CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1461, 22 October 1878, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

, ♦ The usual fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held at seven o'clock last evening. Present-His Worship the Mayor, and Crs. Ick, Gapes, Tremayne, Clifford, Ayers, Wilson, Binstcad, Cass, and Jenkins. FINANCE. The Town Clerk reported as follows : Total receipts for the fortnight, .£1648 lis 6"d ; drainage rate, £Mi 15s 6d ; balance, .£2BIO 13s lid. Cr. balance, i£2!9 5s 5d ; bills paid, .£l9O ; bills to pay, i>69B 9s7d. linking Fund Account— Cr. balance, 14s lid; interest Government coupons, £11 15s; Dr. at Bank, =£1162 2s sd. THE MAYOR'S STATEMENT. His Worship stated that since the last meeting lie had received an invitation from the City Council of Wellington to attend that city on the ocoa.-ionof the opening of the railway. That invitation he had accepted, and had been present on the occasion in question. While in Welling, ton he had taken the opportunity to try and get certain things included in the Corporations Ordinance Amendment Act, now passing through the House, Since returning he ban learned that these amendments had been before the Upper House for some months, and it was a very singular thing that no communication whatever wai made on the subject to the bodies which the Act particularly concerned. It was understood that the local bodies should receive copies of all such Acts. Until a few days before he went to Wellington he did not even know that suon amendments were before the House. Mr Stevens had promised to endeavour to have certain matters inserted into the Ordinance—merely verbal alterations, indeed, in one or two clauses. Still, if this were dono it would have to be remitted back to the Upper House, and the Bill might be endangered for the present session. With regard to the question of a water supply for Christchuvch, they had at the last meeting omitled to appoint a water supply committee. Srincethat meeting ho had himself had evidence that the water was sensibly diminishing. He thought they should invite the citizens to consent not to waste their water, but to have t<ip3 placed upon the pipes. He also trusted the City Council would set a good example in this respect and have taps placed upon all public wells. Another matter he wished to mention to them was that Mr Woods, who was the contractor for the erection of the new Colonial Bank had sunk an artesian well on the prem'ses which had the effect of washing out the sludge into the side channels. He had also sent in the modest request to close up the footpath for the period of twelve months, and had said if the Council woald not give their permission he would appeal to the public, thus setting the Council at defiance. WATERING RATE. Cr. Ick moved—" That notice be given by the town clerk that it is the intention of the Council to strike a watering rate of three halfpence in the «£, in accordance with the petition sent in." Seconded by Cr. Gapci, aud agreed to. > It was resolved to hold a special meeting on the 4th November to confirm the present action of the Council. CABMENS' FARES. A petition was tent in by the cabmen asking the Council to reconsider the subject of fares, which were in many cases too low. On the motion of Cr. Ick the petition was referred to the by-law committee, to report upon to the next meeting. The Mayor thought that the by-laws committee's time would be wasted unless they took the whole matter of by-laws into cou-.ideration, if necessary. . , This the committee promised to do. CITY RATES. In answer to a question by Cr. Tremayne, the Mayor stated that during the years 1871, 1870, 1870, 1877, the only amount actually lost m rates was ,£212. The Council took every Btop to recover rates wherever practicable. HOARDINGS WANTED. Application was made Irom Mr J Wood to enclose a footpath in front of the proposed new Colonial Bank, Hereford street, for twelve montln. The four feet allowed by the city surveyor was quite inadequate fur the purpose. Cr. Gapes moved—" That Mr Wood should be granted the whole of the footpath for one month, * n«l that further applications should be made from time to time, if necessary." The city surveyor -t t"d that, although Mr Wood had teguu the building, he had not made application for a building license. Cr. Gapes then withdrew Lis motion. Cr v'i ii-on moved —''That all builders must com;;lv with the rules of the Council as prepared by its surveyor, and that uo exception shall be made whatever, as all stone can be dressed before being brought upon the ground." After some discussion, the surveyor s regulations were adopted, Cr. Wilson afterwards putting his motion as abov.i. Seconded by Cr. Cass pro forma. Or ick moved, as uu amendment, that Mr Woods'application bo declined until he submit the plans in the ordinary manner. Seconded by Cr. Cnss. Cr. Wilson said he W-Juld bo prepared to BCtttoud the amendment. The amendment was carried. Apphctioii was nude by Mr James I.ut lor Beriais&ion to erect a hoarding •and occupy the footpath in front of Reece'd new warehouse, to be bulb in Colombo street, during its erection. On the motion of Cr. Gapes, the application wag granted, subject to the Council's regulations.

