AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11199, 20 October 1899, Page 3

AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Auckland City Council held last evening in the Municipal Buildings, Coburg-stroot, was attended by His Worship the Mayor (Mr. David Goldie), Messrs. Farrell, Hewson, Courtney, Masefield, Warren, Hannan, Kidd, Grey, Salmon, Jamieson, Tudehope, Paterson, Entrican, Stichbury, Hesketh, Parr, and bite. Mr. Warren apologised for the absence of Mr. Baume.

Asphalt Pavement: The Neuchatel Asphalt Conipanq, Limited, of London, wrote with reference to the Council's approval of the 1 proposal to lay a trial piece of asphalt slabs, and stated that the Board of the Company have given orders for a consignment of 20 tons of the slabs to' the Council's address, and had instructed their representative at Capetown (Mr. G. Varley) to go to Auckland and lay the paVement. The Mayor explained that the Council had agreed to the asphalt being tried for 12 months, and if it were a success to pay tho cost of laying down, namely, £35. The letter was received. Norfolk-street Footway: Mr. Wm. Thome, sen., asked the Council, with a new to the improvement of Norfolk-street, to form and finish the remainder of the footway in that thoroughfare by putting up a rough wall and filling the path in. At present the place was dangerous. A memo, from the engineer stated that the place was fenced off and was not in a dangerous' state. It was the fault of the owner of the adjacent property that the work was not done when the street was formed, because ho refused to allow the embankment to bo sloped on to his place, and the Council had since refused to go to any further expense to complete the work. The matter was referred to the Streets Committee.

Channelling Ponsonby Terrace: The Ponsonby Schools Committee (per Mr. J. B. Bridgewater) urged tho Council to channel the lower part of Ponsonby Terrace, which was at present dangerous to the school children. Tho engineer estimated the work would cost £60. Referred to the engineer, the work to be done in its turn. Council's Representatives on Public Bodies: Mr. Frederic J. Kenderdine, secretary of the Ratepayers' Association, forwarded a copy of the following resolution adopted by the association:— in the opinion of this association it is desirable that when a City Council representative on tho Harbour and Charitable Aid Boards ceases to be a councillor, ho should submit the question of his continuance upon such Boards to the City Council," The Mayor said the Council had no power to make them resign, but he thought that* in future a pledge might he secured from the representatives. The letter was sent on to the Legal Committeee. Faulty Rolls: The Ratepayers' Association called attention to eight errors in the North Ward roll and ton in the South Ward roll of burgesses, and asked that the same might bo rectified. Referred to the Revision Court. Camping Ground: Major T. L, Murray, on behalf of the Auckland Infantry Battalion No. 1, asked for the use of a site in the Domain for a week's encampment of (ho battalion, commencing November 11. The request was granted. Resignation: Miss Bessie Hill, attendant at the Art Gallery, tendered her resignation owing to ill-health. The resignation was received, and the Question of filling the vacancy was referred to the Librarj Committee.

Complaint: Mr. Wm. Cooper wrote complaining that two properties belonging to him were over-rated. Ho also complained that the rates had been paid twice. A memo, from the rate collector stated that the proper place to topt the value was the Assessment Court, and with reference to the double payment explained that Mr. Cooper's agents had got a duplicate demand and paid the rates on that. Subsequently the original demand was presented by Mr. Cooper, who also paid, and the error was not noticed till the rate-book was gone through. Referred to the Legal Committee for a report. _ Petitions: Mr. Paterson presented a petition from residents near the Cemetery gully asking the Council to take teps to have a lot of gorse in the gully cut down. It was pointed out that the' gorse had been on fire several times, and was dangerous to adjacent houses. Referred to tlio Legal Committee. Mr. Entrican presented a petition from residents in Upper Vincent-street asking for the removal of a lamp. Referred to the Streets Committee. Thirty ratepayers and residents in the neighbourhood of the Grammar School lane, lower Symonds-street, petitioned for a crossing from that lane to O'Rorke-street. Referred to the Streets Committee.

