CITY BOARD.—Monday.

New Zealander, Volume XXI, Issue 2252, 18 October 1864, Page 5

CITY BOARD. —Monday.

_ meeting of the Board was held this day, T tt '' n Tuesday as usnn',. so as not to interfere * S V ■ •• nduxe ot members at the meeting oi the 'Messrs George (in trfe chair), Webster, -STij-Kliaa, Macready and Tumbull. *2Kniostt9and correspondence of the week were A** &} Secretary nnd approved of. **" ' s.ti>m:"ukeakiso machine. ■mu P M" Annaliv tendered for breaking stones ■ vf" . I2tea with "the use of the stone breaker and tS vJ 2 'V-«iat WgesteJ that this should be deferred -Ji*>ti»'<le public ai present, but tonders should be MR. IHOWX 9 CONTRACT. ttal „,ss read from Mr. Thos. Brown oomplaio- - £* 6i* request for payment of £l5O on Freeman's 5L 1 £250 00 Albert-street contract hid not been ** *«1 sTend statin? that he could not go on with ±!ftxt »i'«» pavincnj; was made. TfcToM Kv&ixkkk stated that the total amount of was .£2,500. and already he had received if • V Hit his contract was not nearly finished. vr~ : ->v) w v 'r Brown had been well paid already, part of uil contract still romaincd wTWrBStBR* He has been overpaid already. Let jgJStfa-aliat lie i- entitled to by the agreement, but ar*sa** CITY. PUMP.. a £3-7 was rend from Mr. Jamr-s Gilberd, superinJ the fire b.igila, requesting that the pump JS'-Wb's corner might be repaired. Us MAOOSXat said the c-ip of the pump required Jkaus* sevede A to. LAMP POSTS. A featts fr ,ra r - Hugh Heid, Secretary to the Gas * * j;/ermed the Board that fifty limp posts, as !?I7Lwoi sb« Board, had arrived per ' Surat,' and

where they were to be doSfcTSscftKrAßT, stateu4hat they had beon already jfca&O awSreecived. Ua 7t:i-$--yr remarked that thoy were very cheap. &I?K OF MA UK KT HOUSE. A ™> s r " iVi (rom Slr - Wngg. lbat immediately sc&i ••**£*>& of a communication by the Board,.refcrsections required on the site of the proposed *a he put the matter in hand. He stated fefc&A we some buildings orected on tho approach, aaH; «'\ ■■ <"*> necessary to apply to the Lands' Office fcr Z& &*f*rhm of tho land approaching for the m&mwofthe market and the approaches, as would the site on the ground. WATER CARTS. Afcrter wa3 ?ead from Mr. Wigstrom to the follow-*-'n» Chairman of the Town Board, Auckland. •i.gjft—3 have the honor to request permission to tomtom) »<>pni on water carts for the purpose of wttms&fsii} laying tho dust in the streets of this city. &u& -wauld'further bring under your notice, that in sBBCCjieMe <> f !Q y noi " 2 aDOUt t0 R0 t0 some cx P ense ' netcN mtite chance of an uncertain income from the the shop keepers, merchants, SkfcTfch I'rerjue-t that you would bestow on mo tho nfegtefel of watering the streets for a period of not &£&&»» ®*e months from this date. I would also beg

MMflrflifr to. ask yon-to place at my disposal the water to the Board, and also to cause Ket&Tii>b*r!iftdeand placed in ray care, and I guarantee ;0..j0i»-.)*a tlie same in good order and condition. »!»*>< wry out tlie work I undertake properly insd wlfe&rtorily, as far ns lies in my power, and <A»isSire f>l? ray best attention to see that tho matter iSfcl;lv»trs6c;ually carried out. 1 itsvo the honor to be, Sir, " Respectfully yours, *•'&■ Db Burg 9 Wigstkom, Q. C. E. Hotel <v to'fi?iere! v 7th September, 1864.'' Wfc Ttr.rs-tmt seconded the proposal on the condl3fcc Jsta* Mr. Winstrom find security for tho carts. gfcJfezAT sold • Last year £3OO was spent to ob- {»&> water Cftrts, but none of the inhabitants would

