THE CITY COUNCIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21983, 14 December 1934, Page 15

THE CITY COUNCIL

TELEPHONE SERVICES

PROGRESS OF DRAINAGE WORK IN TAMAKI AREA A decision to co-operate with the residents in an effort to obtain better telephone facilities in the Tamaki and Avondale districts was made by the City Council last night. In a report upon works carried out under the Tamaki drainage loan, the city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, stated that steady progress had been made since December, ]932, and works, the preliminary estimates for which were £27,100, had been completed at a cost of approximately £2.3,114. Contributions from the Unemployment Board totalled £.5503, so that the cost to the council was approximately £19,611. Work proceeding and transfers to he made would amount to a further £llOO. As only £20,000 of the £50,000 had been raised, it would be necessary to raise a further amount to complete the scheduled works. He recommended that further reticulation sewers, costing approximately £SOOO, he laid in the Long Drive west area under an arrangement with the owner of the land affected. Lt was decided to take steps to raise a further £IO,OOO of the loan. The Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, reported that the couifcil had already received an offer to take up the whole amount at 3 per cent. The offer was accepted. The Library Committee reported that at a recent meeting of a joint sub-committee, including representatives of the committee and the Auckland University College Council, it had been resolved to take steps to promote legislation for making available the Old Grammar School site for the purposes of a fine arts block and art gallery, and to arrange for a deputation to meet the Minister of Education before Christmas. It was agreed that on the occasion of the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union's annual picnic at Motuihi Island in January a donation be made, equal to 25 per cent of the landing charges, with a maximum of £5.

The sum of £lO 10s was voted to the Auckland Anniversary Regatta Committee. The council recorded its sympathy with Mr. J. Donald, a member of the council, and members of his family in connection with the recent death of Mrs. Donald.

CLOSING GATHERING

TRIBUTE TO DEPUTY-MAYOR

NOT SEEKING RE-ELECTION

Christmas good wishes were exchanged by the Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, city councillors and officials at supper last night after the council's last meeting for the current year. "It is unfortunate that finance, which is the master of us all, has not enabled us to do much that we would like to have done." said Mr. Hutchison, "and has made impossible many things that I personally would have liked to initiate. However, this is a young city and T am sure wo are building on right lines." The Mayor expressed his warm appreciation of the loyal support he had received from the deputy-Mayor, Mr. A. J. Entrican. throughout his four years of office. He asked Mr. Entrican to accept a small gift connected to some extent with his task of signing thousands of debentures during the Mayor's absence in Melbourne —a gold-mounted fountain pen, inscribed with his initials.

Mr. Entrican, in thanking the Mayor for his gift and good wishes, said he was proud of having signed his name 521 times in an hour and seven minutes. "If anyone disputes my signature in 1967. when the debentures mature, I shall not be here to. say that it is mine," he remarked, "but I daresay that some of you will be." This would be the last gathering of its kind that he expected to attend, because he was not seeking re-election next year. The town clerk. Mr. .T. S. Brigham. speaking on behalf of the staff, said he sincerely hoped that Mr. Entrican, who had becom? a councillor when he joined the council's service, would stand for a further term and "see him out."