AUCKLAND MUNICIPAL COUNCIL. Saturday, Feb. 7, 1852.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 608, 11 February 1852, Page 2

AUCKLAND MUNICIPAL COUNCIL. Saturday, Feb. 7, 1852.

Present : — The Worshipful the Mayor ; Aldermen Dignan, O'Neill, Powditch, and Mason ; Councillors Abraham, Hay, Newman, Norman, and Davy. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, Alderman Mason presented the following additional report from the Committee on Rural Roads :—: — Auckland, January 31st, 1852* To his Worship the Mayor, the Aldermen, and Burgesses of the Borough of Auckland, in Common Council assembled. Gentlemen, In reference to a communication from the Superintendent of Public Works ISTo. , dated January, 22nd, — Your Committee having reconsidered their report, and re-examined the questions submitted by them to Mr. Wood, and his answers, are of opinion, that there is nothing embodied in the report, requiring revision. Your Committee, in directing your attention to the facts set forth, never intended to lodge any complaint against a single individual, and they have carefully abstained from alluding to any invidious remarks that may have been made during their investigation. The questions submitted by them to the Superintendent of Public Works, and his answer NO3. 1 and 3, bearing more particularly on the subject of complaint, are subjoined. Q. " Ist. What number of miles of road have already been completed in the rural roads? A. " Ten miles of road have been completed in the rural roads. Q. " 3rd. What lias been the average cost per mile of the roads already completed by the government. A. " The average cost of the Onehunga road has been £1456 per mile, of the Tamaki road <£1010, and of the Otahuhu road .£2OO per mile." It is therefore evident, supposing Mr. Wood's information to be correct, that each mile of completed road on the Otahuhu line cost on the average £200, and this is what your Committee in their report have already stated. Alderman O'Neill laid on the table the Report of the Committee on Public Works and Buildings, which was read as follows : — Report of the Committee on Public Works and Buildings, appointed by the Common Council of the Borough of Auckland on the Cth day of December, 1851. The Public works and buildings within the limits of the Borough proposed to be hereafter placed under the control of the Corporationsome of which are already completed, and others in various stages of progress — are as follows :—: — 1. The Boat-pier and Tank in Official Bay. 2. The Market House in Commercial Buy.

