CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 886, 27 April 1877, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Tuuksdav, Arum 20,

All adjourned special meeting ol' Iho Council was held at three o’clock. Present —llis Worship the Mayor and Crs. Pil’d, Ick, Thompson, Turner, and llawkcs. The minutes oh the previous special and ordinary meetings, so far as the business had been transacted, were read and confirmed. The Chairman said the special business before (lie Council was lo pass the burgess roll.

In reply to Cr. Thomson, the Town Clerk said that a number of ratepayers who were on the defaulters’ list up to a late date had now been placed on the electoral roll, but only one application bad been received in reply to the Council’s notice.

On the motion of Cr. Bird, seconded by Cr. Ick, it was resolved —“That the Mayor and Crs. Hobbs and Thomson certify that the burgess list as laid on the table is correct, and that (be same be the burgess roll for 1877.” This concluded the business of the special meeting. The ordinary meeting was Hum held.

The following clause of (he surveyor's report, left undisposed of at, last meeting, was then considered —“ No. 7. Appended hereto is an estimate for forming three streets which arc in a very bad and unhealthy condition.” After discussion, Cr. Turner moved “That notice be given to occupiers ol property fronting on the three streets mentioned in the surveyor’s report, to term and shingle those streets in accordance with terms ol (lie Act; failing the work being carried out, that the Council undertake it, and call upon the occupiers to pay for same.”

Cr. Hawkes seconded tin resolution, which was agreed to. On the motion of Cr. Ick, seconded by Cr. Bird, two months’ leave of absence was granted to Cr. Jones on account of failing health, the mover of the resolution paying Cr. Jones a high compliment for his regular attendance at the meetings of the Council. On the motion of Cr. Hobbs, Cr. Jones was also temporarily relieved from his duties as chairman of the works committee, Cr. Nathan being appointed to fill the vacancy on that committee.

The Council’s accounts from the auditors, as laid upon the table, were ordered to be printed. A copy of a letter written by Mr Treadwell to the Local Board of Health with reference to block 4 was read, reflecting on the city surveyor and members of the works committee. Mr Treadwell, who was in attendance, desired to be heard in explanation. Crs. Ick and Thomson stated that the statements contained in Mr Treadwell’s letter were positively untrue, and on the motion of those Councillors it was resolved—“ That he should not be heard until lie has withdrawn the objectionable statements, and that his reply must, bo sent through the town clerk.” Mr Treadwell then withdrew.

A letter was read from the Bank of New Zealand, advising receipt from PaymasterGeneral of £B7 ss, for credit of borough fund account, Christ cl lurch.

An application was read from Mr T. J. Gee, asking permission to erect a hoarding in Hereford street, during the erection of offices.

Resolved-—“ That permission be given to the applicant by the surveyor ; but. precautions from accident will have to be taken by the the contractor.”

A letter was read from Mr W. R. Turner, Horseshoe Lake, offering to rent the Council’s reserve, adjoining his section there, when he would undertake to make certain improvements on it if leased to him for five years at £2 per year. An application was read from R. Lovegrovc for permission to stand his steam merry-go-round in Cathedral Square under the trees.

Resolved that the Council cannot comply with the request. A let ter was read from the Commissioner of Audit in reply, who understood that as the Council did not desire to levy a special rate for one year, they knew of no power to compel them to levy such a rate, as long as they (the Council) paid the interest on loans. The Commissioners did not perceive they had any duty in the matter, and the only assistance they could give would bo to sanction the permanent alteration of the rate tor the currency of its payment, but this the Council had not asked to have done.

The following report from the Sanitary Committee was read :

Your committee beg to report that it held a conference with the Board of ' Health, when it was unanimously agreed to submit to each body the following resolutions for approval: — Ist. “ To allow the Local Board of Health the use of the northern reserve and of the southern reserve not used by the Council, at a nominal rental, for night-soil purposes.” 2nd. “To concur with the Local Board of Health as to the form of pan to be used in the Christchurch health district.”

3rd. “ The committee are of opinion that it is advisable that separate scaveugcring contracts should be entered into for the city and for the suburbs.”

Your committee ask the Council to approve of the resolutions, in order that the committees may again meet to carry out further sanitary wants.

Janes Hacks, Mayor

Christchurch, April 23rd, 1877. On the motion of Cr Hobbs, seconded by Cr Ick, t he report was received and approved. The report of (he city inspector was read, in which he expressed his dissatisfaction to himself in following out his duties so far as the house to house inspection was concerned, as no decisive plan of pans had been determined upon by the sanitary committee. This had been his most energetic desire, as he thoroughly found it to be necessary for the welfare of the citizens in the quarter which he had inspected. Other duties iti the way of nuisances were detailed by the inspector, among which he once more mentioned the n uisance of cabmen being permitted to occupy the footpath in Gloucester street, near the Theatre, and hoped the Council would help him to abate the present subject of so much general complaint. The complaint of the inspector was endorsed strongly by Cr. Thomson, who, besides being detained late, had occasion to notice the nuisance at an early hour on more than one occasion.

After remarks, in which the action of the inspector was very much approved, it was resolved to again draw the attention of the Commissioner of Police to a nuisance to the public which has existed for a long time, and has often been brought under his notice.

Cr. Hobbs desired to mention as an interim report verbally that the finance committee had considered 1 the question of the reduction to the city borough subsidy on account of charitable institutions. The committee had had the aid, valuable suggestions, and influence of the two City members, Mr E. C. J. 8( evens and Mr Richardson, and the result of their sittings had been that a communication had been forwarded to Wellington, showing the injustice that would be done to Christchurch, and he entertained the impression that a favorable result would be obtained.

Cr. Itawkes before the meeting closed—though feeling himself very much out. of order—wanted to tell the Council that as I.l l e bathing season had closed he had informed the caretaker that his services would have lo be dispensed with for the present, lie wanted, however, to tell them that from January 17th lo April 17th (three months) the receipts had been £39 Is. The cost of the caretaker forth at time, interest on outlay, besides including one per cent sinking fund, amounted to £26 17s 7d, leaving a clear profit of 50 per cent, for the time the baths had been opened. Before opening the baths next season it would be advisable that some expense should be gone to in improving them, and the surveyor should be authorised to prepare an estimate of the cost of dredging out (he extent of the whole hath. During the season any little boys, however smacked, could in revenge get on t o 1 he bank and muddy the water for the benefit of those who bad chastised them. Alter all he had to eong rat ulatc the Council that, not w it hstanding (he perfume drifted info the baths by that Ileal hen Chinee —so full of a lew trnl'is hut, of many untruths —the result had been so eminently satisfactory; and be would like lo fell (hat Heathen Ciiince or Clmokoozoo J unr., (hat, if he would promise to euinc on the fir.!, day of t he opening of the baths next season he (Cr llawkcs) would promise to give him a good ducking.

A number of licenses were granted and others refused, and the Council adjourned.