CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 696, 12 September 1876, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, September 11. The usual fortziightly meeting was held in the Council Chambers. Present—His Worship th.-> Mayor, and Councillors Schmidt, Turner, Jones, Ick, Thomson, Gapes, Bird, and Hawkes. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The town clerk read a notice from th< Mayor declining to act as returning officei at the forthcoming municipal election, as he (his Worship) had been nominated as one of the caudidates. Oct the motion of Cr Turner, seconded by Cr Schmidt, Cr Thomson was appointed to act as returning officer ©n that day. The Mayor said he had to formally an lounce to the Council that sis candidates

had been duly nominated. Some difficulty had arisen with respect to forming rights of way in the city. Under clause 292 of the Act no alley under twenty feet in width could be formed unless by special permission from the Council, which permission would first have to be applied for. He saw that this matter could be dealt with, failing an application, under clause 30 of the Public Health Act, and also by levying a special rate under clause 201 of the Municipal Corporations Act. The case which had arisen was an alley at the back of Mr Rhodes' house. He would like to know what steps the Council desired to take, as the work was about to be proceeded with under clause 11 of the Municipal Corporations Act. His opinion was, that where these alleys led to large houses, and on which it was known small shanties would not be built, permission should be given to form them under clause 295 of the Act. After some remarks from Councillors, it was decided to let the matter stand over at present. The Mayor said he had received a petition signed by ninety ratepayers, asking him to call a public meeting to hear the opinions of the various candidates. He had sent the town clerk to the Oddfellows' and Music Halls, and found those places could not be obtained for the purpose. As the Conncil would have to bear all expenses incurred, he had not considered himself justified in taking any steps without first consulting them. He had learnt that the drill shed could be obtained for the purpose, and be desired to know whether the Council would authorise the expense of fitting that shed up to make it suitable. Several Councillors expressed their opinion that the drill shed would not he found suitable for the purpose. Eventually a resolution, moved by Cr Jones —"That the prayer of the requisition be complied with" —was carried, and it was decided to hold the meeting on Wednesday evening next, at half-past seven. His Worship said he had received a communication from the captain of the Fire Police, forwarding a roll, which contained the names of fifty members ; also forwarding the rules for appioval. It was the desire of the corps that a resolution should be carried in the Council accepting their services. On the motion of Cr Ick a resolution to this effect was carried, and the Mayor was requested to sigo the rules on behalf of the Council. The town clerk reported a 8 follows : Received for week ending September 2nd— General rate, 1875, £25 15s ; Waimakariri do, £4 5s lOd ; general rate, 1876, £lsl ; Waimakariri do, £25 3s 4d; fines from R. M. Court, £2 10s ; rent of market place, 7s; licenses, £l. Total receipts for week, £2lO Is 2d. Received for week ending September 9th—General rate, 1875, £l2 15s ; Waimakariri do, £2 2s 6d ; general rate, 1876, £196 14s; Waimakariri do, £32 15s 8d ; fines from Resident Magistrate's Court, £2 5s ; rent of Market place, 7s; A'Court's deposit, £5 5s ; licenses, £lO ; total receipts for week. £260 4s 2d ; grand total for fortnight, £470 5s 4d. Overdraft on general account, £1776 13s 4d. Drainage loan account, Cr, £12,096 14s 8d ; drainage rate account, Cr, £199 10s 7d. Bills, &c, paid and to be paid by works committee on general account, £1257 14s lid ; on drainage account. £938 12s lid. The surveyor reported—1. " The work of forming Madras, Kilmore, and George streets is now nearly completed. 1 have therefore again started the work of channelling. 2. " The carpenters are at work supporting Worcester street bridge in a similar manner to that done at Armagh bridge. 3. " The old timber kerb in Colombo street, between Cashel and Hereford streets, has been removed, and stone kerbing laid to replace it. 4. " By direction of the works committee I have advertised Durham street north to be lowered and formed.

5. "The contract for building the two new water carts was given to Mr A'Court by the works committee. 6. "Tenders will be laid before the Council for the forming of Madras street north. 7. " A timber footpath has been built between the two bridges at Lane's mill. 8. " Ihe stone kerb has been lowered and asphalte laid round Edwards and Bennett's store. " C. Walkden, City Surveyor." The various clauses of the report were approved as read. Two tenders were opened for forming and shingling Madras street north, and that of T. Mears was accepted. The town clerk wa9 authorised to procure a clock for his office, and was instructed to insert an advertisement in the different papers that all rates outstanding must be paid at once. At the suggestion of Cr Ick, the town clerk was instructed to communicate to the police the damage done to the chesnut trees planted on the reserve near the boatshed, by horses which are nightly tethered there. The works committee were authorised to take the necessary steps for erecting iron tanks for street-watering purposes, where required. On the motion of Cr Thomson, seconded by Cr Turner, the town clerk was instructed to discontinue the use of the arras of the Council over the Council's advertisements inserted in the various newspapers, A letter was read from Mr A. Brandon, Waltham, asking for a remission of rates on behalf of an orphan family, the eldest of whom is only fourteen years of age. On the motion of Cr Jones, the request was complied with, A letter was read from Mr J. McWilliam, offering to keep the North Town belt, Cathedral Square, and the new plantation opposite the club in good order for twelve mouth's for the sum of £55. Referred to the planting committee. A letter was read from the secretary to the East Christchurch School Committee, applying for the contribution of £IOO, promised by the Council towards the erection of a {swimming bath at the main school ; and suggesting the advisableness of the City Surveyor making some arrangements for utilising the waste water from the bath in cise of fire. The town clerk was authorised to forward the contribution promised. A letter was read from Mr G. Cooper, complaining of the high rate on two cottages belonging to him at the corner of Tuam street and East Town Belt. The town clerk was instructed to write that the Council cannot now entertain the matter. The following letters had been received since last sitting, and attended to by the

works' committee:—W. Kitson, Bank of New Zealand, Church Steward, T. Pearson, and Miles and Co. Cr Schmidt moved the following motion of which he had given notice—" That in the opinion of the Council, it is desirable that in the case of death of «mploves of the Council of over three years' stauding, a sum not exceeding one month's pay for each year's service be granted to the widow or children (if any) of such employe." Cr Hawkes seconded the motion which was carried unanimously. A petition signed by several ratepayers, asking the Council to take steps for levying a rate for watering various streets in the Northen and Southern portion of the city, was granted; and on the motion of Cr Ick, it wa3 resolved to take the necessary measures for collecting the rate. The usual fortnightly report of the inspector of nuisances was read. Cr Thomson drew attention to the great danger to foot passengers through the practice of contractors enclosing only half of the footpath in front of the building in course of erection, without placing a covering over the remaining portion of the path. Should a piece of stone or brick fall from the walls there was nothing whatever to prevent it falling on to the heads of passers by, and a serious accident would surely happen some day if some attention were not paid to this matter. He had seen this exemplified at the new theatre, and he thought contractors ought to be compelled to enclose the whole of the f h and erect a wooden one outside altogether, for the convenience of passengers. After some remarks from councillors, the surveyor promised that he would give this matter his strict attention for the future. The Council then resolved itself into committee, and on resuming, adjourned for a fortnight.