3. The Public Pound ami Slaiighlcr-house, Nov.-ma.rket. 4. The Wharf in Commercial Bay. Upon the^, consecutively, your Committee now propose to report. Tho Coat-pier, in itself, may be said fo bo complete; although your Committee are informed that the pipes from the Tank now being constructed in the vicinity, are to be conducted along the Pi,'v to its extremity, for the purpose of allowing ship's boats to lay alongside and fill their empty casks with water — an accommodation which will be of the greatest service to the Port. The Pier and Tank has been erected at a cost of .•£3oo. Of this sum about one half has been raised by Public subscription, the remainder derived from Government. Your Committee eonsi*kr this Pier to have been well designed, and substantially constructed. It is an ornament to the Bay in which it is situated, and is not only a great accommodation to the Public as a landing-place, but as well, a pleasant and healthful promenade. There is no public work hitherto constructed that reflects greater credit, or that can be regarded with so much satisfaction as this Pier. Assuming that the Pier is to be placed under the control of the Corporation, it is neccssaiy, perhaps, to consider how far the revenues of the Corporation may be benefitted from this source, and point out the means by which the receipts may probably be made to exceed the expenses that will inevitably be connected with the maintenance of the Pier. It is computed that the quantity of water required by the shipping visiting the port of Auckland is equal to about 520 tons annually, and if a charge of one shilling and three pence per ton were imposed, for water filled from the Tank, the receipts would be j£32 103. per annum ; a sum in all probability, not only sufficient to keep the Pier and Tank in good repair, but to leave a surplus revenue. Hitherto, many of the vessels have been under [ the necessity of employing cargo boats to procure water, at an average expense of 4s. per ton. ' Your Committee are of opinion that a charge ! of the nature above mentioned, would not be considered oppressive by the shipping interest, because it would be found far more economical to obtain water in this way, than to adopt the course usually taken before the erection of the Pier ; — viz., rafting and towing the casks from above high water mark, a process, which, as it could only be accomplished in moderate weather, must j have been not only very expensive, but frequently the cause of serious delay. Your Committee, however, deem it necessary < to remaik, that the Council, in forming their decisions upon the suggestions thrown out, should bear in mind the fact that the Tank is at present supplied with water from a private source, and although the proprietor of the ground whence the water flows, has liberally granted the use of the spring for five years at a peppercorn rent, it must be expected that at the expiration of this term, new arrangements, probably involving an oulliy, would be necessary. 2. The Market House as an edifice, is complete. It is at present under the management of the Agricultural Society, and in answer to an application to the Secretary of that body, your Committee have been furnished with the information contained in the Schedule marked A, which will be found attached to their report. By this, it appears, that during a period of six months, the receipts have exceeded the expenses by £4 2s. 6d., exclusive of an amount due for rent, but not collected, equal to £8 25., which, supposing it to have been received, would make the receipts to exceed the expenditure by £12 4s. 6d. Your Committee therefore, consider that this may be taken as the average amount which the Council may expect to realize from the Market House under existing arrangements. But if the suggestions contained in the Schedule referred to, were adopted, it is probable that the income from this source might be increased. 3. The Slaughter-house, Public Pound, and Cattle Market, {situated at Newmarket, near Hobson's bridge, have been for some time in full operation under the auspices of the Wardens of the Hundred of Auckland. Your Committee, after due enquiry, have ascertained, that during the last year the income from these establishments amounted to i.236 Is. 2d.,— the expenditure to £160 165.,— leaving a surplus revenue of £75 ss. 2d. And your Committee are of opinion that the past year is a fair average from which to calculate the future assets, and, with the exception of one item, the future liabilities of these establishments—the exception alluded to is the cost of repairs. For the first three years, the sum of £15 would probably be sufficient for the purpose, but after that period a larger deduction should be made from the receipts. 4. The Wharf in Commercial Bay, by far the most important work upon which your Committee have to report, — is in course of progress, but is yet very far from being completed. This structure, according to a plan in the possession of your Committee, and which will be found attached to their Report, marked 8., h to be formed of two converging double lines of piles, the one being nearly a continuation of the line of Queen-street, and extending from its junction with the end of the street, about 1100 or 1200 feet outwards towards the bed of the river, the other, commencing from Smale's point, and running out in a slanting direction until it meets the main line. Each line or leg of the Wharf, when planked and filled in, is to form a causeway 18 feet wide. To defray the cost of this work, the sum of .£3874 was originally allotted by the Government, .£lBO9 of which has already been expended. The proportion of the work that has been executed, may be estimated at about one-fourth of the whole, so that it follows of necessity, that if the completed portion, estimated at one-fourth,' has cost £1809 — the remaining portion, threefourths, will cost £5427, — and the whole structure when completed, will have cost According to this computation the sum originally voted for the work, will be insufficient to complete it. The land comprised within the two lines, or legs of the wharf, and which when the structure is complete, will be reclaimed from the sea, is estimated to contain an area of about 5 acres. The foregoing particulars will, it is presumed be sufficient to enable the Council to form a tolerably correct idea of the original design, and present stage of progress of the work ; and as it is proposed to hand the Wharf over to the Corporation in its present state, and invest the Council with the responsibility of completing it, — your Committee feel it to be their imperative duty to state the reasons which, in their opinion, render it necessary for the Council to pause, and maturely consider the propriety of undertaking such an onerous and responsible task. Firstly. Your Committee having consulted with several practical men of known ability, -are convinced that the plan of the Wharf is so much at variance with the established principles of civil engineering, that to carry on the structure, and increase the outlay, would be little better than a waste of public money. It would be obvious to the most untutored mind that during flood-tide the structure would have to sustain an immense pressure from without, — and that when the tide recedes — supposing the area between the legs of the Wharf to be filled in with carth — it will have to sustain a great pressure from within. No sufficient precautions have been taken to guard against the effects of these alternate forces. Assuming, however, as is most likely to be the case, that the intermediate area will not be immediately filled in, then, as a large quantity of