sgrofr Kk jji.v one penny towards tho support of the ma *J*> nflerecl to water tho streets. But I object JtofiifeßM.-.? paying anvthing towards this project. 3(3r, J&CftKADY said : This man offers to water the AMfevitfiont being puid at all by this Board, but to of being remunerated by the inhabithey were satisfied with the manner in which !&•.. Svj:i raa>ir opposed the Board going to the cxwgb»ef\>mi»g another cart for this purpose, which •eml&'ix-r «f liTcalent to giving money. Me. TSPfcBSWSR sail: Another water-cart would mjjt wli sboat £45. Tlie benefit wonld be not only but for the whole towa Kk fiasttAN said: Last year a ratepayer, and an a 53 lav) ht'*e. ' ffred to water the town, but that aSb-was- reefed. Tin C»ui»saji thonsht that the party who watered «£» Sdjbhi sii'iilii pay the Board for the use of the Mr,. 3?lN3ir<f moved that this letter lie on the table tSJthc next si: J .i>!g day of the Board. CterSfdi. MAW SEWER CONTRACT.

A feU»w» read from Messrs. Rhodes and Gunn, 3fcltJ2*eto-t?te< misunderstanding which had arisen bete»i tftenesefaes and the City Engineer, as to the wstefcfsiccsoring the stone work in the section of &jaaib sewer just completed between Victoria-street sb§ ITia&ijJton-streot. The point in question was ■dbsteß- the stone should be measured at per ■dSfc feet or at por lineal foot. Their nsjasate ftttl been formed on the usual measurement &y&D Bned: The other contractor undertook work ifo tS» suae wajf*, They also gave various reasons why fibfcawthctf tfeey arg"ed for, was the proper one, and Iftfl* Bititici-to-tho Board. till ill ii mil Hi ii ii nil between the City "oard and Vkiim, Rhodes and Gunn, for 407 feet 3 inches, sssa saxvuiv %fiti?aril3 Excsrnting, at 2s. 6d. - £ 119 0 0 «£4feei Efeeal Scoria work at 4s. 6d. - 1,003 9 0 aatU wtb super. Brick Arch, at Ifcfci - - - 253 0 0 tttMfo TiitMil - - - 30 0 0 3:©K*» Entrances - - 45 0 0 Bea&gv. lighting, and Incidental £933*3. - - - 19 o o Total - .- £1,469 9 0 Ha-SSGcraEßsaid that this account was wrong in SMseafciJeass.. Sfc: "Webster said : I propose that the term 9 of Steoiissci be adhered to, and that the contractors awsaS &»:? account. IfikSfflBEHAH seconded thit. motion, which was ASSESSMENT APPEAL. Jk&Siar was read from James Bloomfield appealing ag&ssfcihe- assessment on a cottage situate in BeresSb&sinct.. Bt ufis. aioved that this letter be referred to the %!*!»*CaramiUeo, and the motion was carried. RATES COLLECTED. Ti*S&cRE'M.KY stated that the rates collected up to "fci&tesreountsd to £3,050 19s. LEGAL ADVISERS. , stated so many legal quibbles were Sfcasyio. arise in the bill about to be introduced into {Jferaa-siceial Council, that it would be advisable to itafek&go} advice. He kad already spoken to Mr. 3fepasn en this subject. S&Weester- moved and Mr. Sheehan seconded, sfefii Hnsv. Jialay aud Macready be appointed a subWBUiUifa to make final arrangements as to the apy&*»wct and payment of a legal adviser. KTOSAKCS AT COURT-HOUSE. A Mpori from the Inspector of Nuisances was read 25Sa-2r2-toth&Duisarce existing about the court-house tftij Rewdent Magistrate, and the following.letter of fe rit? bngineßS was read:---"Oct. 13, 1864. u City Engineer's Office, Auckland. Esq. —I have surveyed the closets and drains at the HafedSee, with a view of discovering the origin of cf the nuisance, and beg to report. Tlia ■iiliit.UiiJ > ajntl drains in the yard are charged with Mbnttefi. I recommend to have them cleaned out sc£ repaired, a h1 a grating put over them. The first «BH 3ct»i'.ircs cleaning, and the Yalves looking to. «t seci-ud closet the same, and the pipe cleaned. 3ifi iiibil slosefc requires cleaning out thoroughly, and «fe"«a!«3-an;l box regulated to supply more water at JNbtight timo to clean the pan perfectly at each pull. Sfe ssdaiiioa to this, the whole of the gutters, drains, Mtthset pipes require examination and repair, and , si-iaH or main outlet for the drainage made per- -—«* rCSD account for the unpleasant smells in no than by the existence of the above derangeabove recommendations are complied ?**»■■* iope there will be no necessity for anything *»«»tei ba done. I am, &c, G. Bramah Frasi, . City Engineer." Engineer stated that he had drawn up »K«Msft of a 'ctter, but had not yet sent it until **s4w»sa by the Board. 3£t Ssbehan said : If it was the province of the «*s»erial Council to attend to the Resident Magis-

trate's Court, the Provincial Engineer should report on the present state of drainage. Mr. Webster said : I do not see why the City Board should be put to the expense of cleauing out these drains.

