CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 732, 24 October 1876, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, Octobee 23. A special meeting was held at the Council Chambers. Present Councillors Ick, Thomson, Turner, Gapes, Jones, Hawkes, Bird, and Nathan, In the absence of the Mayor, through the death of a near relation, Cr Ick was voted to the chair. The minutes of the last special and general meetings were read and confirmed. On the motion of Cr Thomson, seconded by Cr Turner, the special rate of l£d in the £ for watering certain streets, and made at a previous sitting of the Council, was confirmed. The ordinary meeting was then held, the same Councillors present. The town clerk reported as follows—Received for week ending 14th Oct—Account of General rate, 1875, £4 14s; Waimakariri do, 15s 8d ; general rate, 1876, £221 7s ; Waimakariri do, £36 17s lOd ; rent of Market Place, 7s ; contribution to Fire Brigade station, £SOO ; fines from B.M. Court, £3 6s. Total receipts for week, £767 6s 6d. Received for week ending 21st October—General rate, 1875, £5 12s ; Waimakariri do, £lB 8s; general rate, 1876, £225 8s ; Waimakariri do, £37 11s 4d ; fines from B.M. Court, £4 6s; rent of Market Place, 7s ; rent of boat shed, £5 ; deposit on Whittington’s contract, £l7 10s. Total receipts for week, £296 12s, Grand total for fortnight, £IO6B 18s 6d; Overdraft at Bank on general account, £855 5s 2d ; drainage loan account, Cr, £10,027 14s 2d ; drainage rate account, Cr, £2326 18s 6d; wages and bills paid and to be paid on general account for fortnight, £1127 11s lid; on drainage loan account, £123 8s 9d. The city surveyor reported : 1. “In compliance with Cr Nathan’s motion, I have estimated the cost of asphalting and concreting the footpaths, the particulars of which are annexed hereto. 2. “ The works committee have given me instructions to advertise for 2000 barrels of cement on drainage account. 3. “ Several persons in the neighbourhood of Free’s creek have been served with notices to fill up their low ground, and in order to do this so that no surface water could lodge on the ground, a vary large amount of filling in would be necessary, and the result would not be more satisfactory, as a better drainage than that which now exists. Effectual drainage could be obtained by lowering Free’s creek. 4. “The new fire brigade station will be finished this week, and I have now several men engaged lajing the channelling and regulating the ground round the building. “ 0. Walkden, City Surveyor.” Clauses No 1 and 2 were approved. On clause 3 being read, a general opinion was expressed that the Drainage Board should undertake the work of lowering Free’s creek. It was also stated that if a dam at St Luke’s Church were removed it would tend to prevent a large area of land being flooded at times, On the motion of Cr Gapes, it was resolved to communicate with the Drainage Board, and suggest their immediate attention to this work. Three tenders were opened for forming a right-of-way near the Carlton Hotel, and that of Mr Mayers, for £9B, was accepted. The following letter was read from Mr A, M. Johnson, of Troutdale, Opawa :—“ You are doubtless aware that some time ago it was decided by the Resident Magistrate that the river, within the city boundaries, is the property of the City Council, as being the holders of the land on both sides, consequently the angling licenses and fines hitherto appropriated by the Acclimatisation Society really belong to the City Council. I believe that a very large proportion of the ratepayers will agree with me in thinking that your Council will make a far better use of the revenue from licenses and fines than the society is now likely to do. I would venture, however, to suggest as a means of effecting the most good that the present restrictions to fishing be removed with the exception of fence months. Such a concession is fairly due to the inhabitants of Christchurch, who have paid for the fish over and over again by most liberal subscriptions to the society from its commencement. Lest your Worship should feel any delicacy as to acting in the manner suggested out of consideration to the society, I would call your attention to the fact that the journey to Tasmania for the first trout ova was at a personal expense to me of £7O, and although only two trout were the ultimate result, out of that one pair moat of the rivers have been stocked, whilst the society has received upwards of £IOO from the sale of the produce of that single pair.” Mr Johnson then referred to the action of the secretary in seizing a box of salmon ova, presented to him by the Otago Government, and the society refusing to recognise his claim to any of the young fish hatched out, even after that Government had removed all doubt as to his ownership of the box. It was resolved to acknowledge the letter. A petition signed by several ratepayers was read, asking to have a private street, known as Eaton place, in Manchester street south, taken over, requesting that a special rate might be levied for forming and metalling it, and asking that a covered drain might be laid down. Cr Jones thought that some steps should be taken to relieve the inhabitants of the difficulties under which they had been suffering. Or Turner would like to know first, when the street was laid out, and whether the Act had been complied with at the time. He would move-r-" Thaf, in reply to the application, the city surveyor be requested to report generally on the subject, and also ascertain when and by whom the said street was laid out.” Cr Bird seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A letter was read from Mr J. W. S. Coward, coroner, saying that the jury who sat upon the body of Wm Stewart, drowned in the Avon river near the Hospital bridge, were unanimously of opinion that drags should be placed at the Hospital and at other accessible points along the river. If these had been at hand when Stewart had bien seen in the water, his life might have been saved. On the motion of Cr Nathan, it was decided—“ That the Council take means for having drags placed at the hospital, the boat sheds, Lane’s mill, bridges, and new Fire Brigade station. The chairman said that the works committee had given instructions that morning to have several dangerous places along the river fenced in. 'Cr Gapes considered that when the Council are in a position they should fence in all the

