CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 995, 27 March 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last night week, there being present—Councillor Smith (in the chair), Petherick, Moeller, Worth, Harris, Parsons, Anderson, Willeston, and Fraser.

Mr H. M. McGregor wrote stating that he had inspected the plans for the proposed alterations of the levels of MoFarlane street, and did not agree with them. The Town Clerk reported that the matter was in the hands of the City Surveyor, who anticipated that he might come to some satisfactory arrangement with Mr McGregor. Mr Maclean wrote drawing attention to the fact that a barbed wire fence had been erected in Donald Maclean street which was exceedingly dangerous. The Chairman said that tlie Council could not deal with the difficulty unless by passing a new by-law. On the motion of Councillor Harris the matter was referred to the City Solicitor. A letter from Mr J. Harris in reference to a nuisance in Hawkestone street owing to rubbish being allowed to accumulate, was referred to the Inspector of Nuisances to report upon. Mr M. A. Simpson wrote complaining of surface water getting into his backyard, and the Town Clerk said that he had given instructions to have the nuisance attended to. The Heretaiinga Mounted Infantry wrote asking for the patronage of the Council to their military sports on April llt.h, and it was decided that the request should be acceded to. Mr F. Horner, as representing a Southern firm, submitted samples of German made asphalte, of which there was II or 12 tons in stock, and offering it at L2 10s a ton. The reason for offering it at so cheap a price was that the firm were pressed for room, and desired to get rid of the material. The City Surveyor said that the' cost for producing aophalte was LI per yard, and ns the price asked for the German article was in excess of that, the offer was declined. The following report from the Fire Brigade Committee was read :—l. That the repairs to the stations at Brandon street and Manners street be carried out in the mannex recommended by the City Surveyor. 2. That the following goods be obtained at an estimated cost of L9O, the same being urgently required, viz:—4o pairs of trousers, 11 tunics, 8 caps, 12 axe pouches, 4 American lightning snap collars for the horses, 3 branch pipes for carriage, 2 dividing breechings, 1 collecting breeching. 3. That the captain bo instructed to make a recommendation of a suitable member of the brigade to fill the post of station-keeper when the present holder of the samo takes up hia

duties as sexton at the new cemetery. 4. That the captain be also instructed to take steps to prevent overcrowding at the Opera House and other public buildings of the city, and to make periodical inspections of the appliances kept at such buildings for fire extinguishing purposes. 5. That the suggestions of the captain for amendment of the dangerous goods bylaw be adopted if the City Solicitor is of opinion that same would be in order. The committee will report further on this matter as soon as the City Solicitor has given it his consideration. Amendments in the report providing that tenders should be called for providing trousers, tunics and caps, and that the station keeper at the Manners street station should be a married man were agreed to, and the report as amended was passed. The report of the City Reserves Committee, as follows, was passed :—The Committee beg to report that the survey of the three blocks of land fronting Jervois quay has now been made, and plan of same is laid on the table herewith. The Committee submit the following schedule of upset prices for the different sections on Blocks 11. and 111., and recommend that same be approved, and tenders be invited for lease of the sections at once :—Block ll. —Sections 7, 9 and 13, L2 5s per foot ; sections S, 10 and 18, L2 2s per foot ; section 11, L2 10a ; section 12, L2 3s per foot ; section 14, L2 7e per foot ; sections 15, 16 and 19, L2 per foot ; section 17, LI 15s per foot ; section 20, L2 15s per foot. Block 111. —Sections 6. 7, .8. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17 and 19, L2 per foot; section 16, L2 2s per foot ; sections 18 and 21, L2 3s per foot ; sections 20 and 25, L2 10s per foot ; sections 22, 23 and 24, L2 5s per foot. A schedule of upset prices for the sections on Block Y. will be submitted at next meeting.

The following report of the Finance Committee was adopted :—l. That this year’s instalment of the City Improvements Loan Sinking Fund (L 700) be passed for payment and deposited with the Equitable Building and Investment Company, in accordance with the arrangement already made. 2. That two year’s interest on the Pahiatua mortgage (L3B 19s 6d) be passed for payment. The Committee will shortly submit the estimate of receipts and expenditure for next year to the Council for consideration.

The Public Work’s Committee’s report was then submitted to the Council, and an amendment in regard to the recommendation that a drain be laid to take away the drainage from the premises of Mr C. P. Powles, Wesley road, to the affect that the drain be taken to within 100 ft of the boundary, was agreed to. In reference to the clause dealing with Boston Terrace, Mr J. Collins wrote protesting against the work being shelved, as the drainage in that locality was a veritable fever trap, and it was decided to leave the question over for further consideration. The clause dealing with trees overhanging footpaths was altered so as to deal with keeping the trees clear of the roadway. Accounts amounting to LBSB 11a Id having been passed for payment, the Council adjourned.