CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 684, 29 August 1876, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, August 28. The ordinary fortnightly meeting was held in the Council Chamber. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Ick, Schmidt, Turner, Hawkeß, Bird, Jones, and Gapes. The Mayor made some remarks relative to the non-payment by some persons of the kerosene rate, after which it was resolved, on the motion of Cr Hawkes—"That the inspector be instructed to get in all the amounts outstanding for kerosene licenses." The town clerk reported as follows: — Beceived for week ending August 19th—Account of general rate, 1875, £55 2s; Waimakariri do, £9 3s 8d ; drainage do, £22 19s 2d. Account general rate, 1876, £124 17s ; Waimakiriri do, £2O 16s 2d ; drainage do, £52 Os 5d ; rent of Market Place, 7s; rent of weighbridge, £6 16s Sd; Almao, asphalting, £l7 ; licenses, £1 15b ; Butler and Bosser (deposit), £11; fines from Besident Magistrate's Court, £4 6s; total for week, £326 2s Id. Beceived for week ending August 26th—Account general rate, 1875, £l6 19s;'Waimakariri do, £2 16s 6d. drainage do, £7 Is 3d. Account—General rate, 1876, £245 ss; Waimakariri do, £4O 17s 6d ; drainage do, £lO2 3s 9d ; rent of Market Place, 7s; fines from Besident Magistrate's Court, £6; Provincial Go. vernmett grant, £4737 ; licenses, £3 15s; receipts for week, £5162 5s ; grand total for fortnight, £5488 7s Id. Overdraft on general account, £909 53; drainage loan account—Cr, £2306 16s 6d; drainage rate account for 1875-76, Cr, £2144 12s 3d ; bills, &c, to be paid on general account for fortnight, £1153 9s Id; on drainage loan account for fortnight, £2lO 0s lOd. His Worship laid plans on the table prepared by the General Government for laying but and improving the ground in front of the Supreme Court buildings, and said that to carry them out it would be necessary to enproach slightly on Chester street to erect a regaining wall and steps thereon. The Council approved of the plans and encroachment, an opinion being expressed that the work was a very desirable one. '(be City Surveyor reported:— " 1. In a local which appeared in the Lyptelton Times a few days back, it was asserted that the wheel of one of the Council's carts got blocked in the concrete channelling in Barbadoes street. This was a misstatement, as the cart that met with the mishap did not belong to the Council, but to one of the contractors, and it was not in the chaunel that the wheel was blocked, but outside the channel in a soft newly formed place in the road. '? 2. I have examined the theatre, and my opinion is that it will be constructed of good material, of suitable sizes, and that the building so far as it is at present constructed is quite capable of. sustaining the strain which it iB intended to bear. In order to have corroborative testimony as to the effi ciency of the building, 1 asked the Provincial Architect privately to give me his opinion on it, which he kindly did, and his opinion entirely coincides with my own. " 3 Barbadoes street North.—The draining, forming and shingling of this street frota the North belt to Salisbury street will cost £795. A plan with the explanation of the work accompanies this report. «' 4. V atering streets—Watering part of the city has been found to cost about £li",o per mile per annum, consequently wate'ring the 32 miles of streets in the city would coat

£4BOO per annum. In addition to the above, a large outlay would be necessary for plant. I find that three carts and four tanks per mile would be requisite, therefore the expenditure for plant would be as follows : 96 carts, including horse and harness, at £IOO ... ... £9,600 128 double iron tanks, with artesians, at £2O 2,560 £12,160 Deduct value of those in stock ... 640 Necessary outlay £11,620 I have not included in the estimate any amount for stabling, as the Council might elect to horse the carts by contract. "5. I have had the old wood kerbing opposite the Post-office removed, and the stone kerb laid in its place. "6. The additional supports under Armagh street bridge are now finished, which, I think, will prevent the bridge sinking any further. " 7. The formation and shingling of footpaths in Barbadoes street are now finished up to the river. The formation of Kilmore street east is also nearly finished, and similar work will be commenced in Madras street this week. "8. The forming, draining, and shingling of Madras street north, a length of six chains will cost . "9 Sufficient shingle has now been re moved from Cathedral square to reduce the site to the level of the footpaths, and the planting will now be commenced. " C. Walkden, City Surveyor." After some discussion on clause No 1 of the report, a motion by Cr Turner that the clause be struck out, was carried by four to three. Clause No 2 was approved. On clause 3 being read, Cr Gapes said he would desire to correct a mistake that had appeared in one of the papers in reference to this road. It was stated that a stick had been pushed into this road to the extent of 6ft. The fact was that af in iron rod had been forced down that depth by the main strength of two strong men, and he desired to express an opinion that this work could be carried out for less money.

