CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 478, 29 December 1875, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Tuesday, December 28.

The ordinary weekly meeting was held in the Council Chamber. Present—His Worship the Mayor and Crs Ick, Thomson, Wood, Gapes, Jones, Turner, Hawkes, and Schmidt The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The town clerk reported as follows ;—Re* ceived from rate collector, account general city rates, 1875, £135 17s ; Waimakariri do, £22 17s ; fines from Resident Magistrate’s Court, £7 10s; rent of Market place, 7s ; license, £1 10s ; drainage loan, account deposits, £134 6s. Total receipts for week, £302 1s lOd, Overdraft at Bank on general account, £1369 16s 4d. Drainage account —Dr, £5553 12s 9d. Drainage rate account —Cr, £2006 7s 6d ; wages, &c, to be paid on general account, £546 4s 3d ; on drainage account, £lO7 12s 7d, The Mayor said he was happy to inform the Council that the missing scrip certificate had been found in one of the Council’s books. As some of the members of the Drainage Board were out of town he had been compelled to defer calling the first meeting of the Board until after the holidays. Mr Murray had been communicated with, and would commence his duties as assistant town clerk at the beginning of the year. The chairman of the fire brigade committee had requested him to write to the Government to supplement a subscription being raised to recoup the loss sustained by some members of the brigade through the fire on the 16th. He had written to the Government, who had kindly promised £2O, and it would be for the Council to say whether they would desire to vote any sum towards that object. An offer of a quarter-acre section in Gloucester street, as a site for the new fire brigade station, was opened, and declined as being too high. A second letter, offering an eighth of an acre in Hereford street west, was declined as not being large enough, nor sufficiently central for the purpose required. A letter was read from Mr Alexander Lean, accompanied with sketch plan, again calling attention to the necessity for chan nelling the west side of Manchester street north, and also Cambridge terrace to west ward of same. Referred to the sanitary committee. In reply to Cr Hawkes, the Mayor said that the owner of the stone, lying near the suspension bridge, was not paying rental for the use of the land. He (the owner) had received permission from the Council to lay the stone there. Cr Ick said that Mr Wilson had promised in his letter that should the stone be found a nuisance he would then remove it. Ultimately, the matter was left to the works committee. A letter was read from Mr H. J. Waters, Colombo street, pointing to the necessity of the west side of Tuam street to St Asaph street being channelled. Referred to the sanitary committee, A letter was read from the Provincial Secretary’s office in reply, saying the Government will subscribe the sum of £2O to the fund being raised to cover the loss sustained by Mr Fuller at the late fire at the Brigade station. A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary’s office, Wellington, acknowledging receipt of letter notifying the election of Mr F. Hobbs as Mayor of Christchurch for the ensuing year. A letter was read from Mr R. D. Thomas, solicitor, instructed by Dr Deamer, calling attention to the injury done to his (Dr Deamer’s) premises in Armagh street, through the lowering of the levels of the footpaths lately carried out in that street; adding that before Dr Deamer had erected his house he had been given the levels of the footpath by Mr Moore, who was then city surveyor. Referred to the surveyor to report. A letter was read from his Honor the Superintendent, as chairman of the Central Board of Health in reply, informing the Council that the health officer had been requested to inspect every intercolonial steamer before allowing communication with the shore, with the special object of ensuring freedom from scarlet fever

A letter was read from Dr Parkerson, in reply, saying he is not attending any case of scarlet fever. Dr Mark wrote to inform the Council that he is attending a case of scarlet fever in Armagh street east. The above three letters were referred to the Local Board of Health.

A letter \ 7as rea d from the manager of ihg Bank of New Zealand, informing the Council that Drainage DeOcrn U re Coupons, to the amount of £3lB, had paid in London, and were now held by the a t the disposal of the Council.

A letter from a widow residing in George street, who has a family of five children, praying that her rates may be remitted, as she is not |in a position to pay them, and is in receipt of charitable aid from the Government.

On the motion of Or Jones, seconded by Or Gapes, the rates were remitted as asked. The city surveyor reported as follows

“ 1.1 have advertised for a site for the Fire Brigade station, and tenders will be laid before the Council this evening. “2, Two or three weeks back an application was sent in to the Council to put Madras street North into better condition, and the matter was referred to me. I reported to the works committee at the time that that part of Madras street had never been formed, and would probably be an expensive piece of work. It is impossible to say before the ground is opened what the cost will be, as one portion of it is covered with deep bogholes and springs, and will consequently require underground drainage and fascines. “3. The work of lowering the west side of Cathedral square and Worcester street was commenced this morning, and will be pushed on as rapidly as possible.” No 1 clause of the report was approved. No 2 clause was referred to the works committee.

The third clause of the report was approved. The Council went into committee to consider the usual annual applications for cab-drivers’ and owners’ licenses, On the Council resuming, the Mayor reported that several of the applications had been granted, some declined, and others deferred.

The usual weekly report of the inspector of nuisances was read, and after a resolution had been carried instructing that a notice should be sent to some persons who are carrying on business within the precincts of the city of an objectionable nature, it was approved. Some discussion took place on the holin .yj to be given to the employees for which ' ■> Council will pay wages. On the motion of Or Hawkes, it was resolved—“ That Christmas day, New Year’s day, Good Friday, Queen’s birthday, and Anniversary day be the recognised holidays . i. the Council.”

A joint opinion of Dr Foster and Mr Cowlishaw on certain action to be taken in acquiring some land desired by the Council was referred to the finance committee to report upon. The Council then adjourned.