CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 273, 27 April 1875, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, April 26. The usual weekly meeting was held in the Council Chamber. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Bishop, Ick, Schmidt, Raphael, Jones, Gapes, Calvert, and Hart. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The town clerk reported receipts for the week to be as follows:—From rate collector, account general city rate, 1874, £l6 16s; Waimakariri do, £2 16s; watering rate, £l3 lis 3d; deposit on contract for carting stone, £7; fines from Resident Magistrate's Court, £3 10s; kerosene license, £1; rent of Market place, 7s. Total receipts, £45 0s 3d. Over-draft on general account, £2207 18s 9d. Drainage account —Cr, £3359 8s Bd. Drainage rate account—Cr, £llBB 7s 3d. Wageß, &c, to be paid on general account, £lB5 18s 7d; on drainage account, £247 lis. The Mayor gave his impression of the result of the argument in the cab cases, he being present at the time, and also read a note from Dr Foster bearing on the same, giving instances of other works of enclosure within the city, including the belts, where, if it was illegal to enclose the cabstands, it was also illegal to enclose these. Dr Foster desired authority, if the decision of Mr Justice Williams went against the Council to appeal immediately. He had seen the Hon E. Richardson, who suggested that if any alterations were desired in the Municipal Corporations Act, action should be taken at once. He (the Mayor) had that day inspected an earth closet prepared by Mr H. D. Manning, which he considered the most complete article of the kind he had yet seen. His Worship read the reply received from his Excellency to the address presented by the Mayor and Councillors. He would mention that the vital statistics for the month of March showed the deaths in Christchurch to have been forty-four, with a rate in proportion to 1000 of population of 4*17. The city surveyor reported that Mr Garrard, of Whately road, had applied for permission to erect a signboard ; a proportion of channelling had been paid by Mr Vincent; Mr Bray was not yet ready with .his report about the Lichfield water supply, through the steam pump not being ready, as first proposed. The south belt sewer would be finished this week up to Antigua street, and the works committee had accepted the tender of Anstey and Co for carting stone from the quarry. A number of iron gratings would be required for the channels on the South • belt, and he would like to know whether he had to order them or invite tenders for them. Mr Garrard's application was declined. The remainder of the report, preceeding the last portion affecting the requirements of iron gratings for the South belt, were read and approved without comment. A discussion took place on the legality of the works committee accepting tenders without their first being approved by the Council. On the motion of Cr Raphael, it was resolved—" That tenders be called for iron gratings required for the South belt drain." The Mayor wished it to go forth to the public that it was, and Tiad always been, the rule of the Council to accept the lowest tenders, after it being found that tenderers were sufficiently responsible to carry them out. Cr Jones drew the attention of the Council to some contractors performing the work of channelling without placing lights over their timber, heaps of metal, and cement barrels, stating that an accident had occurred on Saturday night. He would alio mention

that some of the bridges leading to private premises had been damaged by contractors. The city surveyor, on being called in, was instructed to give the necessary instructions to have lights placed on all works being carried out in the future. Cr Hart asked if it was the intention of the works committee to continue the work of breaking stones by the machine, to carry out works of drainage. He brought this matter before the Council, as at this season of the year a number of engines—now that the threshing was nearly over—would be disengaged and might be engaged. Cr Ick desired at this moment to bring a matter before the notice of the Council. He did so as a member of the works committee individually, he had been permitted by the chairman of that committee to do so, as that eentleman disagreed with his views. What he wished to bring forward was the advisability of washed shingle being substituted in the work of channelling for broken metal. It was his opinion, and this opinion was confirmed by competent men, that shingle when washed would answer equally as well as metal, and an immense saving would be the result. On the surveyor being called on, he said that though spherical stones would perhaps bear the same weight in concrete as broken metal under dead pressure, he thought that channelling formed of shingle, though not bearing a moving weight so well, would sufficiently answer the requirements for channelling the city, and at a cost of lis per chain less.

Cr Hart drew the attention of the Council to the fact that the channelling in front of the Council Chamber was carried out with shingle. On Cr Bishop's opinion being asked, he said he did not approve of shingle being used in this work, as its spherical form induced to a moving tendency and a less liability to bear travelling pressure. He did not think, under the circumstances, that work done with shingle could be a permanent work. He had heard on good authority that if the Rakaia bridge had been covered with broken metal instead of shingle the work would have lasted better. It was ultimately resolved that the works committee test effectually the difference between shingle and broken metal. The chairman of the works committee reported on the application of Mr Alport, that the work of channelling mentioned therein should only be carried out on the usual terms, as he could point out many p aces in Christchurch in a much worse position than this. Cr Jones, as a member of the sanitary committee, stated that that committee had visited the place, and considered that for sanitary reasons this work should be carried out. Crs Raphael and Ick could not approve of this work being carried out unless under the usual arrangement, more particularly as wealthy persons owned property on this frontage—one they might mention being Lord Lyttelton. Cr Raphael moved—" That the report of the works committee be adopted." Cr Ick seconded the motion. Cr Bishop, in reply, would regret that a precedent should be established of doing work of this kind unless the ovt ners contributed, as others had been compelled to do and complied with. Cr Raphael having replied, the motion that the works committee's report be adopted was put and carried. Cr Hart hoped that, as a portion of the permanent work of drainage, the works committee would take into their consideration the advisability of doing the channelling of Madras street from Cashel street to High street. Some discussion followed, no result being arrived at. A note was read from Mr Wm. Stuart, architect, desiring to furnish an opinion on the Lichfield water-supply works. Desired to be acknowledged. An application from Mr W. R. Smith for earth was referred to the surveyor to report. Cr Ick moved—" That this Council is of opinion that a bye-law should be made regulating the speed at which persons shall ride and drive around the corners of certain streets and across certain bridges." [Streets and bridges given.] Cr Jones seconded the motion. After some discussion, Cr Gapes moved that all words after the word " bridges" be struck out. Cr Raphael pointed out that the resolutions relating to the previous bye-law on the books of the Council would first have to be rescinded. The Mayor ruled that this course would have to be pursued. Cr Ick received permission to withdraw his resolution, to move it on a future occasion ; the notice for rescinding the motion already tabled to be given that evening. The usual weekly report of the inspector of nuisances was read and approved. A kerosene license was granted to Michael Keiley, High street, and a hawker's license to S. S. Brighting. Cr Hart moved—" That in case of an adverse opinion being given by the Judge in the cab cases, Cr Foster be instructed to take them to the Court of Appeal." Cr Jones seconded the motion. Cr Raphael moved as an amendment—- " That the decision of Mr Justice Williams be accepted as final." After considerable discussion, Cr Ick moved as a further amendment— ■« That further consideration of Cr Hart's motion be deferred until Friday next, at four o'clock, Cr Ick's amendment was carried. NOTICE OF MOTION. Cr Raphael gave notice of motion for Monday next—" That all monies paid on account of the Lichfield street water supply, together with the cost of material used, be laid before this Council to-night (Monday, 3rd May)." The Council then adjourned.