Eventually it was decided to postpone the work for the present. The remaining clauses of the report were approved. Cr Ick moved the following motion, of which he had given notice—' That the works committee shall have power to accept a tender for one of Aveling and Porter's 15ton steam road rollers." He felt certain that this would be found to be one of the wisest steps ever taken by the Council. Cr Turner seconded the motion. He had made enquiries since the last sitting, and learnt that Mr Anderson, who had tendered on a previous occasion, would deliver a roller of the kind, in good working order, at a reasonable figure, and find two men to work it when required. He (Cr Turner) had learnt that the roller could be worked at an expense of from £2 10s to £3 per day. The motion was put and carried unanimously. An application signed by several residents in the neighbourhood of the White Hart Hotel was read, asking that the street crossing from Nathan's shop to the corner of Cashel and High streets might be formed on the usual terms. The Mayor said that this work had been carried out. It waa resolved, at the suggestion of the Mayor, to invest £3OO of the Drainage Kate in Government debentures as a sinking fund. A let!er was read from Mr Morgan Laurenson asking permission to supply tea and coffee refreshments in the spare room at the weighbridge. Permission granted. The following letters had been received since last sitting day, and attended to by the works committee :—From Provincial Secretary, Mr J. V. W. Hamilton, Avon Road Board, Education Department (2), Telegram from Secretary to Treasury, Mr 0. R. Blakiston, H. Toomer and Sons, Mason, Struthers and Co, Mr D. Craig, and Mr G. Webley. Letters from three widows with families were read, asking for a remission of rates. A report from the collector on these applications, reporting favourably, was also read. It was decidgd to remit the rates as asked. A letter was read from Mr D. Craig, hon secretary to the Insurance Association, in reply, saying that he hoped to send not only a cheque for £2OO but also one for £SOO in the course of the week, as agreed to be paid by the Association, towards the new Fire Brigade station. An application from George Webley was refused, asking that the cancelling of his cab license might be reconsidered. The sanitary committee reported as follows :

•'The sanitary committee have made an examination of the city, as to its sanitary condition.

!• Oh visiting the S.W. quarter, where last yesr at this season, large quantities of stagnant water remained upon the surface of private land for a long time, in consequence of improper drainage, most injurious to the health and comfort of the people residing in that locality, your committee have much pleasure in reporting that at the expense of the residents in that locality, that part of the city is now in a satisfactory condition. "Visited the vicinity of Conference, Aldred, and Peacock streets, which last year at this season were in a very bad state in consequence of putrid stagnant water remaining upon the surface of private lands, on which your committee then reported. The committee now find that a few of the sections have been much improved, some slightly so, others in the same condition, and some in a worse condition than last year. Your committee also find several sections of private lands in different parts of the city in an unsatisfactory condition in consequence of putrid stagnant water remaining upon the surface, very injurious to the health of the whole of the inhabitants of the city.' " Notices are now being delivered to all owners of such lands to cause the same to be properly filled up, so as to abate the nuisance.

"Your committee recommend that the lowering of the streets and footpaths where required should be proceeded with with as little delay as possible, so as to give persons occupying such lands an opportunity of carting the surplus earth for rilling up the same at their own expense. " It is very gratifying to the committee to witness the vast improvement in the side channels of the streets of the city, and seeing that the concrete channelling of the streets is drawing hear to completion, your committee recommend that the Council do bo at

as early a date as possible, and exercise its powers by causing all private streets and rights of way to be properly drained and cleansed; also, that suitable drains should be provided from all houses and premises and connected with the side channels of the streets, as your committee are of opinion that, until this system is completed, the city cannot expect to enjoy that healthy condition that every resident must naturally desire.

"The subject of the regulations for closets for private premises and also public urinals, are under consideration.

"J. Gapes (Chairman). "J. A. Bibd. "Wilhblm Schmidt." Some discussion took place on the necessity of the inspector issuing the necessary notices, and compelling people to fill up lowlying land on their properties, and also to the practice of emptying slops in the side channels. The report was then adopted. A letter from Captain H. E. Alport of the Fire Police was read, drawing attention to the unsatisfactory status held by that body. The Mayor explained the desire of .the corps, and also read an opinion from Dr Foster on the matter. It was the wish of that body that a clause should be inserted in the new Act defining their powers and status. It was decided to send a reply to Captain Alport that the Council consider it too late now to have a clause inserted in the new Bill, and that the Council are of opinion that the powers of the corps are already defined in subsection 261 of the new Bill. Some licenses were granted, and others refused, and the Council adjourned. NOTICE OP MOTION. Or Schmidt to move at next sitting—" That in the opinion of this Council, it is desirable that in the case of death of employes of the Council of over three years' standing, a sum not exceeding one month's pay for each year's service be granted to the widow or children (if any) of such employes."