Streets Committee: The Streets Committee reported as under—Letter from St. Paul's Church authorities re crossing, Symondsstreet: Your committee recommend metal waste crossing to be laid for the present, and Council will consider question of wood crossing if applicants will contribute. Lettor from A. Downey re lamp, Bath-street: Committeo recommend reply be sent that Council has not power to light private streets. (This clause was referred back to the committee.) Letter from Westport Coal Company re trial coal: Your committee recommend reply Council is satisfied with tests already made. Letter from Kiripaka Coal Company re trial coal: Your committee recommend that this coal be given a trial when others arc being tested. (After discussion this matter was deferred till next meeting of the Council.) Letter from Leyland, O'Brien and Co. re drain, Custom-street West: Committeo recommend reply that engineer's report states that grating has been obstructed by timber, which being removed it will be opened up. Letter from P. M. Macky ro water supply: Recommend that work be carried out in accordance with engineer report. Petition from ratepayers St. Mary's Road re channel drainage: Your committee recommond work be done, estimated cost £10. Letter from Harrison and Foster re cost of survey, Baker-street: Committee recommend work be clone at £8 Bs. Letter from Under-Secretary of Justice re ridor of jury, accident in Mills' Lane: Recommend reply be sent in effect of engineer's report, viz., this was* ij pure accident. Letter from Mrs. S. Adamson re drainage, Upper Union-street: Committee recommend reply be sent that this drain will be examined and obstructions cleared away. Memo, from town clerk, Parnell, re water charges: After careful consideration, committee cannot recommend the Council to make any reduction on present charge. Letto from U.S.S. Co. re water supply charge: Recommended that the charge for shipping and boilers to any one company using qver 4000 tuns per annum, receive a rebate of 3d per tun over that amount. Letter from Devonport Ferry Company re water charges: Committee recommend that the charge be Is 6d per 1000 gallons. The report as amended was adopted. Legal Committee: The report of the Legal Committee was adopted as under: Secretary Auckland College and Grammar School re bathing hours: Referred for Mr. Caldcr's report. G. A. Buttle re windmill for fire brigade station: Deferred for information as to price. Auckland Scenery Conservation Society ro ground opposite Art Gallery: Recommended that society be thanked for valuable suggestions, and informal that Council regrets it has not funds to carry out proposals at present. Secretary City Schools Committee re immorality Western Park: Recommended that for better supervision Mr. Hurford be appointed caretaker of Western Park, giving his entire attention, Finance Committee: The Finance Committee's report as under was adopted:— from A. Myers re rates on buildings removed, Queen-street: Committee recommend reply to effect of valuer's report: "That present value will obtain until new buildings . are ereoted." Lotto from Newton Congregational Church re assessment Edinburghstreet: Your committee recommend that the church be eliminated and the cottage rated at £16. Memo, from engineer re allotments, Ponsonby Road: Your committee recommend thjit lots 45 and 46 be reserved for storage of waterworks material, and that part of allotment, Great North Road, not required for air valve be offered for lease.

Town Clerk's office: Tho Mayor mentioned that the term of Mr. P. A. Philips' office had'expired, and it was time the Council considered what arrangements it would make in the town clerk's office. It was agreed that the matter be referred to the Departmental Committee for a report, to be "presented to the Council in committee.

Building permits: Mr. Jamieson called attention to two instances in Karangahape Ward, where builders had departed from the terms of the building permits granted by the Council, and the matter was referred to the Legal Committee to investigate. The Mayor remarked that in other cities they had an inspector to see that buildings were erected in accordance with the permit granted, and he thought tho sub-inspector of nuisances might act in that capacity here. Tenders: The following lenders wore opened for drainage work in Hopetounstreet (estimated cost, £89):—John Davis, £170 ; 10a: William Henry, £91 12s; J. W. Brown, £9110s; John Dwyer, £88 13s lOd; T. Finan, £83 3s 3d. The lowest was accepted. For repairs to house at Market entrance,' the tender of Messrs. Wright and Johnston (£54) was accepted. Other tenderers were: E.. Wrigley, : £56 18s: W. J. Cheeseman, £65; John Davis, £69 14s; and Henderson, £74. The estimate was £55. For kerbing in Custom-street, estimated to cost £136, the tender of W. . Henry (£l3B 6s) was accepted. ' The only other tenderer was J. W. Brown, £180. . , • , J

