CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6062, 22 April 1881, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held yesterday evening. Present : The Mayor, Messrs. Fleming, Offer, Crowther, Thompson, Montague, Heinus, andAiokin. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. Minutes of committee meetings held Eubsequently were read and laid on the table. Headings of correspondence forwarded since laat meeting were read. Kabahgahape Koad. —Mr. A. Terrall wrote asking for permission te occupy part of Mr. J. Warren's lease, Karangahape Koad. Mr. Warren was a consenting party. The Town Clerk laid Mr. Warren was in occupation as tenant at tvill, and had no lease.—lt wns agreed to inform the applicant to this effect. Stanley-street.— The Secretary of the Domain Board requested the Council to form and gravel a. pathway from Stanley-street to the Domain entrance to connect with the road to tho ponds.—The Surveyor reported that the city boundary Was in the centre of Stanley-street, and the place referred to was under the control of the Domain. Board.—lt. was agreed to reply accordingly. * Water Rates.—Messrs. -Bycroft and Co. wrote asking a reduction of their water rates from Is 3d to Is per thousand feet as they only used the water for the engine, and for manufacturing purposes.—Referred to the Financ* and General Purposes Committee. Debentures.—The manager of the Bank of New Zealand wrote returning thirty £100 debenture bonds. These had not been negotiated, and the matter was referred to the Sub-Finance Committee to see that they were destroyed. Tramways. —Letters were received from the Borough Council of Parnell and the Newton and Ponsonby Highway Boards, oSering to ceope/ate with the City Council in regard to a system of street tramways. Night-carts.—George Wilson, contractor, in reply to the Couucil, admitted usinu the city night-curts outside the ciiy boundaries. He asked permission to use them interchangeably with his own in the suburbs.—Keferred to the Finance Committee. Gas Company.—The Secretary of the Gas Company wrote in regard to the proposed alteration in the levels of Custom-house-street West, forwarding a, resolution of the Board of Directors and a plan of approach to the gasworks, which had been approved by the City Surveyor, at the junction of Nelson and Customhouse streets. The Hon. Patrick Dignan, one of the directors, was in attendance. Mr. Anderson made an explanation, and the matter was finally referred to the Works Committee. Karangahape KOAD.—Mr. J. By an asked for an allowance to place his shop on the proposed level of the footpath.—Referred to the Works Committee. Domain and Wynard Streets. —Mr. Aickin presented a petition from the residents of Domain and Wynyard streets, pointing out that the Grammar School Governors were about to fence the ground allotted to them. They asked that Wynyard-street might be completed, and the gap in Domain-street caused by the landslip filled in, so :>s to make the road passable.— Keferred to the Works Committee. Citt Sewage.—A petition wns read from residents and property-owners in the neighbourhood of the Breakwater, calling attention to the serious consequence of the present sewage scheme, (which deposited the. sewage in low water. They requested that the scheme be altered, so as carry the sewage to deep water, and if the request was not complied. with they would apply to the Supreme Court for an injunction to prohibit them from proceeding. The document was signed by Sir G. M. O'Korke and a large number of influential citizens. Tho City Surveyor appended a memo, to the effect that the sewer could be extended when required, and the present outlet was onesixth of a mile from any dwelling.—The Mayor uaid that although the petition was not properly worded he sympathised with its prayer, and thought it should be carried out forthwith. Although the petition was not worded as it should be, he thought in a matter of this kind thoy should not stand on a question of etiquette, and moved that it be referred to the Works Committee. —Mr. ThbrnptGn commented on the fact that the petition at its close contained a threat instead of .a prayer, and Mr. Crowther insisted on its being treated as other informal petitions had been. He gave an instance of a petition fit last meeting being sent back because it was iiot Mayor read the clause from the standing orders bearing on petitions, and said the prayer at the end of this petition was a fanny one. He was about to put the motion when Mr. Thompson raised the objection that it was nut a petition, and could net be received as such. —After some discussion, the Mayor ruled that it could not be received, and it was roferred back to tho petitioners. Poblic Works Committee.—The report of this committee was read. The request of Collings and Judson, re approach in Albertktreot, was refused, lie City Koad, that the Council are not awaro of any portion of Mr. Alber's land being wanted to widen the street. That Mr. Hill's application, re signboard, be granted. Petition from DurhamJ,ane, re direct access, that the petition be granted, and plans approved and authorised. Me water supply, Somerset Place, that the request be granted. That the consideration of the Surveyor's report be deferred until Wednesday next, the committee to meet on the ground. F.c Cook-street sewer, that only experts be employed to oversee works of this nature. lie petition pathway in Lower Queen-street, " That the construction of the footpath he proceeded with, provided that the Harbour Board agree that the coet be subject to the award of the arbiter, applied for under clause 330 of the Municipal Corporations Aot, and also agree that in the event of the arbiter not being appointed, or should give no award, the Harbour Board pay half the cost." The report was adopted. Finance and General Purposes Committee. — This committee recommended that it sub-committee be appointed to utilise the Police Court buildings for office purposes. That Mr. Brett's application re stone wall in "Vic-toria-street and signboard be declined. Be Mrs t Naughton's request as to arrears of rent, that on payment of £8 on the Cbapel-etreet property

