AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10424, 23 April 1897, Page 6

AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Auckland City Council was held (last night in the Council Chambers, Coburg-etreet. Mr. Dignan was voted to the chair, and there were also present: Messrs. Warren, Trenwith, Farrell, Glover, Baume, Cairns, Becroft, Stichbury. Courtney, Patterson, White, Julian, Kidd, Heeketh, Grey, Jamieson, and Hewson. The Maior of Cooloabdie.—Mr. Shaw, an old Auclslander, Mayor of Adelaide for six years, and at present Mayor of Coolgardio, was to have been present at the Council's meeting, but was prevented by ill-health. Mr. P. A. Philips, Town Clerk, apologised for Mr. Shaw's absence. Cokbesfondekce. —Messrs. Mahoney and Son asked permission to reinstate a building in Wakefield-street partly destroyed by fire. The Engineer reported adversely on the application, and it was resolved to reply in terms of his memo. The request of Messrs. Wingate and Co. for a permit to erect an iron shed in Little Queen-street was sent on to the Streets Committee. Mr. Jagusch asked the Council to cub down a certain part of Albert-street, to give him an approach to his property. The matter was referred to the Streets Committee. Mr, F, B. Mason, secrerary of the New Zealand and River Plate Land Mortgage Company, wrote requesting the Council to take over Salisbury-street, a new thoroughfare off Jervois Road, and offered to p»y £100 towards the cost of work which required to be done on the street. The Engineer attached a memo, to the effect that the cost would be over £400. It was agreed to reply in terms of the Engineer's report. Dr. Dawson petitioned the Council to extend the sewer from Summer-street sufficiently far along the Fonsonby Road to enable him to connect the drainage of his property therewith. Referred to the Street* Committee. Freeman's Bat.—The Secretary of the Harbour Board forwarded a resolution passed by the Board requesting the Council to abate the nuisance in Freeman's Bay created by the deposit of drainage from the city, by constructing a sewer to be approved by the Board; the whole cost of the work to be borne by the Council. Mr. Glover said the letter should be received. Mr. Becroft thought the Council should attend to the matter and give it serious consideration, as it was a source of great danger to the public health. Mr. Farrell said it was a legal question whether the Harbour Board had not created the nuisance by filling up the Bay. Mr. Baume said the matter was apparently settled by the Harbour Board. All the Council had to do was to find the money, Mr. Stichbnry thought, as the Board would derive benefit from (the sewer, it should bear some of the cost. The Chairman wished the letter to go to a committee to find out what arrangements had been come to at a conference held by the Council and the Board some time ago. He thought id was then agreed to do the work conjointly. Mr. Hewson felt thd Council's liability should be defined. Hβ understood the nuisance was not caused by the drainage, but was in the Bay itself. Instead of the Board writing to the Council to abate the nuisance, it should be vke versa. Mr. Kidd supported Mr. Hewson in bin remarks, and suggested that the committee be authorised to secure a legal opinion ou the question. Mr. White said he did nob wonder the people in the neighbourhood died after he had seen the vile mud which was deposited in the bay from the dredgers. The matter was finally referred to the otreets Committee, and on the suggestion of Mr. Baume the committee was instructed to take the advice of the City Solicitor as to the liability of the Board and the Council.

The Sai.t-watkr Baths. — With reference to a petition from persons using the Salt-water Bathe, asking the Council to remedy several inconveniences, tbeeugineer reported that, to extend the area of the baths and raise the walls, to Rive greater depth of water, would cost hundreds of pounds. The existing walls would have to be removed and stronger ones built, The granting of the petition, said the engineer, would simply mean new baths, and the present ones cost £1455. lie did not think the extension advisable, as the baths were 17 years old and the site was bad. As an improvement, the engineer recommnnded that the partition between the males and females' baths be taken down, and one bath made. That would give more room, and the hours for females could be arranged, as at the Albert-street Bathe. Mr. Julian and Mr. Hewstm thought the present site was bad. On the motion of the Chairman, the Council agreed to give effect to the engineer's recommendation.

Old St. Paul's Site and the Alten Road Rkserte.—On the motion of Mr. Kidd, seconded by Mr. Stichbury, io was resolved thab the kerbiug and channelling of the road round old St. Paul's site, now a Council reserve, and the laying-out of Alten Road reserve, be done by day labour, and at such Mines si might be convenient. Lboal Committee's Report.-The Legal Committee reported as follows:—Letter from secretary General Poet office, te alteration spelling of Waikomiti to Waikumete. ■Your committee does not recommend the alteration. Letter from secretary Harbour Board, re conference of committees as to residence for Admiral. Your committee is prepared to meet tho Board's committee at any time agreeable. The report was adopted. Finance Committee.—The report of the Finance Committee as under wai adopted: —Letter from Commissioner of Police re exchange of sites for Police Barracks, your committee recommends, subject to the following conditions, that exchange of sites be agreed to, and the sum of £500 paid the Government as compensation for the buildings on the O'Rorke-street site, viz.: (A) The police to retain possession until the new barracks are ready for occupation; (b) the Government to promote a Bill during the ensuing session to enable the proposed exchange; (o) that Bowon Avenue be included and declared to be a public street within the meaning of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1886; (D) the Council to have the power to lease the lands so accepted in exchange in the like manner as it has in respect of other lands in vicinity. Returning Officers' accounts, licensing elections ; Your committee has authorised payment of £25 in addition to £50 already pasted, and deferred further consideration. Utter from Salvation Army, re leasing lot 22, section 31, Albert-street: Your committee recommends that same bt offered by tender for a term of 35 years, subject to usual conditions and upqot> fixed by committee.