BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 540, 3 October 1871, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Boroug_ Council was held yesterday afternoon. Present—His Worship the Mayor (P. A. Philips Esq.), Councillors Smart, Hampden, Georff-1 Atkin, Hobbs, Macready, and Tonks. *2f Minutes.—The minutes of the last meeti_& were read and coafirmed. s

Telegraph.—Councillor Tonks said that before the Council adjourned it was his intention to move a suspension of the standing orders, in order that he might bring forward a motion for the preparation of a petition to be forwarded to the General Assembly with regard to telegraphic communication bkween Auckland and the other ports of the colony. Building. Act.—The Mayor stated thatth©. Building Act was laid upon the table for the inspection of Councillors.

The Loan.—The Mayor stated that the intention of the Borough to obtain a loan would be shortly gazetted, and also advertised in the newspapers.

Thirteenth Schedule.—The Mayor stated that the 13th Schedule would come- into" operation during the present week. This would much enlarge the powers of the Council.

Dangerous Goods.—The Mayor stated that it was said that lately a quantity of dangerous goods had been landed, and he thought the time had now arrived when that Council should appoint a medical otficer to enquire into such matters. He thought there were numbers of gentlemen who would accept the office for a small fee.

City Endowments. —The Mayor stated that a deputation had waited upon his Honor 1 the Superintendent some little time ago, with reference to the question of having the city endowments handed over to the Borough Council. The Superintendent had given the. deputation to understand that this should be done if the interest and sinking fund were paid punctually. The other day he (the Mayor) asked the Deputy-Superintendent if the Superintendent had left any instruo-, tionsinthe matter. The reply was that lie" had not, but that he (the Deputy-Superinten-dent) would look into the matter. There were a number of houses in the city on whieh-no rent whatever was paid, and these houses were "city endowments. The city rentals amounted, to) £2000 a-year, and when the present leases were out would be worth twice -_ that amount per annum. . In Wakefield-^ street alone there were five houses—city i endowments —which had paid r.o rent for years. The whole matter ought to be very^ carefully looked into, and he would suggest a committee of inquiry on the subject. He laid a report on the table showing the city endowments, and n-As. a list of those places Whj,vh paid no rent. v _* Gas. —The Mayor said that the deputation which had been appointed to confer with the Gas Company would do so in a few days. The deputation had been deferred in consequence of a gentleman not being in town who was desirous of being present. .Water Company.—The Mayor stated that nothing definite had been done yet by the Water Company, but a desire had been expressed by them that they were desirous of having the co-operation of the Borough Coun-* cil. In a few days matters would be more advanced, and then he should suggest that the Borough Council and the Water Company* should hold a conference together.

- The Tbaction Engine.—A letter was read from the Provincial Secretary, stating that it was not intended to put the traction engine to any further " trials " in the streets" of Auckland.

The Seweb Nuisance. —A letter was read from the Chairman of the Harbour Board;detailing what steps had been taken in the matter of doing away with the present sewer nuisance. Only one tender had been received. for doing the job and keeping the way clean. This tender was from James Butcher, £65 for the first month, and £28 for each of the 1 other five months. —The Mayor thought that in this matter the Council should lend their co-operation to the Harbour Board, and pay ■half the expenses. —Councillor Tonks moved, "That the Council pay half the expense of 'this work. —Seconded by Councillor Smart.—Councillor Atkin said he was very much' surprised that the Harbour Board should ask the Borough Council to contribute half the'ex-L .pense of cleaning the harbour. Still, for the sake of the health of the citizens, he would not oDpose the motion.—Councillor Georgewas of the same opinion as CouncillorAtkin, and at the samo time said it all came'of men belonging to the Borough Council and the Harbour Board, which he thought was a very wrong thing. —Councillor Macready said* he would not sit there and hear the Harbour Board run down, without saying a few words. The filth that caused all, or, at all events, most of this nuisauce, came from the city itself. and therefore the city Bhould pay a part of the cost of cleaning it away, The Harbour Board was constituted in the same way as the Glasgow Harbour Board, and there was not a better Board in the world. But what was the use of their quarrelling about it. If it was good for the Harbour Board, it was good for the Borough Council.—After a few words from the Mayor, who said that he considered that a Corporation, with a committee to look alter he; harbour, would have been quite sufficient,* the motion was put, and agreed to. ; The sum to be contributed by the Couucd not to exceed £100.

; Dedwood Highway Board. —A letter was. read from this Board with regard to the formation of a. footpath in the Ponsonby Road, asking the CouncU to make the foopath on the north side, while the Dedwood Board made the south side pathway.—On the motion oE ■Councillor Macready, it was resolved that the Council could not at present entertain the, proposition. j Advertising,—A letter was read from Mr. Charles Williamson, manager, of the fiailg Southern Cross, with regard to the advertising.—After aome discussion, the matter was ordered to lemain as at present.

Water-cabts —A letter from the contractor who waters the streets, with;regard to JjWjf fixing of two tarks on the wharf, was referred to the surveyo* to report upon at the next meeting. '\ ! • y: [i •;■>•■■' ::'-V j Rspobt oj Onrr SirBVETOB.—The wsuU monthly report of the City Surveyor was read, £_so a report on the question of earth-closets. The report statjd that the earth-closet §yatep might be adoptid with advantage in S - The rule shoud, he: thought, be r'poiilie,except in the ose of proper water-clojpete; aid properly-brickel cesspits. The repofo tten went on to decribe the exact nature Sot tie. earth-closets, -h Councillor Tonks laidV the model of an larth-closet on the tablei—A report on the ;arth-closet system, draw.nnP by Mr. Fsulde^ was also rfea'd.—- After, some. discussion, the matter was referred to the" Nuisance Comijittee, to report on at a future; meeting. . ■_'■'-. ~«-._* I Monthly 4J!COT.nts. —The usual mouthlj accounts were jassed and ordered 10 be paid, amounting to &34 18s. The balance in bank, after payment jf these accounts, was stated to be £77l Os. 6dj

Appeals. —peveral appeals against ratea. were ordered t| stand over till a future dayi, It was- stated tat if ratepayers did not'appeal within one ninth they would be debarred from any appejl at all. ...... m TblegbaphJ—The standing orders were suspended, aji Councillor Tonks inovedj* " That a petitjn to the House of Assembly

I* orepated and signed by the Mayor, on L e baPlf of tbe OounciLpraying that telegraphic eotmuiucation be completed between this and the rest ox the colony - Second^ by Mr. Macready, and agreed to «3S %—The Mayor said he heartily rDoorte'Uthe motion. It was a standing Sace tbat this city, the lead ng city of the Sony, should be cut o_ from the .rest of the CoHeaith o_."FicEE.—Councillor Smart moved "That a Health Officer be appointed for the Borough without delay ."—Seconded by Councillor Hobbs, and agreed to. WTNTAKO - street.—Councillor Smart moved, "That the City Surveyor be instructed to make up the- embankment m Wynyard™reefc where it was settled; cost no.t to exceed £30."—Seconded by Councillor Hobbs, and agreed to. , . By-laws — By-laws with reference to paving Shortland, Wyndham, and Victoria-streets and other places, were laid upon the table and agreed to. The by-aw with regard to licensing theatrer,, and Other places of entertainment, was ordered to stand per.