CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 179, 5 January 1875, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, January 4. The usual weekly meeting was held in the ‘Council Chambers. Present—His Worship .the Mayor, and Crs Ick, Bishop, Raphael, , Jones, Gapes, and Farr. . The town clerk reported receipts for the week as follow :—From rate collector account & C. rates, 1874, £69 13s; Waimakariri do, ‘£ll 12s 2d; quaiter’s rent from R. M. Court, y £3l 6s;. fines from do, £2 6s; kerosene jiegose, £1; rent from market place, 7s; total £ receipts, £ll6 2s 2d; credit at bank on general account, £55 Is lid; credit at bank v.’ on drainage account, £8545 Is 4d; on drainv.’ age rate account, £1229 2s; wages, kc., to be Said on general account, £2Ol 12s 7d; on raiuage account, £33 10s 8d , , The Mayor desired to mention, in connection with the sanitary committee, with whom . he had been acting, that they had thought it advisable before dealing with the reserves, to obtain opinion from Professor Bickerton, and he (Professor Bickerton) had recoinr mended the adoption of a course something like what the committee had previously contempiated doing. By a resolution of the Council the committee had power to take ahj action deemed advisable, and it was their intention to carry out the suggestions . .of Professor Bickerton. The following is the report alluded to : “ Christchurch, December 30th, 1874. To the sanitary committee, Christchurch City Council. "Gentlemen, — “ In answer to your inquiries—Ist, as to the efficiency of the proposal to open the nightsoil pits, and throw in lime and sand ; and 2nd, if not desirable, what I would propose instead 7 " As I neither entirely agree nor disagree with the proposal 1 have answered both ..questions together in the following report. The present set of pits at the nightsoil reserve were commenced four years ago. Since that time about 10,000 ions of material have J been deposited there, in thirteen pits of •bout 40 feet diameter each. Of this quantity [about one half has become almost solid; about 3000 tons are in a semieolid condition, whilst about 3000 tons are still quite liquid. : - " I should recommend that no disturbance of the contents of the pits be allowed, as any disturbance must be attended with the dis'/engagement of gases and other emanations a most deadly kind, fresh night-soil gives Hjp& 4M most disagreeable smell, bntf is ) not generally very dangerous to health in r latbiopen except when coming from fever ,pun, &Cf but when it has become putrid; .as in adrain that has been stopped for some ■ U r ( time, Ice, it becomes most dangerous: this .. .bagbeen demonstrated by amass of evidence. As-this is the condition at the reserve, it • > weqld.probably be a most fatal mistake to ... hive,<the pits /pneovered, unless it cou’d be 1 shown to be the only means of disposing of i them. ,-u" The proposal to throw on lime and sand - -is. objectionable, principally on account of the high specific gravity of the sand, which would almost certainly cause the whole covering to sink and the liquid mass . t.o flow up through every interstice, the lime being thus covered with liquid would be quite Useless unless enormous quantities were used, lime has not been found so useful t in destroying putrifymg masses as is gene•i rally supposed, I think, however, that indirectly it will be of considerable value in the case of the reserve, especially as it is ■ , much less expensive than most deodorants. ". ,‘‘Lwpnld suggest the following means of disposal:— “ | B t. Those pits that have been covered for two years and more should have a few bushels of freshly slaked lime (in the condition of powder) ducted over them. This would sot upon the vegetable matter and convert it into humus, which is a good deodorant; on this should be placed a layer of sand about 8 inches thick, and a layer of fine earth 3 inches thick, the, whole should then be sown with clover. Decaying animal matters are the. natural food of plants, and dangerous ; matters are not only destroyed by idem but converted into wholesome food. Those ■ pits .more recent than two ;yeanlf.rbnt of such a consistency that a man could., stand on them on a board a foot square without sinking, should be . . covered IS* compactly as possibly with dry, 1 inflammable matters, such as fern, u too., a considerable quan-'.Viifo.-ot. green # branches, green weeds, turfs, hould-beat band, the dry mass, should he ignited bn the windward side, and m soon - as it Was nearly burnt, the green stuff should ■be -thrown on to damp the fire. Over this . send should be thrown evenly some inches - deep, ■ After standing some time this should jdso be covered with earth and sown with clever. The charcoal produced la this way I wrould .be n very, valuable deodoriser, and I do not, think the process would be difficult, ,1 as sll materials could be obtained close by. Tt is obviously almoat useless to burn it without covering.. it, as the whole would become , ash instead of charcoal, ash being almost • valueless. • - “ 3rd. Pits still quite liquid.—These may be treated as Above,, but. a thick layer of . - greenjatpff should be placed below as well as ’ above the dry material, or the weight of the •sand would force the charcoal entirely into the liquid, and render it quite useless. The following would probably be the beat means of treating these pits ; a layer of - charcoal could be put on subsequently if any smell was-observed: —A three foot layer of gorse should be placed on the pits, over this a "' layer of turf, fern roots, &c, to make an impervious layer that Baud. might not sink 'through; on this a thin' layer of lime or peat charcoal, and on this a foot of sand should be thrown evenly over the entire surface. This might be left to settle for some time, and then levelled off with sand, a layer . of earth placed on; and sown with clover. • : “The entire enclosure should be planted ‘ With trees as early as the weather will ;• allow. ,’</ “ I think the proposal to bury in the sand the contents of each cart separately is a good temporary means of disposal. Each pit should have a mass of fern rubbish thrown into the bight soil and covered with at least two feet of sand. , .. “ The night cart men. should take a box of ■ dry earth with them,. and scatter at least half ! a gallon into each pan after emptying it ; peat charcoal or sawdust moistened with a strong solution of sulphate of zinc or carbolic acid would be better for this purpose. “ The foregoing means of getting rid of 7 the reserve nuisance may appear complex, but if placed in charge of the inspector of. I nuisances or any other intelligent man who ", Understood its object, it would,not be found difficult. It would certainly be much cheaper than any other method, as almost all the

