CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4409, 31 December 1875, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

.'he ordinary fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held yesterday at the Couucil Chambers. Present :—Councillors Jrimc, Isaacs, Daldy, Brett, Von der Heyde, aid Hold ship. Mr. Tonka took his seat as Mayor, aid made the usual declaration of oiice, after which he addressed the councillirs upon the subject of his accession to ofice. lie said that he felt great diffidence ii accepting the post to which he was elected ty so large a majority of ratepayers, but hiving done so he would carry out his duties t' the best of his abilities and with honesty aid zeal. He would ask them for their coOieratiou, and he felt convinced ho would njt ask in vain. At present they could hvrdly expect him to deline any line of pslicy, for he was in a measure new to the r.utine of the Council. He wished, however, to say a few words on one or two natters. The consolidation of rates was very cbsirable. All rates he considered should ta levied and fall due on the same day. At s future time he should ask them to help lim to effect this. He believed that such onsolidation would save a great deal cf dissatisfaction amongst ratepayers who low complained that they had no sooner jaid one rate before some other fell due. Che next subject he would mention was the 'Vater Supply Loan. He found that up to 'he present the interest had been paid out if the principal. He considered this a perlicious system. He should move, on anither day, that a committee be appointed to consider the matter. He objected to any :urther taxation, but if they found there vas no other method of paying the interest in the loan, the Council had only to do its luty. A grant of 6s 8d in the £', amountng to about £2000, was expected to be eceived from the General Government. It vas possible to be able to apply this amount owards the purpose, the consent of the government being first obtained. He intended to go thoroughly into finance matters, rad if any method could be devised for carrying on the business more economically, ae would recommend the same for their consideration. With regard to the sanitary condition of the city, living, as they did, in a tropical climate, it was necessary to give great attention to so important a subject. All sanitary laws a -ad regulations should be most rigidly enforced without regard to friend or foe. He had been informed that scarlet fever had appeared at the Thames, and had written to his Honor the Superintendent on the subject, who at once called a meeting of the Central Board of He.ilth. It would be seen by reference to the £ ewspapers that measures had

plan for a better system of drainage. He would not at present further address them, but as other subjects occurred he would consult them.

Minutes. —The minutes of the preyious meeting, also committee minutes, were read and confirmed, and the correspondence of the Council adopted by the meeting. The Public Health.—A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary, stating, in reply to a communication from the Mayor in reference to sections 20 to 45 of the Public Health Act, that, by the provisions of the Amending Act of last session, the existing order remains inforceuntilrevoked.—Letters from the Secretary of the Central Board of Health, in reference to the probability of an outbreak of scarlet fever, were also read. The letters stated that, at a meeting of the Board, it had been resolved:—ls v. To issue reflations, under sub-section 5 of section 21 of the Public Health Act, to enable local Boards to order the removal of patients. 2nd. To issue a notice, by advertisement in the newspapers, calling attention to sections 17 and IS of the Act. 3rd. To request the harbour authorities to direct the 1 r rbourmasters and pilots to make special enquiries of all Australian vessels arriving in the port as to the state of health of the passengers and crew. The secretary of the Board further stated that the Public Health Act diree.s that the provision for a separate hospital shall be made at the cost and charge of the local Board, and that the central Board can only interfere in cases where the local Board has refused or neglected to enforce the regulations prescribed by them, for the public health. The Central Board also regretted that they had no funds at their disposal for granting assistance towards carrying the law into effect.

Sanitary Condition of the Immigration Dki'OT.—A letter was read from Mr. H. Ellis, Immigration Officer, in consequence of his attention having been called io the condition of the Immigration Depot. Mr. Ellis stated, in reply, that he found the premises generally in a cleanly condition, and he could not discover anything to justify the statement which appeared to liavo been made to the Council by the Inspector of Nuisances. With regard to sickness reported at the depot, he stat:d that there is a family, consisting of a mother and two children, ill -with, typhus, fever, but they are now convalescent, and had received the beat medical treatment that could be procured.

