EXCEEDING THE ESTIMATES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14222, 19 November 1909, Page 7

EXCEEDING THE ESTIMATES.

EXHAUSTED LOANS. Tho city treasurer reported that the expenditure on the parks loan of £3000 had been exceeded up to the 21st nit. by £103 10s 9d, with further items to be charged. The city engineer was instructed' to report why the loan had been exceeded, and the amount of the further liabilities. The' city treasurer also reported that the drainage loan, 1899, was almost exhausted, although further progress payments amounting to £4323 and inspector's salary were to have been met from this loan. He asked for instructions how to charge . the excesses. Consideration was deferred until the Loan Bill is through Parliament.

FREE KINDERGARTEN.

AN AVAILABLE SITE.

The Finance Committee, reporting on the application by the Auckland Kindergarten Association for a site adjoining Victoria Park for a free kindergarten, recommended that a reply he sent that as the land adjoining the park was the property of tho Auckland Harbour Board the application should be made to the Board.

A letter was read from the secretary of the New Zealand Labour party urging that no kindergarten should be assisted by the Auckland City Council unless the institution was under direct municipal control. Mr. Bagnall stated that the association had already approached the Harbour Board, which had referred them to the Council.

Mr. Smeeton thought the association should again approach the Board. Tho Board had a section available which would suit admirably, and several members of the Board have expressed themselves as in favour of giving the section. The recommendation was carried.

THE WEIGHBRIDGE.

SAILORS' HOME PROTEST.

The Works Committee recommended that the application of the Auckland Harbour Board to erect a weighbridge at the foot of Albert-street, in proximity to the Quaystreet wall, be granted on condition that the Auckland Harbour Board pay to the Council the cost of maintaining a strip of 35ft from the breastwork extending westward from the centre line of Albert-street. The Sailors' Home Council wrote protesting against tKe Council granting permission to the Harbour Board to erect the weighbridge in close proximity to the Home. Mr. Nerheny moved that the committee's recommendation be referred back, as ho said the proposed weighbridge would encroach too much on the thoroughfare and would be a great nuisance to the Home. \ After a lengthy debate the recommendation was carried.

EXAMINATION OF PLUMBERS.

SUGGESTED EXAMINING* BOARD. A letter was received from the secretary of the Auckland Plumbers' Union inquiring if the Council favoured the setting up of a board of examiners for the examinations held .in the plumbing trade. The ; examinations were at present held under the director of technical education at stated periods, and the union thought it should have some representation. In other centres a board of examiners, consisting of two employers and two employees, with the local director of technical education as chairman, had control, and worked with success. The union's suggestion for the appointment of 'a 'i local board of examiners on the same lines had the approval of Mr. George George, director, of technical education, who had suggested that the union should approach the Council with the object of setting up the same. .' ~ * The city engineer, in reporting on, the letter, saM he saw no. reason for altering the present arrangements, especially as the matter of plumbers' ? qualifications .would eventually be dealt with by Act pf Parliament, or" by joint action of the, interested authorities, so as to obtain a standard examination. On any board of control formed for this purpose, master and journeymen plumbers should, and would no doubt, be represented. ■'-■'■; >;!- ;■■■.■■ • \ .- - It was resolved that a'reply be sent in the terms of the engineer's report.

A letter was received from the Newmarket Borough Council.protesting against any portion of the Domain being set apart for any small section of the community, such as was proposed in leasing the new tennis courts to particular clubs. The letter was received. '!.'■■

The ':• town clerk reported that four properties, now: included kin the city assessment, were really on the Parnell boundary, resulting in a reduction of the city valuation of £450. He recommended that on the ; Parnell: boundary the valuations be amended -in accordance - with the city valuer's report, and that the city engineer be instructed : to have the city boundaries checked &d a matter of urgency, -so that the reclaimed areas not yet included in the city : may be so included, and ' that this should be done quickly to avoid dispute as to the assessments. The report was

adopted. The Women's • Christian Temperance Union wrote requesting that a ladies' waiting room be provided • in the Town Hall. The matter was referred to the Works Commitwe.: - ; :; '' ' " '*•-'- ••--••• The engineer was instructed to report upon an application by the Beresford-street Church Young Men's Bible Class for one of the new tennis courts in the Domain. • The Auckland Rugby League, which applied for two grounds at : Victoria Park every Saturday afternoon during the next football season, was granted one ground on the usual termß. A sub-committee, consisting of the Mayor and Messrs. P. M. Mackay and A. J. Entrican, was appointed to consider the claims for compensation by the Auckland Harbour Board, the Farmers' Freezing Company, and the Premier Joinery Company, for land taken for the electric power station site. __ An application from the Auckland Electric Tramways Company for permission to place a small structure similar to the cabmen's telephone-box, in Queen-street, opposite the Union Company's Office, as a shelter for car-despatchers, was declined, the Council having given notice for the removal of the cabmen's box. , The city engineer was empowered to have the lamps in the thoroughfare across the Cemetery Gully lighted every night. On the recommendation of the Works Committee, it was decided to renew application to the Minister for Public Works for the rating of revenue-producing Government buildings for the cost of sewer connections thereto, the committee having ascertained that in July, 1908, the Government entered into an agreement with the Dunedin Drainage Board to pay £150 par annum in connection with the drainage of all Government buildings in that city. Regarding the petition from E. Reynolds and Co. and others complaining of the nuisance caused by street meetings in Karancrahape Road, the traffic inspector recommeded that the Salvation Army be allowed to hold meetings on the open space at the corner of Pitt and Beresford Streets. Adopted.