ONEHUNGA BOROUG COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6964, 13 March 1884, Page 3

ONEHUNGA BOROUG COUNCIL.

THE.ordinary meeting of Council waß held on . Monday, evening. Present: The Mayor (Dr. Scott), Messrs. Clark, Dunwoodie, Fleming,, iiastie, Hills, Jackson, Lundon, Stevenson, and Tapp. Stone.—rAn application to excavate; atone for kerbing on Spring-street was granted subject to.conditions;

Hospital.—A circular from the Town Clerk of Gavorsham, with reference, to taking action, to secure endowments' for hospitals, was approved, and the matter commended to the attention, of the member for Manukani :

Railway Extension*—A notice was received from the Public Works department; with reference to taking a piece of land, being the whole of the Princes-street frontage of a, borough endowment, having a length of 660 feet by 105 feet; for railway purposes,, the intention being to remove the railway station across Queen-street; and place it on ithis land; The area of land requirod' ia about one acre and :a-half,; and'includes a corner lot, on ,which the Council Chamber now stands, and which has been reserved' as a Bite for tho futuro Town Hall; also another lot, leased to the Onehunga 'Land Society, and ..'beyond that;, extending alone Queenstreet, 105 feet, and iB really about one> fourth of the. endowment originally known air the Military Parade.—Tne request wan referred to the Keserves Committee, to-rei: port on. " ;v"f ■

Private Street.—An application from Mr. Stevenson, for the approval of the Conn..cil for a private, street, which he proposed to lay. along the line of two acres on the Green Hill, -40 feet wide, was referred 'to a committee to report; several questions : having .been raised; especially one by the: Mayor 'about levels:

Harbour.—The Onehunga Chamber? of. ..Commerce, wrote, asking, the assistance of the Council, in a determination they had come ■ to, in consequence, of the: difficulty , with the wharf charges, which were unreasonably, high, " to. request the. Minister for Public ■Workß.atonce to take the necessary steps to; place the harbour and wharves (under this control, of a local Board: or. the Borough. Council." In moving: .that the Council give the assistance required; Mr. Clark gave many instances of the high rates and harsh and obstructive regulations which pressed especially hard upon the traffic by road, and was. greatly in favour of transit by rail, and stated, that these, oppressive . charges and regulations were driving business from : the port; Auckland shippers -preferring to send, goods' the East Coast.—Mr. Jackson thought it was useless to' make such a .request from, the/Minister, which he had not power to grant. A Harbour t ßoard'innst firatf be created by statute, and there could be in< eluded in that whatever privileges and po'wep Parliament',thoughtfit to grant; He, though in favour .of local control of the harbour, :whioh wan far more extensive than Onehunga control, thought there;-was little chance of getting a Bill through theAssemblyiftha Government .were opposed-to it. He therefore moved to refer the matter to a committee.—Mr; Clark stated: .that- one oftha memhers of the Chamber of Commerce had; or was. drafting, a Bill,, which Mr. Hamlin was to bring in;— Mr. Lundon said he should vote against the- motion; .which would only stultify the Council. He. thought it very .great presumption on the part ,of .the Chamber of Commerce — a self - elected, selfconstituted, and irresponsible.' body —to take, such important steps,, and then .come to the Council ~(the representatives of <tha people) to aek for assistance, neither the Council nor the'people being: consulted.—The motion was, however, 'carried; and -the amendment lost, on the oasting vote of the: Mayor. ■■ . .. .. Law.—A summons to appear in the Resident Magistrate's Court to,answer the.claim of £8 Bs, made ;by J, Hucbatep,. for wages alleged to. ba due, was read;— Mr. Lundon proposed to move that the claim bo paid, but. the. Mayor ruled, such a motionout of order, the-defence being in the hands ,of a committee. Tanmkry.—An application from . Mr. CWeber,for permission to carry on a tannery /business was granted. Scoria.—Tenders were accepted for scoria ash; Nuisance.—The Mayor-reported that ha . had visited: Mr.- Shaldrick's premises/ which had been 'complained of by his neighbour, Mr. Burden, and found them perfectly clean; On the complainant's ownpremisea however, there was a hol% which, when: water flowed in, was offensive, . and he advised its being :filled up;. In answer to a question*, the Mayor: said he had no warrant as Inspectorof Nuisances,and /only visited : these' places on sufferance, and with the consent of the parties. Wokks.—Several works, as recommended by the Streets' Committee,', were ordered to be tendered for under the Engineer. It .was eleven o'clock .when, ithe? Council adjourned.—[Own Correspondent,' Marchll.]