CITY BOARD.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1721, 6 September 1862, Page 4

CITY BOARD.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd, 1862

Present: Messrs. Beveridgc, Cadman, Darby, Fin--1 iv, and Macready. Mr. Beveridgk having been voted into tbe Chair, the minutes of the preceding meetings were read and confirmed.

Mr. Cadman moved motion No. 1, standing in his name:—

"That tin- engineer be instructed in furnishing the list of the various works to the Hoard to give his particular attention to the state of the roads in and about Freeman's Bay."

—lt was, lie said, but a h-w daws since he had visited that locality and seen the terrible state, of the thoroughfares there. This had made him anxious to draw the attention of the Engineer in order that in maturing his plans he might give that consideration which was duo to a large district where the requirements were groat, and where there would be no small amount of property assessed; at present for all practical purposes Freeman's Bav might as well be upon an island. .Mr. D.w.r.v in seconding this motion bore testimony to the correctness of Mr. Cadman's account of the distressing sttite of the roads in Freeman's Bay.

Mr. Beveeidgk stated that were he not in the Chair, he would feel it his duty to oppose the motion. Their were places in the city, I Jobson-street for instance, which needed the attention of the Engineer quite, as much as Freeman's Bay. Though he could not disagree with the truth of Mr. Cadman's account ol the state of Freeman's Hay, he did not sec why one portion of the town should be brought more prominently before the Engineer's notice than another. No man could walk in safety on a dark night along Hohson-street and he thought, the leading thoroughfares should first be made passable. Mr. MacHEADY would not. oppose the motion but thought the Engineer had enough upon his hands at the present time. Mr. Cadman stated that the money borrowed,£soo, was to jmt leading streets into a state of repair. The Engineer was about to estimate the cost of works generally; this was a district, not a street, and he thought it most advisable to draw the attention of 'the Engineer to it.

The motion was then put and carried. Mr. Caijman in moving motion No 12,

"That the engineer be requested at his earliest convenience to furnish the Hoard with an estimate of the cost of paving the whole width of the roadway of Queen-street, from the wharf to Somervillc's corner ; also his opinion as to the desirability of the Board undertaking such a work as a question of durability and economy," —stated that it seemed a question whether it would not be cheaper to pave this portion of the street at once than continue the system of patching an 1 repairing as heretofore. Scraping mud and clearing it away cost as much, he maintained, as paving it would do, and on the old plan throughout the winter the street was always in n filthy condition. It would be cheaper to pay out £BOO or £IOOO and make an effective job of it at once.

This motion was seconded by Mr. Darby, put and carried.

Mr. ("adman then proposed his third motion — " That the Engineer be requested to prepare plans for forming kerbs and gutters for the main streets of the city, and submit the same to the Board." —it was time, he contended, that some proper scheme was initiated for guttering anil curbing, by which the water might be carried off and the durability of the work done upon the streets themselves insured. This motion was also seconded by Mr. Darby and carried. NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr. C \dm \n gave notice to move, at the nextsitting of the Board, ''That the Board issue their warrant to Ibc assessors for tlie assessment of the East ward." Mr. BhviJitiwr.K staled that such being the case, he should at such time move, "That the assessment shall noi !"• proceeded with until a regular chairman of tho Board shall have been appointed." Aftci the following report from the Engineer, Mr. Stewart, had been read and ordered to lie on the tablo the Board, dispersed.

City Board of Works Office, 3rd September, 1862. Gentlemen,—ln compliance with the term of your resolution of date 11th August last, requesting me to examine plans and specifications of the main sewer, and renort, I have now the honor to do so. Until the sewer reaches Victoria-street I do not deem it advisable to alter its internal dimensions from those shewn on the drawings-, the form Also is that recognised As the best of the Oval shapes. I am convinced, however, that considerable economy may be« exercised by modifying the construction without in the least endangering its stability and permanence. This is due in a measure to abetter foundation being anticipated for the new length than occurred in many parts of the old ; but it will principally arise fronr, as above stated, the construction being modified to what I believe is a perfectly safe design. The whole of the sides and invert I purpose to form of scoria in cement-, anti the arch of the best radiated bricks, in two ring*, Having four longitudinal bonding 'courses bi'.stontf. , , The mimdiHirai I'purpose to limit to about 4 feet Giticho in width, mid where the ground may turn out unfavourable', piling and concrete will be used. I trust the length you will be able to complete with your present,funds wiil.be about 550 feet, pr reaching up to about die New Zealand Bank premises. This takes into account nothing which may he required in forming the street above the sewer to its level, or restoring the same to any other state than its present condition. An unquestionable charge on the funds of the .-.-.'.(r, however, is the provision necessary for carrying i lie traffic of Queen-street past the work during i'nyrt's«! as the soil Iroin the excavation will cover ilie only track now existing. I have therefore ' allow, d fur the temporary forming and coating with sco ia and road metal of about £6OO feet of Queensi reel.

