CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7364, 26 June 1885, Page 6

CITY COUNCIL.

The regular meeting of the City Council was held last night. 1 Present His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Holland,' Cooper, Upton, Devore, Crowther, Connelly, Kidd„ Laßoche, Goldie, Bums, Montague, and Garrett. * ' '* "

' Crossing at Union Bank.—Messrs. Hesketh and Richmond wrote on behalf of the Union Bank of. Australia, in regard to a grievance which the bank had in connection with some work done near their Queen-street premises, in the removal of the. crossing which they had laid down at their own cost, and asked that it might be replaced. The City Engineer reported that it was not desirable to; have two crossings bo near each other as that at the bank entrance and at the corner of Victoria-street, but if the bank paid the cost of a wood crossing the Council might permit it to be done.—Jt was agreed to reply in accordance with the report permitting the crossing at the bank's expense..

A Fence.Mr. M. Chambers drew attention to damage caused to his fence by the water from Wood.street.—The Engineer reported that it would be examined, and if caused by the Council, a remedy would be effected.—lt was agreed that the Engineer examine, and report'to the* Council at its next meeting. ■ Cemetery Wall.—Mr. Wm. Cochrane, on behalf of the Trust Board, wrote asking the Council to undertake 'tho work of erecting the Cemetery wall), and if so, what sum the Board would be expected to contribute, or should the Council not agree to this, he asked what kind of foundat ions the Council would reqaire.-~The City Engineer advised that the trustee)! be' required to build the wall themselves, /arid if the Council was agreeable to assist that they pay the cost of the concrete" wall above the street level. Referred to Engineer to report as to estimate of cost. '■ ••'v.i'"'" ' v " : V _ • Permit. +— 'Messrs. Fenton and Co., butchers, Victi>ria-street, asked a permit for the erection of a. stable, wood ? and iron, at the back of'their premises. —The Building Surveyor reported that it was in accordance with the by-laws,, - but required the consent of the Council.'—

Mr. Shawns Complaint.—Mr. John Shaw again wrote I regarding his dismissal from the Council's 'employment as; overseer, and explained several'matters in connection with the works on Which he was _ engaged.—The City Engineer' reported that in any case the Inspectors Will - be dispensed with >•' as the Works they are engaged on are completed.^ Referred to the Streets Committee.

Complain®.—Mr. H. - Hauohard wrote complaining of-' the arbitrary conduct of the nightsoil contractor in refusing to empty his closet, on the ground that arrears were duo by a previous . tenant.—lnspector Goldid* reported on the matter. He told Mr. Hanchard that if he paid '2s. he , (Mr. . Goldie) would make ft sppcial ( . order on the contractor to empty ' the' closet.—Mr. Garratt _ and Mr. Laßoche considered that the question ought to be-set at rest. .It was a great hardship on incoming —Referred to the Legal Committee.- ...

r Lamp. P. Schenk asked permission to erect a lamp .under the verandah of Mr. - Berger's shop, Victoria-Streak —Granted, subject to the usual conditions.. The Messenger's Apartments. — Mr. Lovell, ojiiretaker and messenger, asked for an alteration in the windows of his sleeping room.—lt was agreed to comply with the request at a coat of £8. \ Permit. •>—m. Atkinson asked permission to ereot a lean-to, to be covered and enclosed with corrugated iron; at Mb residence. Cook-street.-—Referred to the: Building Surpeyor for his report as to whether it waß in accordance with the bnilding,regulations. Gra*tqn-road — Mr. F. A. White, for the trustees of the Grafton • road Wesleyan Church, asked to have the embankment removed, so that they might erect a new fence on the permanent level of the street. —The Engineer reported that the cost would be about £120.—Referred to the Streets Committee.

Tender for Lease.—Antonio Martin applied to lease allotment No. 40, Picton-street,, offering to pay £10 a year, that being the reserve.— appeared that it was necessary to re-advertise it, and it was agreed to do so at the cost of the purchaser. Jermyn-street.—Mr. J. P. Courtayne drew attention to the deplorable state of Jermynstreet East. It was almost impassable for cabs or vehicles, and the metal was so large that it would not set.—The Engineer was called, and said he had ordered the steam roller to go over the road as soon as possible, and he was instructed to blind the metal.

Legal Committee.—The committee recommend as follows—Letter from Devoie and Cooper, on behalf of N. G. Lennox, ire claim for damage to verandah : Committee cannot reoommend the claim being enter* tained.Doman Board balance-sheet re Cricket Ground, submitted by Mr. Mumford : That the authority of tho Council be asked to promote a Bill having for its object the vesting of the Doman property in the oity.— The report was adopted. Balances and Finance.—The usual statement of balances and accounts was read ; also the returns from the various departments.

Sanitary Matters.—The Sanitary In. spector reported one case of typhoid fever in Karangahape district; also one case of typhoid and two. cases of diphtheria in Ponsonby, and two oases of typhoid in the Korth Ward.Dr. Tennant, Visiting Inspector to the Lock Hospital, reported that there were seven women under treatment.

