CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6786, 17 August 1883, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The regular meeting of the City Council was held la3t evening. Present: Mr. Waddel (Chairman), Messrs. Field, Phillipps, Devore, Crowther, Thompson, Aickin, Montague, Harper, Fleming, Bel], Masefield, Stevenson, Dacre, Mackechnie. Garratt, and Euras. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed, and headings of correspondence forwarded eince last meeting of Council were read. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr. J. Mumford wrote in regard to the lowering of his house in Symonds-street, sugge3tic2 a modification which would not cost more'than £150, the amount allowed by the Council. He wished to be allowed to build underneath of wood.—Deferred till the report of the Fieance Committee came up. Mr. G. Wilson wrote in regard to the main road through Point Chevalier, and s-jbmitted that, owing to the heavy traffic of uight-soil carta and other vehicles, the city should contribute to the cost of repairs, and pointed out its present dangerous state. He estimated the road could be repaired for £50. —Referred to the Legal Committee. Mr. John Williams complained of the offensive drainage passing under his house in Wyndbam-street, coming from adjoining properties, the owners of which had not drained into the drain in Mill Lane.—The Engineer reported that he bad written to the owner to connect the drain with the main, and £i proper notice had been sent previously. Unless the work was done soon, lie should gire instructions to proceed with it.—Agreed to answer accordingly. Mr. F. A. White wrote, enclosing a plan of the western tramway circuit, showing the proposed crossings, arranged for a ten minutes' service each way, and requesdui? the Council to state if the same met with their approval. He alto forwarded a copy of the report of the Consulting Engineer. The City Engineer's memo, was as follows :—" The levels of all the stwets over which the tram rails will be laid in the city, are either fixed or advertised to bs fixed (with the exception of Customsstreet to Mechanics' Bay). By order of the Council, I have written again to Messrs. Hay, Bruce, Gillies, Sinclair, and Russell to move their fences off Symondsstreet. Judge Gillies has replied, that he will do so at once; the others have sent no answer as yet. Referring to the suggestion ia this lelter that single lines should be laid on the side, instead of the centre of streets, as double lines may be required, I recommended this in my report of August 23, 18S2, on account of sewerage. With this additional reason, the question may now be worthy of consideration. The corressponpondence wa3 referred to the Strtete ComBiitee.

Mrs. Hamilton, one of the lessees of the block on Karangahape-road between HoweBtreet and the reservoir, asked to be allowed to hold her present tenements for two years longer at even a higher rental than at present, and she urged sereral reasons for granting her request. If that could not ba entertained, she asked to be allowed the place on fafferance, or at least her presunt residence at a small rental.— Referred to the Finance Committee. W. Grant wrote, asking the Council to pnc up a reclaiming-wall round his property in Montague and Dublin Streets, JSewton. — Keferred to the Streets Committee. W. Brinaden, Prospect Place, drew attenion to the fact that during heavy rains the 'water from adjoining properties flowed down the lane and through his property and garden. He suggested that a wooden kerb be put down to divert the ftW of water towards Wellesley-street.—Ktferrei to the Streets Committee. IDuring the reading of the correspondence 3ia Worship the Mayor came in and took Jus seat.l " i?ariTioK. — Mr. Phillipps presented a petition fom ,44 residents in Sheridan, Napier, and Hepburn Streets to have the riads kerbed and channelled.—lt was referred to the Streets Committee oa the $ution of Mr, Phillipps,

