CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1301, 21 May 1878, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The City Council held its usual weekly meeting last night, at 7 p.m. Present—Crs. Ick (in the chair), Pratt, Radcliffo, Ruddenklau, Bird, and Briggs. Before confirming tho minutes of the last meeting, Cr. Bird wished to know whether anything had been done with reference to Cr. Briggs's suggestions as to a more equitable distribution of the fines under the Dog Nuisance and Public House Ordinances. Cr. Briggs said ho tmderstood that the matter was, with others, remitted to the Mayor for him to take action upon while in Wellington. The Chairman believed that this and similar matters would be fully discussed at the proposed Municipal Conference. After some further remarks the matter dropped, andj the: minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. notices of motion. Cr. Briggs drew the attention of the Council to the manner in which the Coiuicil by-laws were carried out, especially with regard to that one regulating the rate of speed at which persons should drive round the corners of tho streets. The Chairman remarked that the question would como more properly under discussion during the consideration of the inspector's report. board of health. A letter was read from the secretary of the local Board of Health, notifying the appointment of Mr F. Hobbs as inspector for the city. A letter was received from the Board of Health, referring to a resolution passed at the last meeting of the Board to tho effect that a circular letter be addressed to tho several local bodies in the Christchurch Drainage district, calling their attention to the general sanitary state of tho district, and tho unsatisfactory position of the various bodies in regard to the public health, and that steps should be taken by the Council to amend the present Act in some efficient manner. Tho matter was referred to tho sanitary committee, the town clerk receiving instructions to reply to the letter, stating the steps they were taking in the matter. DRATNAGE. A letter was read from Mr J. W. Treadwell with reference to the separation of suiface and sewage drainage, and suggesting a plan for carrying out such a scheme. 'lho letter was oulered to bo acknowledged. FIKE BRIGADE. The following correspondence was read from Mr Superintendent Harris, of tho Volunteer Fire Brigade:— Christchurch, May 20th, 187 S. Tho Chairman of the City Council— Sir,—As I believe, from all I |hcar in the city, there is but littlo probability of any of the water

supply schomes yon have under your consideration being carried out for a long time, and feeling deeply the danger we are incurring without a supply i° r fire purpose, after carefnl consideration, I have resolved to submit to you the following for firo service and watering the streets only. I find the cheapest efficient supply is to be ohtained from the Lyttelton pumping station. The tank there, I am told, is more than 200 feet above Cathedral square, which wonld givo as much pressure as any of the schemes you have at present. 1 am also informed there is more water running to waste than we are likely to use for the above purposes, and that satisfactory arrangements could be made with Lyttelton for pumping. The plan I propose is to lay on a 6-inch pipe from the reservoir to end up Colombo street, with 4-inch branch pipes for a distance of 10 chains in every street running east and west, from St. Asaph street to Salisbury Street, thereby reaching with ease every building from Madras street east to Montreal street west side, thus protecting the most valuablo portion of the city. From information given mo by Messrs P. Cunningham, C. E. Bishop, and J. Sowden, this work can be dono for £7OOO, but, suppose wo say, £BOOO, this would bo a small cost for such a valuable service, and could bo extended at pleasnre from East belt to the West, thus covering tho whole of tho town. Yours, &c„ "VV. Harris. Tho Chairman of the City Council— Sir,—Your Council having made application to tho Insurance Association for an increase of their contribution towards the maintenance of the brigade, they ask that a statement might bo prepared of the cost of the same in past years. This has been dono. It shows that you have paid during the eleven years you have had the control of the brigade for fire-engines, water