THE CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18890, 12 December 1924, Page 13

THE CITY COUNCIL.

THEATRES AT CHRISTMAS.

POWER BOARD OPERATIONS.

CUTTING UP QUEEN STREET. \ i

The Auckland City Council "net last evening, the Mayor, SjrsJamos Gunson, presiding. There were also present : Messrs. £. Baildon. J. A. Wai'nock, A. K. Lowry, G. R. Huteiimson, ]. Robertson. ]•'. W. H. Brinsden, T. Blood worth, J. Denipsey, J. A. C. Allum, S. I. Crookes. J. W, Hardley, J. B. PatcrsoD, A. Thompson, C. H. Furness, T. T. Garland. J. Donald, A. J. Entrican, and G. Knight. A" request that they be given permission to open the theatres on Christmas Day for the purpose of giving performances, was made by the Auckland Theatre Proprietors' Association. This was granted, subject to the approval of th" theatre employees. A letter was received from thirty-one firms on the eastern side of Queen Street asking the council to request the Power Board to defer the cutting up of the footpath until after the holidays. The city engineer stated that the work was being carried out under the statutory powers of the board. It was decided to refer tbo matter to the Power Board with a request for the utmost consideration.

Formal notice was received from the trustees of the Alfred Kidd Estate, calling on the council, when widening High Street, to reinstate the hotel building in lieu of paying cash compensation, as pro vided in the agreement of July, 1922. The eugineer reported that the alterations to the hotel would cost from £5800 to £6500. according to the method of finishing the joint elevation. If was stated that a request had been made to the council that the demolition of the building be deferred until after the holidays. It was decided to comply with the terms of the request from the trustees, the work to be commenced as early in January as possible. The appropriation of the sum of £130.339, being the balance from the, electricity account, was approved. The Mayor explained that the proposals merely adjusted commitments to which the council had from time to time agreed. A request, was received from 36 residents of Richmond Road, asking that this road be tarred and" sanded to minimise the dust nuisance. The city engineer reported that it. would not be possible to do the work this season as there was no money available. It was decided to reply that the council regretted that nothing could be done this summer.

It was reported that all details in connection with the formation of Scotfc and Clarence Streets. Ponsonby, had been completed and a cheque for the tarring and sanding of the footpaths had been received from the owners concerned. The council decided that the streets be taken over and declared public streets in accordance with section 15 of the Auckland City and Auckland Harbour Board Empowering Act, 1914. A certificate of competency to drive a motor-car was granted to R. H. Armstrong, and it was arranged that a certificate be issued to 11. Jamieson as from February 1, 1925, both of whom had previously had their certificates cancelled.

The certificates held by J. P. H. Hunter, W. J. Dufrm and J. Walbran were cancelled.

Mr. W. S. Creamer was appointed to the position of attendant at the Art Gal lory out of 131 applicants. The council approved of a proposal to contribute toward the cost of metalling the unmetalled portion of Christian's Road in the Waitakere Ranges, provided satisfactory terms could be arranged with the Waitemata County Council. It was pointed out that this road would prove of great assistance in reaching the city pipe lines in the event of a break occurring.