CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6995, 18 April 1884, Page 6

CITY COUNCIL.

A meeting of the City Council was fefcld last night. Present—His Worship the Mayor (Mr. W. R. Waddelj presiding; Messrs. Masefield, Holland, Garratt, Bursa, Laßpche, Marshall, Crowther, Devorei Stevenson, Waymouth, Field,' Mackechnie, Aickin. .

Devon-stkeet.—George Sturtevant wrote requesting that a footpath be made on one or both sides of Devon-street, off Newtonroad.—The Engineer minuted the letter that he would enquire into and repo'rt on the matter.—Referred to the Streets Committee.

Removal of House.—H. Shailer, builder, asked for -permit to remove a house from Moore-street (on the cliff) to Dock-street.— The Engineer reported that if this house were removed intact it would block up the street. He had given orders that in future no houses be removed as a whole without permit of the Council.—Mr. Devore drew attention to the great inconvenience to the public by the Council permitting houses to be removed intact through the streets. Legal proceedings were being taken for damages in one case.—-The matter having been discussed, the application was refused. Buboess 8011. — William Thomas requested that hie name be placed on the burgess roll for property In Wood-street, Ponsonby.—lt was agreed to inform applicant that the Council could not entertain his application; but, on his showing before the Revision Court that the 'properly had changed' hands, the Council "would be prepared to entertain it. '_ Mount sibeet.—Dr. Wine asked the Council to erect a stone wall-at the excavation at the rear of his property in MountEngineer concurred with a statement contained in Dr. ;,Wino's letter as the unsafe condition of the-cutting at his stable.—lt was stated by several members of the Council that there were other properties in the same street in the same condition, 'and it would be unfair to treat Dr. Wine exceptionally.—Referred to the Streets Committee.

Main Seweb.—Messrs. Boylan and Lundon wrote stating that the reclamation for the Freezing Company's works, and the works for the main sewer extension, would most probably interfere with one another. They asked that they be entrusted with the immediate supervision of carrying out the extension works at the usual commission, whilst the City Engineer could exercise general control in the interests of the City Council. —The City Engineer said it wonld be an advantage to the present contractor to do both works. He (the City Engineer) would prefer to design the extension and write the specifications ; bnt if the Council thought it advisable to allow the contract to be executed by Mr. Maguire, under Messrs. Boylan and Lundon, to save complications and facilitate the work, he could have no objection.—The Mayor moved that the Council cannot give a reply till the reply is received from the General Government to letter of the Council. —Carried.

Wellington-street.—S. Wellington asked that his allotment fronting Wellington-street be cut and sloped. J. A. Hellott made a similar application.—Both applications' were granted. . Nuisance 'in Dock-street. — Ephraim Mills, Sock-street, wrote re the case of nuisance in Dock-street tried at the R.M. Court.—Sanitary Inspector Goldie recommended that the matter be referred to a committee.—Referred to the Legal Cemmittee. .-;•■•'

Petitions. — Mr. Devore presented, a petition from 34 residents,in Brown-street, Ponsonby, for repairs to footpath. — A number of owners of property, and residents in Curran-street petitioned the Council to form and open the street for traffic—Both petitions were referred to the Streets Committee.

Inspector of Abattoih3.—The Chairman of the Newton Highway Board (Mr. R. T. Warnosk) notified that Mr. Woolfield (Inspector of Abattoirs to the oity) was appointed Inspeotor for the Newton district, subject to the approval of the Council.— Approval given. Streets Committee's Report. — The Streets Committee reported as.follows :— "Letter from Mrs. Black, re overflow, Wellington-street: That Mrs. Black be referred to the contractor, as the Wellingtonstreet works are still in his hand*. Same, re roadway, Edwin-street r'Th'at Engineer's report be] adopted, viz., that the steps be erected at a cost of £2 10s. Petition from Tesidents Elizabeth-street, re formation, &c.: That Engineer's report be adopted, viz., that channel be cleared, and some ashes put on cartway until something of a more permanent character can be done; cost, about £25. Report from City. Engineer re Upper Symonds-street and Kyber Pass works: Deferred for one week. Specifications re water main (from Waterworks Engineer) : That report of .Waterworks Engineer be adopted. Other business deferred :—T. Flkmisg, Chairman."—Mr. Crowther dissented from tho , : clause in the report recommending the adoption of the Waterworks Engiueer'a report. He though!: the four-inch pipes proposed to be procured would not be large enough, and was strongly of opinion t"hat the pipes ehould not be less than sixinch pipes. It was a mistake to think that four-inch pipes wore large enough for small streets. —Mr. Crowther moved that there be no order for four-inch pipes, but that the order should be for six-inch and five-inch pipes, equally divided.—Mr. Holland said he had supported the report in committee, because the Engineer had recommended four-inch pipes. He thought the Engineer should not havo recommended one thing and then tell councillors another.— Mr. Waymouth thought that the matter should be referred back to the Engineer for report.—-By permission Mr. Crowther withdrew his amendment and adopted the suggestion of Mr. Waymoutb, with the addition tbat the matter be referred back to the Streets Committee, to consult with the Engineer and report.

Lock Hospital.—The sureeon reported that during the month five patients had been admitted and five discharged ; remaining in Hospital, eight.

Water Supply.—Mr. Pond, analyst, reported that the water of the city supply was excellent tor drinking purposes.

