CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 332, 6 July 1875, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, July 5. The usual weekly meeting was held in the Council Chambers. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Calvert, Hart, Bishop, Ick, Jones, Schmidt, Gapes, and Raphael. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The town clerk reported receipts for the week to be as follow :—From rate collector: Account general city rates, 1874, £3 10s ; Waimakariri do, 11s 8d ; general city rates, 1875, £B7 10s ; Waimakariri do, £l4 11s 8d ; received quarter’s rent of Post-office, £67 15s ; rent of weighbridge for July, £6 ss; fines from Resident Magistrate’s Court, £4; rent from Market place, 7s Total receipts, £lB4 10s 4d. Overdraft at Bank on general account, £2112 9s. Drainage account —Cr, £249 IGs 7d. Drainage rate account —Cr, £IOO6 6s lid. Wages, &c., V) be paid on general account, £561 1 Is 9d; Ot drainage account, £95 10s3d. The Mayor saia v,e had one or two little matters to lay before Council. One was that the solicitor to the 00.. n „Q experienced p difficulty in procuring a title x.-. Lich-

field street station, and he would ask if Dr Fost. r found the difficulty continued, that he be given authority to proceed in law if that course were found necessary. The other matter was that the negotiations of the balance of the loan for drainage purposes would be satisfactorily arranged during the ensuing week. His Worship then referred to some expressions which had fallen from Or Raphael on the opening of the Council, and said that he presumed councillors were sent there to consider and discuss every matter brought before them in a dispassionate manner. The use of improper expressions only tended to retard business, and if it occurred again, and his ruling had no effect, he should ask the Council to support him, and if he was compelled should certainly take the next course of vacating the chair. Some discussion took place on the question of a final payment having been made to Mr Charles Clark, as agent for a mortgage which had been held on the Lichfield street fire brigade station, and on account of which this payment had been made without obtaining a release, and it was resolved, on the motion of Cr Jones, seconded by Cr Ick —“ That the town clerk be instructed to write to Mr Clark in this matter.’’ The city surveyor reported : “ 1. A design for Montreal street bridge will be laid before you. The land piers will be of stone with concrete foundations below water. The lattice girders to carry the footpaths will be a combination of iron and wood. All the timber, except the planking, wiil be of iron bark, and the planking of black birch. There will be a clear way between the hand rails of 27ft Gin, which is the same width that Victoria bridge was before the alteration. If this design is approved by the Council I shall be able to use some of the stone taken off Victoria bridge. “ 2, The works committee recommend that the paddock alongside the main sewer should be let. » 3. In compliance with the desire of the Council, I beg to report that the channel on the North town belt between the Carlton and the river, opposite Mr Johnson’s section, is 6ft out of line with the other portion of the belt. It appears to have been purposely put in that manner in order to agree with the fences along that portion of the belt, which were all erected before the channel was laid.” On No 1 paragraph of the report being discussed, it was resolved that the surveyor be instructed to prepare an estimate of the cost of having the proposed bridge made the same width as Victoria bridge, and that he be instructed to call for tenders. In connection with clause No 2 the town clerk was instructed to advertise for tenders for leasing the paddock from year to year. On danse 3 being read, it was resolved that a letter be sent to Mr Johnson, saying that the Council are not in a position to define the boundaries of his land through not possessing sufficient data. Cr Jones referred to the state of the footpath leading to the district school on the South town belt, and said it was impassable for children. On the motion of Cr Raphael, it was resolved that the works committee be authorised to advertise for a foreman of works. The following letter from the Public Works Office, Wellington, having reference to the erection of the proposed public buildings in Christchurch, was read]:— “ I am directed by the Hon Mr Richardson to acknowledge receipt of the letter addressed to him by the Mayor and Councillors of Christchurch on the 22nd instant, expressing their opinion that the western side of Cathedral square is the most eligible site for the proposed public buildings, and urging that they be immediately erected. “ In reply I am to inform you that the Government fully concur with the corporation in this matter, and are in communicacion with the provincial authorities, in the hope that the site in question may be utilised for the purpose above indicated.” The letter was deemed to be very satisfactory. The following letter from the Provincial Secretary was read : —“ I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from the town clerk, dated 10th June. 1875, forwarding certain resolutions passed at a conference between a committee of the City Council and the chairmen of the suburban Road Boards on the subject of drainage of the suburbs, and in reply to state that the Government concur with the views expressed in those resolutions, and that his Honor the Superintendent will take steps for procuring the passing of the necessary Act for carrying them out if the conference will be good enough to draw up such an Act as they may propose to submit for the approval of the Government.” The Mayor said that he did not know he was doing right in placing this letter before the Council, as it had been sent to him as chairman of the conference. He thought, however, that he would not be doing wrong in placing the letter before them before he summoned the conference together. The discussion on the drainage question, adjourned for a fortnight, was