tanks, engine stations, contribution to school bath, laying water pipes, and maintenance of brigade £12,243 18s 3d. Against this you have received contributions £4260 17s 2d; you havo assets £5542 2s, thus leaving a loss to the Council during the eleven years £2612 Is 3d, or £240 per annum. In the assets nothing has been allowed for tho value of fire water tanks and other largo sums raid for water supply experiments which are charged in the expenditure. If one-third of tho cost of these works aro taken as an asset the loss to tho Council is reduced to loss than £l5O a year. I have not written tho above in defence of tho Insurance Companies ; on tho contrary, they have eithor paid too much or not half what they should havo done. My opinion has always been that tho city should so protect property, and thereby reduco tho risk, as to causo a reduction in insurance rates far in excess of any sum they aro likely to contribute to fire protection. I trust the figures I have given, which are taken from the Council books, and compared with thoir annually printed balance sheets, will effectually silence tho absurd statement that the control of the brigado is a loss to tho Council of £IOOO per year. Members of the brigado frequently ask how it is the brigade costs so much, and their services are voluntary. I think the above gives tho reply. The Chairman, after tho letters were read, said he was of opinion that tho letter under notico should be referred to tho committeo that had been appointed for the consideration of matters relating to water supply and fire prevention. Cr. Pratt remarked that tho committee, after meeting for the discussion < of tho matters referred to, were of opinion that they could get valuable information from Lyttelton, in which Mr Harris apparently coincided as he had since got tho information, and he (Cr. Pratt) thought thoy could not do better than following tho plan suggested by the chairman, and refer the correspondence to tho committee. In reply to a question from Cr. Radcliffe, The Chairman said that the committee had every facility afforded them for procuring information, and they could not do better than remit the whole question to them. Cr. Euddenklau referred to certain letters and articles which appeared in tho local papers, imputing blame to and casting censure on the Fire Brigade. This censure he considered undeserved. Ho had known Mr Harris for many years, and had a high opinion of his services in making the Brigade as efficient as it now is—a state of efficiency which had never been surpassed Bince its formation. As regarded the hose, the Brigade would shortly have an additional 2000 feet. Newspaper censure was only likely to damp the ardour of the Brigade, and would be productive of no good. As regarded the two last fires, they were exceptional disasters, and accidents would occasionally happen with the best organised brigades. At tho firo at the Al it unfortunately happened that one tank was empty, and~ the absence of the superintendent undoubtedly made the fire more disastrous than had his personal exertions been available to cope with it. As for tho last fire in Cashel street, the building was in flames befora the alarm had been given. The police should be instructed in cases of firo breaking out,_to at once give the alarm, instead of remaining to watch the fire. The Insurance Companies too, he considered, should act with greater liberality, and not leave the onus of supporting the brigade to be left to the burgesses. The appointment of night watchmen! at an expense of say £2oo_ a year would bo a great improvement, that instantaneous warning of the breaking out of fire might bo given, and the engines could then be got out more rapidly than hitherto. Cr. Briggs pointed out that great advantage would bo gained in tho matter of prompt attendance at fire 3 if steam were constantly kept up in the fire engines by means of gas jets. Cr. Pratt referred to a passage in one of Mr Harris' letters, in which the writer deprecated any intention of defending the Fire Insurance Companies. He thought the passage referred to looked very like it nevertheless. _ Tho city, ho thought, had very far from received a quid pro quo for it a expenditure in the direction of fire prevention. The additional security given to tho property of the citizens ought to lessen the rates of insurance.

