CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 44, 21 July 1874, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, July 20.

The usual weekly meeting of the Council was held in the Council Chamber. Present: His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Bishop, Calvert, Hobbs, Lane, Ick, Farr, Jones, and Gapes.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The town clerk reported receipts for the week to be as follow :—From rate collector, —account general city rates, 1874, £133 18s ; "Waimakariri, 1874, £22 6s 4d ; contribution from Avon Road Board, £4O; fines from R. M. Court, £5 10s; deposit on Caahel street contract, £4 ; stone kerbing, 17s 6d; building fee, 10s ; license, 16s ; rent of market place, 7s: total receipts, £2OB 3s lOd. trainage account, Dr, £662 8s 6d. Drainage rate account, Cr, £419 4a sd. Wages, &c, to be paid on general account, £179 2s 3d. Wages, &c, account of drainage, £73 9s Bd. Overdraft at the bank on general account, £1238 5s 6d. When the accounts were read over by the town clerk prior to being passed,

Cr Lane asked how it was that the " Lyttelton Times " account was larger for the previous quarter than that of the " Press," which was the official paper of the Council for the last six months.

The town clerk replied that the larger amount included the printing of debentures. The Mayor said that it was his opinion that the Council were not being fairly dealt with by either of the papers, as though large amounts were paid quarterly to bcth papers, no rebate was allowed. He knew of some persons who did not advertise so largely as the Council and yet they received a rebate of 25 per cent, and he thought the Council should be placed on the same footing. Cr Farr moved—" That the town clerk be instructed to represent to the proprietors of each paper the propriety of allowing the same rebate on the Council's account as that given on the accounts of other persons who advertise."

Cr Jones seconded the motion, which was carried.

The works committee reported as follows :

" 1. Tenders will be laid before you this evening for the office of city surveyor, and we suggest their consideration in committee. "2. During the past week it was found that Madras street bridge had deflected on one side of each approach, «>nd steps were immediately taken to have it repaired. 3. In anticipation of the North belt being formed, the committee recommend that they should have power to negotiate with the Cemetery Board with a view to doing away with the present iuconvenieut encroachments, and having the belt at one uniform width the whole length. "4. The committee are writing to the town council of Birmingham for information as to the success or otherwise of a scavenging cart tried there in February last. By one process it brushes the mud into a cart, which when full can be detached, the machinery is fixed to another cart, and the sweeping continued. A cart of this kind would be very useful here in wet seasons. " 5. The committee have written to Dunedin for information as to a stone breaking machine, which by published accounts, appears advantageous." The report of the works committee was approved as read. .A letter of date loth July was read from the Public Works office, stating that his Honor the Superintendent and Government

would be glad to meet the members of the City Council at the Government Buildings, at 10.30 on the morning of the 16th, to consider the work to be done in filling-in the Ferry road drain, stating that the members of the Heathcote Road Board had also been asked to attend; and that the grant of £3OOO to the city of Christchurch, under the vote for municipalities, might also be considered at the interview. Action had been taken on this letter duriog last week. The following letter was read from the Provincial Secretary :—" I have the honor to acknowledge the rest of your letter of the 16th instant, relative to the matter of finding employment at once for a large number of immigrants, and, in reply, to state that the Government will be prepared to meet the City Council in the expenditure of money necessary for the employment of newly arrived immigrants, only on such works as the City Council may decide to put in hand, with the understanding that the Council find funds to the extent of £IOOO, and the Government to the extent of £333 6s Bd. With regard to the rate at which wages are to be paid within the city, the Government is of opinion that it will be better to leave this to the decision of the Council, as well as the terms of employment and discharge," This letter had resulted from an interview his Worship the Mayor had with his Honor the Superintendent and Executive, and a subsequent letter from the town clerk. On the motion of Cr Hobbs, the action taken by the Mayor in this matter was approved. ' The Mayor said that it had been proposed by him at the interview that the men when first put to work should be paid 5s a day, and those who were found to be worth it would be drafted out, and paid 6s per day. This was also approved by the Council. A letter was read from the Provincial Secretary's Office asking permission to remove the range and grate, the property of the Government, from the premises lately occupied by the inspector of weights and measures.

An amendment by Cr Hobbs, " That the request be declined," was carried. A letter was read from Mr T. I. Joynt, Provincial Solicitor, acknowledging receipt of letter from the town clerk enclosing copy of resolution passed by the City Council with reference to the revision of the city bylaws.