Questions. —In reply to questions by Mr. Goldie, the Engineer reported that the Ponsonby-road contract was taken over on the 16th May, 1884. The metalling was completed when the contract was taken over, No deficiency existed. The formation and metalling on this contract were carried out to Mr. McCarthy's pegs, who did all the levelling on the work. . He was not aware that any defioienoy was ascertained. All the heights and measurements were made by Mr. McCarthy, but he, Mr. Anderson, passed, daily through the works, and gave auoh instructions as were necessary for the) proper conduct of the work.Mr, Goldie Wished to>refer to the questions but Mr. Devdre rose to a point of order;' It had been ruled before, that when questions were put in writing and answered, no discussion should be allowed.—Mr. Upton urged that the parliamentary rule was, that the person putting questions had the right to make them intelligible, by explanation. — The Mayor ruled that any business must be brought before the Council by motion, and he should rule accordingly. Mr. Goldie could take steps to follow up the subject by notice of motion. —In reply to Mr. Upton as to a depression in Patteson-atreet, the Engineer reported that when the works <were completed there would be no depresaidn.—Mr.- Upton complained that one ; of his questions 'was not explicitly answered, tad < asked permission to ask the Engineer the question. The question was whether the depression would be brought to a level, and the reply was that it would be brought to contract leveL He further explained what was meant was the fixed level. Kabangahafe-road.— Garratt presented a petition, sighed' by Mr. Davis and about 100 others, against altering the name of Karangahapetr6£d, as itkpresent name was suitable, and an alteration Would cause great inconvenience.—The petition was referred to the Legal Committee, to. whom the previous petition had been sent. Stone Metai*— reply to Messrs. Grosvenor and Co., as to their stone-breaking machine, the Engineer reported that a sufficient supply was obtained from the Council's crusher.lt was agreed to inquire at what price the applicants would supply 4000 yards of 2J-inch metal within the next three months.

< Finance Committee's Report. — The Mayor read the report of the committee, and said the manner in which the accounts were now now made up relieved the Council of the oharge of having their accounts so made as to require more than ordinary intelligence to Understand them. The report was as follows :— u I.' That the accounts as presented to thd Counoil by the Treasurer are prepared in conformity with the order of the Governor-in-Council. 2. That No, 13 of the printed accounts for March 31st, 1885, be prepared in future after the manner of the form marked A, accompanying this report, such form being a modification of the form of account required by law, but not contrary thereto. 3. That, in addition to the annual statement of acoounts laid before the Council by the Treasurer, a statement showing the operation of the accounts of the Council alter the manner of the form marked 8 accompanying this, report bp also laid before them, such form being a modification of a return requiring tp be made by. the Treasurer ,to the Government. fc , * The . statement marked JB shows that, after allowing to each special fund the interest and premium to which it ia entitled, the general account is deficient £26,23148 2d, 4. The Counoil to take into

consideration its financial position. 5. That to meet the wear and tear of the Waterworks plant, a conservation fnnd account be opened." The Mayor explained what was being done in regard to the matter of day labour. * He moved the adoption of the report,—Mr. Upton commented Qo'the faot that the accounts were only made up to the end of March, and it was now nearly the end of Jane, and . there bad been no abatement of expenditure, and it was important that they should lose no time. li there was any more delay they would be . guilty of" neglect of doty. He referred to the fact that in .Pon-sonby-road alone the Council had to spend a large amount out of its ordinary revenue after the contract was completed, and it would ba worth the Council's while to conaider. whether for some months after a con* tract was completed the maintenance of these roads should not be made a charge on loan instead of revenue. —Finally the report was adopted. '. . <Y ; Habboub Boaed Amendment. — The Mayor said that the proposed amendment to th« Harbour Act had been prepared, in which it was provided that roads on reclamation should be made by the Harbour Board before they are taken over by the Council. He moved, "That a copy be sent to the Harbour Board with an intimation that the Council were taking steps to have it added to the Harbour Act." This was agreed to. H08305-STBBET.—'Mr. Montague moved, " That the deed of agreement between the inhabitants of Hobson-street and the Council be referred to the Legal Committee; in order to take the necessary steps to have it completed and signed.''^—Mr. Cooper objected to this as it bound the Council, and the deed was in no way different from that which had baen previously before the Council.—Mr. Upton supported Mr. Cooper's view, and felt that the arbitration clause would land the Council in endless expense and trouble.—Mr. Cooper said the solicitor had not carried out the instructions ,of ' the Council, and he moved that it be referred back to the solioitor, with instructions to strike out all portions of the deed binding the Council to perform the work, and the arbitration clause.—Mr. Devore asked to have the deed read, In order that they might find wherefrom the Council were bound to dp the work. He was unable to discover it.—The deed was read by the Town Clerk, and it was then seen that it only enumerated the work to be done. No time was mentioned, and it was only provided that when they did the work they would do it according ,to the levels of the Engineer's report in the fourth schedule, &c. —Mr. Upton, Mr. Garratt an;2 Mr. Crowther objected to the arbitration clause, and Mr. Garratt moved that the matter be referred to the Legal Committee to obtain counsel's opinion as to the effect of the dead,.—Mr. Montague ( accepted this instead of his motion, and it was carried.

The Steam Roller. —Mr Garratt, in accordance with notice, moved "That the whole question of working the steam roller be referred to the Streets Committee, more especially to consider the practicability of closing the thoroughfares for vehicles while the same is being used, or, where this is found impossible or inadvisable, the roller to be used at night only," There were, he said, many grounds for urging his motion, on the grounds of economy and public safety. He spoke at some length in support of his motion. —The Mayor seconded the resolution, and it was carried.