CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 291, 18 May 1875, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, May 17.

The usual weekly meeting was held in the Council Chambers. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Bishop, Jones, Ick, Schmidt, Raphael, Calvert, and Gapes. A deputation from the residents on the east side of the East town belt was received; who complained of the accumulation of water on the East town belt.

The Mayor told the members that the works committee had visited the belt, and had drawn out a report, which would be laid before the Council during the evening, He had also paid a visit to the East and South town belts that afternoon, and he must say that those localities were really in a shocking state. Immediately after returning, he saw his Honor the Superintendent and Executive, and represented to them the quantity of water that had accumulated on the belts. His Worship pointed out to the deputation that this accumulation of water was not owing to any action taken by the Council, but to that of those persons who had closed the drainage to Jackson's Creek, and filled up the Ferry road drain. If the Council, during the evening, determined upon endeavoring to remedy the nuisance, the measure could only be a temporary one, as it would be unfair to tax the citizens, who already paid Is 7d in the £l, further to pay for draining the belt, the residents on which were only taxed lsjin the £l. If two-thirds of the residents on the belt made application to their Board a special tax might be imposed for doing this work. He trusted, however, that a resolution would be carried affording the residents temporary relief. After some further remarks the deputation withdrew.

t The Town Clerk reported the receipts for he week.

A letter was read from Or Hart in reply, acknowledging receipt of the Council's very complimentary note of 11th inst re the Lichfield street water supply. He accepted the decision of Mr Bray, engineer, and was truly sorry so good a principle should have met with such bad results. He regretted he had no remedy to propose. Cr Bishop said that now a reply had been received from Cr Hart he might say that it was the intention of the works committee to consider the best means of obtaining a permanent supply of water in Lichfield street, as they were fully aware of the importance and necessity for this work being efficiently carried out.

The city surveyor reported : " 1. The works committee will lay before the Council this evening a report on the state of the East belt.

" 2. The North belt alongside the cemetery is in a condition quite as bad as the East belt from water flowing from the Avon district. "3. The sumps and pipes connecting them with the main sewer on the East belt have not yet been built, and it would be advisable that they should now be constructed, as only temporary pipes or culverts are now in use. When this work is to be done it will be necessary to determine the width of the path on the East belt.

" 4. I have had most of the streets in the city partially repaired with broken stone or shingle, but owing to the bad weather, so much has not been done as I had hoped to accomplish." Clause No 1 was approved.

After some discussion had taken place on clauhe 3 (which was considered before the 2nd paragraph of the report), it was referred to the surveyor and works committee. Clause 4 was approved. The following report from the works committe was read :

" City Council Office, 11th May, 1875. " STAGNANT WATERS ON EAST TOWN BELT

" The works commtttee, in compliance with the request of the Council, have visited the locality, and beg to report that the inconvenience complained of does not affect those who reside on the city side of the belt. There i 8 a large body of water coming from Phillip's Town, in the Heathcote district, caused by line of grip 3 cut through the footpaths, and with the water there appears by the color a large quantity of muddy soil, which if let into the drain would leave a considerable quantity of silt. " During the heavy rain last year, when the brick drain was open, and being constructed, the water was allowed to find its way into the drain, which afterwards put the Council to considerable expense to clear out the silt, and the nuisance all came from a locality where owners of property contribute nothing towards the city rates. " The whole question involves an important principle, affecting not only this, but other districts around the city. "You are aware that a'l of them had notice in July, 1871, that they must provide for getting rid of their own waste water, without its coming through the city. We do not see that any effectual steps have been taken to carry out such an arrangement. " It is here necessary to point out that the Government a short time since was refused to drain the water from the railway yard into the new brick sewer on the South belt. The Council came to that decision as the capacity of the drain in case of heavy rainfall was insufficient to take all the water which might have occasion to flow therein from the city channels; it therefore follows that-if we could not accommodate the Government, how can we take storm water from the surrounding districts t

" The works committee are of opinion that when the land drain is put into proper order it will, in conjunction with the outfall drain, be capable of taking the water from the districts in addition to that of Christchurch; therefore suggest whether the districts had not better unite their influence to make the outfall and its overflow public property, and afterwards have an independent drain down the South and East belts to convey their water to the outfall, which would cost about £3600.

