CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 871, 10 April 1877, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, April 9. The ordinary meeting was held in the Council Chamber. Present —His Worship the Mayor, and Crs. Ick, Nathan, Thomson, Turner, Hobbs, Hawkes, and Bird. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Mayor desired to report that a vote of the ratepayers had been taken on the question of acquiring Mr Morten’s block, and that the vote had been against that course. He woidd like to draw the attention of the Council to the very insufficient supply of water throughout the city for fire-prevention purposes, more particularly at the east side. His Worship thenreferred to the difficulties experienced at the late fire in conveying water from the Gloucester street school baths to the scene of the fire, on which occasion he mentioned not only had private property to be intruded upon, but a number of fences had also to bo pulled down.

Cr. Nathan made some remarks on the Fire Brigade committee having been in readiness for sometime past to go to Heathcoto Valley as suggested, for the purpose of inspecting the water works there with a view to future action.

The Mayor explained why this inspection had not been made so far.

Cr. Hobbs merely desired to say that the sub-committee appointed to go down to the Heatheote Valley had first wished that the artesians there should be in full working order before the committee went down officially. He had heard that the wells there had been lately tried with an engine, and one of the pipes had burst. It was only with a desire that the works should be in proper working condition, that the committee had not visited them With regard to the Gloucester street baths, he knew the school committee had found a difficulty in making their bath as available foxfire prevention purposes as they would desire, in consequence of the Board of Education refusing to contribute anything towards the support of these baths. He felt certain that thousands of pounds worth of property had been saved merely through water beixxg available from these baths at the late fire, and he could not but think that after this experience the insurance companies would bo only too glad to assist any action, and subsidise any amount that might be contributed towards rendering the Gloucester street bath more available for fh*o pi’cvcntiou purposes, or for the erection of other tanks in tliis portior of the city. If any such assistance could be obtained in the direction indicated, he thought the Council should contribute sometliiug towards the work for the protection of the citizens.

During remarks from Councillors, Cr. Bird, though speaking unofficially, was certain that the various insurance companies would subscribe liberally to any arrangement with the Gloucester street bath or permanent works for procuring an efficient supply of water for the purposes of fire prevention. He would move—“ That the matter be referred to the fire brigade committee to bring up a report at an early date.” The motion was seconded and agreed to. The following report of the committee re selection of land was read ; 1. Your committee have much pleasure in reporting that they have succeeded in selecting 2000 acres of rural land, permission having been granted by the Government, under clause 350 Municipal Council Act, 1876, to select the same for endowment in aid of the borough funds of the city of Christchurch. 2. The land is situated in the Geraldine district, about sixteen miles from Temuka and thirteen from the Orari railway station, from which places there are good district roads. It is for the most part undulating, well-grassed and wellwatered, and nearly the whole can be easily cultivated. 3. Your committee think the City Council fortunate in obtaining so good a selection, and one so easily accessible. They are under considerable obligation to Mr B oucher for information as to the locality of the land, as without his local knowledge they would not have been able to make so good a choice. “ 4. Your committee, therefore, beg to recommend the Council to make Mr Boucher some suitable acknowledgment for his services. ‘‘Your committee also recommend that the Council take the necessary steps to have the land properly surveyed, in order that the provisions of clause 351 may be complied with, and that no time will be lost in having it fenced, when it is thought there will bo no difficulty in leasing the same at a fair rental. “ On behalf of the committee, “ C. T. Ick,” Crs. Ick and Thomson paid a liigh compliment to Mr Boucher, who had accompanied the committee, and by his knowledge of land available and advice a very desirable piece of land had been reserved. He felt this gentleman should be remunerated for his trouble, the more so as a surveyor had since been paid at the rate of 2s per acre for securing contiguous but less eligible land than the committee had selected. He would move—- “ That £SO or at the rate of fid per acre be voted to Mr Boucher for his trouble.” Cr. Thomson seconded the motion which was agreed to. The Town Clerk reported as follows :—Rccccived for week ending 31st March, account general rates, 1876, £6B 7s; Waimakariri do, £ll 7s 10d; watering rate, £95 2s ; rent of Market place, 7s ; quarter’s rent of Post Office, £75 ; quarter’s rent of R.M. Court, £3l 5s ; quarter’s reat of weighbridge, £7; fines from R.M. Court, £l7 12s fid; dog tax, £ls ; account of Horatio street, £9; deposit, Salisbury street, £9 ; licenses, £l7 10s ; received on account of baths, 12s ; interest at bank on general account, £ll7 0s 8d; total receipts for week, £474 4s. Receipts for week ending 7th March : —Account of general rates, £33 17s ; Waimakariri do, £5 12s lOd : rent of Market place, 7s ; received on account of baths, 17s 3d ; on account of Horatio street, £1 ; licenses, £l9 10s ; dog tax, £l4; fines from R.M. Court, 17s fid ; subsidy from General Government, £617 9s; total receipts for week, £693 ; total receipts for the fortnight, £1167 14s 7d; creditor at bank on general account, £4890 18s 5d ; on drainage loan account, £1312 9s 2d ; on drainage rate account, £300,065 4s 4d; bills, &c, paid and to he paid on general account, £1304 12s 2d; on drainage loan account, £62 8s 3d. The Surveyor’s report was read as follow’s ; “No. 1. Mr J. L. Wilson requested to be relieved of a portion of his contract for shingle, as from unforeseen circumstances occurring he was unable to finish it within the contract time. The woi’ks committee acceded to his request, and instructed me to call for tenders for its delivery. This has been done, and the new contract was given to Mr Brightling. “ No. 2. Notwithstanding the late heavy rains, and the rapidity with which the water is conducted to certain localities by the concrete channels, I believe that no inconvenience has been felt nor damage occasioned in the streets of the city beyond one or two of the gratings being occasionally choked by falling leaves. “ No. 3. The forming, shingling, and channelling of the east belt is now completed. “C. Walkden, City Surveyor.” The report was adopted as read. A letter was read from Mr D. Reese, contractor for the now Government buildings, asking for the whole width of the footpath in Cathedral square, and also part of the street on the S.W. corner of the square. Application granted subject to the supervision of the surveyor. Two tenders were opened for asphalting the footpaths of the city —One from Mr Smart, Christchurch, for 2s 3d per yard; the other from Messrs Craw and Co., Auckland, for 3s, the contractors undertaking to keep the paths in repair for three years. Cr. Turner said lie had much pleasure in moving the following resolution: —“ That the works committee be authorised to conclude a contract with Mr Smart on the basis of his tender, but with a recommendation that the work may be completed earlier than three years.” Cr. Ick, in seconding the motion, would like the Council to determine whether the whole of the footpath should be asphalted within the city, or only its centre. The Mayor suggested that this phase of the question did not affect the resolution. The motion was put and agreed to. After further remarks on the question of width, Cr Ick moved —“ That the work be carried out as hitherto, viz, from the outer edge of the path.” Or Nathan seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A discussion took place as to the advisableness of any street being completed before a second one was commenced, after which the matter was referred to the works committee.