Mr. Macreadt said : The police have already performed the necessary work with the assistance of the Board's dust-carts.

Mr. Fixlay said : 1 think this does not come within the province of the duties of the Engineer of the Board. It was entirely the business of Mr. Morpeth, the Inspector of Nuisances. The Chairman thought Mr Finlay WJ3 too fast in blaming Mr. Morpeth. (Laughter.). GUEY-STREET. The Secretary read the drift of an agreement of the Chairman with Messrs. Tiernay and Dempsey, for alteration of contract for works in Grey-street. Mr. Webster moved, Mr. Tcrnbull seconded, and it was carried, that it be approved. levels. The Secretary read the draft of an agreement with Mr. Wrigg as to preparing and carrying out the levels of the city. Mr. Finlay moved, Mr. Webster seconded, and it was carried, that the agreement be approved of. mechanic's bay sea wall. It was announced that Messrs. Archard and Brown's tender for Mechanic's Bay sea-wall repairing has been accepted by the Committee and the bond prepared. Mr. Finlay, as chairman of the committee deputed to attend to this, produced the plan of the designed worksj all the other contractors had made mistakes in the drawing out of their tenders. The probable expense would be £BO. Mr; Finlay moved, Mr. Tobnbdll seconded, that this tender bo accepted. Carried. stone-breaking machine. The draft of the specification for letting the stonabreaking machine to break stones by contract, was presented by the Engineer. APPEAL COMMITTEE. Mr.Finlay moved, and Mr. Graham seconded, That the Appeal Committee consist of the members of the Finance Committee, —Messrs. Swanson, Turnbull, and George. It was arranggd that this Committee should meet on Mondays or Saturdays at 11' a.m., as their attendance would be required at the Provincial Council on other days. The Secretary stated that the cases of appeal would probably be very few at first. freeman's bay wall. Mr. Graham wished that the repair of Freeman's Bay wall partly by the Superintendent should be looked after. STONE-BREAKIXG. Mr. Macready complained that the stones said to be broken by hand were not properly broken at all. Mr. Finlay said he had never seen such stones broken before, they ought to be sent back. The Engineer said it was the contractor's duty to see that the stones were properly broken. Mr. Webster : Tho Board should insist on the contractors fulfilling exactly the conditions of their contract, and breaking the stones properly. Mr. Maoready said : There was a man employed by the Board to measure the stones, but who permitted the stones to pass in that condition. The Chairman : The man should be dismissed if ho did not look after it. It was a good job that only a small quantity had been received. Mr. Sheehan : Before wa dismiss the man we should ascertain what instructions he has received ; perhaps he never was told to do mo r e than measure the stone. The Chairman said: Ho mnst have received some instructions before engaging in this work. engineer's report. The Engineer stated that he had been too busily engaged to prepare a report this week. ygMr. Finlay said: The Board hardly expected one. the accounts. The various items of accounts were read and passed. Mr. Maoready directed the attention of the Street Committee to repairing Durham and the adjacent streets. The Secretary stated that the Board had a balance in band of about £IOO. The Board rose at about 5 p.m.

OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONERS. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 17th October, 1864. His Excellency the Governor directs the publication of the accompanying letter, with its enclosures, from the Commissioners appointed to report upon a site in Cook's Straits for the seat of Government, William Fox. Government Buildings, Nelson, 3rd October, 1864. g; r> —We have the honor to transmit to your Excel-

leucy a report upon the site for the seat of Government of New Zealand, in Cook's Strait; a subject which was submitted for our consideration in the Commission with which your Excellency honored us, on tho 29th of July last We have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servants, Frans. Murphy, Joseph Docker, Ronald C. Gunn, Commissioners for selecting a site for the seat of Government, His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.8., &c, Sea., &c.

