CITY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18403, 9 June 1925, Page 11

CITY COUNCIL.

LAST NIGHT'S MEETING.

The Christchureh City Council met last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer 1 ), and Crs. C. P. Agar, O. W. B. Anderson, E. H. Andrews. C. T. Aschman, A. W. Beaveit, T. H. Butterfield, A. P.' Carey, C. L. Carr, Y. R. Cooke, J. X. <lu Feu, A. D. Ford, W. E. Leadley, A. McKellar, W. J. Sim, I>. G. Sullivan, M.P., and Mrs E. R. MeCombs. Finance. The financial statement showed: — General rate levied £124,540, collected £121.978, outstanding £2561. The district fund account was £47,095 in debit (overdraft £17,517, temporary loans £29,578).- . Sydenham Cemetery. Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., wrote regarding the state of the Sydenham Cemetery, and requested that the council receive at its nest meeting a deputation consisting of three representatives of a hundred grave or plot owners in the cemetery. Cr. Leadley moved that the deputation should be heard first by the Reserves Committee. The Mayor said that citizens had a right to come to the Council. Cr. Leadley's motion was carried. Progress League Representatives. A letter was received from the organiser of the Canterbury Progress Leaguo stating that the .City Council's present representatives on the League were Messrs Herbert, Manhire, and Armstrong, and that as the City Council election took place recently, he would be glad to know whether the abovenamed gentlemen were still to represent tho Council or whether others would be elected. The Mayor, and Cr. Carey, and Mr H. T. Armstrong, M.P., were appointed to represent the Council. Traffic Tally. A letter was received from the Waimairi County Council stating that a conference regarding the traffic tally to be taken on the Park roads had been arranged. The chairman of tho By-laws and Finance Committee and tho chairman of the Works and Sanitary Committee were appointed the Council's representatives. Municipal Congress. A letter was received from the Union International des Villcs et Communes, Brussels, extending an invitation to the Christchureh City Council to attend the International Municipal Congress which would bo held at Paris from September 28th to October 4th, 1925. The letter was- rcceivod. Paralysis 'Pensions. The Eunanga Borough Council wrote soliciting support of the following resolution, with a view to having legislation to meet tho case:—"That the Government be urged to provide pensions for tho victims of infantile pa'ralysis." Cr. Sullivan moved that tho request be complied with. He said the Council should strengthen the demand for a general invalidity pension. That matter was now being considered by the Minister of Pensions, and tho Council, should give the Minister its support. Cr. Carr seconded. Cr. Andrews said the matter was one for the general Government to deal with, and not a local authority. Cr. Agar said the policy of the Council for. years past was simply to "receive " letters dealing with general politics. .'. Cr. Leadley said the Council should be interested in the welfare of the victims' of infantile paralysis, but the resolution went too far. Cr. McKellar, who moved that the letter from be received, said it was not.the 'duty of the Council to concern itself with matters pertaining to the general Government. The Council, by 10 votes to 7, rejected Cr. Sullivan's motion; and decided to "receive" the letter. The voting was on party lines, and Cr. Aschman voted with the minority. New Parking Places. The By-laws Committee recommended that tho following additional parking places for motor-cars should be provided:— • i ' Hereford, street, south side, between Colombo and Manchester streets, 30' ears, hours ,7 p.m. to 5 a.m. The present taxi stand in the centre of Hereford street to bo moved to the south side of the street in the evening. Armagh street, north side, between Colombo and Manchester streets, six cars, from 7 to 9 p.m. on week days, and all day Sundays. The Council approved. Cr. C. P. Agar said the Chief Traffic Inspector had been instructed to bring down a comprehensive report, on which the Council could settle the>.policy of parking places and other matters. Electric Garage Additions. The Electricity Committee reported that the electric vehicle garage was now up to capacity, and besides additional accommodation, improvements in the workshop and repair facilities were long overdue. _ Tenders as follows had now been received for tho necessary extensions:—Head and Webb £2204, G. L. Bull £2343, E. S. Gibbs £2423, George White £2440, J. and W. Jamieson £2638, N. McGillivray £2653, F. Williamson £2724, D. Scott and Son £2727. The committee recommended that the lowest tender be accepted—that of Messrs Head and Webb for £22o4—and that the work be put in hand as early as possible. The Council agreed. Street Lighting. The' Electricity Committee recommended that an additional street lamp should be placed .in Church Square, Aldington, and that the two balcony lights on the Council buildings should be included in the regular street lighting. Ainsworth Street. The Works Committee reported that some time ago the Couneil approved of a recommendation of the committee that Ainsworth street should bo closed and the land thrown into the reserve known as Smart's Pond, but in view of the fact that two objections were raised by persons having a frontage on Ainsworth street, the committee recommended that no further action be taken in tho matter. The Council agreed. Tar Supplies. The Works Committee stated that owing to insufficient supplies being available irom the local Gas Works, the City Engineer ordered 10,000 gallons of distilled tar from the Broken Hill Proprietary Co. of Australia, and the tar had just come to hand. It was proposed to use the tar for sealing work for the ! existing roads, as it was very urgent j that as much work as possible of that ' nature should be Hone before the winter sets in. The City Engineer's action had been approved by the committee and also his action in negotiating with the local Gas Company for his total requirements of distilled tar. River Heathcote Erosion. The Works Committee reported that complaints had been received regarding further erosion to the' banks of the Heathcote and would recommend that