the materials required would be found in the immediate vicinity. “ A. W. Bickerton.”

The surveyor reported:— “ The brickwork of the new sewer along the East belt was commenced this morning The brickwork of Colombo bridge will, 1 hope, be commenced on Wednesday oi Thursday next. “2. A plan of the proposed alterations to the Fire Brigade station, Market square, with a report concerning the same, will be laid before you this evening.” The following paragraph was subsequently added to the report:— “The town clerk informs me that there are no tenders in for the Lichfield street water supply work.” The first clause in the report was approved, and clause No 2 deferred for consideration. Relative to the added paragraph, Cr Ick moved—” That another advertisement be inserted calling for tenders for this work.” Or Bishop seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Cr Farr referred to the necessity of the Council carrying out a motion which he had moved twelve months ago, pointing to the necessity of lopping off any foliage overhanging the footpaths. Cr Ick thought this matter was within the province of the inspector of nuisances, and under the control of the sanitary committee. A nuisance arising from the south drain and the drain in the Ferry road leading from Barrett’s Hotel was referred to byCr.Ton u s. He knew of some children in that locality who were laid down with fever, through these drains not being properly attended to. Cr Gapes desired to say that the south drain was under the consideration of the works committee. Complaints of this nuisance had been made to him, and he had brought the matter under the notice of that committee. The question of lopping the trees was referred to the sanitary committee. Cr Raphael desired to ask the chairman of the works committee whether the contract with the market house promoters had expired ? The town clerk read a letter, dated 25th September, from the council to that company, stating that the council agreed to allow the lease to commence from the Ist January, 1875. ■ ..... Cr Ick said the Council need be in no tear of any ulterior action .on the part of the company. A fetter had been forwarded to'’their secretary allowing the lease to be dated from the Ist January, 1875, on certain , conditions being carried out. These conditions had not been complied with. There was no legal engagement, and the Council could now do what they liked with the land. Cr Jones moved a resolution, which fell through for the want of a seconder, and the subject then dropped. A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary’s office, acknowledging receipt of a letter reporting that Mr P. Hobbs had been elected Mayor of the borough of Christchurch. The New Zealand Gazette, appointing the new Mayor a Justice of the Peace, was laid on the table, and also the Provincial Gazette appointing William Harris and F. A ; Bishop Chief Fire Inspector and Fire Inspector respectively. A letter was read from the Provincial Secretay’s office, stating that his Honor the Superintendent had not disallowed No 1 Hackney Carriage and Borough Stage Carriage Bye-law, and that the same would be published in the next issue of the Gazette, Cr Jones complained in strong terms of the dilatoriness shown by the Government in not having had the non-disallowance of the byelaws gazetted before now. The Mayor said that immediately after being elected he instructed the town clerk to write the Government and see after this matter, and the only satisfaction be could get was that the provincial solicitor was too busy to advise the Superintendent. Cr Farr also felt very strongly the slighting manner in which the Council had been treated by the Government. They, the Government, were paid handsomely to do their duty, and that duty they should do. A letter was read from the church steward stating that the church property trustees were prepared to guarantee the usual proportion of cost (£2 12s 6d per chain) for making a concrete side channel from the corner of Cranmer square to the drain in Park terrace, a distance of seven chains. Referred to the works committee, with pow«v to act after the contribution has been paid in. In reply to Cr Ick, Cr Jones said that the time given to report on the extension of the fire block would expire next week. He would ask for a further extension of a month to bring up the report, as he was on several committees and would be constantly engaged on sanitary matters during the ensuing week. Cr Ick opposed the extension of a month. Cr Raphael felt that possibly the Council might find it esnvenient to let this matter stand over for even five weeks, if they perhaps knew all the reasons.

