CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7340, 29 May 1885, Page 6

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the City Council was held last evening. Present; The Mayor (Mr. W. R. Waddel) presiding; Meaen. Laßocho, Holland, Aiokin, Goldie, Crowther, Montague, Devore, Mackeohnie, Upton, Dignan, Morrison, Barns, Kidd, Cooper, Connolly, Masefield, Garratt. . Floodkd Allotment.—B. Hodgson, coal and firewood merchant, Meohanies , Bay, wrote complaining that his allotment was flooded by water from the street.—The City Engineer reported: " All ratepayers are required to drain their own land. This is Harbour Board property, and the sewer re ferred to was put there by the Harbour Board."—lt was agreed that writer be informed that the Council have no responsibility in this matter. Norfolk-stbekt.—Alfred Verrall, Nor-folk-street, Ponsonby, wrote stating that bouses were being undermined and sinking, owing to earth falling into cutting the Coanoil had made in the street. The Engineer reported : " The sectiors have been taken for the formation of the street; bnt it would not be advisable to break it np at this titno of the year; it should be. left until the wet weather is over. In the meantime, I have instructed that some ashes be placed on the footway, which has been cut out. This will make the path passable during the winter."—Agreed that writer be informed in accordance with Engineer's memo. ■PathC'BO*d-—H. C. Choyce wrote calling attention to defective gutter in a portion of Park-road.—The Engineer reported : This is a fough pitohed channel, and has been in existence for a good number of years. It is folly to lay down oonorete channels in winter time, as the concrete has no chance to harden before the lime is washed but of it. No complaint was made in the dry weather, when nothing but house drainage was flowing into it. It oannot be so bad now that the rain has set in. Should be deferred.—The Mayor moved, " That writer be informed that it Is inadvisable to attempt concreting at the present time of the year."—Mr. Aiokin thought the Council might promise to do the work at the end of the winter.—The Mayor said the Council could deal with the matter when the proper time came.—lt was agreed that the Foreman of Works in that district be instructed to see that the drain is cleaned daily.' - Richmond-road.—The Chairman of the Newton Highway Board, Mr. R. T. Warnock, wrote, stating that the Board had decided to erect three lamps on the npper portion of Richmond-road, and asked the Council to intersect them with an equal number, so that this important thoroughfare might be properly lighted during the winter. —-Action deferred until the Newton Board erect their lamps.

ArptoACH to Cemetkby Bbidgk.—Mr. Henry Gilfillan wrote, stating that, as the work of- the approach to the Cemetery was not being carried out as he was promised it should be, and he cautioned the Connoil against excavating or otherwise interfering with it, or their action would be deemed a trespass, and dealt with accordingly.—The Engineer forwarded a letter written by Mr. Gilfillan, agreeing to the work now being done, All that Mr. Gilfillan asked for was to be done, with the exception of clause 4, providing for access to Mr. Giltillan's property, from the new road, in tho event of his selling. This the Council could not give, as the approach to the bridge was only by permission."—Referred to the Streets Committee. . .

Alleged Injury.—Messrs. Hesketh and Richmond wrote on behali of Mr. William Blandon, stating that owing to works recently executed by the Council at the back of Wellealey-street School, Mr. Blandon's property had been seriously injured.—The Engineer reported : There has been no filling on Mr. Blandon's property by order of any officer of my department, indeed Mr. Blandon was filling np his property himself before the filling was commenced on the reserve. The filling may he higher than Mr. Blandon would like it on the reserve, but it is being filled for another purpose. No donbt some arrangement will require to be made about drainage, but this cannot well be done permanently no til all the ground has been filled to suit. The surface water will be attended to as far as possible."—lief erred to Streets Committee.

Dkbkntoees.—Mγ. James Coatee, Actingmanager National Bank, wrote :— " The resolution contained in your letter of the 27±b. February last with reference to the stoppage of commiision of the balances of loans into consolidated bonds was duly communicated to our head office, and we are now informed that all further conversion has been stopped. Our head office state that they have on hand £67.700 unissued consolidated bonds, and £11,900 cancelled waterworks bonds, and would be glad to receive instructions as to the manner the corporation wish the above bonds disposed of. "—Kef erred to Finance Committee.

