CITY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18415, 23 June 1925, Page 11

CITY COUNCIL.

LAST NIGHTS MEETING.

The Christchurch City Council met last night.' Present: : The Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer), and Crs. C. P. Agar, O. W. B. Anderson, E. H. Andrews, C. T. Aschman, A. W. Beaven, T. H. Butterfield, A. T. Carey, CL. Carr, 11.I 1 . R. Cooke, J. K". du Feu, A. D. Ford, W. E. Lea.dley, A. McKellar, "WV J. Sim, D. G.. Sullivan, M.P., and Mrs E. K. McCombs.

Finance. The financial statement 'showed:— General rate levied £ 124,540, collected £122-,081, outstanding £2458; The district fund account was-£52,935#in debit (overdraft £15,007, temporary loans £37,928). W.E.A. Work.

The Workers' Educational, Association wrote asking, that a doputation.be received from tho Association in "order to place before the Council the nature and scope of the work being clone, and tho financial needs of the movement in Canterbury.' The Council agreed to receive the. deputation at the next meeting. .Tepid Baths.

The Baths • Committee reported that the takings at the Municipal Baths for the months of March, April, and May were:— 1925. 1924. £sd. £ U d March '.-.■ IHB 14 7 245 10 1 April .'. 87 7 1 184 7<' S May .. '95 0 2 115 2 9 The takings from April Ist to May 31st for the present year showed a decline of £ll7 3s over the same period of last year. The decrease in the takings was largely accounted for by the fact that from January ,29th to April 26th children were prohibited from using the baths owing to the epidemic" restrictions.

The Committee was authorised to spend approximately £SO ■ for'effecting certain repairs at the baths.' - Cr. F. I?. Cooke said the baths should have a gymnasium attached. Cr. A.' D. Ford said the Committee would consider the suggestion. Building and Leasing Powers. ;

The Electricity Committee reported that it was their policy to use, as far as practicable, the inner area of their property for their own purposes, and to use the frontages for the present to better advantage by leasing or building for letting purposes. The Committee recommended that the City Solicitor be instructed to prepare the draft legislalation necessary to give effect to that policy. The Council agreed. Park Boads.Maintenance.

The delegates who attended a conference of representatives of local bodies relative to the allocation of the cost of maintenance of the roads in the vicinity of.Haglcy Park,; reported that it was unanimously decided to recommend the several bodies concerned to confirm the allocation • agreed to in July, 192-1, viz.:— ' Deans and Riccar- pCorth iloorhousc ton ' Park avenues, avenue, road. p.c. p.c. 'p.c. Ch.-Ch. City Council ..25 55 55 Ricco-rton Boro. Council 65 21 17 "Waimairi County Council 10 6 21 Paparua, County • Council 100 100 100 The agreement to take effect as from July 7th, 1924. The Public Works Department had been asked to take the necessary steps to have the agreement approved of by his Excellency the Governor-GeneraL ~lf that was - done,

the tally of "traffic on the roads in question (which the Commission set up to enquire into the allocation of the maintenance of the roads required) -would not be necessary. The delegates recommended that the agreement' arrived at bo approved. , The report was adopted.

Water Supply.

The Water Supply Committee stated that the, City Engineer had not yet completed his report on the question of augmenting the City water supply, but the Committee hoped to place the matter before tho Council, shortly. Norman's Koad;

The Works Committee reported that tho reconstruction • of Norman's road was progressing. The greater portion of top soil was; being removed to about road level, and', regrading was in hand. There were 10 telephone poles to be removed, and the Telegraph Department had been twice, communicated with requesting such removal. , The re-. ply;of the District Telegraph Engineer was that in order to avoid the cost (£SO) for-their immediate removalj it would be better to wait for a period of-three or four, weeks, and therefore it had been arranged to proceed with the work, and the islanded poles would be lighted at-night. There were also 13 electric light poles to bo removed, and the General Managor of the Electricity Department was arranging to start that work at once,. for until those poles were removed the concrete channel work could not conveniently be put in hand. • ,

Cbaney's. Sanitary Pit. ; The Works and.Sanitary Committee reported that much inconvenience and occasional delay was caused by the sanitary! lorries having to draw through heavy: sand 'at the tip. To obviate that-!'it was.suggested that a sleeper roatl.bc" former, for which second-hand sleepers.were available from the Tramway Board, and it was estimated that aobut 1120 would be required, at a cost of 2s 6d each, equalling £l4O, to which must be added the cost of transport and laving on site —sav £4o—totalling £IBO. '

The reason for recommending that type of road is to facilitate the work at the tip, as the road could be taken up and- extended in various directions, and especially to expedite the work as well as reducing the cost of maintenance and the risk of serious damage to the lorries that Bad occurred in the past. The report was adopted.

Armagh street Bridge. The Works Committee reported that attention had been drawn'to the state of the surface of the bridge across the Avon at Armagh street into Xorth Hagley Parle. It was estimated that to give the deck of the bridge a light, coat of asphalt anil top-dressing* -would cost about &37, and the Committee recommended 'that authority be given for the work to be'put in hand. Authority was granted. Massey street Trees. , Tire Works Committee stated that the residents in Massey street were desirous of planting an avenue of mountain ash in the street, and the Committee recommended that permission be granted subject to the ÜBual conditions. - The Council agreed Watford street. TJie Works Committee recommended that certain footpath and channelling work be carried o»t in Watford street to join up a present break in the footpath and channelling construction. The Council authorised the work. | ~ Spreydon Council Chamber. I The Works Committee were authorj aed to have the.old Spreydon Council Chamber prepared and painted at an !-?itimated cost of £23.