AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12662, 16 September 1904, Page 7

AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Auckland City Council Was held last evening. Present: The Mayor (the Hon. E. Mitchelson), Messrs. G* Knight, W. E. Hutchison, C. Grey, J. McLeod, J. Court, A. J. Entrican, S. 0. Brown, L. J. Bagnall, J. T. Julian, and Dr. E. W. Sliatman. Open Spaces: The secretary of the Auckland Scenery Conservation Society forwarded a resolution pointing out the unsatisfactory state of tho trees «md shrubs in the parks and reserves of the city. Tho Council was asked to take into consideration what should, be done for the better administration of tho parks and reserves' under their control, the society suggesting that a small committee be appointed, to be assisted by one or more members Of the' society. The letter was referred tp the Streets Committee. Mr. A. Kidd, M.H.R., wrote stating that he had Doen approached by the Mayor of Wellington in reference to taking combined action so as to bring the reserves and open spaces ift Wellington and Auckland under the Land Transfer Act, the idea being to secure the Government's sanction to the proposal and thus avoid paying the necessary fees, about £500. Mr. Kidd asked for instruction in the 1 matter. It was agreed that Mr, Kidd be asked to act. Duncdin-street: A petition was received from Mary A. Lynch; Susan K. Lynch, Robert P. Lynch, and Daniel ,T. F. Lynch; asking for the extension of the sewer to their properties in Dunedin-streot, Por.sonby, the distance being about 240 ft. Referred to the Streets Committee. Marine Parade: Attention was drawn by Mr. J. B. Parkinson to what the writer described as the impassable condition of the footpath at the corner of Marine Parade and Hannan-streot, Ppnsonby. Referred to the Streets Committee. Infectious Diseases: The following recommendation of the Finance and Legal Committee in regard to the infectious diseases hospital was adopted:—That application be made to the Government for a refund of the amount paid by the Council towards the cost of erecting the infectious diseases hospital at Point Chevalier, less proportion of expenses incurred, and that the Council.express its willingness to pay its proportion of the cost of maintaining the temporary hospital in tho Domain on receipt of account. . ■ Finance and Legal Committee: .The following recommendations of the finance and Legal Committee were adopted:—That the three samples of dust-bins submitted by the engineer, priced at ss; 7s 6d, and 8s 9d each respectively, be approved, and that .the use of, such bins bo enforced .by by-law; that the fire brigade superintendent be authorised to purchase a horse, and that tenders be called for new uniforms for the firemen; that, the. Streets' Committee be asked to consider the.advisability_ of having the new fire station in Beach Road kept back a sufficient distance to widen the street. Sanitary By-laws: The Streets Committee recommended that a reply be sent to Mr. J. Aiild (whe had complained against having to comply with the sanitary by-laws) in tho terms of the inspector of nuisances' report, that the work in question was inspected on July 6, 8, and 20; while in progress. The committee added:---On the 29th the work was completed, but not satisfactorily as .regards on© particular joint. ... The . inspector saw Mr. Peace, the plumber,, who hold the permit for the work, and lie agreed to alter the work, and this was.done when the last inspection was made on August 8. The report, was adopted. , •. -, , , ~. v ,;.,.'. .Streets Committee; ,£be. following, were , among the recommendations iu the. Streets Committee's report, which was. adopted: — That Mr. Henry ; (consulting electrical engineer), report on. the question of the supply of electrical power; %it formation work be done in Dighan-street at a. cost of £12; that £10 be, spent in improving the gully in O'Neil-street; that Mr. Thome be- informed that provision -has been made in the proposed loan -.of £100,000 for forming Douglasstreet -to the permanent level; that an account for the full cost of- repairing the steam road roller -bo,rendered to the Tramways Company; that the Harbour Board- bo informed that the road through Mechanics' Bay,, although, it. hay been,. temporarily .repaired by the Council, lias, never been taken over by the Council that. in regard to.the complaint as to drivers riding on loaded carts going down,, hill,, .the. engineer obtain I a report from the foreman carter and the master carters be asked to what extent they permit carters to ride on loaded carts ana their opinions the question raised; that th«.,»igJfsoil contractor be notified that the conditions of his contract will, be strictly enforced. ~ ~. ..." Tenders: Tenders _ for building a- strongroom for the Council-were received as folMcCallum,. £698. 10s;. N. McLean, £712.,, As die engineer's estimate; was £460. the tenders were referred to the Streets Committee. ~_..,,. i ... . « ' Library Committee,; The Library Committee reported a* follows as to the letters from Mr. Gilbert Maif, of Wellington, dealing with Maori MSS. in Auckland and Cape libraries,-—".The librarian, to, he instructed to from the Cape .catalogue,ua.list of the New Zealand books and manuscripts of, which ftp duplicates exist in the Auckland library, ~A, copy, of, the. list. .South African literature, now in the Auckland library, to, beforwarded to Mr. Mair." Tho report ~was adopted. ' Drinking Fountains: The Auckland; ,Pro-hibition.-and Temperance League requested the Council to. remedy,the existing inadequate pwyisioii of .suitable drinking,: fountains for pedestrians before the hot .weather sets in. Referred to-Streets Committee. ; Mfcaulay-stfeet;.Ratepayers pi Macaulaystreet,.,Newton, ..petitioned; .the Couuoil. to kerb and channel the street at once. Re erred to Streets Committee. • ..

~Auckland, Tennis, Club: The secretary, of Auckland Lawn f> Tennis Club wrote .stating that tlie club, was not prepared ,to ; expend about, £200 in slaying t out the grounds in Stanley-street, if the Council was not. pre p.areii to. give* a longer . lease than • throe yearC. The ; club suggested,, that the Council Igtfphe grounds.out and lea:=e,it to the club at a rental that would give; ft- return of 10 percent. Referred to Streets ■ Committee. , The Harbour .Board Bill: The secretary of the Marine' Department replied to a resolution passed by the Council urging that if the Harbours Bill was. hot passed this session an amendment of the law should, be made in .the- direction of deferring the, .election of members, of the. Auckland Harbour Board until, after the biennial ©lection of the municipal, councillors in April, stating that if it becomes necessary to make an amendment in regard to the. Auckland Board only by fi special Bill,. such Bill wpuld be a local one. It .was further Intimated that the proposal to. .defer the election would be considered . in ; connection with , the Harbours Bill. The letter was received. Signboard* . Regulations: The Auckland Gas 'Company forwarded a design of a sign to be-erected on the front of their, premises in Wyndham -street, and asked the. .Council's sanction to erect the same. The engineer reported that the. granting of the application would form a precedent, and would lead to numerous applications of a similar nature for work contrary to the provisions of the by-laws. Referred to Streets Committee. . , ...... Proposed Sundial: The Auckland Scenery Conservation Society, wrote .requesting assistance in erecting sundial in Albert Pant, to the extent of £10. The Streets Committee saw no objection ,to the society erecting the sundial if they desired to do so. Q'Neil-streefc: Tbe Streets, Committee submitted, the following recornriiehdation in tecard to.the letter from Messrs. •C. Merritt and J. J. Holland re width of CNeil-street, stating that a permit had been >ssued to ereofc a building in the-.street, which .is less than 65ft in width: Reply in terms of the pity engineer's report that, O'Neil-street was taken over by t the Council - when Ponsonby was included in.the city;.that, a permit for the building was issued, on .August 11; .that on, inquiry at the Deeds Office it has been found that deeds have been issued for the subdivision of Tole's ~ property,.. giving ii frontage to the existing line of street. Inferred back to the Streets Committee.