AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13484, 10 May 1907, Page 3

AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Auckland City Council, held last evening, was attended by the Mayor (Mr. A. M. Myers), Messrs. L. J. Bagnall, '.■£."■: Hutchison, C. J. Parr, H. 'M-'Smeetbri i i P. M. ; Mackay, W. C; Somers, C. Grey, R. Tudehope, B. Fanell, G. Knight, and Dr. Stopford. Leave of Absence: Messrs. J. Court and M. Casey were, on the motion of the Mayor, granted five months' leave of absence. Tenders: The tender of Messrs. A. and T. Burt for the supply of 25 copper lanterns, at a sum of £29 10s, was accepted,' as was the tender of Chas. Judd (Thames), for castiron surface blocks " : l survey standard,.the price being: Set. of castings for footway, 8s ll|d; covers for same, 3s 9|d; castings for roadways, 10s 7Jd; covers, 4s lOd. Sarsfield-street:. The residents of. Sars-field-street, Ponsonby, petitioned for formation of a footpath, and the matter was referred to the Streets Committee. Sewer Extension: A petition for the ex- I tension of the sewer at St. Francis de Sale- I street, Ponsonby, was referred to the Streets j Committee. j City Abattoirs: The Minister for Lands intimated that the question of nominating ' an inspector for the abattoirs was receiving attention, and J. Adams and Co. inquired if, when the abattoirs were erected, the Council would grant accommodation and facilities for slaughtering and singeing pigs. The architect is to report on the cost of making the necessary provision. Messrs. Devore, Martin, and Prendergast, acting for Mi". J. Irvine, contractor for road formation at the abattoirs, lodged a claim for £74 9s 3d, alleged to have been wrongfully deducted from the contract money. The "matter was referred to the Streets Committee. Fire Board: Messrs. Tudehope, Entrican, and Mackay were appointed the Council's representatives on the Fire Board, and the Finance Committee was instructed to arrange details as to the rent and value of the '.city plant. ' Market Square: Mr. J. McDonald drew attention to the filthy state of the road in Market . Square, and Purged that something be done. The engineer reported that kerbing and channelling, at a cost of £10, was all that was necessary, but the work had been put off because it had not been established until lately that the street had been taken over by the Council. .It was pointed out by councillors that owing to the absence of lights in the street a nuisance was committed. The engineer's recommendation was adopted, and the matter of lighting the street was referred to the Streets Committee. ..aikumet'e Cemetery : A complaint was received from a.number of business persons interested in the Waikumete Cemetery, stating that it was impossible to communicate with the sexton after noon on Saturday. 'Hie matter was referred .to the Finance Committee. A Ratepayer's Inquiry: Mr.. P. A. Vaile made inquiry as to whether professional advice had been sought on the sites proposed for the Town Hall before the matter was submitted to the ratepayers; and also, what amount is to be devoted to improving the city roads, which the writer described as probably the worst in New Zealand. He averred that abutting on Queen-street there was not 200 yds of properly-made and-main-tained roadway. It was decided to refer Mr. Vaile to the town clerk for the information asked for. - . Sanitary Contract: The committee of the whole Council, in reporting on the question of the sanitary contract, stated that Mr. F. dagger had accepted an offer of £2800 for his property at Harkins' Point. The committee recommended that the tender of the Southern Cross Company,, for the supply of 2000 pans at 6s 6d eaoh, and that of Mr.-C. Judd, at 2s" 1 4-5 d each for'covers, be accepted. The report was adopted. Waitakerei Water Works: The Streets Committee reported, that a letter had been received from Messrs. < Slater and Bennett, stating that they; had decided to allow the Council to finish.vtheir-, contract .ini connection with the;Waitakerei water-works, according to plans and specifications, charging cost of same to money due and to become due from: the contract, the balance of. /money due ,; on completion of the; work to' be handed to them. ;i The; committee recommended that the engineer 'in charge of the works be instructed to proceed with the work as may be advised by the city solicitor. The Streets Committee also advised that the waterworks engineer be authorised to sow grass seed at Waitakerei/ and that tunnelling be proceeded with on the Nihotupu pipe line, as previously authorised. The committee also recommend-* ed the payment of £50 as an extra on the contract for carting pipe material at Swanson, in consideration of the contract having been extended into the winter through supplies coming forward;more slowly than was anticipated. The ' recommendations were adopted. Custom-street: It was recommended by the Streets Committee that in view of the Harbour Board's proposed extension of Custom-street to connect with the reclamation to be made off Freeman's Bay, negotiations be entered into with the Board with a view to their offering Messrs. ; Massey Bros., Ltd., another site in exchange for their present leasehold/ and thus enable the street in front of their present premises to be widened forthwith. .This recommendation was adopted.

The City Arms: It was resolved, on the,, recommendation of the Finance Committee, to ask the Auckland Guild of Master Painters to submit a design explanatory of their suggestion that the present seal or arms of the city be replaced by a coat of arms. Streets Committee: • The following recommendations by the Streets Committee were adopted: —that the engineer report on the question, of, the advantage or otherwise and the cost of a steam disinfector; that -some repairs be effected to the road at Freeman's, Bay ; that the necessary repairs be effected in Ardmore' Road and Jamesstreet, Ponsonby ; 'that payment of Messrs. Noyes Bros.' account in connection with the electrical installation (£273 7s lOd) be passed; that the,offer of Messrs.. Newson and Campling, for fixing seats in - Victoria-' Park pavilion (£49 7s 7d), be accepted. .' The Sanitary Rate: Dr. Stopford -said he had taken it upon himself to interview the Minister for Labour regarding the question of obtaining legislative authority for an increase of the present sanitary rate of,6d in the £. He had suggested that a temporary Act to this effect, to remain in force for 10 years, be passed. He read a letter that he.had written to the Minister on the subject, add intimated his intention of moving in the direction indicated at the ; next meeting. "