The Chairman had no doubt that the Insurance Companies by no means paid their fair share towards the cost of the maintenance of the brigade. If they did so they ought to be represented on the fire brigade committee. It was a question worth consideration. Cr. Briggs was of opinion that the chairman of the association, at any rate, might be a member of the fire brigade committee. The Chairman spoke at some length of the public indebtedness to the brigade since its formation. Cr. Bird drew the attention of the Council to the fact of the Insurance Association meetiug early next month, and no doubt they would communicate with the Council on the matters under discussion. After some further discussion, it was ultimately resolved—" That Mr Han-is be thanked for his letters, and that they be referred to the Fire Brigade committee." TRAMWAY. A letter was read from the secretary of the Tramway Company, stating that in accordance with the Tramways Act of 1872 he had deposited the plans at the office of the City Council for public inspection. The clerk was directed to acknowledge tho receipt of tho letter. BUILDING PRIVILEGES. Permission was granted to James Tajt in the terms of his application for the temporary use of half the width of tho footpath during the erection of Mr McClatchie's new premises in Cashel street. RIFLE GALLERY. A letter was read from Mr W. Hobbs, asking the permission of the Council to carry on a rifle gallery in the Triangle. The application was opposed in a letter from Mr Allchin, who conaidered it would be a nuieanco. Crs. Bird and Briggs were both in favour of the applicant's request being gi-anted, though the latter really thought it scarcely came within their functions. If a shooting gallery was a nuisance, bowling and skittle alleys were equally so, and yet they # were allowed. If the latter places could be carried on without the special permission of the Council he failed to see why exception should bo taken to rifle galleries. The Chairman said ho considered the question of nuisance might be left to the neighbours of the rifle gallery, and it was time enough for the Council to interfere when the question came before them on that score. Cr. Pratt moved, Cr. Bird seconded, and it was carried, that tho requested permission be granted. SANITARY. A letter was read from Mr J. V. Boss, complaining of the carelessness of the contractor in emptying closet pans, and requested that his attention should be called to it. The matter was referred to the inspector. KEROSENE BY-LAW. Bome conversation took placo regarding tho by-law regulating tho sale of keroseno and dangerous goods, and a resolution proposed by Cr. Hird, and seconded by Cr. Pratt, was passed—" That in terms of clause 82 and 340 of the M.C. Act, 1376, a special meeting of the Council be ticld on Monday, the 3rd June next, a 1 0.55 p.m., to adopt by special order a by-law for. the prevention and suppression of tho nunanco or danger resulting from the storage of largo quantities of petroleum and other volatile fluids in oriioary iftores or buildings, and that public notico be given as provided by clauses 3i!j-2 of the tail Act." STREET DRIVING. Cr. Brigs* rovcrted to some remarks he had made at an earlier period of the evening respecting the disregard of some of the Council's by-laws, e-speci tllyon the subject of driving round street corners. He begged to move—" That the attention of the Inspector of Polico bo called to the manner in which tho by daw regulating the speed of drivicg round street corners is disregarded, aho to the obstruction caused to pedestrians, especially on Saturday

and Sunday evenings, by tho congregation of persons on the footpaths at various street corners, and to request that he will use his best endeavours to remedy the matters complained of." The motion was agreed to. LICENSES CANCELLED. The licenses of cabmen Emerson and Lynch were cancelled, in consequence of certain proceedings which were recently adjudicated upon in the R.M. Court. PUBLIC HEALTH ACT. Moved by Cr. Euddenklau, seconded by Cr. Bird, and carried—" That the Sanitary Committee of this Council bo authorised to meet a committee of the Board of Health for tho purpose of agreeing upon somo scheme to amend the Public Health Act." REMISSION OF RATES. Eates were remitted in favor of three poor and aged widows. surveyor's report. The Surveyor's report was road, as follows : No. 1. In cousequenco of some verbal and written complaints about tho state of tho East Bolt which were brought in last week, the locality was visited by tho secretary and engineer of the Gas Company, accompanied by tho chairman of tho works committeo and myself, and wo found that, in consequence of the earth not being properly rammed in whore the gas mains were laid the rain had caused the ground to sink and become very unsafe. Tho engineer promised that attention should bo given to it at onco, in order to repair tho evil complained of. No. 2. Tho house at the Sandhills Reserve is completed and ready for habitation. No. 3. The alteration of Cathedral square is being proceeded with. No. 4. Tho following applications for building licensos havo beonmado:—Outer area—Mr Loggatt, Whatfily road; Mr Abel, Lichfield street; Mr Lawrence, St. Asaph street; Mr Basch, Tuam streot; Mr J. Ross, Feaeock street. The report was adopted. This terminated tho business, and tho Council adjourned.