CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 285, 11 May 1875, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, May 10. The usual weekly meeting was held in the Council Chambers. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Bishop, Ick, Raphael, Jones, Schmidt, Calvert, and Gapes. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Council here resolved itself into committee to hear Dr Foster, resuming at the interval of an hour for the transaction of the ordinary business. The town clerk reported receipts for the week to be as follows : —From rate collector, account general city rates, 1874, £29 18s; Waimakariri do, £4 19s 8d ; watering rate, £3 17s Id ; rent of weighbridge for May, £6 5s ; fines from Resident Magistrate's Court, £6 10s ; cab and drivers' licenses, £3; kerosene license, £1 ; rent from Market place, 7s. Total receipts, £55 16s 9d. Over-draft at bank on general account, £2534 10s Id. Drainage account—Cr, £3017 4s 2d. Drainage rate account —Cr, £1222 16s sd. Wages to be paid on general account, £93 10s 9d ; on drainage account, £296 13s lid. The city surveyor reported as follows: " 1. Tenders will be laid before the Council this evening, for iron gratings for the South belt channels; also, tenders for stone for channelling the city; samples were delivered with the tenders, which the works committee have seen.

"2. About ten chains of the east side* of the East belt, opposite St Asaph street, is now under water, which principally comes from artesians in the Heathcote district. The only means of getting rid of this water would be by letting it into the underground sewer." The tenders referred to in clause No 1 of the report were considered, and one was accepted. Some tenders received attached to the report, for J;he supply of stone channelling, after being read and discussed, were declined. In conjunction with the third clause of the report—A letter was read from the Heathcote Road Board, stating that a petition had been received by them from residents on the East town belt, complaining of the nuisance arising from stagnant water lying between the city drain and the Ferry road. After some discussion, in which Crs Raphael, Jones, and Ick held that though the pipes laid down by the City Council on the East Town belt were not sufficiently large to allow of the water from the Heathcote and Spreydon districts being carried through them in the event of the contingency arising of a heavy rainfall, still they were desirous of helping by every means the drainage of the suburbs.

Eventually it was resolved that the last clause of the surveyor's report, and the letter from the Heathcote Road Board be referred to the works committee and city surveyor to visit the locality and report next week. Cr Gapes said that he had received a letter signed by twenty-seven ratepayers, asking that the footpath on the left hand side of the Whately road to the Junction Hotel should be put into repair, and they were also desirous of the loan of the road scraper. Cr Schmidt drew the attention of the Council to the danger arising from the hoops taken from the cement casks on the city works being allowed to remain on the streets, notably Colombo street. The chairman of the works committee took a note of this. Cr Jones drew the attention of the chairman of the works committee to the bad condition of the South belt at the junction of streets, more especially that of Manchester and Colombo streets.

A letter was read from the agent of the New Zealand Insurance Company, acknowledging receipt of resolutions relative to the purchase of the Council's debentures, and stating that he had communicated with the head office.

A letter was read from Mr J. Newton, informing the Council that he had received advices of the shipment of a stone-breaking machine, and that upon its arrival he would be glad to tender for breaking from 3000 to 1( ,000 yards of road metalling at 2s 3d per yard. Refeired to the works committee. A letter wa3 read from Mr H. Fox, containing suggestions relative to the Lichfield street water supply. Acknowledged with thanks.

A letter was read from Mr E. Willis, St. Asaph street, complaining of a nuisance arising from a neighbour's premises. It was resolved that this letter be taken in consideration with the inspector's report. A letter was read from Mr D. Campbell, Colombo street south, asking whether the Council would sanction a continuation of the side channels past Messrs Vincent's premises to the boundary of Mr Deacon's property. It was resolved that the application be granted on the usual terms. A letter was read from Mr A. Appleby, hon sec of the new boating club, lately formed, enclosing the resolutions passed at a meeting held for the purpose of establishing the club, and asking the Council to grant to the club the free use of a portion of the open ground abutting on the river,

lying between the Hospital and the Moutreal street bridge, for the erection of boat-sheds of a substantial character. Deferred for a week.

Mr H. E. Alport's letter of the previous week relative to a nuisance to which attention had previously been drawn by him was brought on for consideration. It was resolved that a reply be sent that the Council will be prepared tocarrj out this work on the usual terms.

Or Ick moved the following motion standing in his name—" That all resolutions bearing on the subject of speed around street corners be rescinded, viz, No 21 of Bth June, 1874, and No 4 of the Bth March. 1875, and the town clerk give the required notice to the the members of Council." In moving this resolution, he did so with the object of moving one on Monday next, that all the street corners be exempt from the operation of the bye-law, with the exception of the junction of streets at the Bank of New Zealand corner; that of Cashel and Colombo streets, and of Cashel and High streets.

Cr Gapes seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A letter was read from a widow residing in Tuam street east, asking that "her rates might be remitted, as since she had lost her husband, she had to support her family by hard toil.

The request was granted. The following report from the finance committee was read :—" Your committee have to report that they have made arrangements with the Bank of |New Zealand to increase the overdraft on the general account to the amount of £3500 if required before the time arrives to commence the collection of this year's rates. They consider it inadvisable to reduce the labour gang until the question is settled as to what grant we shall receive from the Provincial Council. They, however, are of opinion that the men should be employed only in effecting the most necessary repairs to the streets and footpaths, as in the event of no grant being received the whole staff of workmen will have to be discharged, seeing that it will require the utmost diligence to collect sufficient rates to pay off the overdraft by the 16th November next, the end of the financial year. "Frederick Hobbs, " Chairman."

The report was approved. A report, was read from the rate collector, accompanying a list of those persons whose rates are still outstanding. The report was received and approved. The usual weekly report of the inspector of nuisances was read.

The report was approved, the Council expressing an opinion that Mr Willis, instead of complaining, should have placed a drain which would lead into the side channel from the premines complained of, as he is the landlord.

Cr Bishop desired to be permitted to say that he had again to regret the absence of Cr Hart on that evening, as the works committee were desirous of knowing, before further action was taken, whether that gentleman had any further suggestion to make with reference to the Lichfield street water supply, or whether he desired to let it fall through so far as he was personally concerned. He would move "That the town clerk be instructed to write to Cr Hart to ask him whether he has any further suggestions to make with reference to the Lichfield street water supply works." Cr Calvert seconded the resolution, which was agreed to. Applications for drivers' licenses were received from John Hills and Peter Hamilton, and adjourned for a week for the inspector's report. The Council then adjourned.