CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6146, 29 July 1881, Page 6

CITY COUNCIL.

7HE ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Couacil was held last night, His Worship the' Mayor (Mr. J. M. Clark), presiding. Present: Messrs. Offer, Waddel, Thompson, Montague, Aickin, Goldie, and Fleming.

The Sorbet Hills Estate.—A letter was' read from the Hon. James .Williamson, addressed to the Mayor, to the following effect :— "With reference to my conversation with you yesterday I beg to inform yon that the terms on which I would sell my property known as the Surrey Hills estate will be as follows :— Price £100,000, payable in city debeatures. The rate of interest payable on these debentures would be : For the first two years, 1 per cent.; for the next four years, 2 per cent.; for the following four years 3 per cent.; after which the rate would be 4 per cent., at which it would remain fixed. The currency of the debentures might be for as long a period as.would be wished. The city to be restricted to soiling or leasing the frontages of the property. The centre to be reserved as a park.—His Worship said this uart of the snburbs was becoming thickly populated, and it was probable the subject to which the letter related would very sson assume great importance.—The letter was referred to the Finance and General Purposes Committee. Eniorr-STEEET. — A letter from Mr. P. Darby was read, relating to the filling in of earth against his premises.—A similar letter was received from Messrs. Whitson and Son.—The Surveyor said he had ordered the men to desist. By some person further earth was put there. He would have the pressure relieved as soon as the work in that place was done.—lt was resolved to forward a letter to Mr. Darby, to the effect that the subject of his complaint would be remedied as soon as possible. GoBE-STBEET. —A letter was received from Messrs. G. S. Jakins and others relative to the lane off Gore-street.—The letter was referred to the Publio Works Committee. Telbphohb Poles.—A letter was received from the Inspector of Telegraphs, stating that he would have the poles properly planed and painted.—Letter received. Pitt-stbeet. —A letter was received from Mr. J. M. Lennox requesting that the kerbing should be made opposite to his property; thereby the work he was putting would be rendered more substantial and sightly.—The letter was referred to tho Publio Works Committee.

Uppeb Union-stbeet.— Petition presented by Mr. Goldie referred to the Public Works Committee.

Livebpool-STBEET.—Petition from residents requesting that provisions be made for drainage. —Keferred to the Public Works Committee.

Sign Board.—Mr. C. Allen requested to be allowed to erect a sign board.—The letter was referred to the Surveyor.

Fencing.—A letter, received from Messrs. Wallace and Sinclair, was referred to the Public Works Committee.—Mr. Woolfield to report thereon. Upper Union-street.—A letter was received from Mr. J. Gittos, calling attention to the impassable state of Upper Union street.—Beferred to the Committoe of Public Works. Bobough Oi' Parnell. —A letter was received from the Town Clerk of Parnell claiming en behalf of the Parnell Council to participate in the license fees of carriages passing through Parnell.—The letter was referred to the Finance and General Purposes Committee. Baths.—A letter was received from G. Strong as to requisites.—Keferred to the Baths Committee. Pdblic Wobks.—The committee recommended—l. That permission be granted to Mr. J. Billingtoo to erect three buildings, one on allotment 1, instead of two, in Patteaon-street. 2. That the application of Mr. Kobert Bew, " re repairing buildings and the orectiou of a sign-board in Albert-street," be not granted. 3. That Mr. Albers be requested to remove obstructions of footpath in City-road, within two weeks, if not, that the Council should take down the same. 4. That the petitioners re Domain-street be informed that no street was left by the Commissioners; that the Councilsought to do co when the property was handed over to the city, but were unsuccessful; that the connection between Wynyard-street and Sy morula street, by Gillies-street, will be made as soon as the winter is over; that tho Council write to the Governors of the Grammar School, to ask for ten feet pathway, with turnstile. 5. That the request of the petitioners of Symondsstreet, "re asphalting footpaths," be complied with as soon as possible. 6. That the committee have authorised the erection of an

iron fence, in lieu of the stone wall in Durhamstreet, in terms of the Surveyor's report, 7. That in Upper Queen-street (Adams') 8 feel be asphalted, in terms of Surveyor's report.— Tho report was adopted.

Finance and General Pobposes.—The committee recommend—l. That the consideration of the letter of Messrs. Russell and Devore, re Messrs. Shipley and Webb's claim for damages, be deferred. 2. The committee recommend that the residue of Messrs. T. and S. Morrin's plant (water supply) should bo purchased in terms of Engineer's report. 3. The Council recommend the appointment of Mr. Cotter as solicitor to the corporation. 4. That the cost and preparation of the address to the Princes be left to the Mayor. The committee resolved, That the recommendation of the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade, by placing a white tile to mark the position of tho fire-plug, be adopted, and that the Surveyor carry out the proposal as soon as possible.— Upon the motion that the report be adopted, Mr. Crowther thought the clause as to the appointment of solicitor should be poetpoued ponding information from Messrs. Hesketh and Richmond. He thought there should be time allowed for some written communication from them as an act of courtesy on the part of the Board, who had consulted them on the subject. In any case the Council should be in possession of tho fullest information before making the appointment.—Mr. Waddel thought that the office Bhould be offered to Mr. Tyler. The Council should have the widest basis of choice in such a matter.—Several members thought tho solicitor to bo appointed should have a recognised professional standing.—The Mayor said that no offer had been made of the appointment because no member of the Council was in a position to make such an offer. The evidence in favour of Mr. Cotter's ability urid fitness was abundant, and was further testified to by his professional brethren of high standing. Mr. Hemus was to have reported to the Council on the subject, but was not present. On this ground he (the Mayor) would support the motion for the postponement of tho consideration of this subject.—Mr. Waddel thought that tho Council should have written information from Mr. Cotter, as well as Messrs. Hesketh and Eichmond, and Mr. Tyler. Answers might be requested by next meeting. The offer should be made openly and publicly to those eligible, and answers publiuly received.— Messrs. Offer and Fleming thought the matter should be postponed.—lt was agreed that the Mayor should write to those solicitors who had been named, asking whether they would accept the appointment offered to them.—The report of_ the Financial and General Purposes Committee was adopted as omeuded, and the consideration of the appointment was postponed. Pabk Committee.—l. The committee havo authorised tenders to be advertised for concrete wall and iron fencing of the Park. . 2. Committee recommend that the Surveyor should remove fences around trees in Welleeley-street East, and plant trees in roadway, with a view of ultimately removing trees on the footpath. 3. That _ trees be removed from footpath to roadway in Hepburn-street. 4. That Karanga-hape-road be planted from Symonds-street to Pitt-street.—Mr. Crowther said that eome of the trees removed from the pathway to the street were in the way of traffic, and many of them were killed. These trees cost from £8 to £10 each. He doubted the authority of the. committee to make this recommendation.—Mr. Goldie said.the Park Committee was also a street-planting oommittee. There could be no doubt as to the authority of the committee.— Mr. Orowthor withdrew an amendment he proposed on this subject, and the report was adopted. . ■ . . ,

