AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12027, 25 July 1902, Page 3

AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

The Auckland City Council met last night. The Mayor (Mr. Alfred Kidd) presided, and there were also present: Messrs. J. W. Hewson, J. Patterson, H. T. Garratt, A. E. Glover, 0.. Grey, T. T. Masefield, J. McLeod, J. H. Hannan, J. Court, J. Stichbury, A. Rosser, and F. E. Baume. .'• ' •

Eden-street: Mr. D. "W. Runciman, registrar of the Auckland University College, wrote, drawing attention to the bad state of the unformed portion of Eden-street, and suggesting that it be fenced off. Referred to the Streets Committee. -

Oxford-street:' A number ef residents petitioned for the draining of that part of Ox-ford-street adjoining Newton Road. The engineer reported that he estimated the cost of the l equired work at' £29. Referred to the Streets Committee. . '

The Librarian: Mr. Edward Shillington, librarian, wrote asking for a month's extension of leave, owing to the length of time occupied by his passage to England, making it impossible for him to carry out his arranged programme in the allotted time. The application was granted. '■' . Offer of Land for Abattoirs Site An offer of a site for the city abattoirs, near #ie Penrose Junction, was received from Messrs. Beale and Beale. The land was between the "Waikato and Onehunga railway lines, and contained a large two-storeyed dwellinghouse and other conveniences. The price asked was £5000, and the owner was willing to accept payment in Auckland city debentures? The offer was referred to the Finance Committee.

Swanson-street: The Campbell-Ehrenfried Company, Limited, wrote asking the Council to state whether it could see its way to carry out the cutting down of Swansonstreet, as requested seme time ago. If the Council was unable to have the whole of the street cut down, it was suggested that haLf the width of the street be cut down to the permanent level, and that a footpath be made to connect with Chapel-street corner, a distance of 58ft. The letter was referred to the Streets Committee. .■■■■_

Expectoration on. the Footpaths: Mrs. -. A. Daldy, secretary to the Women's Political League, forwarded the following -. resolution passed by that body:—"That this league respectfully ash the City Council when the bylaw forbidding expectoration on ' the public paths is to be brought into operation, the present condition of said paths from this cause alone being abominable at.d disgusting, as well as ; inimical to flua health of the community." The.Mayor thought the Council should.pass an interim by-law at once, and thus put a stop to what was oertainly a most disgusting habit. He explained that the Council had passed a by-law against' expectoration, but it was one ot a set of new by-laws now being revised, and would not be brought into operation for some months. Mr. Hannan said the Auckland City Council was the first corporation in New Zealand to pass a bylaw on this subject, and yet it was trie last to bring it into operation. On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Mr. Hannan, it was resolved to pass an interim by-law on the subject.

Day Labour: The city engineer recommended the employment of 11 additional men for a month. The contracts for cleansing of the North and East Wards were almost expired, and the additional men would be required, as the Council bad resolved to do the work by day labour in future., The engineer also stated that six boys would be required constantly to keep Queen-street clean. Mr. Glover objected to the employment of boys, stating that the work should be given to old men. The report was referred to the Streets Committee. ' The Municipal Conference: A report by the Mayor &nd town clerk on the proceedings of the recent Municipal Conference was read, and the delegates were thanked for their services. •' Waterworks: Mr. Carlaw, waterworks engineer, reported in reference to the recent bursting of a water main in High-street, and suggested that a■, house, adjoining the workshop, and connected with the telephone, be occupied by one of his staff, so that in case of fire or accident on the lower levels, no time would bo lost. The report was re- ' feraed. to the Waterworks Committee. •

; Sanitary Inspection: \ The ; inspector;"■ of nuisances reported that the number- of pre- V mises inspected during the past month was 1587, whilst 95 notices as to nuisances : and 27 a3 to breaches of by-laws had been served. It was '.recommended that the appointment of the assistant inspector be extended for a month; in order that the house-to-house inspection of the more thickly populated parts of the city might he completed. This request was complied-with, and the report was referred to the Sanitary Committee. * Water Charges for Sanitary Purposes: The Streets Committee having considered a motion by Mr. Glover, recommended that the charge for water supplied for closets to private houses be reduced from £1 10s to £1 per annum, the by-law to bo made so that the reduction should apply solely to private houses, and not to shops, warehouses, board-ing-houses, hotels, factories, and such like. Mr. Stichbury said the adoption of the proposed reduction would mean a loss to the Council of £450 a year. The Council's cxpenditure last yea! was £11,376 in excess of that of the previous year, and he did not; think they would be justified in making the reduction recommended by the committee. Mr. McLeod said they .-'should not look on the sanitation of the city as a money in akin a; concern, and he believed that the cheap ing of the rate would lead to an extension of the service. Mr.'Jltosser thought the ini crease in the services would more than recoup the loss. In answer to Mr. Hannan the Mayor said there was a resolution on the books to the effect that a. reduction he made when sufficient water was available. Mr. Hewson was in favour of a greater reduction

