CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1096, 3 January 1878, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Wednesday, January 2

The usual fortnightly meeting was held at 7p m. Present —His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Ick, Bird, Ruddenkiau, Pratt, Briggs, Jameson, and Bickerton. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. MAYOR’S REMAKES.

The Mayor said that, in taking the chair for the jfirst time at a regular meeting of the Council, he would like to say a few words. They must all hare noticed that the business of the Council had been generally protracted more than was necessary, and this had been in a measure caused by departing from the rules which should exist for the conduct of the business of the meetings. He would endeavour to adhere in future to the rules laid down for their guidance, and would ask the assistance of Councillors in supporting the ruling of the chair in this direction. [Hear, hear.] There would be some important resolutions brought before them that evening, remitted by the committee appointed at the late Fire Brigade dinner. These resolutions would speak for themselves. They would all, he was sure, be glad to welcome Mr Jameson once more to his scat at the Council table. [Applause.] OFFICIAL PAPER. On the motion of Cr. Ick, seconded by Cr, Ruddenkiau, the Press was appointed the official paper of the Council for the next six months. LEAVE OF AU3ENOE. On the motion of Or. Ick, seconded by Cr. Pratt, three weeks’ leave of absence was granted to the City purveyor, who has been suffering from ill-health for some time past. WORKS COMMITTEE. Cr. Pratt was elected a member of the works committee, FINANCIAL. The Town Clerk reported that £lO4 2s 2d had been received for week ending 22nd December, and £215 7s Od for week ending December 29th. The Dr. balance at bank on general account amounted to £638 12s 7d ; drainage loan account, Cr. balance, £l9l 13s 8d ; drainage rate, Cr. balance, £1964 9s 7d j bills paid and to he paid by works committee for fortnight, £443 2s 7d. COLLECTION OF RATES. The Mayor referred to the small amount of rates collected during the last fortnight, hut supposed it was on account of the holidays. In reply to the Mayor, The Town Clerk said there were about £2OOO still outstanding. surveyor’s report. The City Surveyor reported as follows : 1. The works committee accepted the tender

of Mr Butler for forming, shingling, and draining Barbadoos street north. 2. Antigua, street south and Montreal street north have been shingled under the new con* tract.

3. The fountain at the corner of the Bank ot New Zealand has been removed, and a lamp placed in its stead, but a drinking fountain will be attached to the lamp, and Mr Anderson’s fountain is being setup in Cathedral square. t. The water tank in Tuam street is now finished with the exception of the timber top, which is being pub over. 5. The right-of-way leading from Lichfield street at the back of Colombo street is now being channelled, and will be asphalted in a few days. (5. Marten street is formed and partly shingled. The report w'as approved. SOUTH TOWN BELT. On the motion of Or. Ick, the works committee received authority to use some of the broken metal on the South town belt, ordered under a previous resolution of the Council. COMMITTEES. Or. Jameson was elected a member of the by-law and sanitary committees in place of the late Mayor. Christchurch water supply. The Mayor explained what had been done by the committee at the meeting lately held, and read the resolution which has already been published. Mr Clark would soon arrive in Christchurch and it would be as well for the Council to take the matter immediately in hand.

Cr. Bickerton said the practice of giving premiums in Christchurch had not met with very general success—as witness the nonpractical result of the essays on Ergot in Rye and the Drainage- of Christchurch. Professional men would not compete as the judges were not professional men, and the suggestions from amateurs contained a great amount of chaff for little wheat.

Cr. Ick hoped that no cheese-paring policy would influence the Council in arriving at a decision on so all important a matter and one affecting the welfare of the community. Local knowledge was to his mind a very important feature, and would all the more readily admit of Mr Clark arriving at a decision on the desired object. The amount would be a mere bagatelle compared with the results to be obtained, and he was sure if the Council voted the money for the best schemes, the ratepayers would back them up. To test the opinion of the Council he would move—- “ That the City Council vote £IOO, and £SO for the best and second best scheme for a water supply for fire preventive and domestic purposes for the city of Christchurch and suburbs, and that the schemes selected be submitted to Mr Clark for his report.” Cr. Eriggs had great pleasure in seconding the resolution. He did not see how they could go wrong in offering the premiums, as they were only initiating a work which would have to be carried out at no distant date — no matter what the cost. If the deep system of drainage were determined on they would require the water for flushing the drains in addition to the much required want of water for the fire prevention purposes. As Cr, Ick had suggested, ho (Cr. Briggs) was sure the insurance companies would assist, and also the Drainage Board. He would not have supported the resolution had the matter been confined solely to professional men, and they had instances of what amateur talent had done in Canterbury—notably the Waimakariri bridge. Cr. Jameson, though feeling with them all that the question of a water supply was a most necessary and urgent one, thought it was too important to be hastily considered, and he would suggest that the mover should postpone his resolution, to allow of each councillor digesting the subject thoroughly.