vacant spaces on the banks of the river. He was certain if the North side of Papanui bridge, opposite the Supreme Court, were not fenced a serious accident would certainly happen there some day. On the motion of Or Gapes, seconded by Or Thomson, the town clerk was instructed to point this dangerous place out to the Provincial Government, with a request that it may be enclosed, A letter was read from the manager to the Gas Company, saying that the appearance of the trenches in the streets after excavation was not owing to insufficient ramming, but to the wetness of the soil, and to the fact that part of the stuff being excavated is quicksand. The trenches were now attended to, as the ground was in better condition. Cr Thomson did not see any reference made in the letter to the particular street which had been referred to. He had since learnt that this ridge alluded to had been lowered by spreading the earth over the street. In his opinion the Gas Company should not make these excavations in wet weather if these ridges were the result of their doing so at such a time, neither did he think the manager to the company should have written such a letter to the Council. Cr Nathan endorsed what had fallen from the previous speaker, and suggested that when acknowledging the letter the town clerk should refer the company to the powers held by the Council under clause 8 of the Municipal Corporations Act, adding a hope that there would be no further necessity for referring to a matter of this kind again. It was resolved that this course should be A letter was read from Mr S. A’Court in reply, respecting the non-fulfilment of his contract, stating that the delay had arisen through his not being able to obtain the proper sized iron in Christchurch, and having to make extra iron according to directions from the surveyor. Mr Wheeler’s letter of last week relative to forming a private street between Barbadoes and Madras streets was further considered.

After some discussion, it was decided to write to Mr Wheeler that on the cost of the work being paid in, it will be undertaken. The following letters had been received since last sitting and attended to:—From Spreydon Road Board, Mr J. Goss, Canterbury College, Drainage Board, Commissioner of Police, Garrick and Cowlishaw, Miles and Co, G. Brittain, 0. E. Salter, and also a number of telegrams. Cr Hawkes referred to the necessity that had long existed for baths and washhouses in Christchurch. The enclosure in Hagley Park had for some time been found a nuisance, as the upper portion of the river was closed to visitors during portions of the day by men and boys bathing there. The committee had felt the necessity for having some comprehensive scheme of baths and washhouses, but in the absence of funds they had determined to erect a building of a size within their means. They had chosen a very suitable site at the end of the island between the boat shed and Cashel street bridge, and the building would be constructed of materials that it might be enlarged at a future time; He would move the following motion, of which he had given notice—“ That tenders be invited for the erection of a shed on the River Avon." Cr Turner seconded the motion, and said that had the powers not been taken from the Council, which it was hoped they would possess under the new Act, he should have preferred going in for a comprehensive scheme of baths and wash-houses. With so many children growing up around them, he tfelt it was absolutely necessary that some steps should be taken in this direction. Cr Nathan, after some remarks, moved as an amendment —“ That this Council do now proceed to consider the question of the erection of baths and wash-houses on a more comprehensive scheme than that laid down in the resolution.”

Cr Jones seconded the amendment pro forma. After remarks from councillors, in which was stated that, if permitted, many private speculators might be inclined to erect baths and wash-houses, the amendment was put and lost, and the resolution declared to be carried.

Or Nathan said he had obtained all the information desired under his motion, of which he had given notice, in the statement submitted by the surveyor, and he would bring it up again on a future occasion. On the motion of Or Thomson, seconded by Or Bird, it was resolved—“ That the surveyor be instructed to make up the cost of work done in alterations of the roads and footpaths consequent on channelling, and paid out of the general city fund, which should properly have been charged against drainage.” The town clerk was instructed to call for tenders for the weighbridge from Ist Nov next, and the works committee were authorised to accept the same.

A special order, approving of a watering Tate, was agreed to. tsome recommendations from the rate colli ector, on applications for remission of rates, were adopted. The usual weekly report of the inspector of nuisances was read and approved.

Consideration of a letter from several cabmen was adjourned for a fortnight. In reply to Cr Nathan, the Chairman said the bye-law committee were considering the question of two cabmen leaving their stands in answer to a hail, and other matters, and would shortly bring up their report, A number of licenses were considered, some were granted and others refused. Notices of motion for next sitting—Cr Hawkes to move—“ That tenders for the office of bath keeper at the swimming bath in the Avon be called for. That Grs Ick, Turner, and the mover be appointed a subcommittee to decide on the tariff to be charged to bathers, and other rules and regulations.” Cr Hawkes to move—“ That competitive designs for a bridge over the river Avon in continuation of the East Town belt be advertised for. A premium of £4O to be awarded tto the design accepted, and £lO to the second .in order of merit.” The Council then adjourned.