AUCKLAND IMPROVEMENT COMMISSIONERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 2906, 22 May 1873, Page 3

AUCKLAND IMPROVEMENT COMMISSIONERS.

A meeting of Ihe City Improvement Commissioners took place yesterday afternoon, at their ( ffices, .it half-pust 2 o'clock. Present: Ilis Worship the Mayor (iu t he chair), Messrs. H. H. Lusk, F. D. I'"en(un. T. Maereaiiy, and Captain Heale. The Secretary read the minute:! of the previous meeting, which were duly confirmed. Footpath is Syhonds-street.—The Secretary stated that a letter hai been forwarded to the City Council, inviting them to join the Commissioners in forming the footpath in Symonds-street at their joint expense, but to which 110 answer had yet been received.—Tha Maj or said that the Council was not at present in a posiiion to nccept the oiler of tha Commissioners. —Mr. Fen ton moved, " Xhafc the footpath bo formed, and covered with scoria ash, leaving the matter of contribution by the City Council for future arrangement." —The motion was seconded by Mr. Mocready, and agreed to. Auckland City Improvement Bill.—The draft of a bill to be brought into the Assembly, during tho ensuing; session, for the purpose o£ enabling the Auckland City Improvtmenfc Commissioners to acquire land for new streets and other purposes, was laid 011 the table. According to this bill, it was proposed to borrow £50,000, in order to pay oli' £11,000 of debentures and carry on new works. Tho bill'luid been .submitted to Mr. Whitaker foe his legal opinion, which was as follows : — " I have perused this bill, and I am of opinion, that it will enable the Commissioners to carry out the objects they have iu view." Parliamentary plans in accordance with the provisions of the bili had also been prepared, and would be forwarded to Wellington.—Captain Ilcale suggested that two large colored plans of the proposed improvement? contemplated by the new bill should be prepared, and one exhibited in some public building foe general information, and the other deposited at tho ofUce of the Improvement Commissioners. Alter some discussion, the suggestion was adopted. Sale of Aixothksts.—The Chairman stated that a notice respecting the sale of allotments would appear in the first Gazelle. Bank Ovekdkaft. —Tho Secretary stated that a letter had been forwarded to the Bant of 2few Zealand respecting the overdraft, to which the manager had replied that £14,000 c:>uld be obtained fur eix months at 7 per cent., with a rebate of 1 per cent, if the debentures were negotiated by the Bank. Continuation of Do-iiaix-stkeet.—A letter was read from the Board of Kduc.ition, stating that the Board had not. refuted to exchange allotment iu order io permit continuation of Domain-street, and expressing its desire to come t> any fair and amicable arrangement that be suggested. Kmioval oi' Sheds ix Loen:e-stee7:t.— Letters from Mr. 11. IT. JLu?k, P.-ovia?i"l Secretary, and also fr.;m Ihe City Council, were read, notifying the Commissioners thab tho sheds in liorne-street would be removed as speedily as possible. High street Wkslityan Church. — A letter was reiul from the secretary to the trustees of the High-street Wesleyan Church, stating that 110 opposition would on offered to the proposed city improvements ; with regard to conversations that !i?d taken place, the trustees offered to dispose of the chapel, school building, cottage, and land, for £3003 in cash, and a freehold site else .vliere, to be agreed upon, suitable for the erection o£ simitar premises. Wellesles-stkeet East Costeact.—A letter from Mr. Alcock, contractor, requesting extension of time, owing ;0 severity of the weather. His time-sheets showed that the men had only been able to work three arid a-half day 3 per week. —Referred to consideration of Works Committee.

Continuation or Pkinces-stref.t.—Mr. Anderson, City Surveyor, laid upon the tabla plans and sections of road from Priinies-streeb to Barrnck wall, and would prepare specifieations -by Friday next, i'lie road would be 800 feet long, and 110 feet iu width ; tho footways 22 feet wide, in order that trees be planted.—On the motion of Mr. Fenton, seconded by Mr. Macready, tbe surveyor's report was adopted, and tenders ordered to ba called for forthwith. Also, that the consent of the City Council be obtained for lowering the junction of Princes-street and Waterloo Quadrant. Accounts. — Various accounts, to iha amount of £132 5s <ld, were passed, and ordered to be paid. Street Tramways.—Mr. Fenton moved, " That the Commissioners give permission to Messrs. O'Neill uud Thomas to construct; tramways, so far as tlieir power extends. '— Captain Heale seconded the motion pior forma. —Mr. Macready thought they would be granting a monopoly to these gentlemen. He had been told that other people were willing to make these tramways on much more favourable terms, lie thought the matter should be settled Dy open" competition. — The Chairman suggested tint the consideration of tho question be deferred, as Messrs. O'Neill and Thomas were about to make another appeal to tho City Council. The subject wgu.ll then be gone into on Us merits.—Agreed to. Exchange of Lands. —A memorandum was read, aud agreed to between the Com" missioners, on the one part, and Messrs. Arch. Clark and Sons on the other, relative to tha cession of land by the above firm, in exchange for an allotment fronting tbe proposed nev/ street running into Shortland Crescent.— Captain Heale hoped every publicity would j be given to the fact that the Commissioners would always be willing to exchange laud, in compensation or on fair and equitable terms, I in preference to appropriating land under tha I Act. and going to the expense of arbitration. I The meeting then adjourned unti 6 I day next, at 2.30 p.m.

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