CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 530, 29 February 1876, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, February 28.

The Council met at 4 p.m. Present—The Mayor, Crs Turner, Jones, Bird, Ick, Thomson, Schmidt, Gapes, and Hawkes. The town clerk reported the receipts of the week as follows General rate, 1875, £SO 17s; Waimakariri rate, £8 9s 6d; fines from Resident Magistrate’s Court, £2 10s; rent from Market place, 7s ; licenses, £5 ; subscriptions from Mr Watt, asphalting Whateley road, £llO 8s 4d; total, £ 17711 s lOd; overdraft at bank on general account, £2936 17s 9d ; overdraft on drainage loan account, £8517 8s 3d. Or balance drainage rate account, £2013 0s sd. Bills to the amount of £167 3s 2d were ordered to be paid on general account, and on drainage account, £671 8s lOd. The Mayor said that he saw the Hon E. Richardson that morning and asked him when the Council would receive the 6s 8d in the pound they were entitled to. Mr Richardson telegraphed to Wellington and received the following reply—“ The returns on which payment to municipalities are based, have only been received this morning from Provincial Auditor. Payment will now be made at once.”

The city surveyor reported as follows “ A sketch will be laid before the Council this evening of a swimming bath to be constructed at the back of the Magistrate’s Court. The water to be enclosed will be 150 ft long, 25ft wide, by 3ft deep, The building must be erected on the curve to suit the shape of the river ; the south end of the building must be about 12ft high, to shut out the view from the bridge. The sewer in Kilmore street is now finished, and the work of forming and shingling the road will be advertised at once. The tank opposite Matheson’s Agency has been cleansed and repaired, and the one at Wilson and Siiwtell’s will be taken in hand as soon as possible.” The report was approved Cr Bird presented a petition numerously signed, praying the Council to construct a tank for fire prevention purposes between the river and the Ferry road on the Bast belt.

The petition was received, and on the motion of Cr Bird, seconded by Cr Ick, was referred to the fire brigade committee to report on.

A letter was read from the house surgeon of the hospital calling attention to the nuisance arising from the Antigua street drain.

On the motion of Cr Gapes, seconded by Cr Turner, the letter was ordered to be referred to the Drainage Board. A letter was read from Mr J. W. Hamilton calling attention to a number of poles lying loose in Latimer square, which were dangerous of a night to foot passengers. The letter was referred to the city surveyor.

Or Bird asked whether the Building Act was in force in the city. Very considerable dissatisfaction was being expressed at the manner in which the buildings which had lately been burned down were being put up.

The Mayor said that if the buildings were put up as required by the Building Act very great hardship would be inflicted on those whose leases had only two or three years to run.

Or Turner said that there was another point to look at in the matter besides the view taken by the insurance companies. That view was that there should be ample water supply found, that the buildings should be almost of fire proof materials, so that the risk might be as little as possible, and the highest rates for insurance charged. Or Ick expressed a hope that the valuable remarks made by Cr Turner would be -given publicity to by the gentlemen of the press. The Mayor said that the discussion was irregular.

Or Jones deprecated the remarks made by Cr Turner, and stated that the insurance companies had behaved very liberally in aid of fire prevention. After slight further discussion the matter dropped.

A letter was read from Mr A. Lean, calling attention to a nuisance arising from a drain near his residence in Cambridge terrace. A reply was ordered to be sent stating that the work would be done in due course.

A letter was read from Mr J. Tait, asking for an extension of time for one month for completing the erection of Hereford street bridge.

The extension asked for was granted. A report was read from the health officer, Dr Deatner, giving the result of his visits to cases of scarlet fever reported to him, and stating that he was happy to say it was of a very mild form, and although the number of cases had slightly increased, yet there was no cause for alarm if ordinary precautions were taken.

On the motion of Cr Gapes, seconded by Cr Hawkes, it was resolved—“ That the works committee be requested to inquire into the cause of delay on the part of Messrs Clifford and Roper in supplying timber.” A petition was read from the carriers asking the Council to make a bye-law regulating the age of boys allowed to drive as general carriers. The town clerk was instructed to replv “ That the Council, at present, do not think it necessary to make a bye law to license drivers of carts, &c.”

Cr Jones moved, “ That resolution No 7, dated 21st June, 1875, re water supply for Lichfield street and Colombo street, be rescinded.”

Cr Turner suggested the substitution of the following :—“ That the works committee be requested to defer for the present the works contemplated in resolution No 7, dated 21st June, 1876,”

Cr Jones agreed, and the motion va s passed.

Cr Gapes moved—“ That the plan submitted by myself to this Council for a supply of water for the purpose of extinguishing fires be tried as an experiment, and that the surveyor be instructed to carry out the work. He explained that he had tried an artesian well of an inch and a-half bore, sft below the top of the flow. Each foot gave an extra flow of four gallons and a-half, eothat at 24ft from the top of the flow theywould obtain 108 gallons and a-half. A 3in one, four times its capacity, would give 434 gallons, so that, allowing another 3in pipe alongside it to reduce itself half, would give 217 gallons, so that the two 3in wells would give 651 gallons per minute. ! Cr Turner moved, as an amendment—- “ That the surveyor be requested to consider Cr Gapes’ proposal, and that he report to the' next meeting as to its practicability, an<|v the probable coat of putting down one tank/*

Cr Gapes accepted the amendment, which was agreed to. Or Hawkes moved—“ That a swimming bath be erected in the Avon river, the cost of such bath not to exceed £250.” Or Turner seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A letter was read from Mr 0. Cuff, asking for an extension of time for completing the assessment. Instructions were given to the finance committee to employ extra clerks to carry on the work. Tho copsideration of the plans for a new fire brigade station was deferred for a week. The Council then adjourned. NOTICE OP MOTION. Or Hawkes to move on Monday next:— “ That it is desirable to acquire a site for the erection of municipal offices for the city, such site to be in a central position.”