Tramways: In accordance with notice, Mr. Courtney moved, "That the Bank of New Zealand bo now called upon to p;.y to this Council the amount in which such Bank is indebted to this Council, for rent, penalties, etc., in connection with tho Auckland tramways, and that the Legal and Streets Committees be asked to ascertain the amount due." Mr. Kidd seconded, and the motion was carried. The Mayor informed tho Council that the penalties up to 1803 had been remitted by tho Council, and any penalties that might bo owing to the Council would have accrued since that date.

Sinking Fund: Mr. Warren moved the following motion stading in his name:—"That the Mayor be asked to convene a meeting of tho city sinking fund commissioners, to confer with the committee appointed by tho Council relative to the city sinking fundi: 1. As to how it is invested. 2. At what aver- | ago rate of interest. 3. How much of it is i in a liquid state awaiting investment. 4. To i consider the desirability of appointing re- | presentatives of the Council to tho Board of j Commissioners." In doing so, he said the gentlemen on the present Board were very i good men, but they did not represent tho ratepayers, nono of them being councillors. Therefore, he considersd the Council, as representing the ratepayers, should have some say in the administration of the funds, ivhicli now amounted to about £60,000. He would bo inclined to advocate that tho whole of the administration of the funds should be in tho l ands of the Council, as it was ratepayers' money that was involved. Mr. Courtney seconded. The Mayor pointed out that the appointment of the Commissioners was in tho hands of the Council, and if it wished to remove them it could do so. Tho Commissioners wore also compelled to furnish statements to the Council at such times as might he ordered by tho Council, and he would therefore move as an amendment, "That in accordance with clause 208 of the Municipal Corporations Act, the Sinking Fund Commissioners be requested to furnish a statement ot all moneys and all securities in their hands." Mi. Farrell seconded. He pointed out that not a single pound had been lost, although all the money was out at interest, and therefore ho did not think tho Council had much to cavil at. If the members wore changed too often, there would not be that privacy which borrowers were entitled to demand. Mr. Jamieson supported Mr. Warren's remarks. Mr. Parr considered that the principle of allowing persons out of touch with tho Council to handle the city funds was bad. It seemed to him that the Commissioners should bo active members of the Council. Before they did anything in the matter, however, they should have tho information asked for iu the amendment. Mr. MnseGeld though); that Mr. Warren deserved great c.edit for bringing the matter forward. It seemed ridiculous that the Council did not know the position of the funds. Mr. Warren, in replying, said Mr. Farrell might have been well "primed," but if he would look at the last balance-sheet he would see that at March 31 last there was about £10,000 uninvested. The amendment was then put and carried. City Baths: Mr. Kidd was to have moved the following resolution, but as he had not sufficient data to allow him to go on with it, lie was allowed to withdraw it:—"That, with a'view to providing better accommodation for ladies at the Fresh Water Baths, the engineer bo requested to prepare plans and estimates for an addition to the present building, at a cost not exceeding £1000." The Now Loan: The Auckland City Borrowing Act, 1899, just passed, gives the Council power to borrow £100,000 for certain purposes, and in accordance with notice Mr. Kidd moved tho following:— I "That the corporation shall borrow the said sum of £100,000 at not exceeding four per cent, per annum during tho years, and for'the purposes before mentioned, and on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in The Auckland City Borrowing Act, 1899, and that a poll be taken as by the said Act provided." He explained that it was merely formal, but had to be parsed before the poll could bo taken. The Mayor seconded, and the resolution was adopted.