AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10520, 13 August 1897, Page 5

AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Auckland City Council was held last evening, His Worship the Mayor (Mr. P. Dignan), in the chair, There were also present: Messrs, Jamieson, Warren, Trenwith, Farfell, Glover, Julian, Grey, Hesketb, Maonab, Becroft, Stichbury, Courtney, White, Patterson, Hewson, and Kidd.

LEASE.-Mrs.A. Chalmers wrote stating that the toil on the lower side of allotment 22, Domain-street, rented by her from the Council, had been slipping with the rain, and that she feared that unless something was done to prevent a further falling away hjr house would fall down. The city engineer reporting in this connection said he could see no slip, and did not think there was any necessity for a retaining wall. It was decided to reply in accordance with the engineer's report, also to refer a request from the applicant for an extension of term of lease to the finance committee.

Sign BoARD.-Mr. G. W. Wright, of Queen-street, applied for permission to hang a sign board under the verandah of his shop, The application was refused. Council Subsidy.— Commissioner of Taxes wrote stating that he had sent on to the Treasury a voucher for the payment of £450, subsidy due to the Council for year 1896 - 97. The communication was received.

A Brass Band Nuisance.—Dr. Ernest Koberton, of Upper Symond-streot, wrote complaining that the practices held by a brass band in the Grafton Fire Brigade Station directly opposite bis residence created a nuisance. With regard to a similar complaint in connection with the letting of the Ponsonby Fire Brigade Station, a memorandum ,was read from the town clerk stating that he had telephoned to Superintendent Hughes not to let the station without the consent of the Council, but tho nuisance had not been abated. It was decided to notify the officials that) they would not be permitted to let the sheds without the consent of the Council.

Addition in Worm-Mr. H. G. Wade asked permission to erect in wood a storey on the present wooden residence built on lot 10, Alfred-street, of the Improvement Commissioners Trust Estate, and now belonging to Mr. W. Lodingham. Referred to the streets committee.

Building Regulations.—Dr. Dawson, who had some time since been given permission to erect on allotments IGa and 16, Symonds and Mount-streets, a building partly in brick and partly wood, now wrote asking that he be given.permission to erect the buildings in wood, The concession was granted.

UOPUTOUN-STRKET DRAINAGE. — Messrs. Ambury and English wrote, asking advice as to what they should do with rogard to effecting proper drainage to their dairying premises in Hopetoun-street. Referred to the streets committee.

Petition for Sewer.—Mr. Glover presented a petition from 33 ratepayers of Union-street, asking for a sewer, in the interests of the health of the locality. Referred to the streets committee.

Cabstand Nuisance.— a petition was read from occupiers of offices and places of business in the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company's Buildings, complaining of the inconvenience and nuisance created by the cabstand in that locality, and asked its removal. Referred to the streets committee.

Formation of Footpath,— Karangahape Ward members, in reply to a recent letter from Mrs. Ellen Jackson, re a footpath in front of her property, in Karakastreet, recommended that the footpath be formed ; also, that the side of the cutting in front of Fennalligen's property be sloped off, the work to be done by the ward workmen. The report was adopted. Streets Committee. —This committee reported as under:—l. Letter from H. Reynolds re condition of Karaka-sbreet: Your committee recommends reply in effect of engineer's report, and that question of lamp will be considered at next allocation of lamps. 2. Letter from secretary, Harbour Board, ro formation works, Quaystreet : Vour committee has deferred

consideration ponding engineer's report jjhoreon. 3, Latter from Edward Russell re dividing fence, Jermyn-street: Your committee recommends that Council contribute one-third of moiety of cost of iron fence without coping. 4. Petition from propertyowners, Queen-street, re cabstand, Welles-ley-street junction : Your committee has referred petition to traffic inspector for his report; drivers to be warned from loitering from vehicles and keeping feed-bags on footways, with tbo view, if not, that stand be removed. 5. Petition from residents, Charlotte Terrace, re lamp; Your committee recommends a reply that Council regrets it cannot see its way to comply with request at present. 0, Letter from B. Mahonoy and Son re drainage, Ponsonby Road, near Anglesea-street; Your committee recommends a reply that the Council regrets it has no funds available. 7. Grafton Ward members' report re Ehrman's application for water-closet: Your committoe refers report to Council, and recommends ah inquiry as to reason why others have been allowed. 8, Letter from J. Pennalligen re Karaka-street: Your committee recommends that the work as suggested by the engineer at a cost of £3 be authorised. The report was adopted as read.

The Tasmania Catastrophe-Ob the motion of the Mayor, a vote of condolence and sympathy to. the relatives of those drowned by the loss of the steamer Tasmania, was unanimously adopted. _ CooNdtt's Finances, Etc— Mayor, in accordance with notice given, moved, " That the finance committee be requested to consider and report the best means to adjust the Council's finances', and make due provision for the requirements for water supply, drainage, fire brigade station, etc., etc." In speaking to the motion, the Mayor said that the time had arrived that something should be done, and pointed out that under the existing circumstances the Council was bound down with respect to the rating capacity, being only permitted to levy rates to the. extent of 2s in the £. This by-law, ho considered, should be struck out, and the authorities placed on the same footing with other important local bodies |in the colonies. There was at no time any fear of their going beyond bounds in the matter of raising loans, as it would at all times have to be laid before the ratepayers for their consent. Mr. Trenwith seconded, and drew attention to the overdraft on the interest account which hid crept up to £15,000., Mr. Farrell thought the Council's accounts should be published for the information of the ratepayers, as at present they did not really know the state of affairs. When Mayor Holland vacated the Chair he had stated that there was a slight balance, and to-night they were informed by His Worship that there was an overdraft of £28,000. This kind of information mystified the ratepayers and weakened their desire to increase the rate. With regard to the question of water supply included in the motion, Mr. Stichbury said it would be necessary that they should have some authoritative report placed before the finance committee, showing where it should come from and what it would cost, otherwise they would not know what money would be required. After some further discussion the. motion was adopted. Street CROssiwj.-Pursuant to notice, Mr. Maonab moved, "That a crossing be made, in Customs-street West, at the foot of Nelson-street; the cost to. be charged to north ward allocution account," The motion was adopted.