AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11824, 29 November 1901, Page 3

AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Auckland City Council was . hold last night. The Mayor (Mr. Alfred Kidd) presided and there were also present : Messrs. J. Stichbury, T. T. MaseSeld, J. H. Hannan, P. Dignan. J. McLeod, C. Grey. J. T. Julian. J. W. Heweon, A. E. Glover, 11. T. Garratt, C. J. Parr. J. Patterson, A. Rossor. ¥. E. Baume and J. Court. Union Kate of Wages: A letter was read from the Trades and Labour Council .Stating that Messrs. T. Rilev, .1. Fawcus and W. Peak, a deputation from the Trades and Laboiu Council, would wait on the Council and ask that in all future contracts let by the Council stipulation be made that the union rate of wages be paid. The deputation, however, was not present, and the matter was deferred till next meeting. The Late. President McKinley: Mr. F. Dillingham, U.S. Consul for New Zealand, wrote that he was instructed, in the name of the President and people of the United States, to thank the Council and citizens of Auckland for deep sympathy at the time of President McKinley's death. Tim lettei was received.

Scarlet. Fever The Health Department forwarded pamphlets oh scarlet fever and the chief safeguards against the spread of the disease, which were received to be circulated for Information. Cutting of Trees: Mr. Percy Holt, secretary of "the Scenery Conservation Society, wrote calling attention to gaps in the rows of trees planted in streets and requesting the Council to fill the gaps next autumn, also requesting that advertising on tree-guards and other public property should be prohibited. Mr. Holt also wrote asking the co-operation of the Council in an endeavour to get the Telegraph Department to put their wires in cables in certain places to avoid the necessity of lopping the branches of trees. The park superintendent reported on the society's letters that he had been unable for two years past to get suitable trees to fill the gaps, referred to. He had a. few for planting in autumn, but not sufficient. He hoped the society would succeed in their application to the Telegraph Department. Mr. Meddings, inspector ot telegraphs, wrote complaining that in certain places the wires got in contact with trees m windy weather and asking that where the telegraph wires run the trees be cut to a, level below the wires ov removed altogether. The park superintendent reported that it would entirely spoil the appearance of the trees to cut them to below the wires. It they had to be thus mutilated it would be better to cut them down altogether. Ihe letters were referred to the Domain Committee. The engineer reported :—• As the formation of footway and kerbmg and i channeling of north side of Patteson-street is now approaching completion, it will be j necessary to metal the portion of roadway ; between the channel and tramway line. As a number of the trees now planted on. this portion of roadway are dead while others are in the line of channel and must be removed to facilitate the proper formation and rolling of the roadway, I would therefore recommend that all the trees be removed. The Mayor, said it was absolutely necessary to remove the trees, and their removal was agreed to. A Contractor's Deposit: Messrs. Sam White and Co. wrote asking the Council to reconsidci the forfeiture of their deposit ot £10 in connection with Cemetery Gull} tendei, which was withdrawn after acceptance on account of an error. It was agreed to send the request to the Legal Committee for inquiry and report. , An Insanitary Building: Dr. Makgill, district health officer, wrote condemning premises in Rutland-street as dangerous to public health. The sanitary inspector reported that the place was a menace to the health of the city unci that the occupant was now lying on a few old rags in a broken-down shed ill With rheumatism. It was agreed to give the statutory notice to pull down the building-Right-of-way: Mr. J. H. Hannan wrote, complaining of a Mr. Stowe using a nght-rn-way behind his (Mr. Hannau's) shop m Vic-toria-street for cart traffic. Tho engineer stated that Mr. Stowe only took Ins trap through the right-of-way twice a day to get from and to his own premises. The letter was referred to the Legal Committee. Drainage: Messrs. Dunn, Smith, and Co. wrote, urging the Council to have a sewer laid along Custom-street West, where. they were erecting new premises. Messrs. 