CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1060, 20 November 1877, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, November 19. A special meeting of the Council was held at 6.30 p.m., to make a separate rate for watering certain streets within the city. Present —His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Briggs, Tooxner, Ick, Pratt, Ruddenklau, Bird, Thomson, and Bickerton. The minutes of the last ordinary meeting were read and confirmed. The advertisement calling the special meeting and the petition from the residents on this matter were read. Cr. Ick moved —“ That the Council having received a petition signed by a majority of the burgesses in the portion of the city described in the petition, requesting that a ! separate rate of l.Vd in the £ should he made and levied upon that portion of the city for watering certain portion of the streets described in the said petition dated the sth day of November instant, do now agree to make the second rate. That the town clerk he directed to summons a special meeting of this Council for the 24th December next, at 4 p.m., for the purpose of confirming this resolution, and to give public notice thereof, and of this resolution, as required by the Act.” Cr. Pratt seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Another special meeting was then held to consider the propriety of taking over two new streets situated between Victoria street and Park Terrace. After reading the petition received, Cr. Ick moved —“ That whereas a petition dated the 7th September, 1877, was received from sundry persons, being owners and occupiers of so many of the houses and land abutting upon certain private streets situate between Victoria street and Park Terrace, part of Town Reserves Nos. 25 and 26 on the official map, in the N.W. quarter of the city, block 2, and being in rateable value the greater part of all the houses and lands abutting upon the said private streets; the a aid petition was duly received, and the city surveyor in his report of sth November, having reported the said private streets to have been constructed in accordance with clause 211 of the M. C. Act, 187 , this Council, by virtue of the powers given to it under the said Act, ordered an official meeting to be called for Monday, 19th November, at 6.45 p.m., for the purpose of considering the propriety of taking over the said streets, do now resolve to take over the said streets and make the same public streets, to he known by the names of Carlton street, running north and south, and Park street, running east and west, in accordance with the said Act, on and after January 2nd, 1878. That the town r-lerk bo directed to summon a special meeting of this Council for 24th December, at 4.30 p.m , for the purpose of confirming this resolution, and to give notice as required by the Act.” Or. Briggs seconded the motion, which was agreed to. OHDINAEY BUSINESS. After the minutes of the last special meeting had been held, the business of the ordinary meeting was proceeded with, the same Councillors present, east belt bridge. A petition signed by 248 ratepuA ers in the north-east portion of the city was presented by Cr. Ick, praying the Council to take joint action with the Hoathcotc and Avon Road Boards, to erect a bridge over the Avon near Ward’s Brewery. Cr. Ick gave notice of the follow ing motion “ That the Heatbcote and Avon Road Boards be written to, asking them to appoint a committee of tluee members to meet a committee from this Council, to consider the advisability of erecting a bridge c vei the river at the East town belt.” FINANCIAL. The town clerk reported as follow,Received for week ending November 10th— Account general rate, 1877, £144 3s ; Wa:». mukariri general rate, £24 0s 6d; rent oi wiijjhbvityv t'vr ijuarkr, £7 * rent of njittfcv.- 1

