CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8530, 2 April 1891, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

This evening being set aparb for the Citizens' Ball, the City Council held their ordinary meeting lasb night. Present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. H. Upton), Messrs. Warren, Julian, Atkin, Smith, Wright, Crowther, Holland, Far ell, Hewson, Garratb, Trenwibh, Grey, Lavers, Dignan. Mortuary Site.—A communication from the Auckland Harbour Board wa3 read, with reference to the site for the proposed mortuary. The Council was requested co defer taking further steps in the matter, pending the consideration of a letter received by the Board from Messrs. W. and G. Winstone. The letter was received. Fire Expenses.—ln answer to a letter from the Council, in reference to the expense to which the Council had been pub, on bhe occasion of the fire on board the Loading Wind, and suggesting thab the Harbour Board should contribute annually the sum of £25 towards the fire brigade expenses, the secretary of the latter body replied that the Board was willing to make tho suggested contribution, provided there was no legal difficulty in the way. The letter was received. Charitable Aid.The secretary of tho Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board forwarded a circular, requesting payment by the Council, on or before 30th April, 1891, of the sum of £1971 16s 4d, being the amount allocated to be paid by the Auckland City Council. This communication was received. Luave of Absence.—Leave of absence for one month was granted to Messrs. Paterson and Cooper. . Streets Committee's Report.With reference to a letter from Kauri Timber Company re Leylarid and O'Brien's smoke stack, the committee recommended "That reply be sent that the Council have been advised by their engineer that there is no danger anticipated, and Council cannot enforce the erection of a brick chimney. . Messrs. Leyland and O'Brien have promised to at once affix a spark catcher." Application for permission to re-shingle by W. J. Mundy, was declined ;by the committee. The report was adopted. Burgess Roll. —Mr. T. Buddie wrote

requesting that- his name should be placed on the burgess rolls as under :—Ponsonby Ward, for a property in Richmond Road, lately owned by Robert Russell, a bankrupt, and of which he was mortgagee in possession; East Ward, for a property in Upper Queen-street, which he was entitled to represent as an executor, lately owned by Mr. John Probert, deceased. Mr. J. H. Wilkins applied to have the name of his wife placed upon the burgess roll for Ponsonby, in respect of "an allotment in Caro-line-street and Dedwood Terrace, formerly owned by Mr. Adams. Referred to the Legal Committee. Legal Committee.The committee recommended :—l. That applications from Mrs. Maria Duffy and Mr. F. E. Baume be dealt with in terms of the Act. 2. Letter from 11. J. Riordan, re valuation : That reply be forwarded that the Council have no power to make alteration in valuation. 3. Letter from Town Clerk, Wellington, re Municipal Conference at Wellington: That His Worship the Mayor and Town Clerk be appointed delegates to attend same. With reference to clause 2, the Mayor pointed out that Mr. Riordan had received notice that he was assessed at £134. Subse- j quently, however, just before the Assess- I menb Court rose, he received a further j notice, making the assessment £214. He i appealed, but), of course, was too late. Nevertheless, the Court made Mr. Riordan a concession of £10. The Council had really no power to move in the matter. Mr. Crowther stated that he was opposed to the adoption of clause 3. He was of opinion that the work could be just as well done by the city representatives in Parliament, and great expense could thus be j saved. Mr. Garratt mentioned that, if the ] members of Parliament were to carry out ' this work properly, they would have to ! neglect their duties in the House. Mr. Atkin was opposed to having irresponsible representatives at this Conference. The delegates should certainly be members of the Council. The Mayor said ib was extremely unlikely that he should be able to go; and if he went, he should go somewhat unwillingly, as he did not like 1 going to Wellington. He thought the members of the Council should be sent, and there was no one more fib .to deal with municipal affairs than the | Town Clerk. There was not a better man for the work in New Zealand. He could only speak with unqualified praise of the ability of that officer, and he certainly thought that he should in no • case be left) • out. The report was then adopted. Speaking Tubes.—Mr. Farrell drew attention to the item in the. accounts of £18 for speaking tubes. He wanted to know whether the expenditure was authorised before being carried out. The Mayor stated that he had spoken to the Legal Committee on the subject, and they did not think ib necessary that the matter should be referred to the Council. He therefore authorised the work. Messrs. Crowther and Garrett strongly condemned the undertakingof the work without the consent of the Council, more especially as there was a resolution on the books against the work. Mr. Upton further explained that he was nob aware at the time that the expense would amount to £18. He felt himself that the matter should have come before the Council. The subject was then dropped. Tarring of Newton Road.—Mr. Warren moved, " That the resolution of the Council ab the last meeting charging the tarring and sanding of Newton Road to the ward allocation account, be rescinded." This was carried. Tram Sweeper.— Smith drew attention to the intolerable nuisance created by the Tramway Company in the sweeping of their lines. The dost stirred up was fright- : ful. The Mayor stated that the matter i would be seen to. I Valuer.The city valuer applied for an extension of time, owing to the frequent adjournments which had been made at the Assessment Court, for the preparation of the burgess roll. Fourteen days extra were granted. Costley Investment Conmittee.—Mr. Atkin was appointed a member of this committee in place of Mr. Goldie. Urinals.Mr. Garratb moved, "That tenders be called for the building of urinals in terms of engineer's report in Ponsonby, Symonds-street, and Beresford-street." He said the work was an absolute necessity. An amendment, moved by Mr. Smith, " That the question bo referred back to the Streets Committee," was carried. General Rath. — The Mayor moved, " That the necessary notice be given that the Council will, on Thursday, April 6, make and levy a general rate of one shilling in the £, payable in one sum on the Ist day of June next." The resolution was carried.