CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 127, 27 October 1874, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, October 26.

The usual weekly meeting was held in the Council Chambers. Present:—Hss Worship the Mayor, and Crs Calvert, Hobbs, Ick, Farr, Bishop, Jones, Gapes, and Raphael. The minutes of the last special and ordinary meetings, were read and confirmed. The town clerk reported receipts for the «reek to be as follow;—From rate collector, account general city rates, 1874, £261 12s; Waimakariri do, £43 12s; deposit on contract for Victoria bridge, £ls; fines from R. M. Court, £7 ss; rent from market place; total receipts, £327 16s; drainage account, creditor £4248 15s 8d; drainage rate account, creditor £1022 6s 2d; wages, &c, to be paid on general account, £273 4s Id; wages on drainage account, £ll 3s 6d; overdraft at bank on general account, £156 Is 3d. The Mayor said the Council ought to be very much obliged to Mr Reeves and Dr Turnbull for their kindness in assisting the deputation of the Council on a late occasion when they waited on his Honor the Superintendent and Executive. The deputation had been favorably received, and the Government seemed so far as possible to sympathise with the position of the City Council as explained at the time. He also desired to mention that the surveyor had been instructed to prepare plans of public baths, with an estimate of their cost, and to choose a site for that purpose. When these were prepared they would be laid before the Council.

Or Hobbs stated that as a member of the finance committee he had waited on the managers of both papers, to endeavor to have the Council placed on the same footing as other advertisers, so far as a rebate was concerned, and it had been pointed out to him that some of the Council’s advertisements were inserted in the papers at a loss to the proprietors. His application had thus not been successful.

The city surveyor reported—- “ X. The East belt sewer is now completed as far as the Ferry road drain, and that water will be turned into it this week, and the temporary ditch filled in. “2. My attention has been called to the fact that the men in the employ of the Council have been in the habit of receiving an annual treat, and as it is to be hoped that the new arrangement for cleansing the city will produce emulation and greater industry, I suppose the Council will keep up the old practice. “ 3. The men have been employed the past week in cleansing the streets and attending to repairs, &c. “4. The concrete channelling is commenced in Durham street.” No 1 paragraph was read and approved. On No 2 paragraph being read, Cr Jones moved that the surveyor’s sug. gestion be earned out and that the same amount be voted as last year. Cf Raphael asked if men were not employed by the Council this year than was the case last year. [The Mayor—Nearly double the number.] If that were the case he, Cr Raphael, would move that the amount be doubled this year, Cr Jones amended his motion so as to read —“ That an amount over £5 be expended in proportion to the increase of men since last year," which was agreed to. The remaining paragraphs of the report were approved. The special report of the surveyor on the drainage of the south side of the city was considered, and after some discussion, Cr Hobbs moved —“ That the plans for the drainage of the south side of the city be adopted,” the Council to decide from time to time by resolution what portion shall be proceeded with.'*

Cr Farr seconded the ipotion with pleasure, and paid the surveyor a high compliipent for the plans submitted by him, The resolution was put and carried. Cr Hobbs moved—“ That the city surveyor be instructed to prepare specifications and an estimate of the quantity of bricks required for the sewer on the South town belt, and to advertise for tenders for same. Cr Jones seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A resolution was carried, moved by Cr Farr, that the works committee be requested to have a specification and plan of the brick sewer prepared by next Monday evening, Cr Jones moved that the works committee be requested to furnish this Council with a statement of such important public works they may deem necessary to carry out, and that such statements, with plans, be prepared by the surveyor and forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent and the members of the Executive.

Cr Raphael seconded the motion, which wu agreed to. A letter was read from the Commissioner of Police relative to persons riding on the footpath upon Park terrace, and stating that every effort would be made by the police to protect the footpaths from injury. Cr Ick drew attention to the fact that persons were in the habit of riding on the footpaths even in the central part of the city. The attention of the police was directed to be called to it.

