CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6571, 8 December 1882, Page 6

CITY COUNCIL.

TnE ordinary weekly meeting of the City Council was held last evening. Present :— His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. M. Clark) in the chair, Messrs. Mackechnie, Boardman, Dacro, I'hiUipps, Devore, Crowther, Waddel, Thompson, Aickin, Montague, Harper, Bell, Burns, Garratt, Masefield, Fleming, Stevenson, and George.

Ratcatcher.—A letter was received from John Montague applying for a salary as a professional ratcatcher.—Agreed to inform the applicant that it is not the intention of the Council to employ a ratcatcher.

Blastlno. —Messrs. W. and G. Winstone wrote asking to be allowed to blast Britomart cliff without paying for a man to supervise, as they would employ a competent man to do so.—Agreed that applicants be allowed to appoint a person subject to the approral of the City Surveyor.

Private Street—Messrs. Ash ton and Son wrote, on behalf of Mr*. Kelly, asking the Council to make modifications in its conditions for allowing a private street to be aiade through Mrs. Kelly's property in Pon»onby. —The Mayor moved that the matter be referred to the Streets Committee.—Mr Boardman moved, as an amendment, that the former decision of the Council, as indi cated in the report of the City Surveyor, be adhered to.—Motion lost, and amendment carried.

Dcr.liK- ktp.F.vT Contract.—Messrs. Boylan and Lundon wrote, enclosing a letter from Mr. Featherstone, contractor, for the formation of Dublin-street, Karangahape Ward, requesting the return of his deposit, £20 15s Gd. They stated that the estimate of the work was nearly double the amount of the accepted tender- —On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Mr. Burns, it was agreed that the application for the refunding of the deposit be refused.—On the motion of Mr. Waddel it was also agreed that the matter be referred to the Streets Committee for further consideration, and that a letter be sent to the contractor notifying him to put a proper light near the cutting, which was stated to be in a dangerous state.

Dustcart for Upper Symonds-street. —A uumber of residents in Upper Symondsstreet wrote, asking that the dust and refuse carts be sent through Upper Symonds-street once a week.—Agreed to inform applicants that this street was included in the new contract to be let.

Watekikcj Upper Symoxds-strekt.—A number of residents in Upper Symondsstreet requested that the street be watered. —Matter referred to the Streets Committee.

Petition - . —Mr. Dacre presented a petition from residents in Clarence-street, Ponsonby, complaining of the nuisance caused by a brick kiln in the neighbourhood. Referred to the Legal Committee.—Mr. Dacre also presented a petition from residents in Greenwood and Hargrave streets, Ponsonby, praying that Greenwood and Hargrave streets be made fit for wheeled traffic. Referred to Streets Committee.—Mr. Devore presented a petition from residents in Richmond-road, praying that the road be made fit for wheeled traffic. Referred to Streets Committee.—Mr. Devore also presented a petition from residents in Brown-street, Ponsonby, asking that water mains be laid in Brown-street. Referred to Waterworks Committee.