Infectious Diseases. —The Sanitary Inspector wrote stating that seven cases of infectious disease were reported in the city, and six in the Hospital.

Sale of Cits- Property.—The Mayor informed the Council that the leasing oE city property by auction on Wednesday had been very successful. In some cases the land had brought 100 per cent, more than the upset price. - - :

' Footpath in Queen-stbeet.—Mr. Aickin drew attention to the " disreputable state" of the footpath in Queen-street in some parts. It required asphalting.';, " : ;

Corner of Symonds-street and Kaban-gahapb-road.—Mr. Thompson drew attention to the fact that the kerbingat the corner of Symonds-street and Karangahape-road, at the Jewish Cemetery, was being laid down. This was unnecessary, seeing that an arrangement had been made with the trustees of the

Jewish Cemetery for a portion of the land being taken for street purposes. This matter should be taken into consideration at once, and dealt with.—A letter from the trustees, -which was received late, was read, stating that the,£so offered by. the Council for the land was. not adequate.—Mr. Thompson said he would move at next meeting, " That £25 additional be given; and that the Engineer bo instructed in the'meantime to alter the direction of the kerbing." . GfBAFroN-KOAD Footpath.—ln reply to Mr. Holland, the Engineer said he was unable to state the cause of the delay in the asphalting of the footpath in Grafton-road. Eoucih Metal.—The Mayor drew the attention of the .Engineer to the very rough street metal laid down in Karangah&pe-road. Drainage of Ponsonby.—Mr. Devore moved, " That so much of any resolution of the Council as refers to the preparation of a drainage scheme for the whole city until all the levels in the city are fixed be rescinded, and that the Engineer report as to the best method of. draining Ponaonby Ward."— Mr. Devore referred to the want of drainage in Alma Place and other parts of Ponsonby. The neglect of drainage in one locality ■would mean the spread 'of disease in the city. _ He thought that the different parts of the city should be drained in tarn, as was deemed necessary, and that drainage should not be put off till a complete scheme should be adopted.—Mr. Field seconded the motion. '—Mr. Aickin said' that the Council was always prepared to do drainage"works where shown to be necessary. For the Engineer to report. on a drainage scheme for Ponsonby would mean the attention of the officers of the Council being, given to Ponsonby to the neglect of other equally important districts. He thought that a drainage scheme should embrace the whole city.—lα reply to Mr,

Thompson, the City Engineer said that the leveU of the Grafton Ward were completed; the levels in Karangahape about hitlf completed, and the levels of some of the streets in Ponsonby were completed.—Mr." Thompson thought that the wards in which the levels were completed should be reported on first.—ln reply to Mr. Waymoutb, the Engineer said he wonld be .prepared at next' meeting, if desired, to state how long it would oodupy him. eelf and a competent staff to report on a comprehensive drainage system for the whole city. He would not like to give a, reply at the present meeting.—Mr. ™ a y* mouth spoke of the grave importance of the drainage question, as on good drainage depended largely the health of the city.— The Mayor eaid that Mr. Glark'a (engineer) scheme, which had been - referred to, only embraced the old city; yet it was so costly that the revenue of the oity could not have met the working expenses of tiie scheme. — Mr. Crowther agreed as to the importance of draining Alma-place, yet other parts of the city also required urgent attention in the matter of drainage, and he conld not sup-" porta proposal to devote the whole attention of the staff to one ward, to the exclusion of other wards. —Mr. GaTatt said that putrefying matter was flowing from the graves in the cemetery into the wells of pereons in the neighbourhood. There wae nothing in Ponsonby to be compared with the drainage requirements of Karangahape, and Stanley-street in the Grafton Ward. The locality between the cemetery and Eaststreet also; was a place near the_ cemetery which should have urgent attention at the hands of the Counoil. The Karangahape Ward ought-to have a'distinct system of its own owing to the ■ configuration of the" district.—Mr. Masefield was glad thai; Mr. Devore had brought on his motion, as it had had the effect of drawing the attention of the Council to a most important question. He was opinion that the proposal as to a complete system of drainage for the city was too vast and costly for the Counoil to seriously consider.-—Mr. Devore having replied, he asked that the motion stand over for a fortnight. He favoured the alteration of the motion as suggested by Mr. Thompson that it be modified in so far that the words " Ponsonby Ward " be struck out, and that the Engineer report on the drainage of the new ward in which the levels were first completed.—Further consideration of matter deferred for a fortnight. Special and General Bate. — TheMayor moved the following motions : — 1. "That this Council, in pursuance of the provisions of the Loans Consolidations Act, 1883, and Municipal Corporations and Rating Acts, 1876, levy a special rate of one shilling in the pound upon all assessable properties within the city of Auckland, payable in two equal instalments on the 2nd day of June and December, 1884." 2. "That this Council, in pursuance of the provisions of the Municipal. Corporations and Eating Acts, 1876, levy a general rate of one shilling in the pound upon all assessable properties within the city of Auckland, payable in one sum on the 2nd days of June and December, 1884." Both motions were carried without discussion. CoiiLltrGwooD-STBEET. — Mr. Masefield moved, "That the Engineer be instructed to prepare plana and specifications for kerbing, channelling, and the drainage of Colling-wood-street with the Wellington-street S9wer."—The motion was carried nem. con.