CITY BOARD.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1725, 20 September 1862, Page 4

CITY BOARD.

riTESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17rn

Present: —Messrs. Beveridge, Darby, FinFiy and Macready.

Mr. Beveridge having been moved into the chair, the minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr. Cadman's motion for to-day, "That the letter of the Gas Company requesting to know whether the City Board were prepared to light the streets with gas should be taken into consideration" was postponed on account of that gentleman's unavoidable absence.

The Secretary then read to the Board the following letter received from Edward Leary:— "Auckland, September 12, 1862. " To the Secretary of the Board of Works.

"Sin, —1 beg to inform you that a person by the name of McGuire, is excavating a piece of land in Edward-street, opposite to my property, and wheeling the stuff into the middle of the road, and far above the permanent level, and thereby causing serious injury to my property. " i therefore earnestly solicit your interference to prevent a continuance of this nuisance. " 1 have, &c, " Edward Leary."

Mr. Stewart, the engineer, in reply to the Chairman, stated that the deposit complained of, so far from being a public nuisance, was a positive improvement, There was no permanent level, for on account of the raising of ,Queen-street, the level of Edwardes-street must be altered in a corresponding degree; nor was McGuire interfering with the property of the petitioner by the course which he had taken.

The SECRETARY was then instructed to acknowledge the communication and signify to Mr. Leary that the Board could not interfere in the matter. The Chairman then read a letter received from Mr. Allan O'Neill, late Treasurer of the whilom City Council, in reply to the letter forwarded to that gentleman on the motion of Mr. Finlay:— "North Shore, September lath, 1862.

A " .Sin, —In reply to a letter received by you ot 11th rust., informing me of a resolution adopted by the City Hoard, &c., and in reply I beg to say that all documents in my possession as honorary Treasurer of the late City Council, they will find in the Superintendent's ofliee, in accordance with clause 2 of the Auckland City and Harbour Acts Repealing Act. " I am, &c, " Allan* O'Nbill. " To the Secretary of the Board of Works, kc." CARTING. The SECRETARY here mentioned that Mr. Clarke had called at the office in reference to MeGrath's contract for which he was a surety, and seemed very anxious to be clear of it, the more so as Mr. Douglas the second surety had declined to allow himself to be made responsible for the contract. The Chairman thought it was the duty of the Hoard to discountenance practices such as that now attempted by McGrath of backing out of contracts, and Mr. Stewart having stated that McGrath had failed to complete more than half the work he hail undertaken to perform, Mr. Fini.av moved, "That the Secretary be instructed to write to McGrath and Mr. Clarke, signifying that if McGrath did not proceed with the contract, the Board would emply other men and carts upon the work at their expense." This motion having been seconded by Mr. Darby, was carried.

STATE OF Till-: ROADS. Mr. Fixlav would like to hear from Mr. Stewart how he was getting along. Mr. Stewart replied that he was getting along tolerably well in Symonds street where the men were employed. Thence they would proceed down Chancery lane aiid High-stropt. 'Tho non-fulfilment of the con-

tract by which stone should have been supplied them had occasioned some delay. Mr. Finlay would suggest (and so say wc) that after these streets have been repaired, Hobson-street he next look after. It was in a deplorable condition. The people in Hobson-street had patiently waited for the interference of the Board, and it was only just that so important a thoroughfare should be put into a passable state. Mr. Dabby quite agreed with the suggestion made by his friend, and would draw the attention of the engineer to the state of the Freeman's Bay road opposite Mr. Tole's. It was within the limits of the city and ought to be as soon as possiblo pin into a passable state.

THE WHITE-STKEET PETITION. Mr. Stewart stated as before that the improvement could not be made except by encroaching on private property. The Chairman thought the petitioners had no claim upon the Board. Messrs. Finlav and DABBY both contended that as they were assessed for the payment of rates, they had a claim upon the Board to ■secure them a passage into the street. A considerable amount of colloquial discussion having taken place, it ended in Mr. Finlay's proposing a motion to the effect " That the Secretary be instructed to write to Corporal Smith, desiring him to enquire of Mr. Sanson), the proprietor of the corner allotment in While-street and Queen-street, whether he will allow an entrance to be made over his allotment. Mr. Darby seconded the motion which was then put. The Secretary announced that in two days more the assistants to the assessors would complete their labours.

The Board having signed the customary cheques, separated.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19th

Present:—Messis. Bevendge, Darby, Finlay and Macrcady. Mr. Beveridoe having been moved into the chair, the minutes of the preceding meeting were read and con finned.

A letter was read from J. McGrath, the contractor for caning, to the effect that if the Board would let him know what carts were required, they should he at once put on. The motion standing in Mr. Cadman's name, " That the letter received from the Auckland Gas Company requesting to know whether the City Hoard were prepared to light the streets with gas," was postponed until the mover's return on Monday. The cheques for the payment of the men employed upon the repairs of the streets, and for the payment of the assistants to the assessors were then signed by the members of the Hoard. COMPLETION' OF Till; ASSESSMENT KETL'RNS. The Secretaht stated for the information of the Board that the assistants to the assessors had now completed their returns, and that the same had been handed over to the assessors.