CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 542, 14 March 1876, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, March 13.

The Council met at 4 p.m. Present—The Mayor, Cra Jones, Schmidt, Turner, Ick, Gapes, J. A. Bird, Thomson, and J. G. Hawkes,

The town clerk reported the receipts of the week as follows General city rate, £73 15s; Waimakariri rate, £l2 5s lOd ; watering rate, £94 13s 8d ; fines from Resident Magiatrate’s Court, £1 16s ; rent of Market place, 7s ; cement barrels, 6s ; licenses, £3 ; General Government grant, £IOBS 15s 4d ; total, £1274 17s lOd.

Overdraft on general account, £2505 17a sd. Overdraft on drainage loan account, £9282 3s sd. Cr, balance drainage late account, £2OBB 17s 6d.

Bills to the amount of £ll3 12s Id were ordered to be paid ’on general account, and on drainage rate account, £421 16s 6d. Cr Ick said he thought the time had now arrived when they might fairly ask the Drainage Board for a cheque for £IB,OOO for the purchase of the oulfall and other drains. He would move that the matter be referred to the finance committee. The motion was agreed to.

The Council decided that it was undesirable to cut the willows growing on the river bank between Colombo bridge and Victoria bridge.

The city surveyor reported as follows : “ With regard to the experiment proposed by Cr Gapes, to obtain water for the steam fire engines, I find that sinking a cylinder and two artesians would cost £9O, and in addition to this pumping must be allowed for, and it is impossible to say how much that may cost. It is equally impossible to say what the result would be as far as concerns the quantity of water obtainable from the wells, the probability is that the flow would be of the same strength as the other wells in the neighborhood, but it cannot be relied on as a certainty. The works committee desired me to prepare a sketch of a foot bridge, which will be laid before the Council this evening. The length of the bridge is 112 ft, the width sft, a por. tion to be of iron, and the remainder iron bark timber. The employees of the Council have requested me to thank the Council for the holiday which was granted them last week.” It was resolved—" That the consideration of that portion of the report having reference to Cr Gapes’ proposal for water supply in case of fire be deferred for the present.” It was resolved, on the motion of Or Ick—- " That the Antigua street foot bridge be closed at once, the same being unsafe,” Cr

Ick said te should move in the matter o! a new bridge at the next meeting. The Council then proceeded to consider the tenders for forming and metalling a portion of Kilmore street, and the tender of Mr Mair, for £66 15s, was accepted. A letter was read from the Sprcydon Road Board, asking if the City Council would be prepared to bear one-half of the expense of concrete channelling on the south side of the South belt between Colombo street and Montreal street. The town clerk was directed to reply that the Council had allocated all funds available for concrete channelling within the city for the current year. A letter was read from the Secretary of Public Works, forwarding memo from railway traffic manager, asking the Council to sanction the use of the South belt on each of the railway gates as a stand for express waggons. The Mayor stated that he had caused a reply to be sent, stating that there was no objection at present. The Council gave the required permission. A letter was read from the secretary of the Gas Company, stating that from and after the Ist proximo the price of gas for lighting the public lamps would be reduced as fol-lows;—-Ordinary lamps, £8 3; large lamps, £9 12s. Permission was granted to the Football Club to prepare Cranmer Square for football for the ensuing season. A letter was read from the Christchurch District Drainage Board, requesting the City Council to take temporary measures to abate the nuisance of the Antigua street drain, near the Hospital, as the Board cannot decide what action will be taken with the said drain, being unable to deal with the question at present. The Mayor stated that the matter had been attended to.

A street, to be called Conference street, was ordered to be taken over as a public street.

A report was read from the fire brigade committee respecting the erection of a new fire brigade station in Oxford Terrace, and stating that they had decided to call for tenders on the 28th inst.

The report was adopted, A letter was read from the health officer, Dr Deamer, stating that the case of a boy, who had been reported as suffering from typhus fever, turned out to bo scarlet fever, and that the boy was doing well. The health officer suggested that the school authorities should require that all who had been absent from school through' sickness should, before they were re-admitted, produce a certificate from a medical man that the disease under which they had been suffering was not of an infectious nature. It was resolved —“ That a letter be sent to each of the school committees, requesting them to have the goodness to take precautions to prevent the spread of contagious disease amongst the children.” The usual report from the inspector of nuisances was read and adopted. A letter was read from certain ratepayers of Salisbury street, calling attention to the offensive state of an open drain therein, and the danger to children arising therefrom; also requesting that the road be made. A reply was directed to be sent, stating that the Council would attend to the matters as soon as they possibly could. Or Ick drew attention to the manner in which the streets were being cut by waggons laden with stones, and enquired whether any steps were being taken under the Width of Tires Act.

It was resolved—“ That a letter be written to the Commissioner of Police, calling his attention to the matter.” A carrier’s license was granted to Donald Gordon Fraser, of St Albans, an'* also a conductor’s license to John Falloon, and a driver’s license to John McLennan, The Council then adjourned.