CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 2908, 24 May 1873, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the City Council was held yesterday afternoon, in accordance with . a requisition from Councillors, to consider the j question of the water supply. There, were r present his Worship the Mayor, and Coun- , cillors Prime, Holdship, Jones, Co»grave Isaacs, and Hurst. Mr. John McGregor the engineer, was in attendance.—The Mavor stated that the meeting had been convened at ins suggestion, in consequence of the action of . , uter Supply Committee, in calling for tenders for water-works. He was of opinion that the functions of the committee had terminated when they gave in their last report, but the committee had thought otherwise, and had held a meeting, when the advertisement wlncli had been published was authorised, Ihere were many things in the advertisement nhich could be better considered bv the Coun- 1 oil than by committee. — Councillor Hurst thought they should not discuss the rights of the committee while gentlemen belonging to the committee were absent.—Councillor Isaac* was of opinion that the principal object of the meeting was to arrest the going forward of the advertisement.—Councillor Jones asked who had sent out the advertisement. If the Town Clerk had sent it, he had made a blunder, nud he ought to be told of it.—Councillor Hurst was of opinion that nothing definite should be done in the absence of Councillors Dargaville and Hobbs.—Councillor Isaacs moved, " That the further insertion of the advertisements in question should te postponed, and considered at the nest meetum." Councillor Cosgrave's object in signin" ihe requisition was to do what was ri»ht, and to save money. He did not consider that the functions of the committee had ceased. —The Mayor considered that the committee meeting should not have been held at five o'clock in the evening.—The motion of Councillor Jones was agreed to.—The cjuucillors then requested Mr. McGregor to give them an explanation of his scheme, or offer any suggestions.— Mr. McGregor read the follow-

* statement: —" Auckland Water-works ; Auckland, May 23rd, 1873. To his Worship . the Mayor, and City Councillors,—Gentlemen. I have fcho honor to inform you that I have examined the Nihotopu stream and the Western Spring*, with the view of introducing a water supply for the city of Auckland, and now beg to submit the folioiving proposals for the con" struetion of Ihe works : Ist. I will submit an offer, accompanied by a general specification for constructing the necessary "works, and providing all the plant required for a gravitation scheme from the Nihotopu river. 2nd. I "will submit an offer for constructing the necessary works, and providing all Hie ma" chinery required for a pumping scheme from the Western Springs. 3rd. Neither offer will include compensation for land or waterrights. 4th. These offers will remain open to the Corporation for months from this date to acceptor decline, and if not aeccpted the Corporation shall pay me the sum of one hundred guineas. The estimatea and specifications remaining the property of the Corporation.—l have the honor lo be, &c., Joiur McCriiF.ooil."—After a few remarks, Councillor Cosgrave moved, "That the matter should be deferred until the next meeting."—Court, cillor Hurst asked whether Mr. McGregor's plans were drawn up, or would be drawn up from old surveys, or would Mr. McGregor make fresh surveys and give fresh data? °lf he were to go upon the old surveys, why then a dozen men could do the same thing. lie (Mr. Hurst) could send in a contract for the work the next morning, but he would take care to send in a tender that would leave him a good margin.—Councillor Jones did not see that at present they wanted tenders; they wunLed data. No two plans agreed at present. It was a faroo to ciier oniy £100 for a Melbourne gentleman and Bta'tf lo come over here and make a survey, and furnish plans for sueli a scheme. He did not say that Mr. McGregor's offer "was a farce, but, at the same time, he did not consider that it would pay Mr. McGregor. He wanted Councillors to come to some decision, aud then go to the ratepayers.—Councillor Cos grave said they already had a plan from Messrs. Brogden. Let Mr. McGregor go ovathe ground as shown by the plan in Question, and theu ask him to make an estimate, —then go to the ratepayers aud ask them whether they would have a pumping or a gravitation scheme, and whether they would sanction the amount of Mr. McGregor's estimate ? — Councillor Hurst thought it wis no use discussing the question as to which was the best scheme, as the Council had already decided upon jSTihofopu.—The Mayor stated that it had not been settled definitely—only "if practicable."—Councillor Cosgrave did not see

