CITY COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 41, 17 February 1905, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The Mayor (the Hon. E. Mitcheteon) presided at last night's meeting of the Auckland City Council, Dr. Sharniaii, Messrs W. E. Hutchison, C. J. Parr, 3. C. Brown, J. Court, L. 3. Bagnall. J. McLeod, C. Grey, M. Casey, and G. Knight, being present.

The Sanitary Contract.—Tbe Inspector of Nuisances recommended the Council to inflict fines of £1 each upon the night soil removal contractors for breaches of the contract. / complaint was received from a Sarsiield-street resident that in spite of a letter to the contractor tbe service had not been attended to for Iβ days. The secretary of the Auckland Sanitary Syndicate, writing on February 16, stated that he had been Informed of the Council's inspector's recommendation that 14 fines should be inflicted, and stating that the delay was caused by their recent difficulty in having to find new men, who, when seenred, could not in some instances stand tha strain of night work. None of the old pans were now in use, and the syndicate asked if the proposed fines would be remitted under the exceptional circumstances. Upon the Mayor's motion, it was decided to iuflict the usual penalties in all eases. His Worship moved that the contractor's letter be referred to the Streets Committee, but Mr Parr moved that the contractor be informed that the Council intended to regularly enforce the contract, and coold not refund penalties. This amendment was adopted.

Tramway Matters.—The Anc3:land Eleeshice December 24 and seven combination trtc Tramway Company informed the Council that fonr new cars had been running cars were due to arrive at the end of the month. They regretted to state that the motor equipment for these had been partly destroyed by fire on the steamer Buteshire at Capetown and delay would ensue in getting them ready for running in consequence. The letter was received.

Sfcy of the Council.—The secretary of the Auckland Liberal ami Labour Federation vtTote enclosing a resolution which hud beeii passed by that body in favour of in— creasing the number of councillors to IS, the Federation deeming it expedient that there should be at least three committees, thus giving the majority of tiie Council a voice on any questions which came before them, the present system of two courmittf«s having the disadvantage' that, with the Mayor's casting vote, any decision of ii of seven could be carried at a Council meeting ogainst all opposition. The letter was received. Mr Casey asked if it. would be given effect to, but received no reply.

The City Baths.—Mr Roland St. Clair vrrtrte stating that a special committee appointed to ditect arrangements for the instruction in swimming of scholars attending --J elementary schools requested the Council to pnrap salt water into the City baths and glaze the roof on the western sld.fi, or make other suitable provi3iou to admit sunlight from the street side. The City Engineer reported that the pipes for t!i« salt water main would arrive about Monday and •would be laM at once. H« ■would report later upon tbe other suggestion. The lett&r was referred to the Streets Committee.

Street Matters.—An application was received from Mr G. B. Osmond for the erection of lamps in Albany and Ardmore roads on the Jervois estate, Ponsonby. Referred to the Streets Committee. A petition from residents of Lawrence-street, I'onsonby, asking that the thoroughfare should not be cut down to the permanent levels, was presented by Mr Parr and referred to the Streets Committee.

Proposed Loan.—lt was reported that the Streets Committee had deferred the Question of raising a loan for completing tho streets of the City pending the City Engineer's report and further consideration.

Port-street Cart Stand.—Twelve cartprs who had been removed from Fort-street to Quay-street petitioned the Council to ailow their, to resume their old stand, and appended to the application were the signatures of a number of business men in the vicinity. Upon thio the City Traffic Inspector reported that six or seven carts could be allowed to stand In the centre' of the road withvmt inconvenience to the traffic. In connection with the Fort-street exprcssrart stand' nine firms having premises In the street complained of the inconvenience and smell caused by the carts standing on the side of the road, and the City Traffic Inspector rocemniended that they bo moved to the co.ntro. The whole matter was referred, to the Finance and Legal Committee.

Tenders.—The following tenders were ac-cepted:—Graiton-road drainage, Andrews and Co., £308 14/2; Summer-street drainage, IX Finane and Co., £1173 12/0. .

A Cable Train Proposal.—Mr G. Hannah, Vitetoritt-street, wrote applying for permission to erect a cable tranrwsy. worked by a stationary engine, over Cemetery Gully, and the City Engineer's note to the short communication was that it wonld be necessary for Mr Hannah to show him drawings of the proposed work. Received.

Streata Committee. —The Streets Committee report stated that the City Engineer reported that the coat of repairs to the roadway across Mechanics' Bay Reclamation would be £40. Recommended that the work be done. A petition from Pompallfer Terrace, for extension of the street to John-street was received. The CTty Engineer reported that the cost of the work would be £900. Mr Cosens tvrote declining to assist Jn the formation of the street, and no action was taken. The City Engineer reported that' the cost of laying a drain to connect with the sewer in Upper Queen-street would be £170, and the committee recommended the work to be carried out. The District Engineer for Railways wrote asking for the erectiop of a fence between the Domain and Railway Reserve. It wa3 decided that the fence be erected at a cost of £55 10/ if the Railway Department will contribute one-half the-amottnt. Messrs. Hardie Bros.' tender for stoneware at £270; with delivery in five months, was accepted. The City Engineer reported that the cost of completing the drainage and laying edge tiles in Domain Gardens would be £64. The committee recommended the work be done. The report was adopted.

Library Committee. —The report of this committee contained an amended by-law providing that the time , allowed for reading- new books be seven days instead of 14 as heretofore, new works of fiction to be considered as such for six months from the date of their being received in the library. If a borrower, when applying for a book that is out, leaves a stamped postcard bearing h£s address, the librarian, when the book is returned, shall despatch the card and lay the book aside until 8 o'clock pjn. of the following day. This was adopted.

Tramway Accounts.—The report of the Finance and Legal Committee, which was adopted, showed that the auditor's report upon the Auckland Electric Trjtmway Co.'s accounts for 1902 and 1903 had been, received, the auditors recommending a claim for the Council's percentage of the profit (£1700) made In 1902 and on the sum of £5009 set aside out of the profits in 1903 as a reserve for depreciation. The committee resolved to recommend that a demand lie inade_ Trpen the Auckland Electric Tramways Company", Limited, iii terms of the anditor's report, and that the City .Solicitor be Instructed to draft a letter to the con>pauy to accompany the demand..s»"( so < iIS ; to safely reserve to the CatmrfV , i'%Jit at any future time to raise tno of a.better or more equitable bf" ' s2?hputing the Council's percentile, . ; The committee recommended the re-api-.i,;ntnient of Mr Kayil to audit the accounts of tho Tramway Company for 1904 on behalf of the Council at a fee of £100.