Sγ mon DS-STR eet.—Several complaints were made of the very muddy state of the crossings in Upper Symonds-street.—ln reply to Mr. Montague, the Engineer said they had not the number and kind of carts sufficient to do the work. —Mr. Montague and Mr. Aiokin complained of the muddy state of Queen-B(;reet, whereupon Mr. Upton said if ail the carts in the possession of the Council went to the foot ox College Hill they conld not tonoh the mud. What was wanted was a large pump. (Laughter.) It was simply mod arising from traffic and the grinding down o» scoria. He hoped the Council would go to the foot of College Hill and take ft bath.—lt was agreed that the mad at the crossings - in Upper Bymonds-street be removed at once.

KOKKBT • BTRKKT COMPLAINT. — Messrs. Devore and Cooper wrote on behalf of Mr. W. L. Both asking the Council to remedy the injury they had done him by reason of earth they had placed in Bokeby-street.— The Engineer reported that Mr. Botli wanted a wall, whioh would cost £10. —Referred to the Legal Committee.

Petitions.—A number of residents in Dry-street wrote praying that the dnst carts might call there. A number of residents and property-owners in Lincoln-street, Oliphantstreet,, and Biohmond-road, wrote praying that a lamp be erected at the corner of Lincoln-street and Richmond-road. Mr. Devore presented a petition from residents in Arthur-street praying for formation of street. Mr. Devore presented a petition from residents of Ponsonby complaining of the muddy state of the crossings on Pon-sonby-road. Mr. Morrison presented a petition, from residents in Newton-street, Brookstreet, and Macaulay street, praying that the Council have these streets attended to. —All of these petitions were referred to the Streets Committee.

Lkoal Committee Report. — " Your committee recommend as follows Letter from T. H. Britfcon offering for sale standard works, the '' property of , the late Mr. A. Hobooth! Committee cannot recommend the purchase of this list of books. Memo, from Librarian re newspapers, reviews, &c, for the Free Library: That the following be obtained, viz., Hart's Army List, Army and Navy Gazette,; British Almanac.—W. R. Wabdel, .Chairman."—The report was adopted., / v 71' _■ ' '/;,'. ■ •, , . ~ . : \ FIHANCK CoMMITTKE InTEBIM RkPOBT.— Rβ Irvine's contract (Karangahape-road) : The, committee recommend that the dispute as to Irvine's time penalty be referred to the City Engineer, as advised by the solicitor. Be arrears: That it be a recommendation that all persons in arrear for rates be pro- ' ceeded against in batches of 60 persons—ten ■to- be taken from each ward at a time at intervale of 14 days, and that they be taken in alphabetical order, commencing with the letter •' A." Jt -The report was adopted. ' Finance Committees Rkpobi!.— com. mittee recommend as follows:—"Letter from J. Farrell, asking that half pay be continued daring . sickness : That four weeks additional be paid at half pay. Letter from D. Kempt, asking to be released from lease of allotment Wellesley-street : That .under the circumstances which the land was leased not having been changed, committee cannot recommend any alteration in the terms on which Mr. Kempt holds ifc;>nd that the attention of the 'polioe authorities be called to by-law No. 6.: Letter from J. F. Boynton, asking for a donation to. the Female Prison Gate Brigade,: That » reply be forwarded that, the Council does not see its wayjo further contribute to charitable aid.''—Tne report was adopted.} ,?; .'., ; ■■.I ■■ : • -'-~■.; ,v .->i . m Wabd. " Allqoation Accounts, Finance Committee recommended , that ; the fixed deposit for £10,000, due 24th May, be withdrawn, and placed to credit of Borough . Fund. Your - committee recommend that the attention of the Council be called to the state of the Ward Allocation Accounts, viz,: —1. That 1 there remains unexpended the sura of £9500. \ 2. That the balances of existing contracts amount to £4800, leaving £4700 -available for fresh works. 3. That *he next instalment is due about January or