place, 7s ; takings at bath, £1 9s 3d; dog tax, 10s ; fines from R.M. Court, 15s ; license fees, £6 15s; local licenses, £2 ; total receipts for week, £lB6 19s 9d. Received for week ending November 17th —General rate, 1877, £214 18s; Waimakariri general rate, £35 16s 4d ; rent of market place, 7s; takings at bath, 11s; insurance subscription to lire prevention, £200; Horatio street subscription, £8 18s 2d; from Mr Inwood, £3 ; Mr Cuff (deposit), £2O; fines from R.M, Court, £3 15s ; license fees, £42 10s ; local licenses and by-laws, £2 lls; total receipts for week, £532 6s 6d. Total for fortnight, £719 6s 3d. Received on account of drainage rate, No. 2, £149 12s Id ; Cr. balance at bank on general account, £698 3s Id ; Drainage Loan account Cr., £l9l 13s 8d; drainage rate, Cr., £1960 lls 8d 5 bills paid and to be paid by works committee for fortnight, £1553 lls lid. surveyor’s report. The city surveyor reported : 1. The pipe connections with the Gloucester street bath and sumps in Gloucester and Armagh streets are now complete. 2. The tank in Cathedral square has been repaired, and is now refilling with water. _ 3. The excavation for the new tank in Tuam street is commenced. 4. The contractor (Mr Smith) has orders to commence sinking the artesian in Armagh street west. 5. Mr Smart, the asphalting contractor, haa now completed about eight miles of footpaths. _ 6. The work of lowering Antigua street is completed, and is ready for shingling. 7. The work of forming the belt in front of the new railway station is commenced. The report was approved as a whole. ASPHALTING. Cr. Ruddenklau asked what system the works committee had adopted in carrying out the work of asphalting, as many persons who had spoken to him considered that the business portion of the city should first be undertaken. Cr. Ick, as chairman of the works committee, said that no hard and fast rule had been laid down by the committee in carrying out the work. Hereford and Cashel streets had first been undertaken, as a great portion of those streets had been asphalted at private expense, and the committee thought these streets should first be completed. Both sides of Hereford street west had been asphalted, as it was known that that end of the street was largely used by the public in visiting the library, museum, and domain. [Hear, hear.] It had also been deemed advisable to allow, the southern side of the footpath to have the benefit of the dry weather before laying down the asphalting on them, and the same rule had been followed, as was the case when the streets were being channelled. As he had said before, the committee had not laid down any hard and fast rule in carrying out the work. Cr. Pratt, while fully agreeing with the course taken by the committee, would like to see the footpaths in Colombo street asphalted, as the traffic along that street was now very great between the railway and the city. Cr. Briggs would also like to see that very bad portion of Oxford terrace between the corner of Worcester and Hereford streets asphalted. Cr. Ick said he would take a note of the places referred to. The Mayor suggested the lines of asphalting leading to places of worship and schools should he continued. COEPOEATION BATHS. In reply to a Councillor, the Mayor said that the baths were not paying at present. The caretaker received £2 per week, and the takings for the last fortnight had only been £2 Os 3d. Cr. Bickerton suggested the advisableness of the baths being thrown open to the public free. Cr. Ick did not think that the present hours were suitable. He would suggest that the whole matter should be referred to the baths committee for their consideration. It was decided to accept this suggestion, and the matter was referred to the committee. BURGESS BOLL. Four tenders were received for printing the burgess roll, i After consideration it was decided to allow this matter to stand over for a future meeting. [ NUMBERING THE STREETS. A letter was read from Mr G. A. Buck asking the Council to kindly pass any resolutions at that evening’s sitting which might be deemed requisite previous to his commencing the work of numbering the streets of tha city. In conjunction with this matter the following clause of the by-law committee’s report was considered — That the system of numbering the streets be by using the centres of Worcester street and Colombo street zero line, and that the numbers should advance outwards in alternate numbers on the opposite sides of the street northward aud southward of Worcester street and eastward of Colombo street. That every 16.Vft. should be a whole number, and in case where the houses are in oue space of 161 ft. that the more distant one should be distinguished by the addition of the letter A ; and in ease where houses were on the line of division of the respective 16' ft. blocks the number should be that of the block bearing the largest proportion of tha house. Cr. Bickerton moved the adoption of tha clause. Cr. Pratt seconded the motion. Crs. Thomson and Ick thought the work rather premature, and did uot thiuk it would be largely patronised by the public. In reply to Cr. Bird, it was stated that the Council would be at no expense in connection with this work being carried out. In reply to Cr. Briggs, Cr. Bickerton said that where ouc firm or person held a frontage of 66ft., either oue or four numbers could be used as might be desired. On being put the motion for adopting the clause of the report was carried. BALLARAT EXHIBITION. The committee, appointed to draw up a report ou what measures should be taken to represent Canterbury at the Children’s Industrial Exhibition, to be held in Ballarat during February uext, reported that there was not a sufficient time to carry out the work satisfactorily. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr Treadwell’s letter, enclosing resolution* proposed by him at a public meeting suggesting the formation of a municipal conference composed of the various municipalities throughout New Zealand, and which had been read at a sitting of the Council held some weeks’ since, was again read by the Town Clerk.