water will find its way into this unoccupied space, from the adjacent elevated lands, to carry off which, no provision whatever has been made, every time the tide recedes a gradual process ofiiltration will be going on, which will wash away the sand and mud from the scoria that has been deposited within the legs of the Wharf to protect the tilling in— the surface, in consequence, will sink by degrees below the proper level — and the flux and reflux of the tide increasing as the process goes on, will gradually wash away the earth from between the piles and once more leave the Wharf a useless wreck. Secondly, Supposing the Wharf to be completed and to have remained entire for eighteen months (a supposition, howe\ er, which your Committee after duly weighing the concurrent testimony of judicious practical men, cannot but regard as extremely problematical) it would require a very large outlay for repaiis. The destructive character of the water worm of this country is well known, and the planking of the Wharf being, fvom its position necessarily exposed — and that without any kind of protection — to the inroads of this insect, the amount that would be required to repair the mischief and maintain the structure in a sound condition, can scarcely be computed. Some idea of the rapidity and extent of the ravages committed by the worm, and the consequent amount of repairs that would be necessary may be formed from the specimen now produced and submitted to the inspection of the Council. This specimen formed a part of a stage used by the workmen employed upon the Wharf, and is the same kind of timber as that which, is used for planking. Thirdly. ii r our Committee are of opinion that, the Corporation, by undertaking this work upon the terms proposed, would be encumbered with a heavy debt. For instance: The cost of the Wharf, computed according to the expenditure already incurred for the portion that has been completed will be £7,236 The sum allotted by Government for the entire structure, to be repaid out of the proceeds of the reclaimed Land, is 3,874 Leaving a deficiency to be provided for, of 3,362 The value of the 5 acres of Land that would be reclaimed, is estimated at ... 5,000 From which amount the Government •would deduct, as originally advanced 3,874 Leaving a balance of £1,126 This sum would not be sufficient to discharge the remaining debt, even if it were handed over without deduction, to the Corporation. But as only one-third of this amount would be placed to the credit of the Corporation, the result would be as follows : Amount of debt upon the Wharf being excess of coat, over and £ s. d. above the original estimate 3,362 0 0 To meet which there would be immediately available one third of the net proceeds of the sale of reclaimed land, say 375 6 8 Leaving a balance against the Corporation of : 2,986 13 4 His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, in his despatch accompanying the Charter of incorporation, dated 29th July, 1851, alluding to this subject, remarks, "There can be little doubt that whilst it (the Wharf) will greatly promote the Commercial facilities of Auckland, it may be made the means of hereafter yielding a considerable revenue fpr the Corporation ;"— and your Committee are fully prepared to admit— to a cer« tain extent, the accuracy of these views. But with the knowledge they now possess of the instability of the structure, and the debt that would assuredly be entailed by completing it, besides the large expenditure for repairs, which its rapid decay would involve, your Committee cannot so implicitly rely upon the judgment of his Excellency as to believe the revenue, to be hereafter derived from this source, would be so considerable as to enable the Corporation to discharge the liabilities which by assuming the burden of this work they would incur ; and therefore recommend the Council to undertake tho Wharf upon the terms proposed. Proceeds and Expenses of Market House during

Monthly rent at the present rates is £7 18s. The expense in future will be for man £4; and 10s. for oil and sundries. The western front of Market ground, 131 fect> would probably let at i.38 per annum, leaving sufficient room between the market house and the leased Jand for a Hay market Probable expense for a Hay market would be — Chain and posts ... £6 0 0 Metal 8 0 0 • , . 14 0 0 Alderman Powditch presented the following draft of a Petition to Parliament against the New Zealand Company's claim. The Memorial of Humbly sheweth, That your Memorialists are intimately connected with the internal and external trade of the province of JHew Ulster of which this Borough of* Auckland is the Capital. That through this Emporium the Aborigines of New Zealand (of whom the greater and most intelligent portion are contained within the limits of this province) have been for many years ex- ■ changing their agricultural and indigenous pro•duoe for British Manufactures, a trade diverged for many years past from the Australian Colonies direct through this Borough, That this 'Province enumerates seventeen Sea Ports, noted in the margin,* all eligible for Foreign shipping, besides numerous minor Ports engaged in Coast trade, showing an entry into the Port of Auckland for the year 1851, of 470 vessels averaging 20 tons, making an aggregate of 8000 tons coast borne, importing 14,000 quarters of grain, mostly aboriginal culture, and other staple produce not less than ,£50,000 value, while the Foreign imports of the same year amounted to £100,000 [* Turanga, Tauranga, Mercury Bay, Coromandel, Barrier, Tutukaka, Kawau, Mahurangi r Waitemata, (Auckland), Wangari, Bay of Islands* Kaitaia, Monganui, Wangaroa,KaipaYa, Manukau, and llokianga.]

