CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 907, 22 May 1877, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, May 21

The usual fortnightly meeting was held at the Council Chambers. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs. Turner, Bird, Ick, Thomson, Hawkes, and Hobbs.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The Town Clerk reported as follows: Received for week ending 12th May, 1877 : General rates, 1876, £l2 Os ; Waimakariri, £2 Is 6d ; rent of market place, 7s ; account of Horatio street, £1; account of Carlton right-of-way, £2B 2s 8d ; licenses (carters), £1 10s ; publicans’ license fees, £l4 os ; fines from R.M. Court, £ls 17s 6d ; dog tax, £lO ; total receipts for week, £Ol 12s Bd. Received for week ending 19th May—General rate, 1876, £23 10s 6d ; Waimakariri do, £3 10s lid ; rent of marketplace, 7s; account Carlton right-of-way, £7 12s 3d ; dog tax, £ll 10s ; fines from R.M. Court, £5 10s ; publicans’ license fees for extra bars, £7 10s; received from General Government, £ls ; receipts for week, £75 8s 8d ; total receipts for fortnight, £167 Is 4d. Cr. at Bank on general account, £2034 0s 6d : drainage loan account, cr., £844 8s ; drainage rate account, cr., £3169 13s 10d; bills, &c., paid and to be paid by works committee on general account for fortnight, £2221 13s 9d ; on drainage loan account, £156 Is 6d. Cr Turner asked and obtained leave of absence for Cr. Nathan who had been called away hurriedly to Wellington.

The Mayor reported that Messrs H. E. Alport and T. B. Craig had that day been duly elected city auditors for the ensuing year. The City Surveyor reported as follows :

1. The steam roller has been at work in various streets during the past week. I tiinl that the average cost of rolling and blinding is about 30s per lineal chain, including the cost of material for blinding. This expense would have been considerably diminished had the roller been heavier, as the work would have been accomplished in a shorter space of time. 2. I have had a portion of Oxford Terrace in the north-east quarter properly formed. It stood very much in need of it, as there were*a number of now houses lately erected in that locality. The shingling of the same road will be done as soon as 1 can procure the shingle. 3. During the late rains the wot penetrated the roof of the Resident Magistrate’s Court very badly, and I fear it is of little avail to patch the roof any longer, for as soon as one part is repaired the rain enters at another. During the reading of the last clause of the report, Cr. Thomson suggested that the roof might be covered over with a tarpaulin.

The Town Clerk mentioned that the Court was on lire one day last week.

Several councillors remarked that it was a pity anyone took the trouble to put the fire out..

The report was approved. The Mayor thought it would be advisable if the Council applied to the Government lor permission to hold the Court in the late Provincial Chambers.

Cr. Turner said that possibly the Mayor

was not aware that an application from the Council for the use of the chamber and offices had previously been made to the Government, but was not received very favorably. However, there would be no harm in trying again. He would move —“That an application be made to the Government for the use of the late Provincial Council Chamber and offices for the purposes of the City Council.” _ Cr. Bird seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Mayor said he had received a return of the receipts and expenditure from the Waimakariri Board for the last two years. [Cries of “Oh, oh!” and “At last.”] Cr. Turner said it was gratifying at any rate to know that the return had been made out, and was in the possession of the Council.

Cr. Ick said it was really time the return was laid before the Council. He hoped it would be published for the information of the ratepayers. A letter was received from Mr John Anderson enclosing account for the steam road roller, and saying that a superior and more expensive machine had been imported to that which appeared in the old catalogue, as the manufacturers had ceased to make the latter machines previous to the order reaching home. The difference in the cost was £BS. Cr. Ick would move “ That Mr Anderson be recouped the extra cost he had been put to.” It was his (Or. Ick’s) opinion that Mr Anderson had acted wisely in importing the improved roller, and he had given the works committee good reasons for having gone to the extra expense. *Cr. Turner, though not intending to second the motion, did not purpose for one moment to oppose it, but he trusted the resolution would be withdrawn for that meeting until Councillors had had an opportunity of first seeing the offers received from Melbourne at the time, with accompanying sketches. The Council would then be in a position to see if these tenderers had estimated their tenders with the intention of supplying the improved roller.

Cr. Ick said that under the circumstances lie would not press his motion at that meeting, but he hoped the Council would remember that Mr Anderson’s tender was the lowest received. The motion was then withdrawn.

An application was read from Mr Joseph Wood, asking permission to use the whole of the footpath adjoining Jones’s building, Hereford street, for the purpose of erecting offices for the South British Insurance Company. Cr. Bird moved—“ That the request be granted.” Cr. Turner seconded the motion.

Crs. Hawkes and Ick spoke of the inconvenience to pedestrians by allowing the whole of the footpath to be monopolised, simply to give space to the contractors to use the back portion of the premises as a stone yard. They had both voted against a similar privilege being granted to Mr Gee last week, and regretted the motion on the subject had been carried.