Mr Treadwell, who -was present, explain ad by permission the subject of his letter, and quoted from “ Hansard” the remarks made by go®o <4 fiMrijajysßfc i'jj§

question of subsidies to municipalities wju under discussion.

Cr. Ick, though not agreeing generally wit! what fell from Mr Treadwell, thought the thanks of the Council were due in the presen' instance to that gentleman for his very valuable letter. Possibly if there was a dissolu tion of Parliament, some of the member might find out to their cost the effect of their remarks. He would move—“ That Air Tread well be thanked for his letter.” Or. Bickerton would second the motion more especially after the trouble taken in pointing out the remarks quoted from “ Hansard.”

Cr. Thomson would wish to point out that at that very table they were told by Mr Stevens that the consolidated revenue was burdened possibly as much as it could bear; that they could not expect to receive further subsidies from that source, and that was the great reason why they should be up and doing in their endeavor to obtain reserves as an endowment in the future.

The motion was put and agreed to. A letter was read from the secretary to the Insurance Companies’ Association, acknowledging receipt of communication drawing attention to the Gloucester street bath in course of construction, and asking a contribution towards the expense. At the next meeting of the association the letter would be placed before the members. Enclosed in this letter a cheque for the usual grant of £2CO from the association would be found.

A letter was read from the Chief Inspector of Machinery, Wellington, in reply, by direction of the Minister of Public Works, informing the Council that the Minister has not the power to remit the fee payable under the Inspection of Machinery Act, 1874, for inspecting the Christchurch fire brigade engines, but he may direct the amount to be refunded, which has accordingly been done.

Mr J. <3-088 wrote, applying for permission to use half of the footpath in front of a store he is erecting on South town belt. Cr. Thomson, while moving that the request he complied with under proper supervision, trusted that the conditions of having a protective awning would be strictly enforced, as he had heard of some persons being cut from chips of stones falling into the street. If contractors did not comply with the conditions let the permit be withdrawn, and summons them for every day they work. Cr. Ick said he had heard of a lady a few days ago, who, through being obliged to leave the footpath through the hoarding being insufficient in front of a building, nearly had her leg broken. He trusted that strict supervision would be kept over these hoardings. It was decided to comply with the request on the usual conditions. CAETKE STEKET. A petition was read, asking that this street, 18ft. in width, might be taken over by the Council. Or. Thomson said this private street was laid out sixteen years ago, before there was any Municipal Council, and it would be very hard on the residents if they were compelled to pay rates without receiving any benefit therefrom. He moved—“ That the street be taken over under the usual conditions.” Cr. Briggs seconded the motion, and thought that under the circumstances of the case, and on sanitary grounds, the Council should take this street over. Cr. Bickerton would suggest that the works committee should see if it were not possible to obtain 2ft. or more to widen this street. The motion was put and agreed to, VICTOEIA STEEET. A petition was read, signed by a number of residents in Victoria street, asking the Council to include what remains of the north-east side of that street (from Q-oss’s corner to North town belt) in the asphalting now in progress. Cr. Bickerton moved —“ That the petition be complied with.” Cr. Ick seconded the resolution. After some remarks, the motion was put and carried by the casting vote of the Mayor. EXTEA HANDS. A petition was read from the temporary hands in the employ of the Council, asking that they might be allowed the day’s pay for the holiday given to the regular hands, for which the latter received payment. It was decided to decline to accede to the request. EAST BELT BEIDGE. Cr. Ick moved the motion of which he had given notice at an earlier portion of the sitting. After pointing to the necessity for a bridge at the place indicated, Cr. Ick said that if the conference came to an agreement, designs might be called for which could be commenced first as a foot or cart bridge, as determined upon, and provision made for an enlargement when thought necessary. Cr. Bird seconded the motion, which was agreed to. DAMAGING- FOOTPATHS. Cr. Bird moved —“ That the attention of Inspector Broham be drawn to the practice of parties damaging the footpaths of the city by riding and driving over them.” The motion was seconded and agreed to. NOTICE OF MOTION. Cr. Bird to move at next meeting —“ That it be an instruction to the sanitary committee to consider the advisability of having the side channels swept/ and kept clean by contract, and if favorable to this arrangement, they have power to call tor tenders for same.