The,extension asked for by Cr Jones was supported by Crs Farr and Gapes, and agreed to. Cr Raphael drew the attention of the works committee to the stench emanating from the channel near Collins’s hotel. There were some 300 children attending a school hear there, to whom this nuisance was most deleterious.

Cr Jones thought this a most serious thing, and considered the chairman of the school committee should be written to, asking that they would contribute half the funds towards having the -place kerbed. Other works requiring attention were brought under the notice of the works committee. A letter was read from Mr T. Douglas, of the Canterbury Brewery, asking to have the side channelling cemented, with wooden kerbing, along section No 120 in Peterborough street, on the usual terms. The town clerk was instructed to reply that this work can only be carried out in accordance with a resolution of the Council passed some short time since. A letter was read from Mr W. M. White, of Tokomariro, Otago, stating his representative would wait upon the Council with samples of salt-glazed stone pipes. Referred to the works’ committee. On the motion of Cr Ick, seconded by Cr Jones, the Press newspaper was appointed the official paper of the Council for the ensuing six months. A copy of the specification of the duties of valuator for the valuation of the City ol Christchurch, for .1875 was laid on the table. Or Farr moved, and Cr Ick seconded — “ That the town clerk be instructed to commence the compilation of the valuation re-

turn for this year, and advertise for tenders for the valuation of the city property—tenders to be in by 18th inst.” The motion was agreed to. The following minute from the Provincial Solicitor on a petition of ratepayers within the city, praying that a separate water rate might be levied on all rateable property therein described, was received by the Council.

“The Christchurch City Council has not forwarded the special order mentioned in my minute of sth October. The separate rate must be made by special order, which instrument must recite accurately all the steps taken, and must bring the case within the 144 and 204, and subsequent sections of the Municipal Council Act, 1867. The City Council appear to me, by their letter of the 19th November, to make the expressions ‘ separate rate’ and ‘ special order,’ convertible. As mentioned in my former minute, the Council must, in forwarding the ‘ special order,’ also forward documentary evidence of all the requirements of the Act having been complied with. “ (Signed) “T. I. JOYNT, “ Provincial Solicitor. « December 28th, 1874.” The Mayor said that the watering rate bad been struck the previous three years merely on a resolution of the Council, but the present Provincial Solicitor wanted a special order before granting the necessary confirmation. The form of a special order as read by the town clerk was adopted on the motion of Cr Parr. It was resolved on the motion of Cr lek—- “ That the special order be sealed with the seal of the Council.” He also thought that the whole thing ought to be tied up with a gross of red tape before being forwarded. The weekly report of the inspector of nui l sances was read and approved. A carrier’s licence was granted to John Thomas Pepperell, Montreal street south, for a four-wheeled van. Or Ick moved the following motion, of which he had given notice ; —“ That having in view the greatly increasing population settling down immediately outside the-pre-sent city boundaries, and the probable extension of the city of Christchurch at no distant date, no general system of drainage or sanitary improvement will be satisfactory which docs not embrace part of the districts known as the Heathcote, Avon, Spreydon, and Riccarton. And this Council is therefore prepared to vote a sum of one hundred and fifty pounds (£150) by way of supplement to the offer made by the ex-Mayor, M. B. Hart ( with his consent), for the best essay on the subject of drainage and sanitary improvements of the city of Christchurch and suburbs, as above-mentioned.” He said—ln moving this resolution, I wish members distinctly to understand that I wish to give Cr Hart the credit for first moving in this matter, and whilst I think his offer a handsome one, coming from an individual, I do not think it will be sufficient to induce many competitors for the prize. At the same time I am also distinctly of opinion that the area to be drained and improved should embrace the suburbs of Christchurch. No person who has lived here even four or five years but must be aware of the very great increase of houses and population immediately outside the the town belt. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that the suburbs are becoming more populous than the city itsdf, and when we consider the position of the land in and around Christchurch, it must be clear to every one that no permanent general system of drainage or improvement in sanitary matters will be of much advantage, unless the suburbs are included in the plan adopted for Christchurch. lam also clearly of opinion that force of circumstances will at no distant date compel the city to enlarge its boundaries, and persons now residing outside the belt will be glad to avail themselves of municipal advantages. It is for these reasons I ask you tc vote the comparatively small sum of £l5O by way of supplement to Mr Hart’s offer, hoping thereby to obtain several able practical essays upon the most important subject which can possibly concern the inhabitants of Christchurch. I cannot imagine any councillor objecting bn the score of expense, if we only cast our eyes over some of the home papers, and see the enormous expense many,towns are Jnoorring-to get rid of their sewage and other offensive matter. I would like for councillors to read the report of a committee to the Barnsley Town Council respecting sewage works in seven of the towns principally in the midland counties of England. The report is an extremely interesting one, and will be found in the Engineer of the 23rd October, and may be seen at the Literary Institute. It will be seen that town councils at home are endeavoring to utilise their sewage by irrigating land that they have purchased, or by selling to large farmers like Lord Warwick, who, as you may have read, has undertaken to pay £450 a year for thirty years to the Town Council of Leamington for the sewage of that borough, I only mention these matters with the hope of impressing upon your minds that with a really sufficient and clever system of drainage it is quite within the reach of possibility the sewage of Christchurch and suburbs may be utilised for the benefit of all parties concerned.