A letter was read from the RegistrarGeneral in reply to letter enclosing extracts from a report of the sanitary committee, in which his attention was directed to the fact that the hospital is within the borough, and that to include the deaths in the hospital in his monthly report causes the returns for Christchurch to show unfavorably. In reply, he begged to inform the Council that he was aware the hospital is within the borough boundaries, and so were the hospitals of the Thames, Wellington, and Nelson within boundaries of boroughs. He regretted that he did not see his way to adopt the suggestion of the committee as to the alteration of the minimum of seven years, and heed hardly point out that uniformity in statistics was necessary to give t'mm any value for comparative purposes. Cr Farr moved —“That the RegistrarGeneral be informed that the hospital is not as he seems to believe, within the borough.” Cr Jones seconded the motion, which was carried with one dissentient, Cr Raphael. A letter was read from Mr J. W. Hamilton, requesting the Council to make some slight alterations on the eastern side of Ratimer square.

The letter was referred to the works com mittee.

A letter was read from Mr S. Collett, Tuam street, stating that he had received a notice from the inspector of nuisances to fill up the vault and cesspool on his premises, and giving his reasons why the notice should be withdrawn, acd the matter referred to the sanitary committee, Referred to the sanitary committee, A letter was read from Mr W. Palmer drawing attention to an open drain in front of his place, midway between Manchester and Madras street.

The letter was referred to the surveyor. A letter was read from Mr J. W, Smith, drawing attention to the holes and spaces in the newkerbing near the White Horse Hotel. The letter was referred to the surveyor.

A letter was read from Mr John Yartha, drawing attention to the bad state of the side channel in front of his house in Madras street. Referred to the works committee.

A letter was read from Mr W, J, Smith calling attention to the state of a culvert on the South town belt in Selwyn street. Referred to the surveyor.

A letter was read, signed by seven residents in High street, asking permission to place a calico blind on the verandah in front of their premises between the hours of four and six p.m. Cr Raphael moved that the request be granted. Cr Hobbs seconded the motion, which was agreed to. An application was received from Mrs E. Adams asking that her rates might be remitted. as herself and husband were almost helpless. Referred to the rate collector. A letter was read from Messrs Austin and Kirk, enclosing price list of drain pipes. Letter to be acknowledged with thanks.

The rate collector’s report upon the two applications referred to him was read, recommending the remission of Mr Merson’s rates, and also forwarding particulars respecting Mrs Brookes. On the motion of Or Raphael, Mrs Brooke’s rates were remitted, and on the motion of Or Jones, those due by Mr Merson were also remitted.

The guarantee policy of rate collector was placed before the Council and approved, A specification of the term® on which the Weighbridge and offices will be let from the Ist of November, 1874, to the 31st of October, 1875.

It was resolved that the weighbridge be advertised to let.

The report of the fire brigade committee was read as follows : “ Extension of Fire Block, —The above subject was considered as requested by the Council in resolution of the 12th inst, and the committee decided for the present they could not see their way clear to recommend any extension. The quarterly report of the superintendent will be laid before you, and the committee congratulate the Council on receiving such a document. “ T. D. Jones, “ Chairman.”

The quarterly report of the superintendent of the fire brigade was also read as follows ;

“ To his Worship the Mayor, “I have the honor to report that during the past quarter there have been neither any fires or alarms, and that the plant continues in good working order and condition. “ I have, &c., “W. Harms, “ Chief Fire Inspector.”

A lengthy and most animated discussion ensued on the first clause of the report of the fire brigade committee, several resolutions and amendments being proposed. Ultimately the following resolution was carried, on the motion of Cr Bishop, seconded by Cr Gapes question of the extension of the fire block be referred back to the fire brigade committee for consideration, to report in fourteen days.” It was resolved—“ That the question be asked of Dr Foster, as to whether the Mayor can attend committee meetings of the Council, and take his seat thereat legally as chairman other than those committees upon which he may specially be appointed. The report of the Inspector of Nuisances was read and approved. Cr Bishop moved—“ That as the undermentioned matters require immediate attention, the finance committee be requested to recommend what arrangements should be made to meet the outlay, say £Booo—l, Reconstruction of Colombo bridge as a permanent work, and of greater width; 2, Do Montreal street bridge; 3, Alteration of Victoria bridge; 4, Crossings through Market place; 5, Water supply in Lichfield street; 6, Payment of mortgage—Lichfield street Fire Brigade station; 7, New Fire Brigade station ; 8, Public baths; 9, Broken metal for streets.”

Cr Farr seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Council then adjourned.