A letter was read, signed by several ratepayers in Gloucester street, asking that a lamp might be placed at the junction of Montreal and Gloucester streets, also calling attention to the footpath in Gloucester street, which requires a few loads of sand or gravel. The matter of gravelling the footpath was referred to the works committee.

A letter was read from Mr D. B. Bowie, asking on behalf of himself and other ratepayers, that the Council would have the side drain on the town side of the South belt cleaned out and deepened, as their former drainage had been stopped up. Referred to the works committee.

The Registrar-General's report on the vital statistics of the various provinces for the month of June, was laid on the table. His Worship regretted to see that the percentage in the death rate for June had been larger in Cbristchurch than any other town in New Zealand. It was one more reason why they should do all in their power to improve the drainage of the city as quickly as possible. A letter was read from Mrs S. M. Ross, Montreal street, asking on what terms the Council would lay down stone channelling in front of her section. Referred to the works committee.

Cr Jones presented a petition, signed by 104 residents in Christchurch east, calling attention to the following necessary works :—" Forming and metalling the unfinished part of the East town belt, and planting forest trees on each side. Remetalling the footpath from the belt to Madras street, especially Gloucester street near Mr Hobbs'. The further lighting of the belt from Hereford street to the river, 'as of late years the district has been neglected, and--the inhabitants have been put to much discomfort thereby." Referred to the works committee.

On the motion of Cr Jones, Cr Bishop was appointed chairman of the footpaths committee.

The report of the inspector of nuisances was read and approved. In connection with this report his Worship stated that he paid a visit the previous Saturday to the Armagh street barracks, occupied by immigrants, and in one of the rooms he found eight little children in charge of the eldest, who could not be more than eight or nine years old. The mother of these children was in the hospital suffering from rheumatic fever. Discerning a very offensive smell in the room he obtained assistance, and on removing and emptying a bag which-was placed in one corner of the room, it - was found to contain ship linen in such an offensive state of filth that it nearly turned him sick, and if it had been allowed to remain there much longer, must certainly have generated fever. He at once communicated with Mr March, who had this immediately attended to. The portion of the building that had been used as stables was not fit for persons to liye in. Cr Bishop felt very ttrongly. that further steps should be taken in this matter, • as it was distinctly under* too I that previous to leaving the Addington barracks, and being removed to this building so near the centre of the city, all the ship linen belonging to the immigrants had undergone a process of cleansing. A conversation followed, when it was determined that the sanitaryjeommittee should visit the place occasionally, the inspector to be also instructed to regularly visit the building. Cr Ick wished to mention with reference to the meeting held the other evening in the Oddfellows' Hall, at which the Mayor presided, that he had been told by a gentleman of good position in the city that the Mayor having signed the petition that night, bound the Council to the expression of opinion contained in it. He (Cr Ick) told this gentleman that he differed with him in this view, and that his impres-, sion was that it had only been signed by the Mayor as chairman of the meeting. He had promised, however, to mention it at that sitting of the Council. His Worship said that the wording of the resolution would show that he only signed the petition as chairman of the meeting. Cr Ick continued to say, that a gentleman who occupies a prominent position in Christchurch, wished him to bring before the Council the contemplated encroachment on the Domain for'the erection of a College, and since he had reached the Council

Chamber, a plan had been sent to him, showing the position of the building if this were carried out, and this gentleman wished the Council to express an opinion on this matter; and, personally, he should like to hear an expression of opinion from the Council, as he felt it would be an injustice to the people if five acres were alienated from the Domain for this purpose—and now was the time or never for those persons who opposed the Bill to take action, as he saw by that day's papers that those gentlemen who had charge of it were hurrying it through the Council—to speak mildly—with at least undue haste.

Cr Lane felt that it was no part of the Council's business to interfere with this land, as it was outside the town, and they had nothing whatever to do with it, unless as private individuals. Cr Farr would be sorry to hear the Council express any opinion on this matter. The Mayor quite agreed with the remarks of the two previous speakers, and the matter dropped. Cr Gapes having received permission, moved—''That the works committee be authorised to inspect the several parts of the unformed streets and belts of the city, and report to this Council the amount of work most necessary to be done ; also a rough estimate of the cost of the same." Cr Lane seconded the motion. The motion on being put, was lost by the casting vote of the Mayor. A carrier's license'was granted to James Watson, Manchester Btreet south. The Council then resolved itself into committee.