CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8775, 15 January 1892, Page 6

CITY COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of the Council won held last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. W. Crowther) and Messrs. Paterson, Hewson, Cooper, Swales, Dignan, Luks, Atkin, Kidd, Farreli, Wright, Holland, Grey. La vers, Warren, Oarratt, and Dr. Walker.

Street Name Plates. —The agentof the Patent Letter and Enamel Company wrotts from London offering to supply name plates for the streets at 4|d per 4 inch block letter Referred to the Streets committee to re port. Picture of Sir George Grey.Mr. T F. Cheeseman wrote, at the requeet of Capi tain Gilbert Mail*, offering a loan of Mrs. Mair's portrait of Sir George Gray for exhibition in the Art Gallery. Offer accepted with thanks, and placiug of picture referred to the hanging committee. Resignation Tendered. — Mr. J. H. Upton forwarded his resignation as tho Council's representative on the Auckland Harbour Board, on the grouud that he had ceased to bo a member of the Council. Resignation accepted. For the vacant position Messrs. Farreli, Wright, and Holland were nominated, and a ballot resulted in tho election of Mr. Wright. The Dor Collar Contract. Mr. G. F. Hill, the contractor for tho supply of dog collars, asked that the Council should make him an allowance, his contract now being completed, as he had made a mistake in tendering at so low a price as £1 2s Gd per hundred. No action taken. Dot; Registration.— About 100 ratepayers petitioned for a reduction of the present dog registration feo from 10s to ss, and suggested that if such a reduction were made and the payment of the fee rigidly enforced, the Corporation would not suffer, financially, while the streets would become less infested with the class of dogs the tax was intended to reduce. The petitioners urged that the reduction of the fee to a reasonable amount would load to its payment by .many of those who now evaded it. In connection with this matter Miss Sara Spilsbury wrote as follows: — " If you agree to '.he reduction of the dog tax you will require a person of strict impartiality to send in the names of those keeping dogs without a license. To avoid putting you to this expense, I offer you my services, and hopo that neither my sex nor my wish to assist in so good "a cause without remuneration, will prevent you from appointing me to the office." Miss Spilsbury's application w;is declined, and the petition referred to the Streets Committee. Domain Fencing.—Mr. T. Fernandez wrote, complaining of the dilapidated condition of the fence dividing the Domain from tho property tenanted by him in Grafton Road, and stated that, in consequence thereof, he had suffered considerable damage from tho incursions of cows. The Mayor stated that the matter was already in the hands of the Legal Committee, who intended visiting the locality. Church Services at Waikomiti. — Mr. W. Beaumont applied on behalf of the Pitt-street Wesleyan Church tor permission to conduct three services per month in the Waikomiti Mortuary Chapel. Granted. City Refuge.—The chairman of tho Mount Albert Road Board notified that that that body had decided not to permit any tnoro city refuse to be deposited in their district, on account of its becoming a dangerous nuisance. Mr. Maurice Casey wrote that the various suburban authorities objected to it being deposited in their districts, and that he had been threatened with legal proceedings. He therefore asked tho Council to provide a depot for its receipt within a reasonable distance of town. Mr. Cooper said he had been given to understand that in some places a great nuisance existed. Mr. Atkin said Mr. Casey was not a contractor under the corporation, and the Council had nothing to do with it. The Mayor said the Council had this to do with it, that if the refuse were not removed from the city the matter would soon be brought forcibly under their notice. lie had an idea that the City should have a depot, of its own, but as it was a question that ought to be very carefully dealt with, he moved "That the letters on the subject be referrod to the Legal Committee." The motion was carried. Collector's Salary.--Mr. E. Bennett, city collector, wrote drawing attention to the injustice done him by the Council increasing other salaries, including that of the assistant clerk, an officer six or seven years his junior, and deliberately passing over him. When Mr. Payne was made treasurer, he (Mr. Bennett) had been led to understand that his salary would be increased. Mr. Garratt asked if the question of the officers' salaries could be re-opened, and the Mayor replied that .-ih officer's salary could be increased at any time. Mr. Hewson moved that the letter bo received. Mr. Cooper moved, as an amendment, that Mr. Bennett's salary be increased by £25 per year, and pointed out that Mr. Bennett had been supposed to be promoted when ho was appointed collector, and yet the present holder of his former position o assistant clerk was now being more higbij- remunerated. Mr. Holland seconded the amendment. and expressed the opii ion that as Mr. Bennett had been promised an increase whenever any increases were male, he had been unjustly treated in not receiving it. Mr. Garratt said it appeared to him that the Council at its hist meeting had fixed the salaries for the year, and that without a motion to rescind the application could not be entertained. If the question was to be re opened he would be in favour of all the salaries being re considered. The Mayor ruled that the matter must be allowed to drop, as there was an unreseinded motion on the Council's records to the effect that salaries for each year should be fixed on a specified date. Of course any councillor could give notice to have that motion rescinded, but it appeared to him that Mr. Bennett had been quite satisfied with his salary until that of the assistant clerk was increased. Grafton Ward Works. —Mr. Thomas Mulvihill applied to the Council for an allowance of £13 10s Sd, the amount he had actually lost on a contract for drainage in Carlton Gore Road. He had met with very hard scoria, which retarded his progress, and enormously increased the cost of the work. No action taken. Uiter Nelson-stkeet.Four ratepayers petitioned to have the eastern side of Upper Nelson-street kerbed and channelled from the edge of the gully to Union-street, and to have the footpath formed, tarred, and sanded. The engineer reported that the works asked for would cost £'_'5. Referred to the Streets Committee. Albert-street Swimming Bath.The Auckland Swimming Club applied to have the rent for the use of the Albert-street Bath for night entertainments reduced to 10s per night, the club paying all charges such as lighting, caretaker, etc. Referred to the Bath Committee. The rev-street Fire. — Messrs. E. Mahoney and Sons applied for permission to repair the buildings in Grey-street belonging to Colonel Dawson, which were damaged by lire on tho 2nd inst. The City Engineer, reporting on the application, explained the circumstances, and stated that he offered no objection to the required permission being granted. Referred to the Streets Committee with power to act. House Allowance.—BrigadeSuperindendent Hughes requested the Council to re-consider his application for an allowance towards payment of the high rent charged for his residence next the Brigade Central Station. He considered his residence in the immediate vicinity of "the station a necessity, resulting in a considerable saving to the Council, and stated that at considerable cost to himself he had made the house suitable not only as a residence, but also as an office for the Brigade services. He pointed out that lie was performing tho duties of building inspector, an office to which a salary of £175 had been previously attached, without additional remuneration, and that some time ago he had consented to a reduction in his salary of £50 per year.—No action taken.

