AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12002, 26 June 1902, Page 3

AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Auckland City Council, held last night, was attended by His Worship the Mayor (Mr. Alfred Kidd), Messrs. .1. Hewsou, A. Clover, A. Rosser, J. T. Julian. C. Cray, ,1. MoLeod, J. Stichhury, J. 11. Hamuli, T. T. Masofield and .1. Patterson.

tostley Home.- The Trades ami Labour Council forwarded a resolution passed at their last meeting asking that in view of HiExcellency the Governor's charges re the Costley Home an inquiry should be held into the dismissal of Mr. Moss the late manager, and also into the working of the home. In moving that the matter go to the Legal Committee, Mr. Stichbury (chairman of the Charitable Aid Board) said the Board would only be too glad to have an inquiry into the working of the home. The letter was sent on to the Legal Committee Emily Place: The Scenery Conservation Society forwarded a suggestion for the beautifying of the reserve at Emily Place by planting more trees. It was agreed to reply that the Council had no trees at present available for this purpose. Gift to the Ait Gallery: An offer was received from Mr. Geo. Fowlds. M.H.K., t; . present to the Art Gallery a picture of ihe Auckland harbour from Mount Hobsou, byMr. 11. Moore-Jones, The picture was received with thanks.

Abattoirs: K letter was received from the Agricultural Department covering a u>pvc from Dr. Makgill, of the Health Depint merit, condemning what is known as Salmon's site at Mount Roskiil as a site for the public abattoirs, and suggesting that the Council should secure a site nearer the lailway and saleyards. The report vas \t blished in the HERALD last week. Mr. Lewson wondered what the health officer had to do with the matter, and in order to define the Council's position he moved that the letter be referred to the Legal Committee. Mr. Patterson felt that if this sort of thing went on the Council would be in the same position to the authorities in Wellington as the City Schools Committee was to the Education Board the other day. Mr. Glover objected to the Council being dominated by the Health Department or any other Department. Mr. Masefield thought the Council had done all they could and should simply receive the letter. The Council had chosen tho site they considered the best, and that was approved by most of the butcher-*. The letter was sent on to the Legal Committee.

Horsefeed: Tenders for the supply of horsefeed for the next six months were received from Messrs. Eccles, Robertson Bros., Produce Association, Andrew, and Martin. As the prices were in schedule the tenders were referred to the engineer to report on. Analyses of City Water: Mr. J. A. Pond, colonial analyst, forwarded a report upon the city water supply as requested by the Council. After giving full details of his analyses of the water, Mr. Pond said it was exceedingly gratifying to find that the main spring at the Western Springs still yielded so pure a water. The contamination it suffered from being allowed to flow into the collecting pond was a. matter for serious consideration, and in this connection he reiterated his former recommendation to securely pipe the water from the main spring to the pumpwell, and so escape the danger of the exposure in the large surface of the pond. That the Nihotupu water was capable of improvement he had no doubt, and the necessity for it was shown in the large precipitate, chiefly of vegetable debris, brought down after heavy rains. This, lie considered, should be removed by filtration. One other cause of deterioration lay in the exposure of the pipes for some seven or eight miles. In hot weather the temperature would be raised so high as to increase the solution of organic matter, and to favour an enormous increase of bacterial life. The pipes should be protected from the sun. Mr. Pond stated it was impossible to neglect the bad colour of the water. To secure the purity of the water supplied by the Council, he said it would be necessary to carry out the following works:—Nihotupu: (1) The removal of the cause of discolouration and impurity of the Nihotupu stream at its source; (2) the erection of sand filters for the Nihotupu supply; (3) the protection where necessary from the direct heat of the sun of the conveying pipes, between Nihotupu dam and Titirangi. Western Springs: Conveying the water from the main soring to the pump-well clear of the collecting pond to avoid contamination from this source. The report was referred to the Water Committee for consideration.

Absence of the Mayor and Town Clerk: In view of the absence of the Mayor and town clerk, who go to Wellington next week to attend the municipal conference, Mr. Hewson was appointed to act as Deputy-Mayor, and Mr. Sexton was appointed acting-town clerk.

Fire Brigade: The superintendent of the fire brigade reported that the brigade would be in occupation of the ground floor of the new station in Pitt-street next week.

Streets Committee: The Streets Committee's report contained the following recommendations, which were adopted:—T. Miller, submitting claim for damage by fumigation in his house: Reply in terms of the city solicitor's advice that the Council accepts no liability in the matter. A. R. Watson, asking permission to erect a shed at the foot of .St. Mary's Road: Granted, subject to removal on a mouth's notice. W. A. Holman, asking for wafer mains in Gordon Terrace : Reply that the work will be done as soon as possible. Legal Committee: The Legal Committee recommended: —Auckland Scenery Conservation .Society, re planting trees in Albert Park, between Bowen Avenue and Victoria Quadrant: Regret no funds are available for carrying out this work. Auckland Scenery Conservation Society, re trees iu Jervois Road, superintendent of parks reporting thereon: Reply in terms of parks superintendent's report, that the damaged and disfigured trees will be replaced as far as tree, are available for the purpose, and that the tree guards will be repaired as soon as labour is available. Inspector of telegraphs, offering to maintain the wires in connection with the fire alarm system for the sum of £2 per mile per annum.: Agreed to. Auckland Scenery Conservation Society, asking assistance to reserve St. Barnabas' Point as a. public park: Agreed to. The Rev. E. C. Budd, calling attention to the condition of the free ground in the Anglican portion of the cemetery: The chairman of committee to consult with the General Trust Board as to utilising another portion of the cemetery. Mayor of Capetown, forwarding subscription list to Rhodes memorial fund -. Deferred. E. Waters and Son, re fire alarm system infringing patent: Deferred for reply from Ediuiston and O'Neill, the makers. The report was adopted. Kate for Water Closets: Mr. Glover moved, "That a by-law be brought into operations forthwith, reducing the charge for water supply to closets, from 30s to 20s per annum." He considered that now the auxiliary supply had been brought in the Council should show the citizens that it desired to relieve taxation wherever possible. After Mine discussion, the matter was referred to the Water Committee, with instructions to report to the Council as to whether there was sufficient water to enable the proposal to be rallied out, and also as to how it would affect the Council's finances.