I thai, they could undo what had been done [ »t 11 full meeting.—Xho Mayor observed that. Mr. McGregor could not wait until the next meeting.—Councillor Isaacs suggested that Mr. McGregor should givo them an idea what liis estimate would be for the two works, and lhat the figures need riot be made public. —Councillors : We could not keep it private. —Councillor Isaacs said he did not ir»nt other councillors to answer for Mr. McGregor. After Mr. McGregor had given the estimates, ti.i Council could go to the ratepayer:-, and tell tlii-in, within a few thousand pounds, what they would coat. If the ratepayers would not then have the water scheme there would bo an end of the matter, and Mr. McGregor could be paid for his estimates.—Mr. McGregor said he bad 110 objection to givo the estimates professionally. He could give a very good approximate of tho cost, and would carry out the work if his tender was accepted. He should not go over the ground again to miik' fresh surveys.—Councillor Hurst warned the Council to be careful what tiiey were about. The vacillation which they had shown was something remarkable. Who was Mr. McGregor, that they should prefer him to other engineers who had sont in reports ? They now only heaped information upon informa- j tion, and made the thing more confused than ever. —Councillor Jones was of opinion that it was an excellent opportunity to employ Mr. McGregor to draw up plana and estimates. He was a stranger, and be would not be wedded to any one scheme, or be influenced by any local jealousies.—The Mayor was also of opinion that they should take advantage of the visit of Mr. McGregor aud get his plans and estimates. He thought by doing so tliey might save £400.—Councillor Cosgrave again proposed that the meeting be adjourned. Seconded by Councillor Hurst. —Councillor Jones moved, as an amendment, that Mr. McGregor's services be either at once accepted or not. At this stage of the proceedings, Mr. McGregor withdrew to tho Mayor's privato room.—Councillor Jone3 said that he bad been accused by the press of having a favorite scheme, and being mixed up in one particular one for the purpose of making money. He treated such remarks as they deserved. Ho thought they ought to have an engineer to gire estimates of tbis work who had nothing to do with the old reports.—Councillor Hurst quite agreed with Councillor Jones, but let them have a mau high up in the profession. Mr. Bell was an engineer of European reputation, and lie bad sent in a report. —Councillor Holdship believed Mr. Bell had adopted Mr. Weaver's figures, with the exception of the figures relating to iron.—The Mayor remarked that before this matter was settled, hundreds of pounds must be expended ere coming to a decision. —Councillor Hurst wasof opinion that ten or flfteen'guiucas would be quite enough to pay a professional man to go over the old figures, and give an approximate estimate.—Councillor Holdship had no objection to Mr. McGregor bringing up an estimate by the next meeting.—Councillors Hurst and Holdship and the Mayor were appointed a committee to make arrangements with Mr. McGregor, in reference to drawing up au approximate estimate, to be laid before the next meeting. The meeting was then adjourned. ]

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT! ■FIiIDAT. [Before XhomE.s Beckham, Esq., R.M.] usual weekly sitting for hearing B mall ebt cases was held this morning, and the loitowing business wag disposed of:—The Cases undefended lvere all either settled, withdrawn, or the amounts paid into Court. DEFENDED. Asiiton- T. MeCc-LLAH'-Ciaim, £5 15s . fx ~ " A " d '- r {or the pluintitT, air. Jov for the defendant. This was a claim for "treet T,'' Up ,f'°" of " hou3e Wak-field- , e u' : t said be was " ot i°a"eMt of \T~ r' 4 shton sa!d hc was the = ot Messrs. Jackson and another the owners of the property. He asked the defendant several limes for rent. At first the defendant sud he would pay when lie got >ome money. The defendant d-nied that he had ever prorated to pay rent to Mr. Ashton, and he knew nothing of Messrs. Jackson and another. Ihe .louse was oecu r i ; d when he came to it by a woman named Cruwlev who also never acknowledged Ashton, or Jack-on and Cochrane. Witness paid the woman Crawley a sum of money to go out of the house, lie had never recognised the title of any person who claimed rent. Mr. Joy said 110 title had been shown of ownership to which the defendant could be made liable. Mr. Alexander having replied, judgment was given for the plaintiff. Asn v. DilTox.-Claim, £5 15s. ,Hr. Alexander for plaintiff, Mr. Joy forjde endant. J. bis was a claim to recover the b.ilance of an amount agreed upon as purchase money for a certain nmrber of elves, which, as the plaintiff alleged, the defendant had bought of mm. The plaintiff's case was that he sold to the defendant three calves at 10s The defendant denied that, he had purchased the calves ; he had only noted for a person named Counop, who is a farmer at" Waitakerei. Connop was examined, and deposed that defendant was his aijeiit in all tbaL had been done. Mr. Joy said that- the plaintiff had sued (he wrong defendant. The plaintiff's counsel said it was clearly proved that the defendant had bought the calves in his own

name, without erer nientiouing Connop in the matter, and was therefore clearly responsible. if 13 Worship having considered the evidence, give judgment for the plaintiff, with £3 2s costs. Ka-ow r. Thohpe.— Mr. Bees for the plaintiff, Mr. Bennett for the defend°ut, i.hii« was uij interpleader summons to try the yaliddy of a bil] of sale. The facfs were the following: —The defendant sued a persoa named Clow, a contractor on tJits Remuera roaJ wo: l:s, for Xkc plaintiff held a hill of sale over Clow's premises (a publici house) and goods, for which he gave as cousideration £-150. The bill of sale was objected to as improperly attested, the attesting witness not having given his proper avocation with the affidavit upon which the bill was registered. Ihe attesting witness was called to-day, who said he was a " commercial traveller," but had been a clerk in the store of Messrs. Wulker, kauri guru merchants. Mr. Beunett contended that the witness having been last employed as a "clerk," could not hare called himself a " commercial traveller." After a good deal of argument, his Worship thought the bill of sale was valid, and gave judgment for the plaiutiff. This concluded oho business.,