AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10126, 8 May 1896, Page 3

AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

Tiir usual meeting of the City Council was held lust night, in the Council Chamber, when His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. J. Holland) presided, and tho following membors were also present:—Messrs. Garratt, Warren, Farrell, Cairns, Dignau, Courtney, White, Patterson, Clover, Baumo, Thome, Hewson, Trenwith, Hesketli, Kidd. Mr. Gorrie, cliiof clork, acted as Town Clerk, in the absence of Mr. P. A. Philips,

' Cokrespondknck.— The Auckland Football Association wrote offering £20 a season for the use of the Domain Cricket Ground, in order to help the introduction of the association game into the city schools. A letter was attached from Mr. R. J. Yates (caretaker), in which he would not advise the Council to grant the request to let the ground, as he could not get it into order again in time for cricket next year, if football were played on it. On the Mayor'a motion the matter was referred to the Ground Committed. Mr. E. Trcndall complained of the damage done to his property in Vermont-street by tho inflow of surface water from that street, The engineer stated that the clerk of works had been advised to attend to tho matter and it was decided to reply in terms of tho engineer's report. G. F. Kretschmur asked permission to erect a small iron building at the back of Hewin's property in Wellesleystreet, and on the motion of Mr. Dignan it was granted. Robert Tudehope also requested permission to erect a building on an allotment in Wolleslny-sU'eet, which was grunted. R. Jonkinson wrote re Victoria Arcade and the water supply, and the first was received and the latter referred to the Water Committee. The Council's attention was drawn by Messrs. Brown, Barrett, and Co. to the necessity of a footpath from Queen-street to the main entrance of the railway station, and after the engineer's report on the estimated cost had been read, the letter was referred to the Streets Committee.

Water Supply.— Mayor stated that the Engineer had reported on the bore holes at Western Springs, and moved that his report should ho sent on to the Streets Committee, and on Mr. Farrell'a suggestion copies were to bo gent round to each member of the Council. Messrs. Vaile and Sons, on behalf of the owners of the South Wairoa Falls, drew the Council's atteution to that property as a source of wator supply for the city of Auckland, and the letter was referred to the Water Committee.

Electric Tramways' Lease.—Mr. Garratt took exception to the following recommendation of the Legal Committee :— " Delegation of powers—electric trams: Referred to receive and consider draft agreement submitted by city solicitor : ' Your committee recommends execution by Council of agreoment as approved, and to be engrossed and submitted to Council at its meeting on 7th May." and moved an amendment to the Mayor's motion adopting the recommendation, to the effect that the lease be altered to admit of rating. He could not see why principles should be abrogated in the case of a company any more than in the case of private porsons. It was proposed to exempt the company from rates not only as recards the plant on tho streets, but of all property, which ho eontended was not right. The Mayor said the lease was the same as that of 1882 in that respect. Mr. Trenwith thought the leases should be the same. Mr. Warren said if the Council had made an error in remitting rates in the past they should not do it now. Mr. Glover would support the amendment as they were giving awey the city's birthright— the centre of the road— a number of vears. The Mayor: Yes, hut the company will pay £300 a year for it. His Worship then explained that only the rolling stock and sheds for covering it ware exempt, and not the company's offices, etc, in the city. Several other members spoke, and, after a division the amendment was lost and the recommendation was adopted.

Traffic By-laws.-An application from Edward Lamer for a driver's license was refused, and that of Thomas Henry Calvert was cancelled. The consideration of camelling the license of W. V. Morley was referred to the Legal Committee.

Cabstands.— Baume drew attention) to the state of the cab-stands in various parts o? Queen-street, and the horrible smells arising from them. Ho could not blame the Council's workmen, who did their beat i hut their best was not good enough for a city like Auckland. The smell was often abominable, and he bought the Council should either employ more men or take some steps to render the cleaning of those places more efficient. The Mayor replied that the stands were swept and cleaned twice a day, and mentioned that a report upon them by the Traffic Inspector _ had been sent on to the Streets Committee, and the same committee could then look into Mr. Baume's matter also. Mr. Glover wished at the same time to call notice to the habit the trams had of pulling up right ovor the street crossings to allow passengers to alight, and remarked tliat the practice on wet days caused no little inconvenience to the public. The Mayor promised that it would be brought under the inspector's notice. TENDEBS.-The tender of Mr. W. S. Clark of £68 was accepted for plastering the Fresh Water Baths buildings, and that of Mr. E. Wrigley of £82 for fencing the Emily Place Reserve was also accepted. Legal Committee.—The report of the Legal Committee, as follows, was read and adopted:—Memo, from Engineer re removal of dust and refuse (referred re by-law); Your committee has referred matter to City Solicitor for his opinion, to be submitted on 7th May. This report was referred back to the committee, to recommend the Council what steps to take in the matter. Letter from Economic Building and Investment Society, proposing arbitration re Edgecumbe's Creek supply. Your committee has no recommendation to make. Finance Committee,— following recommendation of the Finance Committee was adopted: —Re banking agreement: Your committee recommends that as the National Bank of New Zealand's terms of even date are more favourable, the account remain with the bank for a further term of three years. Strkkts Committee.—The Streets Committee reported as follows:—Letter from Smith and Caughey re removal cab-stand, Queen street: Your committee has deferred consideration for Inspector's report on this and other matters va traffic bylaws. Letter from Samuel White re permit covered way, Eccles' property, Chapel-street; Your committee recommends that permit be granted in accordance with engineer's report, viz., upon consent of Schools Committee being obtained. Letter from C. G. Daley re permit to retain signboards, Victoria-street (referred with power to act): Your committee has authorised issue of permit for signhoards to be fixed parallel with rafters. Letter from Joseph Becrofl re drainago nuisance, Clarence-street: Your committee has deferred consideration to visit. Report by Engineer r« water supply : Your committee has deferred consideration tor joint reports by City Engineer and Mr. James Stewart. On the motion of Mr. Kidd the report was adopted as a whole.