AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10901, 4 November 1898, Page 3

AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the City Council was held yesterday evening at the Council Clambers, Coburg-street, there being present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. Peter Dignan), and Messrs. Paterson, Courtney, Stichbury, Becroft, Farrell, Kidd, Julian, Entrican, Trenwith, Warren, White, Cairns, JamirVon, Hewson, Grey, and Masefield. Mr. Farrell apologised for the absence of Mr. F. E. Baume, who was detained out of town by professional duties. Permit: Mr. Win. Thomson, on behalf of the New Zealand Native Rifles, No. 3, wrote

requesting permission to erect an iron building on the Drill-shed grounds for an orderlyroom. The request was acceded to. Mr. H. 0. H. Walker was granted a permit for a small alteration to his premises in O'Rorkestreet.

Tho Traflio Inspector: Messrs. Earl and Campbell, solicitors for Mrs. Parker, owner of a line of 'buses running between Mount Roskill and Auckland, renewed her application for an inquiry into tho working "of the traflic inspector's department, in so far as it affeoted the running of her lino. Mr. Turner (tho traffic inspector) sent in a report to tho Council, calling attention to the running of Parker's 'buses. He said that from Auckland fairly good time was kept, but from the other end it was far from regular. The maimer of running on the line led to racing between rival 'buses. Three accidents had already happened, and .my moment something serious might occur. Messrs. Earl and Campboll's letter was received.

An Obnoxious Cab-stand: A complaint came from Messrs. Stone and Co., boot importers, corner of Queen and Darby Streets, against the removal of a cab-stand from Queen-street into Darby-street, just outside of their ladies' show-room. The treflio inspector, in a memo, attached, stated that formerly the cabs blocked the way in Queenptroet, just at the corner, and lie thought it advisablo to place them where he did. Beferred to the Streets Committeo.

Auctioneer's License: The application of Mr. Clias. A. Bloomfield, of Pitt-street, shopkeeper, for an auctioneer's license, was granted. Site for the Queen's Statue: A communication from Mr. A. J. Allom, lion, secretary of the Queen's Statue Committee, intimated that that body had decided that the statue should bo placed on the site of the bandstand, instead of on the slope previously selectod. The Council was asked to sanction the new arrangement, and did so, on the motion of the Mayor. Request for a Booth Site: An application was read from Mr. Peter Kernet, for the lease of a corner of the park reserve, at the corner of Bowen-street and Victoria Quadrant, opposite the Northern Club, upon which he wished to erect a booth for the salo of refreshments during the Exhibition season. The request was refused.

Carters' Shelter: The Skeates' Cycle Company suggested to the Council tho advisability of providing a shelter for express carters in Custom-street East. Whenever the weather was wet, the men crowded under writers' verandah, aijd caused great annoyance. Tlio letter was referred to the Streets Committee.

The Exhibition Procession: An invitation from tho executive' of tho Exhibition to the Council, to take part in the procession on tho opening day, was accepted, and the traffic inspector was appointed marshal of the civic part of the procession.

Water Service: A request from Mi'. J. J. Craig for tho connection of his promises at Mount Eden with the Mount Eden Reservoir cam® before the Council, and was. granted, the applicant to find material s-nd labour, and pay Is 6tl per 1000 gallons for tho water.

Streets Committee: The report of the Streets Committee was read as under Letter from district engineer re taking over road Custom-street, opposite Gore-street: (1) Your committoe recommends a reply that the road will bo taken over on the usual conditions, viz., on its being formed, kerbed, channelled, metalled, and drained to the satisfaction of the city engineer. Letter from W. J. .Napier re obstruction footpath, Little Queenstroot, Goldie's timber: (2) Your committee recommends that Mr. Goldio and all persons bo notified to remove obstructions. Letter from John Oulhane re gully drainage, Springstreet: (3) Your committee recommends a reply that tho matter is being attended to. Letter from Thomas E. Webb re watertrough, Upper Symonds-street: (4) Your committee recommends that the trough be removed to the hotel corner opposite, Newton Road and Symonds-st-reet. Letter from tho secretary of tho Harbour Board re lighting Quay-street and approaches to Hobson-street Wharf: (5) Your committee recommends a reply that the matter will be considered at the next allocation of lamps. Petition from ratepayers, Dunodin-sfcroot (Mr. Stichbury), ro additional lighting: (6) Your committee recommends a reply that the Council regrets it has no funds at present, but the matter will be considered at the next allocation of lamps. Petition from ratepayers of Lower Albert-street re asphalting, kerbing, and channelling (Mr. Cairns): (7) Your committee recommends that the work be done and charged to the North Ward. Letter from the sooretary of tho Gas Company re additional lighting of the Exhibition Square and I'.'rk during the Exhibition: (8) Your committee recommends that an offer for additional lighting of streets at £9 per month bo accepted. Letter from Briscoe, MacNeil, and Co., requesting extension of time, read: (9) Your committee has extended time till date of Council meeting, November 3. Memorandum from the town clerk and a letter from the secretary of the Gas Company ro lighting of city lamps on dark nights during the throe days before and after full moon, whon the lamps are not supposed to be lit: (10) Your committee has left the mattor in the hands of the town clerk. Offers by engineer (to report re Nihotupu-Huia water supply scheme), Mr. John Boylan's offer—(a) including everything required for £400; or (b) by time payment per diem; engineer, £2 2s; surveyors, £1 lis 6d; chainmen, 10s 6d; labourers, 8s; and for plan, report, etc., £75: (11) The Council not having decided as to which alternative offer, your committee recommends that the qffer of the lump sum of £400 bo accepted. Mr. Boylan waited on the Council with reference to the List clause. Ho pointed out that the work could not be completed finally till next May or June. It was necessary to measure the creeks when at their lowest, and they would bo at their lowest in the months he had mentioned. All the other work could be gone on with. Ho recommended the Council to do the work by time payment, and he nar willing to bring his price down as low as any other tenderer. The specifications said that the work was to be completed within four months of the signing of the contract. _ Mr. Kidd pointed out that the Council at its last meeting had no« decided whether it accepted Mr. Boylan s offer to do the work for a lump sum or by time payment. The recommendations of the committee were adopted in each clause of the report.

