CITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1289, 12 November 1896, Page 39

CITY COUNCIL.

The City Council met last week. Present —The Mayor (Mr G. Fisher) and Councillors Kmifch, Mcilill, Hiarginbottom, Anderson, Willeston, Lingard, Lindsay, Myers, Harcourt, Fraser, Barber and Devino. Mr A. Wilson waited on the Council in reference to a permit for a building at Newtown. —No action taken.

Mr J. W. Copithorne wrote re repairs and lamp in Hargreaves street. - The engineer reported that the street was now being metalled.

T. Young wrote on behalf of A. S. Ford, representing a Coroinaudel gold mining syndicate, for a lease of the waterworks reserve at Karori. —Declined. Telegrams were read from Auckland, Christchurch and Dnnedm re Mayor's salary. Auckland paid £200; Christchurch, £200; Dunedin, £4oo.—Received. David Scanlon applied for renewal of lease for seven or fourteen years of land on Town Belt. —deferred to Reserves Committee. The Aurora terrace Committee recommended that the obstruction opposite Mr Snow's propceoy be removed, and that the present owners of the property be allowed to occupy it durimr the Council's pleasure. The Upland Estite Company wrote s taing that they agreed to the terms offered r road, through the Town Belt reserve. The Public Works Committee's recommendations were next dealt with. Mrs Alice Fitz Gerald's application for consent to right-

of-way at Upper Pirio street, on condition that a building 1 be erected there at a cost of not less than £250, was referred back.

In regard to the offer of Mr Thomas Ward to supply a full list of encroachments upon the city streets for .£165, a letter was read from Mason and Richmond, pointingout that tenders should be called. There was considerable discussion on the subject. It was pointed out that it was a matter of urgency that the work should be done. Councillor Eraser moved that Mr Ward be appointed a temporary officer of the Council at a salary not pxceeding .£165 per annum. This was carried, a suggestion by Councillor Devine that nothing be done until the City Solicitor had been consulted being not agreed to. An old building in Taranaki street, unfit for habitation, is to be removed. St. Patrick's College request for further formation work at Duppa street was referred back to the committee.

It was decided to contribute half cost of removing a bank of earth at M. Made ay's property, Normanby terrace, and to pay £3 to J. Monaghan on account of expenses incurred through stoppage of drain in front of his premises. The application of Penty and Forde, for leave to conuect the drainage of some houses about to be erected at Salamanca road with the storm-water drain there until the sewer in. connection with the drainage scheme is laid, was acceded to. Waterloo quay is to be watered on condition that the Harbour Board pay half the cost —£5 per annum. The application of Mr C. Priestly for leave to establish a shooting gallery at No. 40, Willis street, was not granted. The salary of Mr H. P. Hanify, Assistant Drainage Engineer, was increased to £250 per annum. Accounts amounting to .£1764 12s 8d were passed for payment. Councillor McG-ill moved, "That the City Surveyor procure a sufficient number of iron reception boxes Co he placed in suitable positions near the kerb line on Lauibton quay, Willis street, Manners street and Cuba street,

aijd one or more boys be employed during tho summer months to collect the street refuse, the boxes to be emptied every morning as early as possible.". Agreed to, Councillors Anderson, Smith and Barber voting against. Councillor Myers moved the rescinding of a motion passed in July last, granting Mr A. Hall hall' the cost of raising portion of the tramway line, subject to the City Surveyor's approval re levels, &c. There was a lengthy discussion, and the motion was lost by sis to five. Councillor MoGill moved that a number of i returns be obtained from the Drainage I Engineer in connection with the drainage scheme, including total mileage completed ; cost of excavation and filling per cubic yard ; cost of pipes, including junctions and cost of hiving at per chain ; cost of brickwork in manholes, culverts, &c. ; total value of work done, not including engineers, office work or overseers ; also, total cost of engineering and survey work, and incidental expenses ; to state if the work is being done within the original estimate ; what amount is required to complete the scheme; the estimated time it will take to complete. Councillor MeGill said that he was satisfied {thatjjsome parts of tho work was costing fully 30 per cent, more than it ought to do. They should have some data from the engineer as to what the scheme was costing. The citizens wanted to know whether it was being done at a fair and reasonable rate. He believed that the Council was not represented on the Drainage Board now in existence", ihe question originally put to the ratepayers was whether the Council was to carry out the work or that a Drainage Board be set up. The former was done, and what did the Council proceed to do ? Hand over the whole business co engineers. The Council should have been represented. Had tho work been carried out by contract a great deal of money would have been saved the to city. { Councillor Higginbottom seconded the proposals. Councillor Fraser wanted to know what this comprehensive return would cost —£10 or £SO perhaps ? Otner Councillors followed, tho subject being debated until 20 minutes to 11 o'clock.

In. reference to Councillor McGill's statement about; the direct representation of the Council on the Drainage Board, the Mayor said that it was quite within the province of the Corporation to still appoint representatives. Replying to various remarks, Councillor McGill said there was still time to let several contracts, and if it could be done it should. The motion, that the return asked for be prepared, was carried by 6 to 3. This concluded the business.