the Council release the balance, provided the deeds be returned to Mrs. NaughtOß, and hex note of band for the balance be takeD. Iα regard to tbe petitions from the Grafton Road residents as to the smoke nuisance from Messrs. Fraser and Tinne's foundry that a letter be sent to Messrs. Fraser and Tinne, and the Surveyor consult with them in reference to raising the height of the obirancyr. lie the letter from the Coromandel County Council, asking a refund of steam packet licenses ; that the Council be recommended to refund the amount applied for, £10. The report was adopted. Messrs. Aickin, Crowtlier, Thompson, Waddel, and the Mayor were appointed to report on the Police Court buililingFFibe Alarm Comuittee. -The committee's* report was that the contractor be requested to eupply tho posts as follows .--75, S x S, 20 feet length; 75, 10 x 10, 20 feet length,—to be supplied in terms of specificttion and delivered at the market. —The report was adopted. FlNANOE. —Current accounts us approved by tho Sub Finance Committee were passed for payment. Returns were received from the Treasurers and Waterworks Departments. JIOOEE-STREET Levels.—The Surveyor submitted a memo, re the levels in Moore-stieeC between Albert and Custoai-house streets. If the levels were approved, they could be advertised. The inclination on the proposed plan was lin 29.—Mr. Moutagut, moved, " That the consideration of the mutter be deferred for six months."—Sir. Thompson and others thought it desirable that the lereU be fixed at once. —Mr. Thompson moved, " That the levels ba advertised to be fixed in accordance with the plan."— Mr. Montague withdrew his motion, and the amendment as a substantive motion was carried. lloildi.sg Regulations.—Mr. Auderson submitted the plan of two houses to be erected by Mr. Brett in Prineoa-street. He could not grant a permit, as it did not comply with the brick building regulations, re partition walls.itc It was to outward appearance one house, but; was in reality two.—The Mayor moved that the plans be approved provided they arc so modified as to coraply'.with the buildiug regulations re"the brick partition, but that the Council dispense witli i tho parapet through the roof.—Mr. Thompson said that the other day, when Mr. Dempsey asked a concession about his fancy parapet, the Council dealt harshly with him, and now they I were dealing leniently in this aaso. He greatly feared that there was too much of this among them, makiug fish of one and flesh of another. If they went in to enforce the by-laws he would support them.—The Mayor said the applicant could, if he chose, put up a. wooden partition, and then he need havo no parapet. The object, no doubt, w.is to deaden the sound.—Finally Mr. Offer suggested that the matter be referred to the Works Committee, to allow them to loofc; into the matter.—The Mayor's motion w.is put, and carried on the casting vote of the Mayor. Fobt-street and Symonds-street.—Tenders for kerbing Fort-street and Symoads-street were opened:—Alexander Mann, £21 10a for Fortstreet ; and for Symontls-street, £157 10b. John Burke and party : Fuii-stroec, £18 10j ; Symonds-street, £121 10j. Haden Smith : Symonds-street, £loo; Fort-street, £23 10*. —The tenders of Bur ke and party were accepted. The estimate for Fort-stieet was £24, and foi-Symonds-alreet £176. Rates.—The Mayor gave, notico to move, "That notice be given of the iutention of the Council to levy a rate of 9 J in the £, payable irtif one Bum. * ■ Wateb Supflt.—The Mayor reported that the committee requested [the Waterworks Engineer to ireport on the cost of oenveying , the water direct from the eprings. Hβ furnished eitimates of the cost of malleable iron, cast iron, and earthenware pipes.—Mr. Errington was present, and gave the requisito information. The analysis and report was laid on the table, and the Mayor proposed a rote of thanks to Mr. Bartley for the trouble he had taken, and the careful examination he had made, and the valuable report he had furnished. From the nature of Dr. Hector's report, it was evident that two of the bottles were unclean or charged with lime. All tho reports showed that the water at the springs was nearly pure, and if it could be delivered in this condition to the ratepayers, they would have no reason to complain. He moved that the water be take a direct from the springe in earthenware pipes, —Mr. Aickin seconded the motion, which was carried. —It was agreed to call for tenders for the pipes, and that the completion of tho work bel.eft to the Waterworks Engineer.—The Mayor moved, "That the water collected in the spouting at the reservoir be conducted outsidethe reservoir instead of into it."—Mr. Aickin seconded tho motion, and it was carried. : Contractors' Deposits.-Mr. Thompson moved, " That contractors to the Council be informed that from the date of this resolution clause IS of the general conditions under which tenders are accepted will be strictly enforced, and that a notice to that effect be exhibited in, the City Surveyor's office." He spoke briefly in. support of the motion, which was seconded by Mr. Crowther. —Mr. Montague thought the Council should be left free to do an act of justice, when through any unforeseen accident a contractor failed.—Mr. Aickin spoke to the same effect.—The Mayor spoke in support of the motion. If special circumstances arose the Council could rescind the resolution. —Mr. Thompson replied, and the motion was put and carried. ... 5 Franklin Road.—Mr. Flen-ing moved, " That the Surveyor be instructed to furnish an estimate of the cost of forming, kerbing, and channelling from the foot of Union-street to Franklin Boad, and thence along Franklin Road on the east side to Wellington-street, with tho view of the work being proceeded with."—The motion was referred to the Public Works Committee to report on. Compensation Claiib. — Mr. Thompson moved, "That the previous resolution of the Council, as follows, lie rescinded :—' That no ■works be commenced in any street unless tho consent in writing of all persons effected thereby be first obtained.' " : He spoke briefly in support of the motion. Some needful tvorke were sometimes held over through the objection of one person on trivial grounds.-—Sir. Aickia seconded the motion.—The motion was put and carried.