A letter was read fi-om Mr 0. Flockton, calling attention to the time occupied in getting out the lists for publication in the daily newspapers. In further explanation saying his time had been five days, and leaving the question of payment in the hands of the Council. Resolved —“ That the letter be acknowledged.” A letter was read from the Treasury, Wellington, transmitting information of a duplicate voucher for £617 9s having been telegraphed to the manager of the Bank of Hew Zealand to the credit of borough fund account. The following amounts were enumerated : —Receipts by general x-ates during year ending 31st March, 1876, as per i-oturn of Mayor, £5890 17s ; subsidy of 10s in the £ payable thcx*eon out of consolidated fund, £2945 8s 6d; less borough’s contribution towards maintenance of Hospital and charitable institutions of the district, £2327 19s 6d. A letter from the manager of Bank of Xew Zealand to same effect.

Cr Hobbs could not for one moment understand the amount deducted for the Hospital and charitable institutions of the city. Ho felt this required most minute investigation at the hands of the finance committee, and would move—“ That the document be referred to that committee.” The motion was seconded and agreed to. A letter was read from Messrs Harman and Stevens, wishing to dedicate two private streets one off Montreal street going westerly, the other from South town belt going northerly until meeting the former street, for public purposes. After remarks as to the necessity of considering the whole question of private streets, it was decided, on the motion of Cr. Turner, seconded by Cr. Nathan, to consider this matter at a special meeting of the whole Council, to be called for that purpose. A letter was read from Mr T. Eaine, complaining of being reduced to one vote on the burgess list. A letter was read from Mr E. W. Fereday, complaining of a summons having been issued against him for rates. Cr. Turner asked whether similar cases to Mr Fereday’s had not been given against the Council on previous occasions. The Town Clerk said that the circumstances in this case were different to the others. It was decided to allow the case to go to an issue, and that Dr Foster be instructed to represent the Council. The following letter and telegrams had been attended to:—Letter from Mr C. Clark; telegrams from Mr T. Sims, Holden and Co., the General Government, Mr G. S. Cooper, and Town Clerks of Wellington, Dunedin, and Auckland. After transacting other business the Council adjourned.