Cabmen's Licenses.— A cabman who hud been refused his license at the corporation office until fie made application to the Council, appealed to have it granted, asking the Council to look over his little mistakes, and give him another chance. During the year he had been convicted of having no lights on his vehicle, of beini* found asleep when in charge, and of leaving his cab unattended. After some discussion, it was decided to grant the license, it being generally thought that t.he applicant's good character justified the. Council in overlooking his trivial offences. Rokeby-street Footpath. — In consequence of continued trespass of vehicles on

the footpaths in Rokeby-street, Mr. W. J. Elliott asked that they be kerbed and channelled. The engineer replied that the application had come in too late for inspection, bub that the street was so narrow that kerbing on both sides would prevent vehicles turning in it.. Deferred for engineer's report. St. Paul's Crukoh Site.—On behalf of the vestry of St. Paul's Anglican Church, the secretary wrote relative to the proposed exchange of the church site for another property, and stated that the vestry had passed the following resolution : —" That the properties offered by the City Council, namely, at the corner of Mount and Wake-field-streets, and certain sections adjacent to the public school in Wellesley-street are unsuitable, and that the vestry regret to have to decline, therefore, to entertain the question of exchange in respect of either of the properties submitted." The Town Clerk was instructed to acknowledge the receipt of the letter, and to point out that the Council had offered no properties for exchange, but had only asked the vestry to look round and select, for the Council's consideration, a property which they would be willing to accept in lieu of tho site opposite the foot of Princes-street. Ponsonby Drainage.—Mr. Swales presented a petition complaining of. the unfinished state of the drain in Green-street, Ponsonby, and asking the Council to take steps to preserve the health of the residents of the neighbourhood. Referred to the ward members. Lkgal Committee. — This committee recommended as follows :— Memo, from City Solicitor, covering draft assignment by Bank of New Zealand Estates Company of Tramway Company's concessions : That Council absent to the draft agreement with the clauses added by the City Solicitor in his letter of 9th December last. 2. Memo, from Town Clerk re admission of school children to Albert-street Baths : That the concession re baths be not extended to schools outside the city. 3. Memo, from Engineer re repairs to pumps, Ponsonby : That tenders be called for the work, returnable at next meeting. 4. That Mr. Cooper be appointed chairman of the Legal Committee. The report was adopted, a motion to strike out the last clause being negatived. Water Supply.—The Mayor said that the quantity of water now being used in the city was something frightful. During December 57,800,000 gallons • had been pumped, ten millions mora than any previous month the city knew of. Wharf Turncock. —lb was decided to appoint the former assistant, Mr. J. H, Higgins, to the position of wharf turncock. Library Rate.—On tho motion of the Mayor, it was agreed that on the 4th February the Council should strike a library rate of id in the £.