CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 91, 15 September 1874, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, September 14. The usual weekly meeting was held in the Council Chamber. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Hobbs, Bishop. Calvert, Jones, Ick, Raphael, Gapes, and Farr. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. The town clerk read the authority received from his Honor the Superintendent appointing Mr E. B. Bishop to act as returning officer at the recent municipal elections, which was ordered to be recorded on the minutes of the Council. The town clerk reported receipts for the week to be as follow :—From Provincial Government, second instalment on account of grant, £750; from rate collector, account general city rates, 1874, £209 14s; Waimakariri do, £34 19s; account watering rates, 1873, £1 3s 4d ; fines from Resident Magistrate's Court, £4 5s ; rent of weighbridge for August, £5 0s lOd ; licences, £2 ; rent of market place, 7s. Total receipts, £IOO7 9s 2d. Drainage account—Dr, £970 9s Bd. Drainage rate account—Cr, £IOOB 10s 2d. Overdraft at bank on general account, £l3O 15s 3d ; wages, &c, to be paid on gtneral account, £4OO 17s lid ; wages on account drainage, £2. The Registrar General's report on the vital statistics for the month of August, 1874, was laid on the table, and also the statement of revenue and expenditure of the City Council of Auckland, from 16th November, 1872, to 15th November, 1873. The surveyor reported—1. " The formation of Park terrace, Chester street, and Cranmer square will be finished this week. 2. " I have made a commencement on the North Belt; several new men will be put on there to-morrow, and the remainder when Park terrace is completed. 3. " I have only as yet received applications for 9000 loads of earth from the North belt, and unless more applications are made within the next few days, I must raise the level of the road, and so avoid the necessity of getting rid of the earth. 4. "It will be necessary to build the two culverts immediately. I should therefore like to know if the Council wish them built by contract or by day work ; and if by contract, whether I shall call for tenders for the work, the Council supplying bricks and cement.

5. " There is sufficient timber now -delivered to commence repairing the Colombo street bridge. I therefore await the Council's order to commence it."

Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the report were approved as read. With reference to No 3 paragraph, it was resolved to insert a small advertisement in the papers over the leader, to the effect that all applicants will be supplied with earth taken from the North town belt.

On No 4 paragraph being considered, it was resolved, on the motion of Cr Bishop "That tenders be called for this work, the Council to supply bricks and cement." Paragraph No 5 was referred to the works committee, with power to act. Cr Bishop said that that portion of the sanitary |committee's report referred to the works Jcommittee had been attended to, and it was their opinion that it would not be advisable to remove the dam in the Ferry road drain until the present brick culvert is finished. Several councillors drew the attention of the works committee to various matters requiring attention throughout the city. Tenders for supply of gravel were opened, and referred to the works committee to take action. A letter was read from Messrs Morrow, Bassett, and Co., regarding empty cases, ice, as accumulated on their Hereford street premises, complained of by the Council, stating that these cases were used daily for packing, and they would not keep more on hand in future than were required for use. A letter was read from Mr W. H. Davenport calling attention to the dangerous state of the asphalte footpath in front of his shop, and asking that it might be repaired. Referred to the works committee. A letter was read from Mr J. McHaffie, complaining of the accumulation of stagnant water in Jackson's Creek, alongside his residence, through the dams that have been placed in it, and stating that this water had been the cause of a great deal of sickness in his family. Cr Gapes moved—" That a copy of this letter be referred to the Central Board of Health." Cr Raphael seconded the motion. Cr Ick said, that as Mr McHaffie's residence was outside the jurisdiction, of the

Council, it was the duty of the Heathcote Road Board to attend to this. Cr Jones moved as an amendment —'" That a copy of Mr McHaffie's letter be forwarded to the chairman and members of the Heath - cote Road Board, urging that body to take into their serious consideration the facts as contained therein ; and that the town clerk acknowledge Mr M'Haffie's letter and state what action has been taken ; and that a copy of Mr M'Haffie's letter be also sent to the Central Board of Health." Cr Ick seconded the amendment. The amendment was then put and declared to be carried. A letter was read from Mr C. S. Howell, saddler, asking permission to erect a V sign over his shop front. Permission granted under supervision of the surveyor.

The following report from the works committee re the expenditure on the North town belt was submitted : "The committee recommend that if the Council think a portion of the expenses of the forming of the North town belt should be charged to the drainage account, the only part the works committee think should come under that head would be the two brick culverts, being permanent work for drainage." The report was received, and on the motion of Cr Hobbs was adopted. The town clerk reported that he inspected the'Crown grant of rural section 69 to Mr Phillips, and there was no notice of Jackson's creek on the plan, or any mention in the deeds of water rights. Cr Ick moved—" That the lighting committee take the necessary steps for obtaining the lamps for the new iron posts about to be erected in the city." Cr Hobbs seconded the motion, which was agreed to The usual weekly report of the inspector of nuisances was read and approved. Cr Hobbs moved—" That the city surveyor be instructed to report on the surface drainage of the south-eastern portion of the city. Ist. The levels of Tuam and Lichfield streets, from outfall drain to tho Avon. 2nd. To report if a brick sewer will be necessary to be brought up Tuam street to receive the drainage from the cross streets." Cr Hobbs gave a resume of the action taken with respect to the works of drainage since its initiation, and regretted that a previous engagement at Papanui had prevented him from being present at the public meeting held the other evening. He regretted this all the more, as he had been informed that a remark had fallen from one of the candidates, to the effect that he (Cr Hobbs) had opposed a borrowing scheme for public works, because he was an advocate for underground drainage ; and from this remark, it might naturally be inferred that he had opposed surface drainage. He begged to say that, from the time the late Council had adopted, Mr Bray's plan for a system of surface drainage—on which £14,000 had been expended in the outfall drain—he had consistently supported surface drainage, and would continue to do his best to have it carried out successfully. He thought it was only due to himself that he should make this statement to put himself right with the ratepayers. He begged to move the resolution he bad read. Cr Raphael seconded the motion. The resolution was supported by Crs Parr, Jones, Gapes, and Bishop, and on being put was agreed to. The following committees were then appointed for the ensuing year : Works Committee—Crs Bishop (chairman), Ick, and Gapes. Sanitary Committee—Crs Calvert (chairman), Farr, and Jones. Finance Committee—Crs Hobbs "( cna i r * man), Calvert, and Baphael. Lighting Committee—Crs Ick chairman), Jones and Hobbs. Fire Brigade Committee —Crs Jones (chairman), Raphael and Farr. Bylaw Committee-Crs Bishop (chairman), Hobbs, and Raphael. The Council then resolved itself into committee. NOTICE OF MOTION. Cr Rapha°l to move at next sitting of the Council—" That the resolution No 23 on the minutes of the Council, 17th September, 1873, with reference to the sum of £3OO being allowed for the Mayor's official expenses be rescinded from the expiration of the present Mayoral year."