Legal Committee Report.—The Legal Committee reported as follows :—l. Waterworks Plant, re extras, hydrants, ■tc. : Committee accepted Messrs. T. and S. Moriin's tender, No. 7273 (as per schedule), payment to be made on delivery in Auckland ; to be shipped within four months from date. 2. Memo, from Surveyor re niglitsoil contract : That contractors' deposit with tender (£SO) to remain until completion of accepted contract at 5 per cent, interest; non-accepted, to be returned. 3. Contagious Diseases Act: Committee visited the site, as suggested by Mr. O'Brien, on the north-east corner of the gaol enclosure, and recommend the Council to approve of the same aud authorise plans and specifications to be prepared, in accordance with ground plan submitted. 4. Letter from E. Smith re right of way, Wyuyard-street: Committee recommend assent to the transfer of allotments, less piece of land shown on plan. 5. Buildings (Hotels) : Committee are of opinion that hotels are not public buildings within the meaning of the Building Regulations.— Messrs. Masefield, Boardman, Crowther, and Phillipps expressed surprise at having seen in the newspapers that- Messrs. Morrin had entered into a contract with the Council tosupply extras, hydrants, &c., for waterworks plant. It was also pointed out that a committee had been specially formed to deal with this matter, and it was thought by several members that the Legal Committee had exceeded its duty.—Mr. Masefield said that different makers sometimes made different sizes, and the Council might be supplied with fittings which would bo useless.—Mr. Waddel said that the Legal Committee had only come to the decision it had after careful consideration. —The Mayor said that it the Legal Committee had exceeded its duty, it was entirely through inadvertence. The committee had no desire to arrogate to itself functions or to discharge duties which it did not believe were remitted to it by the Council. Messrs Porter and Co. had furnished a schedule of prices for extras, &c., and this was found to be far higher than Messrs. Morrin's tender. Messrs. Porter's tender was about £700 more than Messrs. Morrin's tender. The committee, believing that the matter had been left in their hands, had given ail order to Messrs. Morriu and Co.—The Council having gone into committee, Air. Boardman • complained of certain information getting into the newspapers before the whole Council was aware of what had taken place. The advertisements also should be inserted by the Town Clerk " by order."—Mr. Fleming pointed out that the matter under discussion had been settled, the tender had been accepted, and further discussion could not alter what had been done.— Mr. Harper agreed with Mr. Fleming. — Mr. Thompson said although this nutter had been settled, still members might express their opinions on the action of the Legal Committee. It was then agreed to discuss the recommendations of the committee's report seriatim.—Mr. Masefield explained at some length the difference of fittings by different makers, and he regretted that the action of the committee could not be reversed. —Mr. Waddel was sorry that Mr. Masefield, who had an intimate knowledge of pipes, fittings, was Hot present at the meeting of the Legal Committee, as he could have given great assistance ; but the committee had been assured that the fittings, (Sc., would be fittings to suit the pipes to be supplied by Messrs. Porter and Co.-—On the. motion of Mr. Thompson, seconded by Mr. Crowther, it was ayreed that Messrs. Morrin enter into a bond similar to that entered into by Messrs. Porter and Co., but in proportion to the order. The first clause of the committee's report with this addition was then agreed to.— The Mayor moved the adoption of clause 2 of the committee's report.—Mr. Thompson moved as an amendment, "That the nights»il contract be let on the same terms, as to bonds, as last year,"—After seine discussion, the amendment was carried.—The Mayor moved the adoption of clause 3 of the committee's report. He thought the Council could not get a better site for a Lock Hospital. At the same time he suggested that the plans should be referred back to the Contagious Diseases Committee, for the purpose of having them modified in the direction recommended by Dr. Goldsbro', viz., that the doctor's-room and the waiting-room should be reduced in dimensions.—Mr. Montague moved in accordance with the Mayor's suggestion.—Mr. Crowther thought that the hospital could be got within the gaol walls.—Mr. Masefield said that the reduction in size of the doctor's room would only enlarge the passage, and not enlarge the ordinary rooms.—The Mayor agreed with Mr. Masefield.—Mr. Montague then, with leave, withdrew Ilia amendment, aud the committee's recommendation was adopted. Clauses 4 and 5 of the Legal Committee's report were then agreed to, and the committee's report, as amended, was adopted.

Tkleoraph Poles ix the Streets. —Mr. Orchiaton, Inspector of Telegraphs, wrote stating that with a view of relieving the streets as much as possible of telegraph poles, he had been negotiating for iron arms across the full width of High-atreet to carry a number of telegraph wires at an elevation of over 20 faet.—On the motion of Mr. Waddel the matter was referred ta the Streets Committee.

Pomsokbt-roab.—The City Surveyor reported as follows : " The plana for levelling Ponsonny Road to permanent grades are on the table, and the following is the probable estimate of tha proposed work, which will extend from Ponsonby Reservoir to the hollow in Ponsoaby Road beyond Franklin Read, » total distance of 4100 lineal feet. Batimata: earthwork and formation, £900; metalling, 30 feet wide, £1200: total, £2100. It is proposed to leave the kerbing

a nd channelling out for the present, form t he road the full width, and metal it 30 feet in width in the centre. There will be 12,000 cubic yards of surplus earth in this work, which can be utilized with little extra cost in filling streets in l»w ground adjoining wfcere feund most desirable."—On the motion of Mr. Masefield it was agr«ed to refer the matter to the Streets Committee to report when the whole of the plans for the alterations of the streets for tramways was before it.

Smoke Nuisance. —A number of residents in Albert-street complained of the nuisance caused by smoke from the chimney of Seagar's (boilermalcers) premises in Albertstreet.—Agreed that the Inspector of Nuisances be instructed to inspect the place, and if a nuisance existed to serve the notice according to the Act.