" E." B. Bishop, Chairman."

The letter from the Heathcote Road Board, received the previous week, was considered with the report. Cr Bishop moved the adoption of the report, and in doing so said that some of the residents in Phillips' town who contributed to the foimationof the belt near there, were uuder the impression that the Council wer> in duty bound to take away any water thai might accumulate there. This, however, was not the case. The works committee after mature deliberation would suggest that one general system of drainage should be considered by the Council, the Heathcote and Spreydon Road Boards, railway, and gasworks for the drainage of the low lyinulauds in those lo.cali'u'N. If the report werapproved he would like it to be printed, auu a copy sent to the Government and the Road Boards.

Cr Gapes seconded the adoption of the Board, and felt that some temporaly relief should be given to residents on the East belt. Cr Jones hoped that steps would be taken by the Council which would result in the formation of a Board for the drainage of the city and suburbs similar to the Main Drainage Board in existence in London. Cr Raphael would prefer that the consideration of the report should be adjourned for a fortnight. Cr Ick would oppose the work being carried out at the expense of the citizens. The motion that the report be approved was carried, and on the motion of Cr Bishop it was resolved that a copy of the report be sent to the Government, the railway, Gasworks, and Heathcote and Spreydou Road Boards.

Cr Gapes moved—" That pipes be placed on the east side of the East belt, so as to relieve the water from that part of the belt for the time being." Cr Jones seconded the motion.

Cr Ick complained of the inconsistency of some members of the Couucil, as when he moved an important motion some little time ago, in which he stated that no system of drainage would be perfect that did not include the outlying districts, the only one who supported him was Cr Farr. Cr Calvert had for years supported outsiders being allowed in, as it was the outlying districts which supported the city. Cr Raphael was opposed to the citizens being put to any expense in draining the portion of the belt, as from what he had learnt this accumulation of water had been caused by persons cutting grips, who were not ratepayers. The Mayor pointed out that the Heathcote Road Board had offered to lay down pipes at their own expense, and this might be permitted purely as a temporary measure. After Cr Gapes had replied, the motion was put and carried. For—Crs Gapes, Jones, Calvert, and Schmidt. Against—Crs Ick, Bishop, and Raphael. Clause 2 of the surveyor's report was then considered.

It was resolved on the motion of Cr Raphael, seconded by Cr Jones—" That temporary measures be taken to carry away the water from the North town belt." One tender was opened for concrete channelling, and referred to the works committee with power to accept, if thought desirable. A letter was read from Mr J. Newton, in reply, informing the Council that he is in a position to contract for properly cubed road metal for delivery from the Ist August, but desiring to know the locality of delivery, and what quantity thf Council will be prepared to contract for during the next twelve months. He also desired to say that if the Council would grant him permission, he was prepared to lay down at his own expense 100 yards of footpath in Hereford street, formed of suitable limestone, and of a proper shape, as an experiment. He also enclosed an illustration of one of Porter's steam road rollers.

Referred to the works committee to report. A letter was read from Mr H. deßourbel, drawing attention to the muddy state of the footpath on the western side of Durham street south, between St Asaph street and South town belt. Referred to the works committee.

A letter was read from Messrs Dransiield and Roper, drawing attention to the state of the road and footpath in front of their premises, Cathedral Square. Referred to the works committee.

A letter was read from Mr W. E. M'Dougall again drawing attention on behalf of the residents in Gloucester street east to the necessity of the footpath on the south aide of that street being repaired. Referred to the works committee.