By His Excellency Sir George Gret, Knight Commander of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, Governor, and Commander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand and it 3 Dependencies, and ViceAdmiral of the same, &c., &c, &c. To the most honorable Joseph Docker, member ot the Legislative Council of tho Colony of New Soutk Wales; the honorable Sir Fraacis Murphy, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Colony of Victoria ; and Ronald Campbell Gunn, Esquire: Whereas, on the Thirtieth day of November, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, the honorable the Legislative Council of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, did reiolve that the address hereafter set forth should be presented to me, and the same was accordingly presented, that is to say: " May it please your Excellency,— " We, the Legislative Council of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, desire respectfully to express to your Excellency our strong conviction that the time has arrived when it has become imperatively necessary for the good government of the whole colony, and for the maintenance of its unity, that the permanent position of the seat of Government should now be settled. » We are of opinion that the just claims and various necessities of all parts of the colony require that the seat of Government should be placed in a central position, that is to say somewhere on the shores of Cook's Straits. « We desire that the actual site of the capital should be submitted to some independent tribunal, by which the interests of the whole colony may be impartially considered apart from those local claims -which are sure to be asserted by the several settlements of Cook's Straits in the discussion of a question so important to their respective interests. " Impressed with the conviction that continued delay in the settlement of this question -will only tend to keep alive those feelings of rivalry and jealousy between different parts of the eolony, which seriously impede the action of responsible Government, and which threaten at no distant period the dismemberment of the colony, we respectfully but earnestly pray that your Excellency will cause no time to be lost in giving effect to the foregoing resolutions in such manner as your Excellency may seem expedient." And whereas on the twenty-fifth day of November, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, the House Of Representatives of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, did resolve that the address hereafter set forth should be presented to me, and the same was accordingly presented, that is to say:— " May it please j'our Excellency, " We, the Commons of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled, desire respectfully to express to your Excellency our strong conviction that the time has arrived when it has become imperatively necessary for the good government of the whole colony, and for the maintenance of its unity, that the permanent position of the seat of Government should be now finally settled. We are of opinion that the just claims and varied necessities of all parts of the colony require that the seat of Government should be placed in a central position, tbat is to say somewhere upon the Shores of Cook's Straits. We desire that the actual site of the capital should be submitted to some independant tribunal by which the interests of the whole colony may be impartially considered apart from those local claims which are sure to be asserted by the several settlements of Cook's Straits in the discussion of a question 50 important to their respective interests.

I " Such a tribunal would in our opinion be best formed by commissioners having no interest in or relation with, any part of the colony, and whose high social and intellectual standing should guarantee a full enquiry and an impartial decision founded solely upon a consideration of the advantages which the different sites in Cook'sStraits present for the administration of the Government of the whole colony. We venture to think that the Governors of the neighbouring colonies, would, if moved thereto by your Excellency, readily lend their aid in the selection of such Commissioners. We therefore respectfully pray that your Excellency will be pleased to request their Excellencies the Governors of Xew South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, each to appoint one Commissioner of the character and for the purpose herein referred to ; &ad that your Excellency will be pleased to submit for the consideration of the Commissioners so appointed, the question as to the best site for the seat of government within Cook's Straits.

" Impressed with the conviction that continued delay in the settlement of this question will only tend to keep

alive those feelings of rivalry and jealousy between different parts of the colony, which seriously impedte the action of Responsible Government.and which threaten, at no distant period, the dismemberment pf the colony, we respectfully but earnestly pray that your Excellency will cause no time to be lost in carrying into effect the measures now submitted."

And whereas their Excellemcies the Governors of New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, aforesaid, have, in pursuance of the aforesaid resolutions, respectively appointed— The Honorable Joseph Docker* Member of tha Legislative Council of, New South Wales, The Honorable Sir Francis Murkiy, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Colony of Victoria 5 and Ronald Campbell Gunn, Esq., to be such Commissioners as aforesaid ;. And whereas it is expedient to confirm aueh appointment under the hand of the Governor and the seal of the said colony of New Zealand: Now know ye, that I, reposing special trust and confidence in your knowledge, ability, ami discretion, and in exercise of all powers and authorities in this behalf enabling me, do by these presents constitute, appoint, and confirm you, the said Honorable Joseph Docker, Honorable Sir Fracis Murphy, And Ronald Campbbll Gunn, Esquire, to be the Commissioners described or referred to in the said resolutions, to have and to exercise all the powers, privileges, and authorities, and to discharge all the duties therein severally set forth. Given under my hand, at the Government House, at Auckland, and issued under the seal of the Colony of New Zealand, this twenty-ninth day (1.5.) of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand; eight hundred and sixty-four. G. Grey. By His Excellency's command, William Fox. Government Buildings, Nelson, October 3rd, 1864.

