CIVIC SNAPSHOTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 642, 19 April 1929, Page 11

CIVIC SNAPSHOTS

I* - - - *• ♦ i Notes From the Council Chamber An attempt to revive the broadcast ing of the municipal band concerts ha. been entered upon by the IYA Musi cal and Dramatic Advisory CommittedLast evening a letter was receive. I from the committee by the City Coun j cil. The letter inquired what reaso. prevented a contract being entered int. for the band alone, without any retei once to organ recitals, and stated th.«: the committee was anxious to cooperate in a speedy, amicable ands.it- | isfaetory settlement of the difference: J which had led to the band going oft | the air. Cr. E. J. Phelan asserted that tb. council was acting in a most arbitral - manner. The council was losing ai • least £360 annually from IYA, and tin general public was not getting t!i• benefit from the band. He suggested that a committee of three be set up to meet the letter writers. This was lost and the position left as it was. j A donation of £lO 10s was made i« the Ist Battalion. Auckland Regiment, toward the cost of new colours for the regimen L A strong protest was entered by the Remuera Central Ratepayers' Association against the permit granted by the council for the erection of slu>i» iat the corner of Upland and Benson ! Roads. The council decided to reply

that the Works and Town-Planning Committees had both thoroughly inquired into the position before* granting the permits. After having had the matter befon it from the middle of September thi council decided to agree to access t«. the boat harbour at St. Mary's Bay from Curran Street, skirting the western boundary of Point Erin Park, and involving the use of a strip of park property. » The cost of the Mount Eden reservoir collapse has the additional charges of £690 to the Fletcher Construction Company for damage; £435 for the new brick wall, and £873 for partition wall and reinstatement of roof. Sports grounds for the winter season were allocated as follow; Domain, six grounds: League, Rugby and Soccef- two each. Victoria Park, five grounds: Rugby. League and Hockey one each; Soccer two. Outer Domain, four grounds: Y.M.C.A. two, Rugby and League one each. Point Chevalier, four grounds: League and Rugby two each. Grey Lynn Park, two grounds: League and Rugby one each. The No. 1 grounds at the Domain and Victoria Park are to be shared by the three football games. As the result of the collapse of the Mount Eden reservoir the council was recommended to put level-indicators in the reservoirs at Mount Eden. Mount Hobson, Ponsonby and Archhill. Tenders are to be called for these, and the water-level will be indicated on dials at the valve-house in Khyber Pass. The council decided to affirm the recommendation of the chief traffic inspector that taxis plying for hire from private garages and not carrying meters be charged £5 annually, and not be allowed to have any distinguishing mark such as badges on the drivers’ hats. The city solicitor had pointed out that this fee of £5 might be successfully contested, but he met the bylaws committee in committee, and what he disclosed to them resulted in the price being fixed as stated. A by-law will be drafted giving effect to the decision. • * * The council decided to purchase a ■vYater-colour of the sinking of H.M.S. Orpheus. The price was £ls 15s, and the picture was offered by Mr. G. C. Beale. • 4c * The council decided to hand over to the city solicitor all overdue accounts of more than £4O in connection with the workers’ homes in Grey Lynn. “It is hard to keep patience with you. I don’t know how people listen to you all an evening,” said the Mayor to Cr. W. H. Murray. “Well, they do,” remarked Mr. Murray. Mr. Murray had spent 10 minutes asking a question. The Mayor appealed to him for a clear question, and on at last getting it, found it was out of order and ruled accordingly.