayor ruled that the discussion was irregular, and stopped it. — At a later period of the meeting Councillor Isaacs tabled the foll>wing motion, which comes on for discussion next sitting-day :—: — " When any tenders are asked for by the Council, no sum larger than £50 in cash shallbe required to be deposited as security, but that the tenderer may be required to send in with the tender the names of two securities to the extent of the sum named by the Mayor as requisite security for the performance of the said work ; should he become the successful tenderer, such securities to be approved of by the Council."

Letters Eeceived. — The Town Clerk read letters received from various parties, of which the following are the principal : — A letter from the Colonial Secretary in reply to a telegram sent asking for more extended powers for the Council under the Public Health Bill beyond the bounds of the city, stating that the Government would consider the application if Public Health Bill passed ; a telegram from Mr. Vogel stating that the Empowering Water Bill had passed ; a letter from Mr. Bartlett, photographer, in respect to a verandah. On the motion of Councillor Jones, seconded by Councillor Hur3t, it was resolved to adhere to the plan for verandahs as provided by the Council. A letter was read from a ratepayer in Cook-street complaining of the cutting down of that street. Letter referred to the City Surveyor. A letter from Mr. J. Buchanan in respect to the fire-engine question, explaining the history of the fire-engines which were claimed by the citizens. The insurance companies were willing to Land over the engines to the care of the City Council if they thought fit, but would prevent a breach of the peace by seizing the engines when they came on to the street, and stated that the attention of the Inspector of Police had been drawn to the threat made.

Petitions.— Councillor Hurst presented a petition from certain ratepayers in Unionstreet, asking for the formation of a footpath at the bottom of that street. Keferred to the City Surveyor, to report on it at next meeting — Councillor Hurst also presented a petition from certain ratepayers asking for thecuttingdo wn of Upper Queen-street, so that the horses of those signing the petition might easier get out into the country. The petition was received. — Councillor Prime presented a petition on the same subject, asking for an alteration in the gradient in Upper Queenstreeb to be made. Amongst those who had signed the petition were the names of Councillor Jones, Messrs. J. B. Russell, Belcher, Morrin, &c Petition received. — A. petition was also read from Mr. R. B. Shalders on the same subject. The petition was leceived.

Streets Committee. — The report of the Streets Committee was read. They recommended that a portion of Pitt-street be cat down to piovide material for the filling in of the Market place. They also recommended that the private streets which had been dedicated to the public ehould be taken over unconditionally, and treated as public streets ; and that the other private streets not dedicated be taken over on the same terms, when they are formally dedicated to the public use. — Councillor Cosgrave moved, and Councillor Hurst seconded, " That the report of the Committee be adopted by the Council." — Councillor Hobbs wished to have the portion of the report referring to the dedication of private Btreets placed m the hands of the solicitor for his opinion. He thought there would be some difficulty in the matter, and moved an amendment to that effect. — Councillor Hurst said there was no difficulty in the matter. He had obtained the opinion of a solicitor on the subject before comiDg to the Council, and was informed that no difficulty stood in their "way. — At the request of Councillor Cosgrave, Councillor Hobbs withdrew his amendment, and the original motion was carried.

-Nuisanci Committee. — The report of the Nuisance Committee was read and adopted. City Surveyor's Report. —The report of the City Surveyor was read, and he recommended the use of canvas hose for the city firc-eagmr, as the leather hose was much de eayed by age and use. The canvas hose was as useful as leather hose and could be got at Is. 4d. per foot, whereas 3s. 6d. was the pria r e charged for leather hose. — On the motioa of Councillor Williams it was resolred to have 500 ft. of canvas hose, procured forthwith from Melbourne for the use of the en'gino. —On the motion of Councillor Cosgrave it was resolved that Mr. Asher be allowed Is. per hour per man for volunteers not members of the Brigade, for 40 men, for a period not exceeding three hours at any one fire.

