AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8353, 5 September 1890, Page 6

AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

The Auckland City Council met yesterday evening. Present : The Mayor (Mr. Upton), Messrs. Patterson, Hewson, Lavers, Wright, Cooper, Swales, Diguan, Smith. Atkin, Holland Crowther, Grey, Lennox, Farrell, Trenwith, Warren, Davies, and Philips (Tov/n Clerk). Cox's Creek Bridge.—Mr. Currie, Town Clerk of Newton, forwarded a resolution of the Council of that borough, asking the City Council to take charge of Coxs Creek Bridge and its approaches, the Newton Borough Council agreeing to pay half the cost of repairs and maintenance. They asked that the repairs be undertaken as soon as possible. It was resolved to call for tenders for the work. The Grammar School Rates.—The Board of Governors of the Auckland College and Grammar School stated that the recent demand made by the Council's collector forthe payment of rates upon the school buildings and grounds was the first intimation they received that the Board was liable for those rates, and that the Board had had no opportunity of appealing against the valuation. They asked, therefore, that sub-section 4 of section 2 of the Rating Act, 1882, be brought into force. The Mayor said that the Grammar School was purely a public school, ond it was entirely owing to an accident that the property was rateable. There could be no doubt that the Board, were technically liable, though morally they were exempt. The letter was referred to the Finance Committee. TllK PUNAKITERK ENDOWMENT.—A letter written by the Minister of Lauds to Mr. D. Goldie. regarding the Punakitere endowment belonging to the Council, was read. This letter stated that the terms and scope of the arrangement between the Council mid the Government as to the lease of the land, had been carefully considered before the Government were " advised that there was uo valid contract, as stated in a letter previously written to the Council. Under existing circumstances, what the Government could do would be to administer the endowment on behalf of the borough in the ordinary way, under the provisions of the Land Act, 18&), or, if the borough should prefer it, the portion which had not been disposed of could be handed back to the borough, the rents on the portion which had been let being handed over as they were received. Mr. Crowther condemned the action of the Government in regard to this endowment, which they had leased from the Council for the purposes of special settlement. The Mayor said that the matter was in this position : Certain correspondence had been entered into with the Government about leasing the land, and the lease was agreed to, the Government accepting it at Is 3d per acre, but thev had r.o power to make an agreement by deed, and they said they would get it by Parliamentary power. However, no deed was drawn up, and the only papers on the subject were the letters between the Government and the Council. The question was referred to the Finance Committee. Tub Whau Bridge.— The notice in the Government Gazette, apportioning the cost of maintaining the Whau Bridge, was laid before the Council. The proportions borne by the local bodies are as follow :—Waiteinata County Council, 24'48 ; Avondale Road Hoard, 648; Auckland City Council, 5 48: Newton Borough Council, :V4S ; Mt. Albert Road Board, 345; Point Chevalier, 245; Archhill, 2'48; Mount Eden, 248; Eden Terrace, I'4S. Mr. Lennox considered this apportionment very severe upon the city. Morode.—The Colonial Secretary's Department notified the Council that the Inspector of Police at Auckland had reported to the Government; that that city would shortly be left without a morgue, and directed attention to the fact that by the Public Health Act they were required to provide such a building. The letter was referred to the Legal Committee, Ikon Store. — Messrs. Kcmpthorne, Prosser and Co. asked tor a permit to erect an iron store on the vacant allotment next their warehouse in Klliott-stree 1 .. Mr. Anderson reported that Mr. Devore, when Mayor, ruled that no iron buildings shoull be erected within the inner area. The application was declined. Coal Contract.—Mr. James Smiih wrote regarding the increased difficulties of 'jus coal contract through the labour agitation, fi-tights having been raised, whilst the price of coal was to be advanced Is per ton at the pit f-om the Ist September, except in the case of ihe Bay of Islands Coal Company, and tl« carters' tariff had been raised. He askcu the Council to assist him. Mr. Crowther moved'"That Mr. Smith be allowed to terminate his contract at a mouth's notice." Mr. Lennox suggested that a temporary concession should be iiiade until the labour agitation ceased. The motion was agreed

to, Streets and Street Formation.—Mr. Davis presented a petition from propertyowners at the east Bide of Upper Pitt-street between Karaka and Randofpn streets, askin;,' that the street be formed to its permanent I'jvel and proper width. The petition was referred to the Karaugahape Ward members. A petition from Mr. Cooper, from residents of Frospecc-strecG, Ponsonby, calling attention to the bad condition of that thoroughfare, and the danger caused by the open drains there, was sent to the Ponsonby Ward members. Mr.W. Jarvisasked that the earth in Montague-street be removed to the fixed level, in order that he might erect fencing. In <« report previously submitted, Mr. Anderson stated that he saw no absolute necessity to cut the ground to the permanent levels. The ground was side-lying, and if it were cut for the fencing, then the roadway in Montague and Karaka streets would also have to be cut, This letter was referred to the ward members.

