AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13626, 20 December 1907, Page 7

AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL.

A MKiiTiXG of the City Council was held last evening, when there were present His Worship the Mayor (Mr. A. M. Myers) and Messrs. J. Court, C. J. Parr, R. Farroll, R. Tudohope, M. Casey, W. C. Somcrs, A. J. Entncan, HI M. Smecton, A. E. Glover, W. E. Hutchison, P. M. Muckay, and Dr. Stopford.

Street Watering: A number of shopkeepers wrote to complain that the portion of Mount Eden Road between the- Eden Vine corner and the Mount Eden borough boundary was never watered by the city watering carts. The city engineer added a. note to the effect that with the completion of the tramway works this portion of road would bo watered by,the electric sprinkler, but practically all the petitioners were ratepayers of Eden Terrace Road Board, and not of the city. G. Lewis and Co. also wrote asking when the Council intended to water Queen-street to allay the dust nuisance: The city engineer said that when the electric sprinkler was in full commission, it was proposed to water Queen-street, but it would be difficult to do it satisfactorily in the busy home of the day. It was "decided to reply to the Eden 'terrace people in accordance with the engineer's report. The Mayor, in reply to Mr. Parr, said he was hopeful that very shortly the sprinkler would be in daily use. The city engineer 6aid that before making an agreement with the company the sprinkler should be run provisionally, as there were difficuties to face, such us the fact that the sprinkler would necessarily have to travel slower than the other traffic. Experiments would, therefore, have to bo minle. It was decided that the city engineer be authorised to agree to a provisional arrangement in the meantime, and report to next meeting of the Council. Mr. Bush mentioned that the sprinkler, held 3470 gallons, the water alone weighing 18 tons. It would take some little time to make a nice adjustment in connection with the sprinkler. Thus information it was decided to forward to G. Lewis and Co., in reply to their communication. Top-dressing: The Eden District Cricket Club wrote to ask permission to cart toil required for top-dressing of the cricket grounds at Kiugsland from the proposed cutting of Mount Eden Road, near the reservoir. The application was granted. Liability Declined: Leonard 11. Harvey and T. C. G. Robertson forwarded claims, the former for £20 and the latter for £10, for damage occasioned to their properties in Wanganui Avenue by overflow of storm water during the heavy downpour on Saturday, December 7. The city engineer said the flooding was caused by the extremely heavy rain. A certain amount of damage was done, but not of the value claimed, and he was of opinion that the Council was not in any way responsible, the houses being right* in a gully, where waters from three directions met. He could not recommend the Council to accept liability. It was decided to reply declining responsibility. Mills' Lane :J. J. Macky wro±e to point out that Mills* Lane required a footpath and kerbing to keep cart wheels from injuring the walls of buildings. It was deckled to authorise the city engineer to have the necessary work done. Consultative Local Bodies: The Epsom Road Board wrote regretting that the City Council had decided against the proposed consultative body of all the local bodies through whose districts the tramway system went, as it ' (the Board) thought such a body would have been in the interests of all concerned. The letter was formally received. "V Ponsonbv Baths: The Harbour Board intimated that a lease for 50 years would be granted the Council of the new site for baths at Ponsonbv, and the Board would grant half the" increased cost (if any) of removing baths from the present site seaward such distance as plight be required. The Mayor said the Council was not in a position to accept the lowest tender for the Ponsonby baths. The city engineer stated that he had had soundings taken . and plans of a sheltershed prepared. Mr. Entrican said the ?lan for the proposed . esplanade round onsonby would be brought up at the next meeting of the Harbour Board. .It was a great improvement on the ; former* plan, though it would necessitate the baths being put further out than was originally contemplated. The matter was referred to the Streets Committee. Tender Accepted : The tender of A. Ross (£2207 9s) was accepted for the formation of St. Mary's Road. Smoke Nuisance: It was decided that Messrs. Bycroft, Ltd., should be given notice requiring the .firm to abate the nuisance occasioned by the smoke from the chimney of their factory in Shortlandstreet, the firm to be asked to prevent the emission from the chimney by putting in a proper smoke consumer. • Great North Road: The Streets Committee recommended, in regard to the .resolutions of. the conference of local bodies called in connection with the Great North Road extension works, that the Council, while objecting on principle to being charged the same proportion of cost as for the previous contractV-which was for work nearer the should agree to the present proposals in view of the fact that the Council's delegates had endorsed the whole scheme. The recommendation was approved. • Electrical Supply: The chief electrical engineer reported that it would be necessary to put. in bund at once two additional feeders, one to the pillar box already existing at the foot of Wellesleystreet, and another to feed into Queenstreet in the neighbourhood of Customsstreet. He would report at next meeting on the business organisation of his department. The engineer was instructed to obtain quotation of cost of the feeders, and report.