Cr. Turner hoped the Council would hesitate before throwing obstructions in the way of good substantial buildings being erected. Cr. Thomson considered the public safety ■was the first question. In his own experience he narrowly escaped half a brick one night, which fell from a building in Gloucester street. He considered a covered footway should be erected outside any hoarding in front of buildings in course of erection. The Mayor explained why he had not opposed Mr Gee’s application. The Surveyor said that in every permission he granted he made it a condition that, on his giving twenty-four hours’ notice, any scaffolding he objected to would have to be pulled down. The resolution was then agreed to. A petition was read, signed by a number of residents in Young's lane, leading from Montreal street, saying the former is in a very bad condition, and requesting the Council to form and metal the lane, when the petitioners will agree to pay the usual proportion of such expense. It was resolved that the surveyor prepare an estimate of the cost of forming, metalling, and channelling this street, the work to be proceeded with as soon as the money has been paid into the Council. A letter -was read, signed by a number of residents in Colombo street, at west side of Cathedral square, asking that the footpath in that portion of the square might be asphalted. Cr. Turner moved— “ That a reply be sent that the propriety of asphalting tliis footpath will be considered in the general scheme for asphalting the city.” He felt that there were many places in the city which required asphalting more than this pathway, which did not front on any business or other premises. Cr. Hawkes seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A petition was read, signed by sixty-two residents in Barbadoes street north, drawing attention to the state of that street, and asking that it might be made passable Jor traffic during the present winter. Cr. Ick said he noticed the petition was signed by the Rev. Mr Lingard, on behalf of the Cemetery Board. He would like to know what amount the Board were prepared to contribute towards this work. If temporary relief could be given by cutting a ditch, or anything of that kind, he thought it might be done.

After further remarks it was decided to refer the matter to the surveyor, A letter was read from the General Crown Lands Office, Wellington, enclosing Gazette, marginally noted, containing Order in Council reserving certain lands in the district of Timaru for the purpose of granting them to the Corporation of the borough of Christchurch.

A telegram was read from the Treasury, Wellington, saying that £ls had been remitted to the Christchurch borough account, amount of revenue collected by Treasury on behalf of borough for April, 1877. The following letter from Dr Foster was read with reference to the late case for rates, City Co' ,M cil v. K. W. Fcreday : I beg bmiotify to you, for the information of the Council, that the case against Mr Fereday came on for judgment on the 11th instant, when the Resident Magistrate dismissed it on the grounds that the office occupied by him could not bo considered as being within the legal meaning of the word “ land,” and also that there was no structural severance between these offices and the rest of the building. The smallness of the rate renders it impossible to appeal from this decision in this particular case ; but it appears to me that there are good grounds for an appeal, and that it is impossible To know how to rate premises thus situated until the question is settled by higher authority. I therefore advise proceedings being taken upon some rate [higher than £5, with a view to teat the case.

In reply to Cr. Ick, the Town Clerk said that all the occupiers of upper tenements could now refuse to pay on the ground that they were illegally rated, and the landlords of these premises could also refuse to pay, as they might say they had been improperly rated, and thus the rate was bad. Cr Turner said he would rather put up with the first loss than fee the lawyers. They would have the remedy in their own hands, when assessing next year. If they found that the Magistrate’s decision affected the receipts to any material extent it would perhaps be better to refer the matter to the finance committee.

It was decided to do this, the committee to report. The following letters had been received since last meeting of the Council and attended to -From Mr R. J. S. Harman, Mrs Plunkett, Town Clerk, Picton, and Manager Bank of New Zealand. A letter was read from Mr S. A’Court complaining of an injustice done him by the works committee in not accepting his tender for mud-carts. He had been led to understand that Iris tender was £2O lower than any other received, and had not been accepted in consequence of the determined opposition of the city surveyor. On flic motion of Cr. Turner, seconded by Cr. Hawkcs, the town clerk was directed to reply that the Council have full confidence in the works committee, and in their decision regarding these tenders. Cr. Ick moved the following motion of which he had given notice—“ For the information of the public that clauses 199 and 200 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, respecting the making of new streets, bo published in the newspapers, and that before taking over any new streets the same shall be channelled and footpaths asphalted to at least 4ft. 6in.”