brought on by Cr Hart, who thanked the Council for their courtesy in postponing the motion for his opinion, which he however considered was not worth much; He must agree with Cr Bishop’s motion, p as he felt that the general question of drainage had now become imperative. The Riccarton and Avon districts were independent of Christchurch in the matter of drainage, though other districts would have to be connected with the city as a necessity. He however did not approve of a Board distinct from the City Council, as if elected on the basis of population the districts would not be fairly represented, and he also felt that the amount of money already spent by the citizens on drainage should be taken into consideration. This question should, in his opinion, be allowed to stand over for some little while, as an election would soon take place, and it was so serious a matter that he would like the citizens to have an opportunity of giving their opinions on it, and he would wish that no expressed opinion on drainage was made by the City Council until then. There were important changes looming in the distance, and he had learnt that it was the feeling in best informed circles that under the proposed changes municipalities would be given greater powers. He might here refer to the essays on drainage, which had been delayed being made public through no fault of his, but through the delay of the arbitrators, which he believed would throw considerable light on this important question. He felt certain the time would shortly come when the Heathcote river would not be allowed to be longer polluted by drainage, and for the efficient drainage of the lower Heathcote the Ferry road drain would in his opinion have to be re-opened. He would with pleasure support Cr Bishop’s motion, and would de-

sire that no positive opinion should be expressed on the question of drainage by the City Council. After some remarks from Or Calv-rt, The Mayor said he wished to explain to members that if the question remained in abeyance until the election in September, it would probably be too late for the General Assembly to pass an Act this session, and this meant a delay of twelve mouths. He trusted the Council would not oppose an Act being drafted. The Council could then consider it, and take care the interests of the city were amply provided for before approving of it. Or Bishop having replied, his motion moved on ’the occasion of the previous discussion was put and carried unanimously. It was also resolved that a copy of the resolution be sent to his Honor the Superintendent and also to the chairman of the conference, A letter was read from the Rev W. J.Habens, as chairman of the East Christchurch School Committee, stating that a deputation had been appointed to wait on the Council with reference “ to the necessity which exists for the erection of a bridge over the river, near the East town belt,” thanking the Council for receiving the deputation, and placing on paper the substance of what passed at the interview. Referred to the works committee and surveyor, it being understood that Mr Walkden should prepare an estimate of the cost of a cart bridge across the river at the place indicated. A letter was read from Mr 0. J. Parker, Springfield, asking for the loan of boring rods. &c, to test some of his ground for coal. Referred to the surveyor. A letter was read from Messrs Hanmor and Harper, saying they had examined Dr Foster’s bill generally, and were of opinion that the charges were fair, and that it could, if drawn out item by item, have been taxed to the amount of the account. On the motion of Or Bishop, seconded by Cr Hart, it was resolved—” That Dr Foster’s bill be paid,” Cr Raphael being the only dissentient. A letter was read from Messrs Garrick and Cowlishaw, instructed by the chairman of Ayon Road Board, acknowledging receipt of letter, and requesting that Free’s creek be restored to its original course and dimensions forthwith. Crs Hart and Bishop expressed positive opinions of the poisonous nature of the water which used to flow into the city through this creek before it was closed, and the satisfaction expressed by the people in that neighborhood since the Council had taken action in the matter. Cr Hart would like that the map was closely inspected lo see whether this creek is shown on it, and would move that the matter be allowed to stand over for a week. Cr Calvert seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A letter was read from Mr J. Lea drawing attention to the dangerous state of the crossing on the East town belt leading from Tuam street to the city drain. Referred to the works committee to take action. A letter was read from Mr P. Howard, asking that a lamp might be erected at the corner of New street, in Madras street. Referred to the lighting committee to report, A letter was read from Mr E. Long, drawing attention to the state of the footpath in Colombo street. Referred to the works committee. A letter was read from Mr T, Leo, High street, calling attention to a puddle hole in front of his premises. - Referred to the works committee, A letter was read from Mr M. Baxter asking the patience of the Council for the payment of some rates due by a person who had become insolvent, but purposed paying in a little time. The town clerk was instructed to write Mr Baxter that he must pay the rates, and recover the amount out of the estate. A letter was read from Mr G. Latham, civil engineer, Brisbane, offering his services as resident or superintendent engineer. It was resolved that the letter be forwarded to the Provincial Government. Consideration of the draft bye-law for regulating the speed of horses and vehicles round corners was adjourned for a week. It was resolved that the Lyttelton Times be the official paper for the next six months. Cr Raphael’s motion respecting the removal of the lamp at the cab stand was adjourned for a week. The usual weekly report of the inspector of nuisances was read and approved. Carriers’ licenses were granted to George May, D. Patrick, C. Sissons, and J. Badden (four). The Council then adjourned;