CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 121, 20 October 1874, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, October 19. A special meeting of the Council was held at 6 p.m. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs Jones, Farr, Raphael, and Ick. The Mayor stated that the special meeting had been called in accordance with the resolution of the Council, relative to the forage account. He would now call upon the works committee to bring up their report on the matter. The report of the works committee was then read as follows ; “ City Council Office, “ October 19th, 1874. “It was arranged last Monday evening that the works committee should obtain information with reference to the consumption of food for the five horses of the Council. They beg to report that in the quarter ending Ist July there was obtained 123 bushels oats (always crushed,) The horses were then having If bushels each per week ; total, 113 J bushels. “The last quarter there was obtained 90 bushels ; but as the carters received instructions to give the horses less corn, they have been having 1£ bushels per week each, say a total upon the quarter, 97J bushels “ In these comparisons, allowance must be made for the quantity on hand each quarter at the separate stables. “ By adding the two quarters together, it will show thus :—Received 123 and 90, total 213 bushels. Consumed, 113 f and 97£ ; total, 211 J bushels, which is nearlya balance. The committee think this cannot be otherwise than satisfactory. “ They have however to remark that the horses are not in the condition they ought to be, as they formerly were, and recommend a more liberal allowance of crushed oats. “ E. B. Bishop, “ Chairman.” The report was received and adopted. Cr Jones moved “ That the quantity ordered for the horses be left to the works committee.” Or Raphael seconded the resolution, which was agreed to. The meeting then adjourned. The usual weekly meeting was held at 7 p.m. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs Ick, Farr, Raphael, Hobbs, Calvert, Bishop, Gapes, and Jones. The town clerk reported having received the sum of £224 17s 2d during the week as follows: —General city rate, 1874, £lB9 13s ; Waimakariri do, £3l 12s 2d ; fines from E. M. Court, £3 5s ; rent from market place, 7s. The general city account was stated as being overdrawn to the amount of £255 2s 9d. The drainage account was stated to be in credit to the amount of £4396 11s lOd; the drainage rate account being also in credit £913 6s 2d. Bills to the amount of £344 18s 6d were passed, and ordered to be paid. On the accounts of the newspapers for advertising being read, a long discussion ensued as to the advisability of asking the proprietors of the newspapers to take oil a discount from the Council’s account. A warm passage of arms ensued between Crs Ick and Raphael, the latter on the part of the finance committee decidedly and positively objecting to go round to the newspaper offices to ask for a discount to be taken off the account, more particularly as the charges were no more now than they had been for years before, the Crs only just waking up to the fact. Cr Gapes then moved—“ That the finance committee be requested to call upon the newspaper proprietors, with a view of obtaining a discount off the account of the Council.” Cr Jones seconded the motion. Cr Raphael moved as an amendment “ That the whole Council wait upon the newspaper proprietors.” The fact was, that they thought they had got some one on the finance committee who understood something about discounts, and they intended to try and make use of him, but he wasn’t to be had. After a very amusing discussion the resolution was withdrawn, and the amendment negatived. Ultimately, the matter was left in the hands of Cr Hobbs, the chairman of the finance committee. The city surveyor’s report was read as follows “ Plans and report on the drainage of the South half of Christchurch will be laid before the Council this evening. He asked the sanction of the Council to his examining the neighbourhood of Manchester and Madras streets north with a view to building a brick sewer from the North belt to the river down Manchester or Madras Street. This neighborhood, from the number of open ditches and low places, must be very

unhealthy, and as the population is fast increasing it must be daily getting worse. If the work could bo carried out it. would relieve the Council of the Kilmore street difficulty. The reason why ho brought this matter before the Council was that the North belt would give material for filling the ditches and low places.

“ The labor gang had been during the week engaged in various works.” The report was considered. The following special report from the city surveyor on the drainage of the south side of the city was read: — “ By the plan I have prepared it will be seen that all the water flows from the centre of the city in a south-easterly direction, and consequently an underground drain along Tuara street would relieve the city much more quickly of water than allowing it (as at present) to find its way down to the Ferry road along the channels, but if only one underground drain is to be built I should, as as a sanitary measure, recommend its being built from the Ferry road in continuation of the sower now under construction, to the corner of the East belt, and thence along the South belt as far as Antigua street. My reasons for recommending this are as follows : “ 1. The South belt is the lowest ground and stands in need of drainage more than any other part. “2. That the Ferry road drain and the south drain could be abolished and filled in, as the sewer I propose would be two feet lower than the south drain, as will be seen on the section.

“ 3. That if the sewer I propose be carried far enough, either now or at any future time, the Antigua st eetdrain could, by large pipes or a small brick sewer being built up Antigua street, enable that water to be brought into the general drain, and the present ditch filled in.

“ 4. That if the sewer be continued still farther along the belt, say so far as Selwyn street, that neighborhood could also be drained, and it stands very much in need of it.

