CITY COUNCIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15717, 18 September 1914, Page 8

CITY COUNCIL

ROADS OF AUCKLAND.

'ABATEMENT OF NUISANCES

SPECIAL COMMITTEE SET UP.

Teb City Council met last evening. There were present: The Mayor, Mr. C. J. Parr, Miss £. Melville, Messrs. John Co-art, P. M Mackay, R. T. Michaels, J. Trevethick, T. L. Thompson, F. Parsons, P. J. Nerheny, H. K. BagnaJJ, J. A. Warnock, E. J. Carr, G. Baildon, A. J. Entrican, W. Donald, G. Bead, H. D. Heather, C. Knight. M. Casey, R. Tudehope, and R. S. Briggs, The question of the quality of the road metal placed on the streets in Auokland was brought, up by Mr. H. N. Bagnall. who stated that the Auckland streets had long been noted for their dust in summer and mud in winter. It was recognised that this was due to tho poor quality of the metal pert on tho streets. He urged that the time had arrived when tho council should, in the interests of tho large city, which it now controlled, obtain the best metal available for the roads, otherwise h- would fail in its duty to the city. The council owed it to the city that every penny spent on tho streets should bo spent to tho best advantage. It was therefore necessary that a search should be made for a better metal than that now used.

Mr. Bagnall moved: "That a special committee, consisting of His Worship the Mayor, Messrs. Entrican. Baildon. C&sey, Carr, Nerheny, Trevethick, and Bagnall, be set up to inquire into and report on the best available sources for the irapply of suitable road metal for the city, the committed to report within two months." Mr. P. M. Mackay, in seconding tho motion, said there was no doabt that there was a crying need for a better metal for the secondary roads of the city. The motion was carried. -

SYMONDS STREET IMPROVEMENT.

EFFECTING TEMPORARY REPAIRS.

Mr.- Mackay called attention to the condition of Symonds Street, including the tramway portion of the thoroughfare, and asked when' improvements would bo 1 effected. . ', .The city engineer reported that the whole matter of paving Symonds Street I below St." Martin's Lane was governed by the"! proposed eastern traffic outlet which 'had been 'kept at a grade of Ift in 23ft, so that it might be paved.' To effect this it had been necessary to cut down the grade in Symonds Street, between Parliament ; Street and ;, Havelock ,-, Street, and the thoroughfare I would : also have to be regraded between Wellesley Street and Wakefield Street to lft in 21ft, similar to that portion near East Street, now paved in, wood blocks. A retaining wall would :be necessary .oh the east side for some 360 ft, from St. Paul's Church. The tram tracks would have to be re-laid, and also the whole of' the sewers between Grafton Road and, St./ Martin's Lane, which were inl an r unsatisfactory condition. He, ; recommended that this work should be postponed /until/the carrying out of the Jermyn Street scheme. The cost of the work; which was included in the estimates for the • eastern ■' outlet, ■ was estimated ' at ■£25,000.v^:f^:V.'t:.-V; ; ' '• '■■■;■:. '■ /The • permanent : improvement of the whole of Symonds Street has noli yet been decided upon by .the council, but it was .resolved to effect' temporary repairs v in the meantime. -V•"./;";,/* v '/;- ; ../"/% /■■'

' / - GILLIES PARE. .— -.■« .'.-. TAKEN OVER BY CITY. ••-'The.city engineer reported that he had taken'charge of. Gillies Park, and that he had instructed the; ; superintendent of parks not ;to\ do any work which would alter or:- change the* character ' of the ground until \ the amount of compensation : to be/paid had been settled. _, The council approved the action of the engineer. . . TEMPORARY FISH MARKET.

FINISHED IN ABOUT four, WEEKS;

An offer was made to the City Council by E. Turner and Sons to ' give the ; services of an auctioneer free of charge during tie wto to sell in tie fish market, 'proTided that they were not required to take out ; aT second license if they lad a fruit pale simultaneously., -, .;■ ~ \ • ■ ; The I Mayor pointed out thai! : the offer could not :be accepted, 'as it would be necessary for the council to appoint its own officials. " The temporary market would i>» finished in "about three or four weeks, fttid it would be necessary goon to appoint a, man to' take charge. The Jfayor inti!.Mated that; he was going to # Wellington next week, and while in that city he would inquire into the working of the fish market there. A' '.' •£? ■ "';-.• , ■ ~ It was resolved to reply to Messrs, Turner in terms of the Mayor's remarks, and at the same time to thank them for their offer.;* .:•'"•: -<