endeavours be made to secure legislation to place the responsibility for the. maintenance of the river banks generally on the Drainage Board. The Council agreed to the recommendation. Manchester Street Conveniences. The Works Committee reported that owing to various causes the committee had under consideration the question of the demolition of the conveniences at the corner of Manchester and High streets. The City Engineer was asked to prepare an estimate for a new convenience near the present one, such new convenience to provide accommodation for women, and the committee Tocommended that, in the meantime, the Police Department be asked to give extra supervision to the localitv from 6 p.m. onwards. Cr. E. H. Andrews said the idea was to place the new conveniences in a different position, but not far from High street. Cr. A. McKellar asked if it was proposed to remove the convenience in Cash el Btrect. That convenience was a source o'f annoyance and loss to business people in the locality. Cr. E. 11. Andrews said the Council' had not considered the idea of scrapping the present, convenience in Cashel street. The structuro web comparatively new and had cost about £SOOO. It seemed too early to talk about removing it, although the committee would like to have all the city conveniences placed in less prominent positions. The report of the committee was adopted. Union Street Channelling. Tito Works Committee stated that tho channelling of Union street, Pnpamii, had several times been brought before the committee, but had been hold over awaiting tho adjustment of accounts as betweon tho Waimairi County Council and tho C=ty Council. At) that matter had now been completed, the committee recommended that the work be put in hand, the cost of which could be paid out of the Papanui No. 2 Channelling Loan. The Council agreed. Hills Road Bridge Tho Works Committee reporter! that tho Shirlev School Committee had again drawn attention to tho fact that tho Council had no taken any steps to widen the Hills road bridge. The matter was before the committee on several occasions, but no action was taken, aa the Tramway Board proposed to lay a lino which would traverse tho bridge. As that proposal has now been abandoned and the bridge was an extremely dangerous one, tho committee recommended that negotiations be opened with tho Waimairi County Council, who was responsible for half cost —tho bridge being on a boundary—with a view to having the bridgo enlarged and made safer, the Council's proportion of the cost to be provided for in this year's estimates. . •■■'„■. The report was adopted. Electrical Appliances and Load. Tho Electricity Committeo reported that 500 ranges and 690.'water' heaters are now connected to the Department's mains, and 285 new connexions and 221 reconneadons had been made . for radiators since the commencement of- the winter. These were all connected on tho understanding that they were liable to be cut-off should there be a shortago of power. The Department's maximum load occurred on Monday; the 18th Maj', between 4.30 and 5 p.m., when- 6754 k.w. was recorded. On the samc ; day the Public Works Department carried its highest power-house load, viz 13,800k.w. on the Coleridge plant of 12,000 k.w. capacity. Forestry. Cr. F. E. Cooke; moved that a report covering-the operations of the Council's forestry scheme for the past'two-years, as compared with the previous two years, should be prepared and submitted to the 'Council. His opinion was that the Council's forestry scheme was going back instead of progressing. Cr. Andrews* said that a report had already been issued on the very subject mentioned by' Cr. Cooke. The trouble was that a certain personal feeling existed, but the value of the forestry work of the Reserves Committee and the present superintendent shpuld not be discounted for that reason.. The present superintendent was looked upon as a first-class forester. Cr. Cooke said'there .was, .a fifty-acro block at Victoria. Park an ' entire failure. • " Cr. Andrews said the losses were' caused by tho rabbits. Since then the fire occurred. Cr. W. E. Leadley said that the committee would shortly arrange an inspection of the Council's plantations, and a report would be furnishedconcerning the plantations. The Mayor said that he had been approached himself by .experts, who confidently believed the Council was, at present on the wrong track in the matter of a forestry policy. ; The matter was held over.