Library Committee.—(l) The committee have, ordered list of books and periodicala by the outgoing mail, a little under the amount authorised by the Council. (2) The committee have requested the Librarian to commence preparations for compiling a catalogue.—The report waa adopted.—lt was also agreed that: a cheque for £80 should be signed for the older of books sent Home by the outgoing mail.

Westebh. Pabk.—Mr. Offer thought there should be farther planting of trees in this park.—Mr. Aickin thought that something should be done in this matter by the Council.

TesdßßS. —The following tenders were -received for works to be done :—For the Albertstreet footway : W. Kirbj, £157; G. it. Gladding, £169 : A. Maguire, £120. The lowest tender (Maguire'a) was accepted. For the Park wall and fencing : Second quality, £873; first quality, £1083. John Heath, quality, £840; first quality, £1030. John Wilson and Co., second quality, £300; first quality, £1065. Alton Mcguire, second quality, £7i)G ; first quality, £850. W. BlowdeD, second quasity, £1173; first quality, £1261. The lowest tender (Maguire's, first quality) was accepted. Park railings (iron): T. T Masefield, £1864; James Kelly, £1339; T. and S.. Morrin, £1525; C: Hankeswood, £1749 15s. The lowest tender (Kelly's) was accepted. For alteration of Police Court building: J. W. James, £190; T. Constable, £184; Ephreim Mills, £287; Keane and Jenkinson, £230 9s ; T. Oram, £239. The lowest tender (Constable's) was accepted.—On the motion of Sir. Waddel it was resolved that the fitting, furnishing, and finishing the interior of the building be carried out according to the instructions of the Police Court Committee. —Mr. Thompson thought that tradespeople should have the opportunity of competing for gas fittings as well as other fittings. Trajhvats.— The Clerk laid on the table a memo, to the effect that the time for receiving tenders for tramways would terminate at noon on Monday next. —It was resolved that.the Council should meet at 2.30 p.m. on Monday for the purpose of opening the tenders for tramways. Midk.— The Mayor moved, "That the Government be requested to authorise the inspection of all pnblic dairies, and that they bo further asked to consider the advisability of introducing a Bill for the inspection of public dairies."—The Town Clerk read a report from the Sanitary Inspector, who had visited the public dairies within the city. He reported them in general clean. He added, however, the following paragraph : —" That he had seen a milk cart taking away 'pigs' Bwill,' whioh consisted of refuse of all kinds, upon which it was reported to him that some milk dealers fed their starved cows." —A report was also read from the Superintendent of Police, to the following effect: —Thai the Adulteration Act was unworkable, owing to milk dealers not being compelled to Bell to a constable. Milk dealers should have printed on their cms "new milk," "skim milk," and "milk and water." (Laughter.) If this were done, convictions could be obtained more frequently. The law in its present state was very defective. The Contagious Diseases of Animals Act was not in force. —The further consideration of this subject was postponed, to be considered at the meeting on Monday next.

Assistant Olekk.—The suspension of the standing orders was agreed to, in order that a motion for the appointment of the assistantclerk should be mide.—The Mayor slid the present assistant-clerk was on trial. He was second to Mr. Dillon, and many thought a more capab.e candidate could not be got for the office. Motion put.—Mr. Thompson, Mr. Goldie, Mr. Offer, and Mr. Orowther thought the appointment should be made in the usunl way, and a fresh applications be called for.—Tho motion for the appointment was put and negatived.—His Worship said there would be much time wasted for nothing. The members of the Board were sometimes very rigorous for order. They were sometimes equally lax. He believed the present assistant-clerk was competent.—Mr. Goldie: We might get a better. —His Worship : You had one who was incompetent, and who wae found to be incompetent. — Mr. Thompson thought it not becoming of the Major to speak in that way of one who was ab sent.—Mr. Offor said the report in that former case should have been brought before the Mayor.—Mr. Aickin and Mr. Montague denied that tho Mayor ehould be expested to pry into the qualifications of inferior officers —It was resolved that an advertisement for an assistant clerk should bo inserted in the newspapers in the ordinary way.

Karajjgahafe Boad.—Mγ. Aickin moved, "That the footpath on the north side o! Karangahape Road, from Liverpool-street to Symondastreet, be formed, kerbad, and asphalted."—Agreed to.