“ I look upon these open drains as being very injurious to health, as it is i.ot merely the surface of the dirty water which is exposed to the rays of the sun, but the water soaks into the surrounding land, keeping the locality through which it runs in a constantly wet state, and rendering the atmosphere humid and unhealthy. “None of the results above detailed could be obtained by constructing a sewer along Tuara street, as the natural fall of the ground is towards the belts, but as we cannot put a larger drain than two feet six inches diameter in the South belt (the drain already built will not allow of its being larger) it will perhaps be found necessary to construct an underground drain along Tuam street, taking the water direct to the Outfall drain, which would relieve that portion of the city north of Tuam street more quickly and not be such a heavy tax on the South belt sewer; if only one brick sewer is decided on, I should advise the South belt one being built and the channels leading towards it cut into such a state that they will conduct the water quickly away, and when the capabilities of this system have been properly tested, the subject of a brick sewer along Tuam street could be taken into consideration. The sewers along Antigua street, and between Antigua street and Selwyn street along the belt, cau be of a smaller and cheaper construction than the one in the other part of belt. If this work be carried out we shall reclaim £IOO worth of pipes, besides doing away with the bridge, 66ft long, across Barbadoes street, and a long bridge across the belt at Antigua street. As I only recommend a single ring of brickwork for the sewers it would be necessary to have bricks made specially for the work; they would cost a few shillings per thousand more than the ordinary square bricks, but that would be more than counterbalanced by the saving in cement, and the work would be much better and stronger. The sewer which is now being built on the East belt is costing, exclusive of man holes and silt pits, £SB per lineal chain. Estimate of the work now proposed—2ft 6in sewer from Antigua street to the Ferry road drain (100 chains), at per chain £25, £2500; twelve brick sumps, with iron gratings and pipes to connect with sewer, £100; four silt pits, with contrivance for flushing sewer, £l7 each, £6B; total, £2668. Estimate of sewer along Tuam street, from Colombo street to East belt —Fifty-six chains, at £23 10s, £1316; fourteen sumps, with iron gratings and pipes to connect with sewer, at'£B, £112; three silt pits, at £l7, £sl; total, £1479.” After some discussion. Cr Farr moved—“ That the plans and report be referred back to the works committee for further consideration.” r r Calvert seconded the motion. Cr Ick moved as an amendment—“ That the city surveyor be called in to give such information as may be required of him.” Cr Hobbs seconded the amendment. On a division the amendment was carried, and the motion negatived. The surveyor was then called in and answered several questions, when the report and plans were ordered to stand over for a week. Tenders for the ironwork for the additions at the Victoria Bridge were opened and read, and a tender for £44 per ton accepted. The following correspondence was read : From the residents in Cashel street west asking the Council to kerb the south side of the street between Montreal and Antigua streets, and offering to defray one-fourth of the cost pro rata, according to their respective frontages, and urging upon the Council the necessity of immediate action being taken, as the state of the side channel was very bad, Cr Jones moved that the letter be referred to the works committee. Cr Hobbs moved “ That the work be done on the usual terms.” This was seconded and agreed to, Cr Jones’ resolution not being seconded. From Mr J. W. Treadwell, respecting drainage of the South belt, and suggesting a plan whereby the same could be carried out. The town clerk was instructed to acknowledge the receipt of the letter. From the Chief Postmaster, calling attention to the fact it was necessary to the increase of business in the department to put a door through the partition near the Money Order and (Savings Bank Office, and asking the Council to do the same as early as possible. The letter was referred to the works committee to carry out the work. From the Kev E. A. Lingard, as secretary to the Cemetery Board, forwarding a tabulated statement of the number of burials during the past year at the Church of England Cemetery. The return was as follows—--40 years and upwards, 35 ; 21 years to 40 years, 34 ; 10 years to 21 years, 7 ; 6 years to

| 10 years, 12 ; 3 years to 6 years, 15 ; 1 year to 3 years, 19; under 1 year, 51. Total for the year, 176 interments. The letter was directed to he acknowledged. It was resolved that the letter of the Rev E. A. Lingard, respecting the diversion of creek near the parsonage, ho acknowledged. From certain residents of the Triangle, near Cobb and Go’s, asking that the Council would not accede to the request for more cabs to stand on the public stand opposite their places of business. It was decided to defer the letter until the special meeting on Tuesday evening. Cr Raphael moved, “That the surveyor be instructed to measure the stands at Cobb and Go’s and the City Hotel, with a view to ascertain how many cabs could stand thereon.” Cr Gapes seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A letter was read from Mr G. H. Merson, asking that his might be remitted, on account of inability to pay the same. Referred to the rate collector to report upon. Mr L. Walker’s application for stone kerhing, &c, from the Bank of New Zealand to De Bonrbel’s buildings, was granted on the usual terms. Cr Raphael stated that Mr Hawkcs had told him that owing to pressure of business he had not been able to see into this matter, and, therefore, he asked that the matter might stand over fora week. The required delay was granted. The rate collector’s report was read, stating that he had completed Ihe delivery of the applications for rates, and requesting the authority of the Council for summoning all defaulters. On the motion of Cr Tck, the requisite instructions were issued to the collector to summons as per delivery of notices. The report of the inspector of nuisances was read and approved, Cr Jones moved—“ That the Mayor and members of the City Council form a deputation to wait on the Superintendent and Executive Government to confer with them in reference to the sanitary condition and drainage of the city of Christchurch, and that the city members of the Provincial Council be invited to join in forming the deputation.” Cr Gapes seconded the motion. The motion was agreed to, Cr Jones then moved—“ That the city members be invited to meet the members of the City Council, at the City Council Chambers at 11.30 a.m, on Wednesday next.” Cr Farr seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Cr Jones moved—“ That the fire brigade committee be instructed to provide a bar to beattached to the medal of Foreman Gourlay, C.Y.F.8., to be presented to him by his Worship the Mayor on Wednesday evening next, October 27th, as a recognition of the valuable services rendered by him to the city of Christchurch during the past ten years, on the occasion of his retirement from the brigade through his removal from the city.” Cr Raphael seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Cr Farr moved, “ That a committee consisting of his Worship the Mayor, Crs Bishop, Ick, Hobbs, and the mover, be appointed by the Council to consider the question of providing public baths for the city, such committee to report to this Council as soon as possible.” Cr Jones seconded the motion, which was carried. The Council then adjourned, NOTICE OF MOTION. By Cr Raphael—“ That extra men be employed to clear the whole of the side channels throughout the city of Christchurch.”