CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1026, 9 October 1877, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the City Council was held yesterday afternoon. Present—The Mayor and all the councillors, DECLABATXON. Crs. Tooruer and Bird, who took their seals for the first time, made the usual declaration. NOTICES OF MOTION. Cr. Briggs gave notice that he 'would move at next meeting —“ That in the opinion of this Council it is advisable that the City of Christchurch be divided into four wards.” In the event of this resolution being carried Councillor Briggs will move the Council into committee to consider “ the boundaries of the

proposed wards.” Also—" What steps are necessary to be taken under clause 21 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, to give effect to the said resolution.” Or. Tck gave notice that lie would submit the following at next meeting—" That a valuator be appointed for three years at a salary of bean officer of the Council, and shall superintend the compiling of the rate roll, do all valuating as required by the M.C. Act, and hand the roll over to the City Council as soon as it has been signed by the proper authority. mayor’s remarks. The Mayor in his opening remarks stated that a telegram had been received from the Mayor of Wellington, enclosing one from the Lord Mayor of London regarding the raising of funds to relieve the distress in India. He thought something should be done in the matter. He also referred to the unsatisfactory results which had arisen from handing over the functions of the Local Board of Health to the Drainage Board, and advised that those powers should be resumed by the Council. ACCOUNTS. The Town Clerk reported that the accounts for the fortnight had been £732 5s Bd. Drainage rate, £lls 15s ; Drainage Loan Act, credit balance. £lB9 15s 5d ; general account, £l6Ol 18s 9d ; drainage rate account, credit balance, £2389 14s 5d ; bills paid by works committee, £857 8s 6d; bills to be paid, £445 17s 3d ; drainage rate account, bills paid by finance committee, £462 ; Drainage Board rate, £lll 14s 7d. surveyor’s report. The following report was read and adopted:— No. 1. I received instructions from the works committee to advertise for tenders for sinkingan artesian well in Armagh street west, to flush the channel complained of by Messrs Barker and Cook, and I have done so, but no tenders were sent in. I have seen many of the inhabitants of Armagh street, and I find that some of them are willing to contribute towards the expense, but in the absence of knowing what that expense would be, it is not possible to say what proportion of the outlay the contributions would amount to. No. 2. By direction of the works committee I have commenced lowering Antigua street, in oi’der to improve it and make it coincide with the South belt as to levels. A plan showing the proposed alteration will be laid before the Council herewith. It was resolved, on the motion of Cr. Bickerton, seconded by Cr. Ick, “ That an experimental well be sunk in the top of Armagh street west, under the direction of the surveyor by day labor, if the inhabitants contribute half the cost, which will not exceed £SO to the contributors. It was also resolved that if the drain through Harvey’s can be done by fascines, the work be done in conjunction with the new work. PRINTING BURGESS ROLL Cr. Radcliffe’s notice of motion “ That the Council should in future print the Burgess Roll and supply copies to citizens at cost price, the cost not to exceed £10.” Or. Ick seconded the motion, which was carried. ALTERING THE TIME OP MEETING. Ci’. Briggs’s notice of motion for altering the time of meeting of the Council from four in the afternoon to seven in the evening, was brought on, the mover remarking that the alteration would be more suitable to the personal convenience of members than the present arrangement. Cr. Radcliffe seconded the motion, saying that although it might be inconvenient to such of the members as lived out of town, the officers of the Council, and the reporters, still he felt convinced it would tend to the more efficient transaction of the public business. Cr. Bird opposed the motion on the ground that neither its mover nor seconder had shewn any cogent reason for the alteration. In the past, he was sure, the old plan had operated well enough, and he was certain that more business would be transacted between four and six than between seven and eleven. Cr. Pratt gave the motion his cordial support, although he was one of those who lived outside the city. Cr. Toomer also supported the motion, and unless the ofllcers of the Council did not object he thought there was no argument against the change.

The Mayor stated that the officers of the Council offered no objection whatever. Cr. Thomson would vote for the change, although he could sympathise with his friend, Cr. Bird, who was never in his best humor till he had had his dinner. Cr. Bickerton made some humorous remarks regarding the tediousness of post-prandial speeches, and supported the motion. Cr. Ick spoke in a similar strain, and the motion, on being put, was carried unanimously. CORRESPONDENCE. The correspondence was then read. A letter was received from the Hon. Mr Hall, notifying that it had been decided not to press the Domains Bill tins session of the Assembly. The writer remarked that on consideration it would be found that there was not much difference between the views of the promoters of the Bill and those who opposed it. The Drainage Board wrote, enclosing an excerpt from the engineer’s report which has been published; the Board requesting the Council to take steps towards draining certain sections near Mr Whiteman’s premises. Cr. Kuddenklau spoke of the Board as a sort of Upper Chamber to the Council, and he did not believe in the process followed in such matters. Cr. Ick remarked that the Board had done very little for the Council in the matter, considering the allowance made them. Cr. Bickerton was in favor of the matter being referred back to the Drainage Board for them to do the work, as it -was underground drainage, and he moved accordingly. Cr. Bird seconded the motion, saying that they were the proper authority to deal with all such drainage. Cr. Thomson moved an amendment —“ That the work be done, providing that Mr Buxton allowed pipes to be taken on to his land.” The matter was a temporary measure and one of surface drainage simply, and while they were cavilling as to who should do it, the neighbors were surrounded with mud, and fever was being bred in their families. Cr. Ick seconded the amendment, and hoped to see the -work carried out at once, without more ado. Cr Pratt was in favor of the motion. The Mayor remarked that the case was too trivial to treat as a test case as between the Council and the Drainage Board. The amendment was carried. Mr Dayman wrote desiring action to be taken on the petition touching Eaton place, deferred by the previous Council to its successor. It was resolved to inform the writer that

the Council had applied for the necessary powers to the General Assembly. The Registrar of the Supreme Court applied to the effect that the steam-road roller might be used in front of the Court buildings, and a similar application was received from the chairman of the Templeton Road Board. Referred to the works committee in so far as regards the Supreme Court, while with regard to Road Boards in general, it was resolved, on the motion of Cr. Ick, “ That a charge of £2 2s a day should be made, the Council to find its own engineer; a regular form of agreement to be drawn up by the works committee.