Cr. Ruddenklau did not think there was sufficient time to have schemes sent in by local men, and without being disrespectful, he did not approve of local amateur opinions on such a question. Sixteen gentlemen had been appointed on the committee. Seven attended the meeting, and, after talking half an hour, chucked the whole thing over to the Council. He was certainly of the opinion that a special meet ing of the Council should be called to consider the whole question.

Cr. Bird did not think there was sufficient time to get in schemes before Mr Clark’s arrival. The best course, in his opinion, would he to take Mr Clark round, and give him 8100 for a report. Cr. Pratt supported the resolution,. The money would be well spent, and some very valuable suggestions might he obtained. Cr. Bickerton moved an amendment agreeing with the committee’s recommendations, and appointing a special meeting of the Council to consider the question. Cr, Ruddenklau seconded the amendment. Cr. Ick, in replying, referred to the artesian water supply failing, and said it would be absolutely necessary shortly to take some steps for a supply for domestic, purposes. On being put, the amendment was declared to be be last. Cr. Ruddenklau moved as a further amendment—“ That Mr Clark be requested to give an outline of a scheme for a water supply for Christchurch and suburbs.” The committee who sent in the recommendations had not given them very much consideration, and if the Council adopted them hurriedly they would simply be doing what the Drainage Board did, and make themselves ridiculous. Cr. Bickerton seconded the amendment, proforma. The amendment was again lost, and the resolution declared to be carried. Cr. Bickerton moved—“ That the Mayor, Crs. Ick, Pratt, Ruddenklau, and the mover be a committee to frame the conditions of a rough specification upon which the premiums shall bo awarded.”

Cr. Bird seconded the resolution, which was agreed to.

STREET TRAMWAYS. A letter was read from Mr J. Birch, interim secretary for Canterbury Tramways Co. limited, enclosing a notice of a company being formed for the construction and working of tramways in Canterbury, and writing to request the Council to appoint a time to meet the provisional directors with a view to arranging the terms on which the Council will permit the company to operate within the city. Referred to Crs. Pratt, Jameson, and Ruddenklau, as members of the By-law Committee, to consider the letter and report at next meeting of the Council. It was resolved to add the Mayor’s name to the sub-committee. MACtISTEEIAL. A letter w r as read from the Department of Justice, Wellington, informing the Mayor that he had been elected a Justice of the Peace under the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876. DEITING BOUND COENEE3. A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary’s office, Wellington, acknowledging

receipt of a by-law passed by the Council to regulate the speed at which persons shall ride or drive round street corners.

The reading of the letter was received with general marks of approval by all the councillors.

I Cr. Ick said ho had very great pleasure in j moving “ That the town clerk be instructed ! to give the requisite notice that the by-law referred to shall be brought into operation on and after the I.lth i si.” Cr. Pratt seconded „tie motion, which was agreed to. CAB PARKS. Cr. Ick brought under tiie notice of the Council a ease where a cabman had been hailed in the street by a gentleman who had to pay two shillings for being conveyed within the belt. He (Cr. Ick) would like to know whether the fact of the cabman being hailed, made any difference in the fare. After looking at the by-law it was stated that the man had no right to have charged any more than a shilling. Cr, Ick said he knew the number of the cab. REPORTS. The usual reports of the inspector and rate collector were read and approved. NOTICE 01' MOTION. Cr. Bickerton gave notice of the following motion for next meeting:—“That the committee appointed to ascertain what land is available for a road metal siding also report to the Council as to what land may be obtainable for the purpose of public abbatoirs.” The Council then adjourned.