The Commissioners, acting under the above recited instrument, have agreed to the following Report : In order to guarantee a full enquiry and an impartial decision, founded solely upon a consideration of the advantages which the different site 9 in Cook's. Straits present for the administration of the Government of the whole Colony, the Commissioners determined to lay down a principle of inquiry which should be rigidly applicable in the examination of every site submitted to their investigation. This principle enquiries into — Ist. The central position of the site. Its accessibility either by land or sea from the adjoining Provinces of New Zealand, from the various British settlements in the

Southern Hemisphere, and from Europe and America, and also the existing and projected means of communication.

2nd. The water capabilities, comprising—character of the harbor; the approaches ; depth of water ; nature of anchorage ground; protection from prevailing winds; rise and fall of tides ; currents, their direction and Telocity ; dangers, whether hidden or visible. 3rd. Land capabilities comprising the extent of proposed site; natural formation of the land ; water supply ; facilities for drainage and sewerage ; facilities for the construction of wharves and piers ; the sanitary condition of the site and neighborhood. 4th. The resources of the surroundiag country, its extent and character ; quantity of available land (whether alienated or unalienated) for pastoral or agricultural pursuits ; its timber for building purposss and fuel; other building materials; mineral products ; roads and facilities of communication with proposed capital. sth. Capabilities of defence ; from attack by land, from attack by sea. 6th. Natural disadvantages, whether capable of removal from the appliances of science : whether beyond control or removal.

The Commissioners commenced their labours at Wellington, on the Southern coast of the North Island. They collected all the information that could be laid before them, on these several heads of enquiry, and tested the information so obtained, by personal examination, wherever such a course was practicable. The Commissioners then proceeded along the South coast to Whanganui, and personally examined the harbor and surrounding country. The Commissioners then passed to the opposite shore of the Strait, and directed their attention to Picton, in the Province of Marlborough, and minutely examined Queen Charlotte's Sound and the Tory Channel. They then proceeded inland to Blenheim, and (descending by the Wairau river) made a personal inspection of Port Underwood, represented to be the natural harbour of this district.' They also examined the pastoral districts lying to the South and East of the Wairau Talley. Leaving Picton, the Commissioners examined carefully the Pelorus Sound, to the town of Havelock, in the same Province, and from thence proceeded through the French Pass to Nelson.

They made a personal inspection of Blind Bay, with its various harbors, including Croixelles on the East shore, and Massacre Bay and Astrolabe Roadstead upon the West, and visited portions of the interior of the country. Having thus made themselves acquainted, as far as was practicable, with the character and capabilities of both shores of Cook's Strait, the Commissioners have arrived at the unanimous conclusion that WELLINGTON, 15 PORT NICHOLSON,

is the site upon tlie shores of Cook's Strait -which presents the greatest advantages for tho administration of the Government of the colony. The commissioners cannot conclude the important mission which has been entrusted to them, without recording their high sense of the valnable assistance afforded to them in pursuing their investigation, by the authorities of the various provinces, and also of the spirit of candor and impartiality which has besn displayed by the gentlemen furnishing the information they required. They are desirous also of placing on record their acknowledgment of the courtesy and personal kindness received by them in every district which they visited. Frass. Murphy, Joseph Docker, Ronald C. Guxx.

THE FOOTWAYS. To the Editor of the New Zealandbb. , Sib, —I am but a stranger in this part of the world, 'And nothing has more astonished mo than the state of the streets in Auckland, tbe capital city of New Zealand. Have you any corporate body to look j after your public thoroughfares, or i< it left to the fancy of each householder to form the side walks fronting his premises in what way he pleases ? Take, for exampl", one of your principal streets, (Shortiand-street) and on thenouth side for more thanthree hundred yards it is a perfect man-trap, a breakneck, or break-leg locality, one in which no persons ki their sober senses would march during the dark hou?* of the night. So, for goodness sake, induce if you can, those who have property, to form the* street in such a manner that a gradual incline will be seen in front of those places calling them mastar, and by doing so they will not only benefit the public at large, but themselves in the facility with which purchasers may arrive at their, stores. A. ©; _j(_._ seat-