Legal Committee. —This committee's report was as follows :—Re night soil contract: That the Towa Clerk advertise, requesting owners of land who are willing to receive and dispose of night-soil manure to communicate witn him within 14 days,—The report was adopted. FrjfAjrce Committee.—This committee's report wa3 as follows :—That allotments in Wellesleystreet be offered for lease for 50 years, one-third the then value to be giveD at the expiration of lease ; plaua to be approved by Council; building to be erected at not less tlian £700. Re Basten and Miller's lease: That an offer be made to Messrs. ! Basten and Miller, £100 and £400, for surrender of their lease. City Engineer to report on cost of retaining wall around Dr. Wine's allotment to Mount-street; also around Mr. W. Miller's. Cook and Albert Stree's : That allotments be leased for 50 years; that allotments corner of Cook and Albert Streets be made into three; six months to be allowed to put in foundation ; Corporation will fill in thereafter, and the frontages to Mtreefc level, as soon as the buildings are erected ; one-third their then value to be paid to owner at expiration of lease; buildings to be two storeys in height, and plane approved by Council, and in Cook and Albert Streets of a value of not les3 than £700 ; buildings fronting Marketroad to the value of £500. Three shops, &c, fronting Grey-atreet to have notice to vacate by Ist October. The committee recommend a retaining wall be built from Syinonds-street to Mount-streot, enclosing the property of Dr. "Wine and Mr. Mumford, and that Dr. Wine's stable yard bo lowered. The report was adopted after aome slight amendments were submitted.—Mr. Phillipps moved, " That tho value to be paid to lessees | at the termination ot the lease be half the value of the buildings."—Mr. Devore seconded the motion, but Mr. Thompson opposed. It would be no inducement to put up better buildings when they had leases of fifty years. —Mr. Montague coincided, and pointed out that brick buildings must be erected.—Mr. Crowther spoke to the same effect.—Mr. Waddel pointed out the omission that no | time was fixed in which the buildings should be erected, and he moved that the same condition as that under which Mr. Buchanan built should bo inserted, namely, within two years.—The Mayor supported the decision of the Finance Committee.—A general discussion ensued.—The Mayor explained that the committee would not allow single-etorey buildings or buildings to cost less than £700, but they left the whole matter to be dealt with by the Council when the plans were before them.—The amendment that half sompensation be given was lost, and Mr. Waddel's amendment carried.—The words, " from the date of Mr. Buchanan's leaee," were also inserted in the first clause.

Stmeets Committee.—The report of this committee on several matters wae read and discussed. There was a proposition to relegate the question of drainage of Colling-wood-street to the committee. The Engineer was questioned on the subject. When Wellington-street was drained Collingwoodetreet could bo drained into it.—The proposition was lost, and the report as a whole was adopted. Depot for Metal. —Mr. Crowther asked whether the depot for metal in the Market yard was for the Council or for the contractor. He noticed that the contractor placed the metal there and the Council had to cart it away at a cost of about another shilling a yard, for the Council's men had to J fill the carts. —The Mayor made an explanation. He believed it was for the contractor, and the metal was to be distributed at tbe contractor's expense.—The Engineer said this was so. The object of the depot was to enable the contractor to bring in a quantity of metal during the summer. Box Drain* —A Discovery,—A memo, from the Englineer for laying a wooden drain at Mr. Woodhead'e property, at a cost of £4, was agreed to.—The Engineer also stated that by the aid of Mr. Eastwood he had discovered East-street, and recommended that the furze and scrub be ent down. —This was agreed to. Gas Company.—A letter was read from the Gas Company re the complaint as to inferior gas supply. The gas was tested daily, and was of higher power and of regular quality during recent months, and denied that the regulators became choked. The company was desirous to carry out their contract on the most liberal terms.—The Mayor said it was evident that the Gas Company was fencing. It was apparent that the lamps did not give enfficient light, and that must be caused either by the inferior quality of the gas or the fault of the regulators— I Mr. Montague moved "That the application to remove the regulators renewed."— Mr. Field pointed out the necessity for these regulators.—Mr. Aickin moved " That the Engineer test the gas," but Mr. Masefield said the gas was not of the same quality night after niEjht. They paid for light, and should get it; and testing the gas onco amonth was useless, and they should see that they got what they paid for. —Mr. Garratt was of opinion that this question would be constantly cropping up, until the Council either took the matter into their own hands, or gave a site for another plant.—The Mayor suggested that the whole matter be referred to the Streets Committee, to investigate and institute a series of tests.—This was accepted by Mr. Aickin and Mr. Montague, and carried.