The town clerk reported on Mr Appleby's letter of the previous week relative to the projected formation of a new boating club, that Mr Blakiston had informed him that the site applied for some time ago by the Canterbury Rowing Club was not now required by that club. On the motion of Cr Raphael the request contained in Mr Appleby's letter was granted, subject to the approval of the surveyor. A letter was read from Mr George Wheeler calling attention to the bad state of the dra'nage on the North town belt through the drain at one time in use having been filled up. Referred to the surveyor to report.

A letter was read fiom Mrs E. Fuchs and others directing attention to the almost impassable state of Tuam street. Referred to the surveyor to take action.

A letter was read from Mr H. Sharpies asking that some screened shingle might be spread on the footpath on the north side of Whately road, from Hill's corner to the corner of Whately road and Salisbury street. Referred to the works committee.

A leter was read from Mr Bernard Evers, living at the eastern end of the South town belt, stating that the late fall of rain had caused the accumulation of a quantity of water near his house, and as it had no present means of escape it would soon become putrid, and asking the attention of, the Council to this matter.

The Mayor said he had inspected this place during the afternoon,*and he had aince learnt that his Honor the Superintendent had visited the locality, and he trusted his Honor had seen it at' its worsi.

Ultimately an amendment, moved by Cr Ick, was carried, —" That the surveyor report to the Council this day week." Cr Jones wished to state that the water was so bad on the South town belt that it was impossible for the children attending the district or Catholic schools to get to either of them.

Cr Ick asked the chairman of the sanitary committee if that committee had considered the question of earth closets; the Ist of July would soon be here now.

Cr Calvert said a report would be brought up at the next sitting of the Council. Cr Bishop «aid that information would have to be received from the AttorneyGeneral before the Public Health Act could be enforced, as two of the clauses slighUy clashed.

Consideration of the amendments proposed by Dr Foster in the Municipal Council Act, was deferred for a week.

Cr Raphael moved the following motion, of which he had given notice:—'That the resolutions of Bth February, No 3t, and No 5, of Bth March last, relating to the extension of the fire block, be rescinded."

Cr Jones seconded the resolution, which on being put was carried by six to one. On the motion of Cr Ick, seconded by Cr Jones, it was resolved—" That the town

■'prk note the manner in which each Councillor votes on a division being taken."

The usual weekly report of the inspeotor of nuisanceß was read and approved,

Cr Jones presented to the Mayor and members of the Council copies of the byelaws made by the Metropolitan Transit Commifision under the Public Vehicles Act, 1873, for the city of Sydney. A vote of thanks was passed to Cr Jones for his presentation. Cr Raphael trusted that every member of the Council would be present when the valuations were being considered, as from what had come to his knowledge some very strange valuations had been made. The following applications were received for drivers' licenses and granted:—John Hills, Peter Hamilton, Frederick Palmer, Mateoro Goodger, Thomas Kerr. Mateoro Goodger applied for a license for a hansom cab, which was granted. A. J. Hulme, Colombo street north, applied for a license to keep petroleum on his premises, which was granted. The Council then adjourned until Tuesday nest.

NOTICES OP MOTION FOR NEXT MEETING.

Cr Jones, to move—" That it is necessary for the health of the city that the owners of dwelling houses and premises fronting on streets which have had permanent side channels laid down, shall convey the surplus artesian water and the house slops from their respective premises in suitable drains, and connect the same with the said channels. That this Council take steps to have foregoing resolution carried into effect." Cr Raphael, to move—" That the footpaths be re-formed and shingled where required throughout Christchurch, and that the works committee take this matter in hand as soon as possible."

Cr Ick, to move—" That Dr Foster prepare a bye-law regulating the speed of horses and wheeled vehicles round the corners of the following streets, viz—Hereford and Colombo streets, near the Bank of New Zealand ; Colombo and Cashel streets; High and Cashel streets, near the Bank of Australasia, and the corner by Mr Calvert's shop, and such other places as the City Council may from time to time appro?e."