AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8663, 4 September 1891, Page 6

AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of tho City Council was held last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. J. H. Upton), and Messrs. Garratt, Warren, Trenwith, Lennox, Crowther, Holland, Atkin, Farrell, Dignan, Swales, Cooper, Laver, Hewson, Paterson, Smith, Wright, Julian, and Grey. Municipal Association. — The Wellington Town Clerk forwarded a copy of the rules adopted by the Municipal Association of New Zealand. Referred to the legal committee to report. Art Gallery Extension. Dr. J. L. Campbell and Mr. D. L. Murdoch, trustees for the late J. T. Mackelvie, intimated their acceptance, with pleasure, of tho Council's iuvitation to act with the library committee in considering tho question of extending the Art Gallery to provide accommodation for the Mackelvie collection. Received.

Building Removal. —Mr. S. M. Herapath, architect, applied for permission to remove a wooden building on an allotment in Eden Crescent, from its present position to another part of the same ground. The city engineer reported that, to grant tho application would be contrary to the building regulations. Referred to the Streets Committee to report. Serious Accusation. —The secretary of the Trades and Labour Council wrote, stating that some members of the cab-driving fraternity wore in the habit of levying blackmail upon many of their passengers, and upon a class of unfortunate women. A practice, he said, which was calculated to bring discredit upon tho respectable and peaceful cabmen. He had been instructed by his Council to ask if the City Council could not see its way to discourage tho evil by declining to issue licenses for driving until the applicants had been favourably reported on by the police authorities, and by cancelling the licenses of those who violated tho law. Tho Mayor said that when the question of licensing cabmen was before the Council a great deal of consideration had been given as to what was best to be done, and it was only upon assurance of good behaviour that several licenses had been granted. It was an importanb matter, but as the complaint made was general and not specific he did nob think the Council could do more than reply that they did exercise from time to time a supervision over the licenses. Mr. Garratt moved "That the Trades and Labour Council be informed that the Council does exercise a supervision over the licensees, and bo requested to supply information as to any particular cases of blackmail which had come to their knowledge." Mr. Crowther seconded the motion, and thought an addition should be made to it to the effect that the Council was not in the habit of dealing with such generalities. Mr. Cooper moved, an an amendment, " That the Trades and Labour Council bo informed that tho City Council is prepared to prosecute if evidence is brought forward of any breach of tho law." The amendment having lapsed for want of a seconder, the motion was put and carried. Old St. Paul's Church.Mr. W. H. Skinner, architect, applied on behalf of the vestry of St. Paul's Church to have tho permanent levels fixed of the various angles, defining the site of o'd St. Paul's Church, with the view of building levels and tho position of approaches thereto. Mr. Skinner to be informed that tho engineer would do the work required on payment of the usual fee.

Asphalting.—Mr. John W. James wrote complaining that the footpath in front of his property in Ponsonby Road had not been asphalted, and asked that the work should be done. He said he ought not to be required to pay half the costs, as in other parts of the city that condition had not been enforced. The Mayor moved that the work be done, but, on being put, the motion was lost. Ax Artificial Hand.—Mr. A. Mackie wrote asking permission to use a portion of an allotment situated in Bowen-streot for the purpose of demonstrating the advantages of an attachment devised by him, for the injured arm of Mr. Mildenhall. New Mortuary.—The Auckland Harbour Board intimated* that they had decided to grant a sit', upon Hobson-street reclamation for a new mortuary. Received. Petition's. —Mr. Swales presented a petition from residents in O'fteil-street, asking that a thoroughfare should be made to connect that street with Olipbant-street. Referred to the Streets Committee. Mr. Swales also presented r. petition asking for a lamp in Douglas-street, Ponsonby, and it was referred to the Lighting Committee. Streets Committee.— committee reported as follows : —l. Letter from Edward Bartley, re permit building, Durham-street: Your committee have authorised issue of permit. 2. Letter from Charles M. Newson, re permit for iron building, Albertstreet : Your committee recommends that the samo bo granted, subject to a six months' notice to remove, on condition that the~presont structure complained of is removed. 3. Letter from Adam Brock, for Alex. Sim, re permit for building : Your committee cannot recommend, being contrary to building regulations. Adopted. Finance Committee.This committee reported as follows : —l. Annual insurances : Your committee hua instructed that the amount of risks remain as before, and that tho insurances be effected in the same offices, viz., the National, New Zealand, South British, and Union Companies. 2. Letter from agent of the Public Trustee, offering £250 in surrender of Harker's lease of lots 3, 4, and 5, section 35 : Your committee recommend that a reply be forwarded to the Public Trustee, that the present value of tho surrender of the allotments in question (if they would renliso half the rentals now paid) would be £720, and that the value of the allotments has been deteriorated by excavation, but that the Council will, under the circumstances, accept the sum of £500 with surrender of leaso. Adopted. Surrender of Property.A memorandum from the Town Clerk stated that Mrs. Schlinker had paid the rates due, and surrendered her property in Albert-street. Referred to the Finance Committee.