Great convenience, and some economy, would arise from having that part of Queen-street traversed by the sewer at once, and under the same contract with the hitter work, brought to its level and finished; but, unless the funds for the >trect are forthcoming same time with those of the sewer I do not see how this could be so arranged.

The plans of the part already completed, shewing no record of inlets public or private, 1 made an examination of the work, and noted the position of all such inlets, with their various heights above (he run. In the work now to be undertaken a method will be devised and adhered to with regard to the private inlets, regulating heights and positions, &c. Side entrances must be provided also, at proper positions, opening within the line of kerb. Only one entrance, other than the mouth of the sewer, exists now ; it is in the crown of the arch, and only to be discovered from within the sewer. Should it appear expedient to the Board, plans and specifications of the new works may be prepared in n few days.—l have the honor to be, Gentlemen, your obedient servant; James Stewart, Engineer City Board of Works. The City Board of Works, Auckland. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER sth, 1860. Present:—Messrs. Cadman, Darby, Finlay and Macready. Mr. Finlay was voted into the chair. The minutes of the preceding meeting having been read and confirmed, the following letter was received from the Superintendent:— " Superintendent's Office. "Auckland, sth September, 1862. " SlB, —I have the honor to acknowledge the icceipt of your letter of ilate 2nd inst., transmitting a resolution of the Board of Works requesting from the Provincial Government a loan of £SOO on the security of the rates to be levied under the Town Boards Act. I regret that circumstances prevent my making the loan directly. I enclose copy of correspondence with the Manager of the New Zealand Banking Company, who proposes to advance to the City Board the sum required, and I have to request that you will be good enough to inform the Board that if they arc disposed to accept the accommodation offered by Mr. Kennedy, upon the terms specified, I am prepared to give the guarantee required. " I have, &c., " Daniel Pollen, " For the Superintendent." Copy of a letter from the Deputy-Superintendent to the Manager of the New Zealand Bank:— " Superintendent's Office, " Auckland, 3rd Sept., 1862. Sik, —I have the honor to forward the enclosed copy of a resolution adopted by the Auckland City Board of Works and to request that you will be good enough to inform tne whether the New Zealand Bank will grant to the Board a temporary cash credit to the extent of £SOO (the money to be applied to the purpose of making the streets of the city passable) ami if so, upon whit terms:— "I have, &c, '• 1). Pollen, "For the Superintendent. Copy of a letter from the Manager of the New Zealand Bank to the Deputy Superintendent: " Bank of New Zealand, "Auckland, 3rd Sept., 1862. " To His Honor the Superintendent,— " Sin, —I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this date enclosing a resolution adopted by the Auckland City Board of Works, and requesting to he informed if this Bank would he willing to grant a temporary advance to the extent of £SOO to the Board, ai.d on what terms. "I have to state in reply that this Bank is willing to make an advance of £SOO for three months to the Auckland City Board of Works, on condition that the Provincial Government guarantee the repayment of the same to the Bank with interest at the rate of £8 per cent, per annum.

" A. Kennedy, " General Manager." The Board proceeded to the consideration of Mr. Cadman's motion, " That the Board do at the next meeting issue their warrant to the assessors to proceed with the assessment of this East Ward." Mr. Qadman asked leave to amend this motion by substituting the words " City East," in lieu of" East Ward." having been granted, he proceeded to state that now that the work had so far proceeded, he thought the Board might at once go on with the assessment, so as to become as quickly as possible possessed of means to work with. Mr. Fini.av thought that as in another fortnight tbe West Ward would be finished, it would be better to wait, and do both at once. Mr. Macbeady thought that the matter should be allowed to stand over, and that according to the Act the whole of the assessment should be made at once, a delay, probably, of only a week would take place. Mr. Darby thought also that the matter should be postponed. Mr. Cadman consented to the withdrawal of his motion. ] Mr. Stkwaut, the Engineer, brought tip his reports, in accordance with the resolutions passed at a meeting. Some further details of business having been settled, the Board adjourned after passing the_ following motion: Proposed by Mr. Cadman and;, seconded by Mr. Macready, "That the Secretary be instructed to address a letter to His Honor the Deputy Superintendent staling that the BoartK accepts the loan of £SOO from the Bank of New,, Zealand, on the terms stated in Mr. Kennedy's letter;] of September 3rd." (3 We regret that we have not suflicicnt space toy publish Mr. Stewart's able report in our present issue.;,