That vast inland traffic exists, which cannot bo shown for want of returns, in which position is the valley of the Waikato, possessing an inland water communication of 2()0 miles, and which, from its superior soil, is capable of raising cereal crops sufficient for the whole colony of New Zealand. That the mineral resources of this Province consist of Copper, Iron, Manganese, Coal, Sulphur, Slate, Limestone, Ochre, and Tottery Clay. That the greater portion of the demesne lands now held in this Province have been derived from exchanges for Scrip with the anterior Settlers, and comprise large tracts of Kauri forest, — which timber is not produced in any other Province of New Zealand,— and also other varieties of superior timber for every architectural and agricultural purpose, similar to the Fir, the Pine, and the Oak. That the extensive commerce derived from these resources, induced the merchants of New South Wales, so far back as 1833, to solicit the establishment of a British Resident In the Bay of Islands; and that these enterprises have been conducted by numerous British subjects unconnected with any company, many of whom have been residing in the midst of the Aborigines in the utmost confidence and harmony upwards of twenty years. That these vast resources, developed through their energies, have never received any direct aid, either from the funds, the commercial operations, or the legislative measures of the New Zealand Company, but on the contrary they have uniformly endeavoured to throw discredit on this northern Province. That no complete purchase of land has ever taken place by the said Company in this Province except that of the Plymouth Company at Taraimki. That the population of this Borough is 8,000 souls, and that B,OC 0 acres of land are in a high state of cultivation within its precincts. That the improvements rendered necessary to this Coast trade and community, are of great expense and magnitude. And your Memorialists, being aware of the discredit thrown on the resources of this Province and its energetic Colonists by the emissaries of the said Company through the Columns of the " New Zealand Journal," look with the utmost surprise at a measure so unjust as that in contemplation by the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to impledge the Revenues of this Province for the losses sustained by any experimental Company wholly unconnected therewith, and humbly pray your Honourable House not to impose any claim on behalf of the New Zealand Company on any of the revenues or resources of this Province of New Ulster. And your memorialists as in duty bound will ever pray. This "Memorial" was unanimously adopted. Some conversation ensued as to the mode in -which it should be forwarded, the knotty point of the seal or no-seal of the Corporation again asserting its mysterious influence over the deliberations. Mr. Norman observed that the question was whether the Corporation and the seal altogether was not an absurdity. Ultimately Alderman Mason gave notice that at the next meeting of Council ho would move that the " Memorial" be signed by the Mayor and Town Clerk and forwarded. Mr. Abraham asked the directions of the Council as to the course which the Sanitary Committee should pursue with respect to the proposed Lunatic Asylum. A Report from the Committee had been presented, on which he (Mr. A.) had founded a motion which the Council had rejected. He wished to know whether the vote was intended to preclude the Committee from seeking (from the Committee of Subscribers or others) further information on the subject, to be embodied in their forthcoming .Report. The Mayor observed that he understood the effect of the vote to ba that the Council would not take any &tcp to stay the progress of the Building ; but it was not meant to preclude any inquiries by which the Committee might collect information. The Mover and Seconder of the amendment which was carried in opposition to Mr. Abraham's motion, having expressed similar views, the matter dropped. Alderman Powditch gavo notice that at ;the next meeting, he should move that Mr. Merriman be appointed Treasurer, — subject to remuneration by the Finance Committee. Alderman Dignan gave notice that, at the next meeting, he should move that the Report of the Public Works Committee be adopted. Mr. Newman gave notice of a motion for the appointment of a • Committee to draw up a " Memorial" to both Houses of Parliament, praying that no portion of the expense of sending out or locating Pensioners be entailed on the revenue oi this Province. The Council then adjourned.

From 12th March to 12th April ... £17 1 0 " 12th April to 12th May ... 811 6 " 12th May to 12th June ... 2 19 6 " 12th June to 12th July ... 710 0 « 12th July to 12th August ... 3 2 0 11 12th August io 12th September 6 0 0£45 4 0 Still due for rent during this time ... 8 2 0

bix months. Receipts.

larch, April— Auction com. £4 115 y Sundries, fittings 2 9 3 Man ... 4 0 0 3 iprll-May— Man ... 40 0 Sundries ... 2 0 0 . Q 0 lay-June— Man ... 4 0 0 Lamp ... 15 0 5 une- July —Man ... 4 0 0 J 4 0 "uly-Aug.— Man ... 40 0 Platform ... 6 9 0 9 Lug-Se,pt.~Man ... 4 0 0 Sundries ... 0 4 6 4 4

ExrBNSES.