AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9147, 31 August 1888, Page 3

AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

The regular meeting of the Auckland City Council was held yesterday evening, when there were present : —The Mayor (presiding), Messrs. Davies, Trenwith, Lennox, Grey, Crowther, Garratt, Holland, Atkin, Buchanan, Dignan, Swales, Cooper, Evans, Phillips, Hewson, and Patterson. Orchard and Plant Pests.—Mr. L. O. Howard, Acting Entomologist United States Department of Agriculture, wrote, in the absence of Professor Riley, in reply to the Council's letter of the 14th of June, and stated that Professor Riley himself had published no book upon the subject of orchard and plant pests. His publications had been, in the main, Government and State reports upon economic entomology. Mr. Howard, who had forwarded a copy of the Professor's report for the year 1886, recommended the Council to purchase Saunders' " Insects Injurious to Fruit and Fruit Trees. The Mayor said this was a reply to a letter written by the town clerk at his direction in reference to the codlin moth pest. On the motion of His Worship, it was resolved, "That the thanks of the Council be forwarded to the Department of Agriculture." The Limiting of the City Lamps.— Mr. E. B. Parsons, secretary of the Auckland Gas Company, wrote stating that he had been directed to inform the Council that the company's accounts showed so small a margin that no further reduction in the cost of lighting the city lamps could now be made. The letter was referred to the Streets Committee. Public Bodies Powers Act.—A letter received from Mr. G. S. Cooper, Colonial Secretary's Department, intimating that the Council had been gazetted subject to the provisions of the Public Bodies Powers Act, 1887, was remitted to the Finance Committee. Error in Tender.—Messrs. Bennett and Co. wrote stating that a serious mistake had been made by them in their tender for the construction of a brick culvert at the Bowling Green. In taking out the quantities, they had computed only half the superficial area of concrete work, and had forgotten to double the number in working out. They requested to be allowed tho amount for the extra concrete work, at schedule price, which would still leave their tender the lowest for brickwork. It was resolved, " That the reque-t cannot be entertained." Footbridge.Mr, W. Read requested permission to put a footbridge from one building to another in a right-of-way off Grey-street. The engineer said that the regulations did not meet a case of this kind. It was decided to grant the application.

Embankment in Union-street. —Mr. W. Thorno wrote on behalf of the trustees of the Union-street Wesleyau Church property, drawing attention to the condition of the embankment in front of that property. The trustees will be satisfied if a substantial fence were erected along the top of the embankment. The engineer reported that when the slope is properly finished there would be no footway on top, and the chapel would only bn reached by steps from the road footway ; no fencing would therefore be required. The Council resolved to reply in terms of the engineer's report. Sale of Property.—Mr. W. Beamish Morrison wrote on behalf of the New Zealand Frozen Meat and Storage Company, in reference to the tripartite agreement dated 19th February, 1884, between the Council, the Harbour Board, and that company. Cause 11 provided that all properties purchased by the said company, under the provisions of clause 3, should be resold within six months from the expiration of the term of two years ; and apparently the only property purchased by the company under this arrangement was that belonging to Mr. James Farmer, being lot 2, sec. S. This property was jointly owned by the parties to the agreement in question, and to comply with the clause, should have been sold during 1886. It was resolved, " That the sale of the property be deferred for six months."

Fencing.-—Correspondence from the Harbour Board with respect to the fencing of the railway property, upon which the engine sheds are built, near the Railway Wharf, was referred to the Streets Committee. Drainage.—Mr. J. Caradua, agent for the trustees of D. and W. Russell, wrote requesting that the Council would drain the lane known as Russell's, on the South side of Cook-street West, and he would pay half the cost of the pipes. He had been notified that the property for which he was agent must be drained into Cookstreet. It was agreed " That the work be done." A petition was received from Mr. Evans from about twelve ratepayers requesting that the drainage of Wallace and Argyle streets be proceeded with before the summer season set in. The engineer notified that plans were on the table for the drainage of these streets. The following report was read and adopted : —"The Ponsonby ward members are of opinion that the plan of the proposed drainage works in Wallace and Sarslield-streets should be amended so that the drainage from Wallace and Argyle-streefcs be carried direct to the sea, and not down Sarsfield -street, leaving the plan as it is in other respects." It was resolved, "That alternative tenders be called for brick 2 feet 6 inches, and pipes 2 feet, in Lawrence, Wallace, and Argylestreets." Account from Harbour Board.—Mr. J. Brigham, secretary of the Harbour Board, forwarded an account for the cost of formation of Hobson-street within the city boundaries (£237 5s sd), which was forwarded to the Legal Committee. Resolutions by Harbour Board.—The secretary of the Harbour Board also wrote intimating that the Board had agreed to ask the City Council to lay water-pipes down Quay-street jetty No. 2, to supply water for the shipping, and that the Board had suggested that the Council

confer with the Board re electric lighting. The letter was referred to the Streets Committee.

Public Buildings.—Mr. J. Fotheringham, on behalf of the City Court of Foresters, wrote statins that in complying with the notification or the Building Inspector in the matter of placing a hose reel, etc., at the Foresters' Hall, they had had to spend £21. They did not like to see good money thrown away. Mr. Hughes, Building Inspector, thought that the proprietors of the Foresters' Hall had cause for complaint, inasmuch as they bad been put to expense in carrying out instructions which the proprietors of other halls had disobeyed. Mr. Garratt thought it strange that no steps were taken to compel others to do so. The Building Inspector forwarded a report recommending reels for fire hose in several public buildings. The Mayor moved, " That Mr. Fotheringham's letter and Mr. Hughes' report be forwarded to the Legal Committee." Mr. Garratt moved an amendment, " That no license be granted except the instructions of the Council are carried out." The Mayor's motion was oarried.

Streets Committee.—The Streets Committee recommended as follows : —1. Letter from Allan Tfacy and Henry Brett re permit advertising board : Your committee recommend that applicants be informed if put up in compliance with the building regulations there will be no objection. 2. Letter from Town Clerk, Newmarket, re drainage works via railway: Your committee recommend a reply in effect of engineer's report be forwarded—namely, the manholeh as been finished to the satisfaction of the chairman of the Streets Committee, and pipes connected as agreed to by the joint committees when together inspecting the work, the arrangement between Council and borough being now completed, and works, so far as the Council is concerned, acting well. 3. Letter from Mr. J. P. Shanagnan and another, re private drainage Union-street: Your committee recommend reply that they will require to obtain authority under the Drainage Act. 4. Memo, from waterworks engineer re air vessels Karangahape and Kyber Pass mains: Your committee recommend that the same be fixed by tender, in terms of the engineer's report. The report was adopted. Tenders.—The following tenders were received for the plunger and rod at the pumping station:—G. Fraser and Son, £105; McCoskrie and Son, £176 ; Masefield and Son, £69 15s. The engineer's estimate was £69 15s, and the tender of Messrs. Masefield and Co. was accepted. The tender of McSheffrey and Co. (£251 14s) was accepted for gully drainage off Newton Road, the amount to be charged to the Karangahape Ward allocation. Tenders were received for the drainage of a lane off Karangahape Road, and that of Mr. D. Finnane (£4O 3s 4d) was accepted, and charged to the South Ward allocation. Kerbing and Channeling.—Mr. Holland moved, " That the engineer bo instructed to prepare plans and specifications for kerbing and channelling south side of Eden Crescent, from Princes-street to the grate in the hollow." The motion was seconded by Mr. Grey, and agreed to. Mr. Holland withdrew a part of the motion having reference to the draining, kerbing, and channelling in Jarrnyn-street.