CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 625, 20 June 1876, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, June 19. The usual meeting was held in the Council Chamber at four o’clock. Present—His Worship the Mayor and Crs Ick, Schmidt, Thompson, Turner, Jones, Hawkes, and Gapes, The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The town clerk reported as follows : Received for week ending June 10th, account general rates, 1875, £BO 10s ; Waimakariri do, £lB 8s 4d : general rate, 1876. £36 17s ; Waimakariri do, £6 2s lod ; fines from B.M. Court, £3 15s ; rent of Market Place, 7s ; licenses, £3 10s ; deposits on account of contracts, £25 12s : rent of weigh bridge, £3 13s Id ; Heathcote Road Board, £ls— Juno 17th, account of general rate, 1375, £l4l 15s; Waimakarhi do, £23 12s 6d ; account of general rate, 1876, £3O 8s ; Waimakiriri dp, £6 11s 4d ; Heathcote Road Board, £27; rent of Market Place, 7a—total receipts for week, £238 13s 6d ; grand total receipts, £432 9a 4d, Overdraft at Bank on general account, £5891 19s 4d. Cr balance on drainage loan account, £14,507 3s sd ; drainage rate account, Cr, £2026 10s 6d ; wages, &c, to be paid on general account, £SOB 15s 6d : on drainage loan account, £OO7 15s Bd. The Mayor said that he had received a letter of ap logy from Or Bird for hie absence at that sitting. He bad also received a petition, signed by four residents in Horatio street, asking the Council to take action under clause 11 of the 1875 Act to have that street placed in a passable condition, as it was said that at present it was knee deep in mud. Since the Council last met, he had received a summons against the Council from Mr Cronin for damages sustained in Barbadoes street, which he (the Mayor) had handed over to the Council’s solicitor. A requisition had also been received by him asking that he would call a public meeting to discuss the advisableness of taking means to start a hydropathic establishmeat here, He learnt that Mr Clark had offered to give his rooms free for holding the meeting, but as he (the Mayor) considered it somewhat in the light of a private enterprise, he had

refrained calling the meeting until he had received the Council's expression iu this direction.

The general action taken by his Worship was approved, councillors being of opinion that the hydropathic establishment must be considered a private enterprise. The city surveyor reported—“l. Fencing Cathedral square—A plain cast iron railing set in stone round the Godlcy statue block would cost £Ol2. A wooden fence like the one which surrounds Mr Farr’s private residence would cost £232, 2. The levelling and trimming of Antigua street by the domain is finished, and the principal part of the men are removed to Peterborough street, to carry out similar work iu that street. 3. The streets are being plentifully supplied with shingle and broken metal.” Consideration of clause hlo I was deferred, and the remainining clauses were approved. Or Ick referred to the nuisance of persons collecting j around the “Cheap Johns,” in Cathedral Square, on Saturday nights, thereby blocking the thoroughfare. This nuisance had been repeatedly brought under his notice by different ratepayers. Or Turner said that the only nuisance he bad experienced from this source was considerable amusement. Cr Hawkes considered that the police ought to bo asked to' interfere, if the footpaths were found lo be obstructed. Or Thomson did not think the ConueilT. ground should be occupied b> p-.liars, to the detriment of those who paid heavy rentals He Kd K : A” *’ * - - —• -:.T‘. ---m •) Ac:.: ; , -v- m.a cc-m; c osornrux., arc., ;er -I x.Vj.. /. aa would he glad he pay heavy ' it permitted ic erect prsm'-os cc Lie , nj-rj icv.pied by theca msn. _ j i" had not heard of any obsfer.o- • yy.r. tothr. •'> crcughfare 'ey these persons. I C > -Torn'' w : ; '.l very much regret that this sheuid h ■ pitj c j: - r, unless it was proved that the thc-'Ughfar .s obstructed. He believed in free trade in m> tscpect, though he regretted that the property the Council should be octvnpl&u witnout being ye’d for. Cr Ick said" he did. not think so much would have been said in the matter. Ho knew that many persons paid rentals to sell 1 similar trash to that sold by those people, and as numerous complaints had been made to him oy small shopkeepers, he would move •—“That the police have instructions to remove these persons from Cathedral Square.” . Cr Jones seconded the motion. Cr Hawkes could not agree with the ■motion in its wording, and he thought the j Council were overstepping their province, as j no obstruction had been shown, and their only action he thought should be to insist that a hawker’s license should be taken out by sn«h vendors. Cr Turner had often stood and listened to these people with considerable amusement, and until last Saturday night had not seen any obstruction, and even then the outbulging of the crowd could hardly be called an obstruction, He must say he hardly thought unless an offence against the Police Ordinance was being committed, that the Council should interfere wjth the duties of those remarkably well dressed men—the Canterbury police. After further remarks from Councillors, the motion w,as put and carried by four to three, Crs Turner, Hawkes, and Gapes voting against it, On the motion of Or Ick. it was resolved to write to the Commissioner of Police, drawing attention to the many persons who are in the habit of obstructing the thoroughfares by exposing goods for sale outside their business premises. On the motion of the same Councillor, it was decided that the Mayor communicate with the Government with a view of obtaining a shingle reserve at the Ilakaia, for the use of the Council.