Extension of Contkact Time. —An application was made by letter to tlie Council bv Mr. A. S. Wilson, asking for an extension of time in his contract for works in Hobson, Pitt, and .Wellington-streets, having been delayed by bad weather.—Upon the recommendation of the City Surveyor, an extension of one month was made for the completion of the contract. The Dust Casts.—A petition was received from residents in Symonds-street, asking that the city scavenger might collect the dust from their houses.—A similar application was also made by Mr. Moses, of Emily Place.—Both applications were referred to the Streets Committee. The Lightßrigade's Request. —A petition was presented by the express carmen (termed "The Light Brigade"), asking to be placed in a more eligible stand than the one in the middle of Port-street, where they can ply for hire and stand without danger.—Councillor Isaacs was willing to allow the stand to be removed to its old spot at the side of the street, providing not more than five vans occupied it.—Tlie petition was received,' nd it was agreed to allow five vehicles to occupy their old position. The Fike Brigade.—A voluminous petition from the Fire Brigade was read, the purport of which was to request that some provision might be made by the Council to insure their lives.—The petition was received. Re Building Regulations.—The Streets Committee .recommended that Mr. Leahy be permitted to erect an iron shed on his allotment.—The report was adopted. Fr eemax's Bay biritov.tMF.STS. — The Freeman's Bay Works Committee reported that they found the Ponsonby District Board and the' Harbour Board willing to cooperate, so far as was originally contemplated, with regard to the new road and works in Drake-street. They therefore request the Council to decide if tenders for the work should forthwith be issued, and upon which estimate of cost, the surveyor should be authorised to prepare the the same :— Ist, without drainage, as provided in surveyor's report ; 2nd, including drainage and other additions, as per report.— The City Surveyor estimated the cost of the former at i'olliO, and the latter at .t'SOIG. With regard to these proposed works, Councillor Daldy presented a pCwLion from the owners of property in the neighbourhood of the proposed beach road across Freeman's Bay. The petition stated that the alterations proposed at an expense of eight or nine thousand pounds, were calculated to damage their property and places of business to an alarming extent, without any corresponding benefits arising to the ratepayers. The petitioners be&sed the Council to take into consideration the possibility of effecting all necessary improvements in tho present road without resorting to the extreme measure of making a new road, which they think entirely uncalled for.—The Mayor suggested that the consideration of so important a question, where the expenditure of so large an amount of money would be required, should be postponed until the next meeting, when he hoped to see a larger attendance of members.—Councillor Brett said it would be useless postponing the matter as the attendance of Councillors seldom exceeded the number then present. He would move that no steps be taken in the matter, as recommended by the committee for twelve months. —The Mayor was quite agreeable to withdraw his proposition in favour of Councillor Brett's and intimated that a sum of about £5000, proceeds of sale of debentures, was now in hand to be applied to improvement works. Tins money instead of being devoted to the proposed work could be better applied in the improvement of other streets already half formed. For instance, Hobson-street approaches, metalling and draining, would require an expenditure of £450 ; Nelson-street, £500 ; and Hardingestreet, £200.—Considerable discussion ensued upon the propriety of proceeding with the works in Drake-steeet as soon as the Council felt justified in incurring so heavy an expenditure. Finally, Councillor Brett modified his motion to defer the matter for nine months instead of twelve, and with this alteration the proposal was carried. Accounts.—Tho statement of accounts was submitted to tlie meeting and passed. The general account shewed a balance of £076 4s lOd ; less accounts ordered to be paid, £32S 10s : balance, £347 14s lOd. City endowment account (fixed deposit in the Bank New Zealand, £4SOO): Dr. balance, I £8" accounts ordered to be paid, £375 F uotal Dr. balance, £460 17s. Special rate I account (fixed deposit at the Bank of New Zealand, £3900) : Cr. balance, £G64 13s 4cL Waterworks account: Cr. balance, £52 103 2d (fixed deposit at the Bank of New Zealand, £70,000). City Kates.—The Town Clerk read a | statement shewing the amount of rates and rents collected during the past month. Princes-street. — Councillor Von der Heyde called attention to the gap existing in the asphalt in Princes-street, and asked why such was allowed to remain. The Town Clerk replied that the owner of the propertyabutting on the footpath had signified his intention of rebuilding the premises, and had asked to have the asphalting opposite his premises postponed until the building was finished. His request had been complied with for an indefinite period. Councillor Brett remarked that if the owner m question had been a poor man leave would not have been given. He would ask that the asphalting be done at once, so as to make j.l.- «nifnrm. The subject was sre received for cart:om Geo. McCasslin, d T. Faulder. The the Streets Comalso opened from and Hull, and Geo. iron, Sic.; also from I J. Carlow, for the

supply of timber. Both matters were also referred to the Streets Committee. Motions. —Councillor Daldy moved "That the nam* o£ TTi» Worship the Mayor be added to the Streets, Finance, Joint Freeman's Bay and Water Committees." Carried. The Mayor moved that Councillor Prime's name be added to the Park, Lighting, Market, and Joint Freeman's Bay Committees. This concluded tho business.