1: 11. Hall and Co. and Ross and Ansenne wrote, statin"- that the drainage from, their premises in Lower Queen-street had beer blocked, and urging attention to it. The letters were referred to the Streets Committee, :n the case of Lower Queen-street with power to act, this being a matter of urgency. Flooding: The licensee of the Freeman s Hotel wrote asking compensation for damage caused in his'cellar through the burstin"- of a street drain pipe. The damage was from £15 to £20. The letter was referred to the Streets Committee. Tenders: The following tenders were re-, ceived fo;- St. Mary's Road drainage:—-New-son and Coulson, £2322 10s; Wm. Hendry, £2034 2s; Finnan, £1817 14s; Thomas Billington and Co., £2132; McGee, £1861 15s 2d. It was agreed to accept Finnan's tender if the engineer reports that the tender is in accordance with the specifications, the second tender to be retained. The engineer's estimate was £2100. The tender of John Irwin (£29 15s) for kerbing and channelling in Basque Road was accepted. Wm. Hendry's tender, £234 Is Bd, for excavations of valve house, was accepted. Engineer's Report: The city engineer, in his report on progress of works for the past fortnight, stated good progress is being made with the following contracts:—Cemetery Gully branch drains, painting fences and reserves, Custom-street East kerbing and channelling, Patteson-street kerbing and channelling ; West-street kerbing, channelling, ' and formation; Council's workshops, etc., Market Yard; cleansing North and East Wards; painting of Cox's Creek, Hobsonstreet, and Cemetery Gully bridges is completed. The old stonebreaknr ceased breaking metal this week, and the engine has been removed to the Western Springs to ! pump water. • Shop Half-holiday: The statutory meeting of representatives of the city and suburbs, to fix the shop half-holiday for the ensuing year, was fixed to bo held on January 15, the Mayor, Messrs. Hanuan, Court, and McLeod being appointed the representatives of the city to attend the meeting. Streets Committee: The Streets Committee reported as follows:—Government entomologist, as to the presence of grubs on kauri blocks on Queen-street Wharf: Reply that the engineer reports that every effort is being made by the Harbour Board 10 prevent the spread of these grubs. Ratepayers, Dublin-street, as to formation and channelling of street: Reply that the growth of weeds in the channels will be removed, thus obviating the urgent necessity for permanently channelling. All house drainage is connected with the sewer, and the footpaths are in good order, tarred and sanded. Ratepayers, Upper Queen-street, as to formation of footpath on west side of street: Work to be don?, provided the owners pay half the estimated cost, £27. Ratepayers, Wood-street, asking for erection of street lamp: Deferred until next allocation. G. F. Griffiths, as to condition of steps at bottom of Sentinel Road: Repairs to be effected. P. Lanigan, submitting alternative offers foi street-paving: Reply that no stone set) are required at present. With referenca to the formation of footpath on west side of Upper Queen-street, Mr. McLeod moved, " That the Council pay the whole cost." Ml. Parr seconded, and the motion was carried. The report, as amended, was adopted. Legal Committee: The Legal Committee reported:—Superintendent of parks, re persons training horses in Domain enclosure : Proceedings to be taken to prevent this practice. Alliance Assurance Company, as to danger from sparks from chimney at Bagnall's mill, Freeman's Bay: Inspector to take action to have nuisance abated. City engineer, submitting sample and price for curtains for bandstand, Albert Park, at a cost of £9 15s: Agreed to. M. Flurscheim verbally offered several pictures for Art Gallery: Accepted, subject to recommendation of Advisory Board. The report was adopted. Finance Committee: The Finance Committee reported:— M. Myers, asking remission of half rates on unoccupied portion of ' Strand Arcade: Granted. Your committee recommend that the Mayor be authorised to procure a horse and trap for the use of the engineer and himself to visit the workr of the city. The report was adopted- j

Kerbing and Channelling: Mr. Maspfield asked that the following motion be sent to the Streets Committee:—"That the footpath bo ke.bed and channelled on north side of Cook-street, situate between Moreton and Union Streets." Mr. Glover moved as an amendment, "That the work be proceeded with, and.charged to the North Ward allocation," and the amendment was carried, though Mr. Masefield strongly opposed charging the work to the North Ward allocation.

Water Rates: Mr. Hewson moved, " That the town clerk be instructed to carry out tho by-law respecting water charges on domestic supply for the coming half-year." He said the by-laws provided that the minimum charge for each tenement should be 10s. That had not been carried out, with the result that there had been considerable lost' to the Council. Mi. Glover suggested that the mattei be Sent' to tho Legal Committee. Mr. Parr, tho Mayor, and Mr. Stichbury sup\orccd, and Mr. Hewson consented tc this course.