NEW CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20251, 10 May 1929, Page 14

NEW CITY COUNCIL.

FIRST MEETING HELD

MOUNT EDEN RESERVOIR

COMPENSATION FOR BOROUGH

The first ordinary meeting of the Auckland City Council since the recent biennial election was held last, evening, the Mayor. Mr. G. Baildon, presiding. On the motion of Mr. A. J. Entrican, the council placed on record its appreciation of the services rendered by the five councillors defeated at the polls and by Mr. G. Knight, resigned. It was agreed, on the recommendation of the Water Committee, which had gone fully into the matter, that a sum ol £221 should be paid to the , Mount Eden Borough Council in respect of damage caused by the bursting of the Mount Eden reservoir. The committee stated that the sum named did not include the cost of repairing the borough council's motor vehicles and road roller. Ten tenders were received for iho supply of four water-level indicators for fitting to the service reservoirs. The engineer's estimate was £4BO for the. four. Tho tenders wero referred to the Water and Markets and Stoics Committees, with power to act. Proposed Stadium. A proposal to lease an areai of council property at •Western Springs for 10 years for the purpose of establishing a sports ground was received from a firm of solicitors acting on behalf of a company now j being floated under tho namo of Auckland Stadiums, Limited. The letter stated that the right to lease an adjoining area had been acquired, and it was proposed to erect an up-to-date stadium with electric lighting, a dirt track and seating for 16,000 persons. The matter was referred to .the Library and Water Committees, under whose control the land affected came.

The acting-city engineer asked for directions in a difficulty ho had encountered in persuading some Avondale and lamaki property-owners to remove advertising signs which did not conform with the city by-laws. He stated that there were many such signs affixed to buildings and fences. Besides contravening the by-laws they were a disfigurement, and an endeavour was being made to bring the two districts up to the standard of the rest of the city in this respect. The engineer was directed to insist upon removal of the signs.

Regarding the proposed subway under Karangahape Road at Upper Queen Street, the Auckland Automobile Association wrote suggesting that in view of its importance the scheme should not bo proceeded with until the new city engineer had been appointed and had reported upon it. The association also suggested that the tramway stopping-places at the entrance should bo connected with tho footpaths by subways in order that passengers should not have to cross the stream of traffic. The council referred the matter to tho Town-planning Committee for a report. High Street Widening.

With regard to the proposed subdivision of the Outhwaite Block, fronting Kitchener Street, Victoria Street East and High Street, and tho council's desire to acquire a portion for widening High Street, it was reported that no settlement had been effected with Uniquo Properties, Limited, and the mortgagees. On the Works Committee's recommendation it was decided to submit the matter to arbitration.

An application for permission to use premises at 95, Federal Street as a temporary men's shelter was received from the Rev. Jasper Calder. The acting-city engineer reported that the building did not comply with the Municipal Corporations .Act respecting air-space for dwellings, but under the circumstances it was probable that no one would wish to enforce the requirements of the Act. Ho recommended that the application should be favourably considered. The council agreed to waive the restrictions in this instance.

It was agreed that four motor-trucks and two motor-cars in use by the waterworks department should be disposed of, and the same number of new vehicles purchased, together with a new car for the waterworks engineer and a light car for the city property inspector. Largo Building Project.

Upon an application by Chandler aud Company for permission to erect an eightstorey building at the intersection of Rutland and Lome Streets to the maximum height of 102 ft., the Town-planning Committee recommended that having regard to the by-law bearing on tho relative width of streets and height of buildings, a six-storey building only should be allowed.

An application for permission to allow smoking in the Moulin Rouge Theafcro, Remuera, on dance nights, was received from the management. The actingicity engineer, in recommending that the application should not be granted immediately, stated his opinion that before smoking was allowed the corridors and other essential parts of tho building should bo made fireproof and a sprinkler system installed. The council decided to withhold permission until the requirements were complied with. The Auckland Advertising Club advised that it had reserved space at its forthcoming exhibition for use by tho council in the interests of the city. Tho matter was referred to the Finance Com mil tee.

A long report on the management and finances of the council's, farm of 478 acres at Harkins' Point, originally acquired as a sanitary depot, wjjis submitted by the Works Committee, which recommended that the property should be subdivided and sold, together with the stock, and the proceeds user] to purchase an area of land suitable for the treatment and disposal of refuse, with enough suitable paddocks for trimmer out road-weary and disabled horsnf» This was agreed to