Mr Wynn Williams, by letter, protested against a portion of the cost of asphalting paths upon owners of lands abutting on footpaths, Persons would not object when frontages were small and valuable, but he considered it unfair that those who lived in thinly populated neighborhoods should have to contribute equally with those who occupied sites in the centre of the city. If the proposal was carried out it would dispel the illusion that only Is in the £1 could be levied in a year. For himself, he did not require the footpath around his place asphalted, and why should he be required to pay for the comfort of pedestrians in general ? The paths were common highways, and should therefore be made out of the general rates. He hoped the Council would consider the matter, for if the rates were to be levied they should be apportioned according to rateable value.

Cr. Bird thought that Mr Williams should be referred to section 202 of the Municipal Corporations’ Act. Cr. Thomson moved, and it was resolved—- “ That a reply be sent to Mr Williams pointing out that the by-law had been duly advertised, that none of the citizens had taken exception to it, and that it had been passed prior to the receipt of his letter.” Mr Henry Allen, as foreman of the jury which inquired into the death of the man Fisher, who was run over by a cab, forwarded a recommendation that the Council should puss a by-law to regulate the speed of all vehicles while crossing the junction of streets.

Cr. Briggs suggested that the letter should be referred to the by-law committee. This was seconded by Cr. Ick, who said the committee would find materials ready to hand, as the whole thing bad been exhaustively gone into on a previous occasion. Motion carried.

October stb, 1877. To his Worship the Mayor and the members of the City Council. Gentlemen —I take the liberty of drawing your attention to an amended Drainage Bill now before the House of Assembly. I am informed that the 3rd clause is intended 1o give Drainage Board power to levy a shilling rate, if necessary, beyond the power to raise a similar rate under section 51) of the present Act. If this is the case, and the amended Act will give such a power, it is obvious that the Drainage Board will be in a position to impose a much largt r r.-.te upon the ratepayers th n they could have clone last year if the Hill proposed then had been carried. If the present Bill becomes law, and if it docs give the power which I am informed it is intended to give, the Drainage Board will have power to levy rates to the extent of 2s in the ■£. I trust I am not taking too great a liberty in drawing the special attention of the Council to the above Bill. I have, &c., H, Wynn Williams. Memo. —I have just received the following telegram from Mr J. E. Brown : “ 1 have only consulted yourself and Ollivier. I will never consent to more than Is rate per annum in any part of the district. Will see Bill made definite on this point. “ J. Evans Brown, “ Wellington, Oct. Bth, 1877.”

The Secretary to the Drainage Board wrote that the Amended Drainage Bill at present before the House had not been introduced with the cognisance of the Board, which had intimated to one of the city members its disapproval of the whole Bill. Or. Thomson thought Mr Williams had found a mare’s nest, and read the third clause in proof of this remark. Still, the Bill was a mistake as a whole, and he was glad to find the Drainage Board did not in any way approve of it. He moved—“ That the Council disapprove of the whole Bill.” Or. Briggs considered the Bill altogether premature, and for that reason he would oppose its approval. After discussing the provisions of the Act in a conversational manner, the motion was carried, Or. Bickerton saying “ No ” because he approved of the second clause. Mr G. L. Lee wrote directing the Council’s attention to the propriety of at present providing proper access for the fire engines at the Gloucester street baths by means of sumps. It was resolved, on the motion of Cr. Bickerton, seconded by Cr. Thomson, that the work should be done under the direction of the works committee. NUMBERING THE STREETS. Mr George A. Buck wrote, enclosing a letter from the Postmaster-General, who stated that he considered the plan of numbering the streets would be a great postal advantage if properly carried out. Mr Buck offered to do the work, if the Council gave its permission. Cr. Buddenklau moved—“ That the Council approve of the suggestion, give its consent, and that the matter be referred to the byelaw committee to report on it.” by Cr. Bickerton, and carried. WATERING THE STHEETS. It was resolved that the prayer of the ratepayers regarding the watering of the streets should be granted, and that a special meeting of the Council should be held next Monday week at 6.55, for the purpose of making a rate to defray the expenses of the same. COLLECTOR’S REPORT. The collector’s report was read and approved of. inspector’s eepoet. The usual report of the inspector was read and adopted. INTERVIEW REFUSED. John Miller wrote asking an interview with the Council, as his driver’s license had not been granted at the beginning of the year, and he could show that there were no valid grounds for the refusal. The Council declined to re-open the question. LICENSES. A number of licenses were granted, others postponed, RECOVERY OF POWERS. The Mayor asked if the Council would consider the question of recovering the powers oi the Local Board of Health, with which the Drainage Board was willing to part. It was resolved that the matter should be referred to a special meeting, to be held or. Friday night, at 7 o’clock. The Council then adjourned at twenty minutes to eight o’clock.