AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11679, 14 June 1901, Page 6

AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

i The ordinary meeting of the Auckland City Council was held last evening. Mr. Alfred ' Kind, in the absence of the Mayor (Dr. J. i Logan Campbell), in the chair. There were also present: Messrs. J. Stichbury, J. Court, T. Maselield, J. T. Julian, J. H. Hanuan, P. Dignan, A. E. Clover, and F. E. Bauine. Plague Precautions : The chief health officer for the colony wrote drawing attention to the presence of plague and smallpox in Australia, and urging upon the Council the necessity of making all necessary provision to meet*an outbreak should one occur in this colony. He asked if the Council possessed any apparatus for disinfecting clothing and spraying the interior of buildings, or in the event of their not having such apparatus, what methods the Council >voiild adopt in the matter of fumigating bedding and clothing, and disinfecting rooms, yards, etc. Referred to the health officer to report to the Streets Committee. Tire Alarms: Mr. W. C. Reynolds, writing on behalf of the company interested, asked the Council to consider the question of introducing May's fire alarm system in Auckland. He stated that the alarm not only gave the alarm in the rooms of tin buildings where the system is introduced, but also transmitted a signal to the fire b"i gads station, indicating the building ii I which the fire had taken place. Referred ti I the, Legal Committee. Stanley-street Footpath: A letter was read from residents of Stanley-street urgin;. the Council to lake immediate steps to improve the footpath in that street, and point ing out that in its present condition the foot path was in an extremely bad state. Referred to the Streets Committee. Asphalting Queen-street : Mr. A. C. Whitney wrote stating that he had noted rtmfc a firm had submitted tenders to the Council for the laying down of Queen-street in asphalt, and offering a few remarks ir connection with the matter. He pointed out that asphalt would prove slippery foi the horses, also that- groat difficulty would be found in drawing heavy l6ads up inclines, and suggested that a test should be made with the material used for the streets of Napier, which had proved durable and satis factory, and could be kept in repair at it small cost. The material in question alsc deadened the noise caused by the traffic, and dust and mud ceased to exist. A large retort was used in Napier for extracting all the by-products out of the tar, and this, when mixed with shingle or small gravel made splendid surfaces to the roads and streets. Referred to the Streets Commit tee. Vermont-street Drainage: Mr. A. G. Le< wrote directing the attention of the Council to the necessity for draining Vermont-street and pointing out that in its present bad condition the street was dangerous to vehicu lar traffic. Further lamps were also neces sary. Referred to the Streets Committee. City Abattoirs : Mr. Stichbury handed ir a petition, signed by 57 butchers on the western side of the town, urging that the present site of the city abattoirs be retained and the present building be improved, or £ fresh building be erected. The petitioner: pointed out that the present site was saf< to public health, and convenient, while a re moval would entail hardship on many but chers. Referred to the Abattoirs Commit tee, a deputation of butchers to wait or the committee. The Reception Preparations: The chair man informed the Council that the official! and workmen in the employ of the Council deserved warm praise for the assiduous man ner in which they had worked on the pre parations for the Royal reception. They had laboured unceasingly. It was decidec to thank the officials and workmen, especially the city engineer (Mr. Wrigg), the foreman of works (Mr. Knight), the superintendent (Mr. Gladding), and mem- ! bers of the fire brigade, and Mr. and Mrs. Lovell, of the Municipal Buildings. Electric Tramways: The town clerk wrote stating that he had requested the city engineer to report fully on the present position with regard to the electritt tramway service, the deed of delegation in connection with which provided that certain sections should be ready for traffic, to the satisfaction of the engineer, by June 1, 1901, failing which the company would be prepared to forfeit a sum of £1000. When the engineer reported the Council would be in a position to deal with the question. The letter was received. Karaka-street: The city engineer reported that in the formation of Karaka-street it would be necessary when the formation was made up above the present level to lay down a 9in main to enable the premises now draining into the channel to connect with the main sewer. The cost would be about £25. It was agreed that the work should be done. Tenders for Water Mains: Three tenders for water mains for the auxiliary water supply ware received as follows: —Briscoe and Co.. £5570 18s; Porter and Co., £3791; L. Winglield. £4016. The engineer's estimate was £3720. The tenders were referred to the Streets Committee with power to act. Streets Committee This committee reported as under:—Petition from Salisburystreet asking for improvement to street, change of name to Salisbury Avenue, and erection of lamp: Reply that the growth of weeds' will be attended to. but the tarring and sanding cannot bo undertaken till next season, and that the Council has no objection to the change of name. Auckland Electric Tramway Company, as to laving of tram lines, College Hill and Beach Road section to the city boundary: R«ply that the Council has no objection to the work being carried out. * Ratepayers Blake-street as to kerbing and channelling Blake-street-: Reply that the work will be done in due course. R. J. Payne, as to the condition of channels St. Mary's Road: Reply that the work will "be done in due course. W. S. Garrett, as to the condition of channels, Wallace-street: Reply that the channels have oeen attended to, and that the drainage will be provided for in the drainage scheme. Residents Dock-street, asking for means of access to Custom-street: Reply that there is no public roadway between Die two streets. A. A. White, re drainage, Grafton Road: Reply that this work will be provided for in the extension of the cemetery gully drainage. J. A. Lamb, as to the drainage of Angleseastreet: Reply that the work cannot be undertaken until next spring. J. Bendall ottering to sell lot 366. Parish of Waikumete, containing about 30 acres, for £100Mr. Bendall to be offered £2 per acre for the ground. City engineer, reporting on arrangements for working the stonecrushers : Your committee recommend that the old and new stone-breaking machines be fixed side by side on the new site now bein* prepared, and that an engine and boiler of about 25 horse-power be procured to drive both machines. Waterworks engineer reporting on scarcity of water, and asking authority to lift saltwater pipes in Victoria ana Wellesley Streets: The lift-owners have been notified that the supplies must be stopped on Friday, the 7th hist. The saltwater pipes to be lifted and laid down the wharf. In the case of the clause relating to means of access to Custom-street, it was decided, on the motion of Mr. Hannan,. to grant the request, and the report as amended was adopted. Finance Committee: This committee reported as follows : W. Wills, as to works in York-street: Your committee recommend the work of extending the footway on the present grade be carried out at a cost of £10 The roadway to be filled in as the earth is available. The report was adopted. 1r,., nation of Brunswick-street: Pursuant to notice Mr. Masefield moved: " That the engineer be instructed to call for tenders for formation of Brunswick-street to best width obtainable, and charge cost to North Ward allocation." Speaking to the motion, Mr. Masefield said the cost of the work would be very small, from £25 to £30. the motion was seconded and adopted, and the engineer was instructed to lay the plans xna specifications on the table.