than that recommended, but thought the Council should wait until they were sure

there was sufficient water. The reduction of revenue would not he great. Mi. Mascfield said that tho committee was informed

that the loss in revenue would not be nearly so great as stated by Mr. Stichbury. Mr. Glover spoke in favour of a reduction, especially as they had already made a reduction to outside boroughs for thei.- water supply.* Mr. Patterson also favoured the reduction. Mr. Court would like to see the reduction carried, but he thought" the proposal was brought forward a. year too soon. Mr. Hannan said the Council could reduce the charge to 15s as easily as to £1, as the water would not cost the Council more than Jss for each service. Mr. Garratt questioned the accuracy of Mr. Stburr's figures. The Mayor, who stated that only consumers were interested,* said tho main point, which had been missed by most, speakers, was tho cheapening of an article which the Council did not yet possess. The loss of revenue, he agreed, would be small, but if the water was not)?available it would be unwise, in th« depth of winter, to give away what might be required for domestic purposes in the summer. The engineer did not feel justified in recommending ' the reduction until ; a sufficiency of water in summer was assured. Mr. Stichbury having referred to the criticisms of the figures quoted by him. the Mayor said they were quite correct. The recommendation of the committee was'carried by seven to three.

Tenders: The following tenders for new crown for sewer in Freeman's Bay were re-ceived-.—Thomas Bi&ihgton, £718 15s, ia brick; Newsom and Colson, £815, in concrete, and £678 5s in brick ;McGec and Co., £1132 in concrete and £743 10s 6d in brick; Fenaine, £354- 4s in concrete; Win. Hendry, £840 18s in concrete and £659 in brick. Tha lowest tender in concrete, viz., Wm. Hendry, was accepted. The tender .of , Thomas : Billington, £162, for formation, works in Jervois Road, was accepted.;. ,"' For the erection of : valve-house the tender of Mr., Small, £282, was accepted. From live tenders for repairs to machinery the tender of 0. Judd, Thamos, being the lowest, was accepted. - -~ Streets Committee: The report of the Streets Committee was adopted as follows: Offer of Gas Company to erect and maintain for one year seven lamps at the approach to, the wharf: Accepted. On request of Gre'' Tjvnn Borough Council, extension of water •'°- Richmond Ward: Granted, the supply t' " 6 . taken through a separate metre and i>' con " nection made with the present suppV *"° district. On a petition from Matt-street, asking for street crossing: That [** work J>° j done in duo course, and that $* crossing be Bft in width; On a letter fr- ,m Grey Lynn Borough Council as to the condition, of Cox 3 Creek Bridge: Council to repair the bridge, provided the Grey Ly*a Borough Council pay half the cost of,s«me. Waterworks engineer, re Porter's contract for. supply: of: pipes for Queon-streot: Your committee recommend that a penalty of £30 bo enforced for non-fulfilment of contract. Refuse and Sanitary Services: Mr. Hannan had given notice :to move, " Tbat a rate bo struck to cover the cost of refuse and sanitary removal that this Council open negotiations with the Sanitary, Company to find out bow much uctiou the said company < : will give tp,<fio city per pan during the remainder 0 f contract, tho Council collecting the money -and paying in one sum at the end of each quarter, " instead of at present' house-to-house collection." At the request of the mover the motion was referred to , the Streets • Committee for consideration. ■ The Smoke Nuisance Mr. McLeod asked ■"» number of questions regarding the smoke nuisance, vof which' notice had been given by Mr. Baume, who had left before the conclusion of the meeting./ In reply it was stated by the engineer that many of those to whom; notices to abate the nuisance had been sent had made efforts' to comply with such notices,! but with small success. Some of, the firms were spending large sums in endeavouring to deal with the matter, and in one case an order had been sent to America for a patent appliance, which would shortly arrive and which was expected to prove a success.