Two tenders for a steam roller were opened, and Cr Ick moved—“ That the tender of Mr T. Anderson, for an Aveling and Porter’s roller, be accepted, according to the surveyor’s specification.” While doing so he must express the opinion of the works committee that they did not regret the action of the four Road Boards in refusing to join the Council in the purchase of this machine, as differences of opinion might have arisen as to the times when the roller should be used in the different districts. Cr Jones seconded the resolution with pleasure, and considered that much of the money already spent would have been saved if such a machine could have been utilised by the Council for their work. Or Turner moved as an amendment —“ That the consideration of the tenders be deferred for the present, until the votes to municipalities by the General Assembly are determined.” Cr Gapes seconded the amendment, which was carried, Crs Turner. Hawkes, Thompson, and Gapes voting in. its favor. Two tenders for broken boulders were opened, and that of Messrs Collinson and Osborne for 10s per yard was accepted. A letter was read from the Christchurch District Drainage Board, asking the Council to collect the rate accruing to the Board for the year ending December 31st, 1876, in conjunction with that of the City Council for 'tbs same period, and asking on what terms the work would be undertaken if acceded to.

It was decided that a reply be cent that the Council cannot comply V7ith the request, as their collector io already overtasked. A letter was read from the Commissioner of Police in reply, saying that every possible effort had been made to prevent the damage to the city lamps and ether injuries to the Council’s property, and no effort should be spared in same direction without offer of a reward from the City Council. _ A letter was read from Mr B. J. H. Oarew, wanting to know if the Council will let that piece of land facing the river between Hereford street and Cashel street bridges, and what rental will they require. The application was declined. A letter was read from W. Dunn having further reference to an application made by him for a driver’s license, iteaolved, that a reply be sent that the Council cannot consider the application.

A letter, signed by several residents in the locality, was read calling attention to the wane of lamps from Madras street bridge to North town belt.

Deferred to the lighting committee. A petition was read signed by sixty-four ratepayers in the vicinity of the tank at Matheson’s Agency, asking that the Council make a crossing there to avoid the nuisance caused by fishhawjiers and Council’s water carts overflowing the street to the annoyance of passers by along that thoroughfare. Cr Jones, after some remarkr, moved that the prayer of the petitioners be acceded to.

Cr Hawkes seconded the motion, as he considered this an exceptional case. Several councillors expressed an opinion that the work should not be carried out at the expense of the general ratepayers, and only on the usual terms. Or Ick moved an amendment to this effect, which was seconded by Or Thompson. Or Gapes could not conscientiously vote for the motion as the petition was signed by some very wealthy persons in the city, who could well afford to contribute to the expense. lie had, at the previous sitting of the Council, humbly begged for a few loads of shingle to be placed at the crossings on Whately road, and the residents there would be only 100 grateful to have the shingle laid down where he had asked, and he was pleased to learn that the surveyor promised to go this during the week. After further remarks, it was resolved that the work be carried out on the usual terms. A petition from thirteen residents in Horatio street, to have that street formed and shingled, was read, when it was determined that the prayer of the petitioners be complied with, and action taken under danse 11 of the Municipal Council Act. A letter was read freer the town clerk, Lyttelton Borough Council, acknowledging receipt of letter enclosing correspondence relative to Provincial grants to Municipalities, and thanking the Major of ChristchiVivh, for ihe action taken by him iu this dii'odiou. A letter to the same effect was road from the iown clerk, 'Amaru. "1 ’p|" ;h V IhC ."■ T l . l.CCjt -j cr - o tAo z.:z . onrnlA',.. : —•h.-’C' ;. 'he ikr.d Eoarti, 2cud Board, T. J. Idnhng and Go, Mro A, :" cAonald, V/, H, Hargresvco, F, Du-san, ii- IT. Gunn, Heath rot* Eon:. Ecare* "A:. Ashland, J. E. Dale, t. Dowdint; Y- ..'taCoo, Bradbury, Wilkinson and C j, 3- Clark, P, Schneider, and 0, B. Harold. Cr Gapes moved the following motion, cf which he had gEen notice; -“That danse 15 of the by-law relating to crossings over footways and channels be adopted and advertised.” Cr Tck seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Cr Turner moved —“ That provided the citizens subscribe one-half (say £150) the estimated coat of laying out and planting the ground around Qodley Statue, the Council will vote the balance and undertake the works.”

Cr Hawkes seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The fortnightly report of the inspector of nuisances was read aud approved, a portion of it being referred to the sanitary committee for their instruction.

Applications for lamps in different streets were referred to the lighting committee.

Or Ick draw attention to the nuisance arising from the fire bells being rung long after the brigade and citizens had been alarmed.

Cr Jones, as chairman of the fire brigade committee, promised to see Mr .Superintendent Harris on this matter.

The Mayor said that two gentlemen had complained to him of the conduct of a cabwho was becoming a perfect nuisance throughout the city. He alluded to Andrew McTeggart. These gentlemen had requested a cabman, who was on the stand before this man, to drive them one evening, and as he had not been engaged, they were followed and blackguarded by him. The Council expressed a strong opinion that a definite complaint, with particulars, should be laid before them, or action taken before the Eesident Magistrate, when they would be prepared to do,their duty. The Council resolved itself into a Local Board of Health, and on resuming, adjourned for a fortnight.