Cr Jones seconded the motion pro forma , to provoke discussion, and on purpose to oppose it, as he thought it was entirely uncalled for. The £SO offered by the late Mayor was no mean sum, and he felt that, however valuable the report might be, it would merely be placed on the shelf as other valuable reports had been. The sanitary committee were about to take very active measures, and he thought that £l5O might just now be better spent in works throughout the city. Cr Gapes would oppose the motion, as he considered it premature. When Cr Hart got an essay (that is if he ever did get one), he could, if he chose, keep it, as he was not pledged to hand it to the Council. If it were sent by him to the Council, it would be considered in the same manner as any other ordinary document sent in. To upset the present system of drainage, by any other, not only involve millions of money, but would be, he thought, too far fetched at present. Or Farr would support the motion, as he felt that any system of drainage to be effected must be general and em brace all the outside districts. Cr Jones, in speaking of the present sanitary steps about to be taken, had lost sight of the necessities of future years, and he (Cr Farr) had never agreed with Cr Hart that the present drain would drain the North Town belt. Looking at the question as affecting a general system of drainage which would be moat beneficial to the city, he con-

sidered the amount of money asked for a mere bagatelle in comparison to the results that would be obtained, and he would give the motion his warmest support. Or Bishop came’ there that evening prepared to see the motion carried. The inference that would be drawn by outside colonies in seeing that advertisement would be that the Christchurch City Council were unable to cope with this subject. The best essay might practically not be worth 2d, as he did not see any conditions attached to the advertisement. In England, notwithstanding the immensity of money spent in drainage, they were still at issue on the best means of disposing of the sewage, and it was in this particular the difficulty existed; and if the ex-Mayor had given a prize for an essay, after his visit to the reserve, on the best means of disposing of their night soil, he could then have better understood him. He hardly thought that any good result would arise from the offer, and would oppose the motion. ......

Cr Raphael was goingto oppose the motion. If the Council voted £l5O to assist an offer of a private individual’s £SO, they would be spending the ratepayers’ money in a very wrong manner. What were the ratepayers to gain by this? He understood the offer was going to be advertised in all the papers throughout the civilised world, and if they lived to the age of Methuselah they might possibly derive some benefit from this vote. [Laughter.] He had been told to grapple with this question, and, emulating Don Quixote and the bags of wind, he was just grappling with it. [Laughter.] He should like to see the Council voting £l5O to chase Cr Hart’s £SO all over the world. [Laughter.] Cr Ick had told them hot to be influenced by a petty spirit of jealousy, and he wasn’t going to be. He considered the motion a ridiculous one, and it would be monstrous to spend £l5O of the ratepayers’ money to advertise Or Hart all over the world.

The Mayor considered the motion too vague. This_matter had already been considered by ratepayers at meetings held here, and it was decided that the city was not in a position to entertain any schema of drainage beyond the amount of £20,000. Wbat Ua would like to see was an essay for improving their present system of drainage, and before he would like to see an elaborate report on drainage called for, he would desire some one to point out how their financial difficulty could bo got over. He would support a motion for £IOO for an essay on the best means of improving and extending the present drainage and sanitary condition of the city and suburbs He had given the subject of drainage a very great deal of attention, and it was his intention to compete for the prize. [Hear, hear.] Or Ick, in reply, said he very much regretted the flippant manner in which this subject had been treated by Cr Raphael, as he ("Or Ick) considered it one of the most important matters that had come under the notice of the Council, He did not except Cr Gapes to support the motion merely because Cr Hart’s name was connected with it. (Ohl) He saw the Council were not in a humor to pass the motion—they would have to be educated to it. He was not despondent about it, and by and by they would be only too glad to pass such a one. The motion was put and lost, Crs Ick and Farr only voting for it. In answer to the Mayor, the town clerk said that only one application had been received for kerosene licenses. NOTICE OF MOTION, Cr Raphael gave notice of the following motion for Monday next : “ That the land in the Market place be advertised for sale by public auction on building leases for a period not exceeding twenty-one years.” The Council then adjourned.