February next. List of rates noncolleotuble amounting to £146 la lid, submitted by the collector, to be struck off. Committee recommended that the same be authorised.— W. B. WaDd*l, Chairman.—The Mayor moved the adoption of the. recommendation. —Mr. Montague moved as an amendment: " That the unexpended portion of the tions of the North, Poneouby, and KaraD({ahape Wards be. placed to an account to the credit of the abovenamed Wards. "—Mr. Upton thoueht that according to law the Town Hall Fund, Free Library Fund, Ward Allocation Fund, should be placed in separate accounts at the bank, and be named by their names. He quoted from the Municipal Corporations Act, 1882, in support of hie contentions.—Mr. Goldie drew attention to provisions of the City of Auckland Loan Act, 1883, and contended that under the Aot authorising the raising of the money it waa not necessary to do what Mr. Upton thought should be done. — Mr. Mane field and Mr. Goldie suggested that the mutter be referred to the Legal or Finance Committee to take legal opinion on the matter. The amendment v-H8 put and carried.—Mr. Maeefield moved i >> it the resolution be referred to the Finance (. ..lumittee.—Mr. Aickia said if the Finance Committee reported that the proposal oould ber legally carried out he would vote for it.— Mr. Garratt said an attempt was made to plunder money for the Bast Ward and Stanley-street sewer, and now East Ward members came and voted against the present proposal.—Mr. Aickin reiterated the statement that he would vote for the proposal if it could be shown that it was legal.—Mr. Goldie said the South Ward had simply been robbed because interested parties came and forced the Council to do work against its will, these parties having voting power.— Mr. Masefield's amendment was put and lost on (be casting vote of the Mayor. Exkteb-stkket.—The City" Engineer reported that the cost of draining Exeterstreet would be £200.—Mr. Garratt moved " That plans and specifications be prepared and tenders be oalled for the woik."— Carried.

Tenders for Baths.—Some discussion took plaoe on the question of opening the tenders for baths. It was resolved to open the tenders. Tenders: Kose and Clark, £5061; J. B. MeU, £5175 j S. Atwell, £5372 8e 6d; J. Shea, £5714 8s; Hewspu and Mcftaugbt, £5132 ; W. S&ephenron and Co., £4975; C. Rhodes, £5942 8* 6J-1; Rigley and Hancock, £5949; Chalmers and Alderton, £5297 18s; i£. Farrell. £5359 5s sd; Larkins and O'Brien, £5263 13s 10d; J. Wilson, £5028 4s lid ; J. Cleghorn, £5229 ; J. Morris, £5261; A. Archibald, £5585; R. Kay, £5220; J. Lynch, £5335 17s; J. Ellinghato, £5384 Hβ 6d ; J. Heron, £4986 17s.—Ihe Mayor moved, "That the two lowest tenders be retained, and referred to consulting engineer, to determine question of schedule of prices of extras, <fcc, and that thereupon the lowest tender be accepted."— Mr. Maokechoia moved, " That the matter be referred to the Finance Committee to report from which fund the money is to come."—Mr. Upton: I would vote against the amendment, unless the whole question of accounts was referred to the Finance Committee for report. —Mr. Masefield said these baths would be a good investment, and he would support the acceptance of » tender.— The Mayor withdrew hie motion, and the amendment was carried.

Brkakwatkk-boap, —Mr. Kidd ' asked : What steps are being taken to make the Breakwater-road to Customs-street East passable for traffic ? —The City Engineer replied: Men are busily engaged at this work and have been for sometime back. On Breakwater-road the dangerous places are being tilled up, and the metal carts will be on it to-morrow. . -

Allocation. — Mr. Goldie to move: "That all monies received as premium npon issues of debentures under" the Additional Loan Act to date, with all interest earned by the balances of suoh additional Loan Fund, whether placed on fixed depositor on current account be at ence allocated to the various purposee for which such monies were borrowed." Carried.

Quark yino, Ac—Mr. Crowther moved : "That the Engineer be instructed to consider and report upon the advisability of having the spelling, feeding, and oth«r works in connection with stone crushing machine, done by contract instead of as now by day labour." Carried. ' M