Lighting Albert Park: The secretary of the Auckland Industrial and Mining Exhibition approached the Council by letter with a view of having tho Albert Park lighted daring the Exhibition season. This matter was before the Streets Committee as the result of a letter from the Gas Company, and it recommended that tho Council had no funds for tho work.. Mr. Kidd said 11 lamps would cost £25 a month to light. Messrs. Courtney and Farrell supported the matter going back to the committee. Mr. Jamieson said they had no money to spare for the work. Mr. Kidd suggested that the most dangerous paths of the Park might be lighted. Mr. Maseneld uiged the Council to meet the Exhibition in the matter. Mr. Philips, the town Jerk, explained that the Exhibition authorities only wanted the 'steepest and worst parts of the Park lit up. .The. recommendation of the committee was adopted.

Ponsonby. 'Bus Service: With reference to the - application Messrs. Young and Co. for tho issue of a time-tablo for a new Ponsenby 'bus service, the traffic inspector reported there would bo a continuous service

during the Exhibition season every few minutes from seven in the morning till eleven p.m., which would be amplo foi the requirements of the public. Thero would ho more than 200 trips made every day. Ho thought if the Council granted moro licenses it would lead to confusion. The Council resolved to decline the request. Water-mains Tenders: Regarding (.lira? tenders for tlio supply of water-mains fT. and S. Morrin £4349. Porter and Co. £4759, and Hadley and Co. £5027 18s 4d) the Streets Committee reported: A protest by majority of Council against action of committee in extending time for receipt of tenders until meeting of Council on Thursday next, having been lodged with the Mayor, youv committee has considered it advisable that order should be forwarded by outgoing mail, and lias, therefore, accepted the lowest tender, thai of T. and S. Morrin (Limited), £4349. Mr. Kidd defended the action of the committee. Mr. Entrican thought the proceedings wero discreditable to tlio Council, and he entered his protest against any tenderers taking round a petition to object to the extension of tlio , time. Mr. Masefield said the Council has | saved a considerable amount of money by accepting the tender. Mr. Jamiesoa, one of thoso who signed the protest, said he did so because ho felt a mistako had been made by extending tho time. The report was adopted. Legal Committee: The report of the Legal Committeo, as follows, was adopted—Letter from presidont Auckland Industrial and Mining Exhibition re loan of pictures for exhibition: (1) Your committeo has deferred consideration in order that the Mayor may confer with the Hanging Committee. Motion No. 1452 (Mr. Julian) re fencing, etc., Western Park: (2) Your committee has instructed tho engineer to put down surface drain at a cost of £5, and to report as to cost of 8-strand barb-wire fence, and as to what amount owners are willing to contribute. Motion No. 1451 (Mr. Entrican) re South Ward roll: (3) Tout committee reports having hold two special meetings for tho purpose of checking valuation against burgess roll for 1898-9, and deferring its report till the Council has instructed that a copy of the town clerk's return be forwarded to the valuer (Mr. Gulliver), he to be present with explanation at committee meeting on Tuesday, November 8, at half-past six p.m. Tho Mayor explained, in connection with the last elauso, that after the meeting on November 8 a public meeting would be held, when any person wishing to give evidence would bo heard.

Tender: One tender, that of Mr. William Henry for £34 6s, was recoived and accepted for work in Brook-street, near Karangahape Road, the amount- to be charged to the ward allocation. Tho engineer's estimate was £35. Freeman's Bay Sewer: The Council agreed to ask tho Harbour Board to contribute onehalf the wages of a clerk of jvorks for the Freeman's Bay sewer. City Finances: Mr. Trenwith moved the Allowing motion standing in his namo: ' That outside the ordinary maintenance ind cleansing of streets, no work be done or .ny undertaking entered into involving exlense to the amount of £5 and upwards withlut the unanimous approval of the Finance

Committeo, the same to continue in fore till the city's finances are so improved as h warrant further expenditure." After a short discussion, the matter was deferred, pending the presentation of the report of the Finance Committee on the state of the Council's finances.