Accounts. — The report of the Financial J Committee was- read. The accounts to pay amounted to £698 7s. sd. Oh the general account there was a deficit balance of £771 la. 7d.; accounts to pay, £698 7s.' 5d. ; making a total 1 debit balance of £1^469 9a. l! Oh the loan account there was -a deoit balance of £593 10s. ; accounts to pay, £139* 17b. 1 a total debit balance on this account' of £733 ; 75. - On the City Endowment Account 'th§re%as a 'credit balance of £518 ißs.^lld. raccountsto pay, £399 Is. lid.; leaving a credit balance- of £119 159. On\ the Special Loan'Rate Account : Credit balatice.-iesie 1 13s. Id. -account to^pay, £2' ss. 84. ; leaving a cle»r balance ' of £544 7s. 64.— On* the f hTotion r of "Councillor Bnnoethe accounts wereorderedto'be-paid.—^Councillor Prime . moy«d, >^i3Dhat T J62,ODpL)t)e^^orrowed fron^ f the Loan Fund, to be repaid. "-r^Councillbr'Hpbbs seconded- it,:and the motion .wad •Weed^'td.-f-On'ut'tref motioa. of

Hurst, it was agreed tbat before next meetin i of Council a statement of liabilities upon the contracts entered iuto by the Council, and generally a statement of the assets and liabilities of the Council, should be prepared and submitted to the Council for information of members.

The By - law respecting the Sign Boards. — This by law was again read. — Councillor Joues moved, "That the by-law be adopted." — Councillor Hurst seconded the motion. — Councillor Cosgrave said they all lived by trade of some kind or other, and ho considered that all bylaws which have hampered the trade of the citizens should be repealed, and moved as am amendment that the by-law shoul «. not be adopted. — Councillor Hobbs seconded the amendment. — A discussion ensued. Two voted for the ameodment, which was consequently lost, and the original motion carried.

Fixing- Levels. — The levels of Cookstreet, &c, were fixed, there having been no objections lodged against the levels proposed, although the intention of the Council had been advertised the time required.

Upper Quben-stkeet. — Councillor Hobbs moved, " That tenders be called for the erection of a retaining- wall on the west side of the embankment in Upper Queen-street." In support of his motion, Councillor Hobbs said there was no notice taken of the slave trade until Bishop Patteson'a death, and he supposed nothing would be done with this dangerous street until a Bishop was killed by falling over the embankment there. On a market day, the traffic on that street was such that it was actually dangerous for men and horses crossing the embankment. — Councillor Jones seconded the motion. — Councillor Isaacs suggested that the consideration of the matter should be deferred until they saw what would come of the petitions before the Council. — Councillor Hurst also asked for a postponement of the question. He said £1,500 had already been spent on Lfpper Queen-street, and he asked for a candid answer, if there were not many streets to which nothing had been done, and which requirediminediate attention? .Nothing could be dove until once the financial condition of the city was exactly ascertained He considered chat what was asked for by the Upper Queen-street people was something like a luxury, while so many streets remained untouched. — The Mayor suggested a postponement of the question. There were seveial properties, especially at the foot of the bill where the cutting would be commenced, such as Mr. Neal's property, that would be largely benefited, and he thought they ought to contribute largely to the expense. Claims for compensation would have to be considered : as some of them, he understood, would be presented if the work was proceeded with. — In answer to a question put to the City Surveyor, Mr. Anderson stated that the retaining wall referred to would coat at least £1,000. It would ba better to have the embankment filled up without a retaining wall, if the Council got the permission of owners of allotments to let the slope of the embankment go on to their private property. — On the motion of Councillor Williams, it was resolved to refer the whole matter to the Streets Committee to report thereon at next meeting.

Alten Road. — Councillor Hobbs moved, " That tenders be called for the making c " a Bewer in Alten Road." — Councillor Prince seconded the motion. — After some debate, it was resolved, on the motion of Councillor Williams, seconded by Councillor Hurst, that the matter be referred to the Streets Committee for consideration, to be fully reported on at next meeting of the Council. ' This was all the business before the meeting, which then adjourned.