Cr. Turner seconded the motion, which was warmly supported by councillors, and agreed to unanimously. The following report was read from the lire brigade committee : Your committee hog to report that they hare considered the question of a water supply for lire prevention purposes. The committee, in view of the prospect of the contemplated scheme of drainage by Mr Carruthers being carried out, in which they are informed ample water supply is provided for flushing purposes and can he utilised for fire prevention, do not deem it advisable to suggest a large outlay. The committee, however, are of opinion that immediate steps should be taken to provide one or two extra tanks in the meantime in localities at the present time wholly devoid of water to check fires ; and with this view hare had plans and estimates prepared by the city surveyor for such. The committee recommended to the Council that an underground tank be constructed of concrete with timber covering, in the centre of the road, at the junction of Lichfield street with Colombo street, to hold 30.000 gallons of water, at an estimated cost of ,£330, provided the promised subscriptions for a tank in that locality arc paid ; also, that a similar tank, to hold 20,000 gallons, be constructed in the locality of Latimer square, at an estimated cost of £220. These tanks being made, the committee think will suffice until a definite water supply shall be decided upon. The time having now arrived for the renewal of the fire brigade uniforms, it is advisable to send orders for same by outgoing mail, and the committee ask for a special vote of £IOO for that purpose. L. E. Nathan, Acting Chairman.

The report was received. Cr. Thomson said that in the absence of any member of the fire brigade committee, he would move “That £IOO be voted tor uniforms, but that the consideration of the remainder of the report should be deferred.” Cr. Ick seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The following report was read from the finance committee : Your committee beg to report that they sat on April 10th and May sth and 17th, to consider the question of the reduction made by the Government from the subsidies to municipalities. The question was considered, and also in connection therewith the letter referred by the Council to the committee from the Borough Council of Lyttelton on the same subject. The committee recommend to the Council that invitations be sent to all municipal bodies in New Zealand to co-operate, with the view of a meeting of representatives taking _ place in Wellington, to take such action conjointly as may then and there be decided upon. ASPHALTING FOOTPATHS. The question of the amount to be paid towards the above work by property was considered, and the committee decided to recommend the following for approval by the Council : The cost of the work is 2s 3d per yard, including maintenance. The committee consider that the 3d shall be taken to cover maintenance, and the balance (2s) be divided equally between property and rates, viz., Is to be paid by owners of property, and Is out of the general borough funds. Property will therefore bo charged at the rate of 6d per foot frontage. The committee suggest that the bye-law committee be instructed to fix that amount by byelaw. If the footpath is completely covered it will be double the width, and the owners will have to pay Is per foot. The committee have under consideration the question of reserves and new contract for the banking account, and will report at an early date. F. Hobbs, Chairman. The report was received. Cr Turner said that all the committee wished for the Council to agree was that property should pay one-half the cost. On the motion of Cr. Hawkes, seconded by Cr. Ick, the report was adopted. The lighting committee reported as follows : Your committee beg to report that they have received a letter from the Gas Company, explaining the discrepancy in the cost of the city lamps and the lamp charged by meter at the corner of Cashel street. The letter also mentions an amended charge per lamp for the extended hours of burning, and further calls attention to the advisability of adopting the “ meter system ” as in force at Wellington. Your committee would recommend the adoption of the meter system, and for that purpose recommend that one in fourteen of the present lamps be fitted with meters. Your committee consider the reduced price proposed by the Company, viz., 11s 4d per 1000 feet, still to bo excessive, considering the very large consumption. J. G. Hawkes, Chairman. On the motion of Cr Bird, seconded by Cr, Turner, the report was received and adopted. On the motion of Cr. Ick, three eases ol rates reported on by the collector were remitted.

Tire usual fortnightly report of the inspector of nuisances was read. The Mayor referred to nuisances created by several residents in Aldridge street. He had brought the matter under the notice of the works committee that morning, as it required immediate attention. Cr. Bird had

visited the place with him, and they found it in a most disgraceful state. Similar remarks would also apply to the Triangle. Simply for the sake of the health of the city it was absolutely necessary that something should be done at once, and under clause 237 of the Act the Council had power to take immediate steps. Cr. Turner pointed out that the necessary action could be taken under clause 220. He would move “ That the surveyor be instructed to take measures in accordance with clause 220 of the Municipal Corporations Act.” Cr. Bird seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Cr. Ick desired to I’cmark that before the work of asphalting commenced throughout the city, every person should be compelled to lay down a pipe from their premises leading to the side channel. It would be a pity to have the paths constantly broken up for this purpose. In reply to Cr. Thomson, the Town Clerk said he had written out the letter to the Licensing Bench, with reference to the question of urinals discussed at the last meeting of the Council. This he had submitted lo Cr. Hobbs, who asked that the letter might ho held over for a little while, and lie would t ake the responsibility of this being done, as it would hardly be fair to forward t lie letter while the Licensed Victuallers were carrying out the desire of the Council.

An opinion was generally expressed that no councillor should have taken upon himself the responsibility of interfering with any general resolution passed by the Council. The Town Clerk read the letter he had written, when it was decided to forward it to its destination.

One application for a driver’s license was deferred, and another declined. The Council then adjourned.