Streets Committee.—The Streets Committee recommended :—l. Petition from the ratepayers of Upper Pitt-street re asphalting : Your committee recommends that the work of tarring and sanding be done at a cost of £8. 2. Levels of three streets, Ponsonby Ward : Dunedin-street — Your committee recommends that the levels as advertised be fixed ; Lawrence-street—Your committee recommends that an alteration be made, as suggested by Mr. Bartley and others, and that the levels be re-advertiswl; St. Francis de Sales-street—Your committee recommends that the levels be altered as shown on the plan by blue line, to show a three-feet cutting instead of seven feet, as at present, and that the levels be re-advertised. 3. Tenders for iron boiler at the abattoirs : Your committee recommends that the tender of S. Fairweather for wrought iron boiler (£7 19s) be accepted. 4. Letter from J. C. Pelham, re rink fittings, City Market: Your committee recommends that £10 be paid for certain fixtures. 5. Letter from J. McComish, re lamp, Cross-street: Your committee recommended that the Karangahape Ward members be authorised to remove one of the laniDS in Upper Queen - street. 6. Memo from the Engineer re offer by Mr. McMath as to the England-street formation : Your committee recommends that the work as suggested by the engineer be included in the contract, conditionally on Mr. McMath giving his consent in writing. In regard to clause 6, Mr. McMath wrote stating that if the Council would raise his house, erect his fence, and slope the bank to the proper ■width, he would withdraw his objection to the work in England-street. Mr. Cooper said he would oppose the work on these conditions. After considerable discussion, during which it was stated that the work mentioned by Mr. McMath would cost £10 or £15, the report was adopted. The jilans for the work in England-street were laid on the table. DRAINAGE. —Regarding the letter from Messrs. Ashton and Son, for Mrs. Porter, with respect to drainage off Graftou Road, the Ural ton Ward members reported at) follows :—" Having visited the ground, we recommend the pit and gratuig be removed three chains further down, and a 9 or 12-inch pipe laid across the road, to connect with the sewer in Domain gully." The report was adopted. Insurances.—The Finance Committee reported:—(l) Memo, from the Town Clerk, and (*2) letter from the insurance companies re the renewal of insurances, referred, with power to act: Your committee has resolved as follows: fa) That the amount of insurance on tuc contents of the Municipal Building be not altered ; (b) that the question of amount of insurance on building l»e referred to the Council for its further consideration and decision ; (c) that tht) remaining insurances be renewed. The report was adopted, and it was decided that the insurance on the building should be £10,000. Books for the Library.—The Library and Advisory Committees reported, with regard to the purchase of new books for the Fiee Library : The committees having considered the lists of books submitted, approve the same, and recommend that they be purchased. Divided into subjects, they range as follows: Spitzer collection, 6 volumes, £10; history, 8.'5 volumes, £41 18s ; biography, 10ti volumes, £.<7 fis l<1; English, 11 volumes, £5 jlh; miscellaneous works, 14.S volumes, £86 Is (id; A.B.C. lists,2So volumes, £I7:J l'2s 4d ; industrial arts, 58 volumes, £44 9s 3d; classical, ]!) volumes, £!(> 13s; scientific, 19 volumes. £12 13s; religious, 48 volumes, £30 jHh ; making 77.'f volumes, at a total price of ■C4K) 2h 2d. It was agreed to procure the books as recommended.

I'IOTUKK FOR AllT GALLKRV.—Mr. K. A. Maakeohuio, President of the Auckland .Society of ArtH, asked permission to [>hic« in the Art Gallery temporarily a picture presented to the society by Mr. Do Forrest, a Canadian artist, who is travelling in this uolony. The consent of the Council was given. MtsoKLiutNKuuM. Applications from C. R. *,pnorg, M. Thomson (through Mr. Stewart), ,u)(l Ft, Walker, were Hone' to the Lngal Cominittoo, The secretary of the Hoard of Education ro<iuesttid uayiucut o* ha *cu;ount for

£8 9s for repairs to the street drain near the Nelson-street School. It was decided to pay the account. Wirth Brothers applied fora permit to erect canvas in the School Reserve in - street for the Wild West Show. The request was granted on the usual conditions. The Finance Committee recommended, as a result of the discussion regarding the condition of the urinal at the Opera House, that a urinal be erected in the centre of Elliottstreet, market entrance, 40 feet from Welles-ley-street. It was resolved to place the building in the market yard. The New Zealand Federated Carters' Union forwarded a copy of their tariff. The Mayor said there was practically no difference between the rates and those paid by the Council. The letter was referred to the Streets Committee.