The Fiee Buio«>e and Police.—A report from the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade was submitted, and as the matter was in the hands of the police, it was laid on the table.—The case boing subjudice, it was not read or discuesed, Posson'by-road.—Mr. Montague, in accordance with notice, moved, " That tenders be called for forming Ponsonby-road from the resrevoir to the Three Lamps to its fixed levels." He spoke in support of the resolution, and it was seconded.—Mr. Thompson pointed out that there were numerous motions on important works. He wished to ask the Engineer whether it would be advisable to call for tenders for 30 mauy works at once, and wnether it would not affect the price.— Mr. Anderson said tenders could not be called for all at once. It would take between a fortuight and three weeks to prepare for each work, but they all ehould be done in the summer. There was no doubt if a large number of worke were brought out at once labour would be scarcer, and it might be difficult to get kerbing, etc. Roughly speakicg, it would cost £6000. Hopetown-street was estimated at £600, Wynyard-street at £800, Karaogabape-road at £670, and Symondsstreet at £1200. Ponsonby-road could be made ready for the tramway in five months, although the road might not be finished then.—Mr. Garratt and and Mr. Mackechnie urged that the works should come out of the portion of the_ loan allocated to the various wards in which the works were carried on.—Mr. Devore said he always took this as a matter of course, and hoped the road would be made to its full width, and on hie suggestion Mr. Montague added the words "kerbing and channelling on the- north side and on the south from Richmond-road." — Mr. Waddel also suggested the words be added " as soon as the Loan Bill was passed." He believed that was the only principle on which the resolution should be passed.—Mr. Crowther objected to the kerbing and channelling of the road. The Mayor, in reply to Mr. Thompson, said the queetion of how the work should be paid for, viz., out of the loan, that would settle itself, and could not be altered unless by vote of the Council.—Mr. Montague was allowed to amend his resolution in the direction suggested, and Mr. Thompson asked whether the motion could be put, as plans and specifications were not submitted. —The Mayor ruled that it could not, and Mr. Montague then added the words "as soon as plane and specifications are submitted."—ln this form the motion was carried. Hopsrow.v-STRSET.—Mr. Phillipps moved, " That the Engineer be instructed to call for tenders for the formation of Hopetownstreet, so soon as plans and specifications are prepared and approved by the Council." —Mr. Waddel asked if these worke were to take precedence, or take their turn.—There was a 1 lengthy discussion on the subject, and the motion was agreed to. The Wavbrlky Hotel.—Mr. Thompson said that it waa not necessary for him to move the resolution now, as the money had been paid. The motion was, "That if the sum of £500, being the price agreed on for the Waverley Hotel license, be not paid to the City Council on or before Saturday, the 18th instant, Mr, Panter be requested to transfer the said license to the City Council, and if bo, the license be allowed to lapse." Wysyabd street. —Mr. Aickin moved, "Th»t plans and specifications be made, and tenders be called for work authorised in Wynyard-street." He spoke briefly in support of the motion, which was seconded by Mr. Thompson, and supported by Messrs. Fleming, Phillipps, and Masefield.—The resolution was carried. Karanqahape - eoad. — Mr. Montague moved, "That plana and specifications

be prepared, and that when approved tendera be called for formation of Karangahaperoad from Symonds-street to Upper Queenetreet to its fixed levels."—Mr. Aickin seconded the motion, and after discussion it was carried. Cobcrg-street. — The Mayor moved, " That when the present line of Coburgstreet is diverted, Wellesley-street be widened to the depth of Dr. Phikon's fence." He explained the resolution, and the Engineer submitted a plan.—The motion was seconded by Mr. Waddel and carried. The rough minutes were then read, and the meeting rose.