BiniiDTNfi BY-LAWS. Colombo street. Oct. 21, 1873. City Council v Gee and iteoee Building By-laws. Dear Sir, —These cases eaino on in due eoursu on the 7th hist., before the Resident Magistrate and Mr J. I). Macpherson, when the Bench intimated that they should give judgment for the Council on the charge of not depositing plans, but would allow the matter to stand over to give the defendants an opportunity to appeal. The'time to do this expired this morning, but has been renewed for a week longeron MrGarrick'sapplication. The objection taken went only to the reasonableness of the bylaws, all technical points being waived. As to the other charges for non-payment of fees, evidence was given of a tender, and I have arranged to submit to a suit conditionally on the fees being paid. Yours truly, C. J. Foster. ASPHALTING. A letter was read from Mr J. B. Way, complaining of the fact that many of the streets of Christchurch had been asphalted on both sides, while Park Terrace had been done on neither, and asking the Council to take some steps in the matter. Cr. Ick said that the works committee had written to Mr Way, tolling him that the work would be done in due course, probably in about a mouth. The action taken by the works committee was approved. THE BOOK STALL QUESTION. Application w->s made by Mr Richard Shannon to have a book stall at the new post offieo for the sale of books and newspapers, and offering to pay ,£ls a year for the right of the same. The matter was deferred until the completion of the new post office. THE SOUTH TOWN BELT. A letter was read from the Sydenham Borough Council, asking for a meeting of joint committees of both bodies, in order to arrive at some understanding with regard to the South Town Belt, as to its completion, formation, and future maintenance. Cr. Gapes moved—" That the works committee be appointed to confer with a committee of the Sydenham Council." Seconded by Cr. Tremayne, and agreed to. THE SIDE CHANNELS. A letter was read from Mr George Ebert, stating that he was unable to carry out his contract for sweeping the side channels, also asking the Council to pay hiaa whit they owed him. Cr. Tremayne moved—" That the application be declined." Seconded by Cr. Wilson. The Mayor said some six days' work was due to Mr Fbert. The motion was then agreed to. Cr. Gapes moved —" That the contract with the City Council be annulled, and that the Council take over the work of keeping the channels clean itself." Seconded by Cr. Cass. Cr. Wilson moved as an amendment —"That the word ' former' be placed before the word City Council." The amendment was not seconded. The motion of Cr. Gapes was agreed to. THE BRIDGE OVER THE AVON. A letterwas read from Mr McNamara, asking for the substitution of totara for iron-bark in constructing the bridge over the Avon at Ward's Brewery. Cr. Ick moved—" That the application be declined, but that there be an extension of three months given in the construction of t'je bridge." Seconded by Cr. Wilson, and agreed to. A WATER SUPPLY. A letter was read from the Drainage Board, enclosing the report famished by tho medical officer to the Board of Health. The report has already been published. The clause to which the special attention of the Council was directed was that bearing on the water supply. The following gentlemen were appointed a water supply committee : —Crs. Gapes, Ayers, Wilson, and Cass. REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE. Your committee have had under consideration the question of collecting the scavenging acconnt, and have decided to recommend to the Council to employ an extra inspector to assist the present one, for the following reasons: — 1. The inspector is not able to inspect the city and carry out his other duties in such a manner as is desirable for the perfect health and comfort of the citizens, putting aside the collecting of the scavenging account. 2. Tho summer months are approaching, when great attention should be given to tho sweeping of the channels, and your committee consider, by the aid of an assistant, the inspecting and channel sweeping work can be thoroughly looked after, and tho collecting of tho quarterly accounts effected without having recourse to the services of the collectors, who have already enough to do. Your committee recommend that the pre.seut inspector's salary be increased to £2oi) per annum, and that the assistant's salary be £l5O. Your committee have examined in to the state of the rate for 187 S, and find as follows :—Amount of rate £8404 4s; collected, £3546 14s ; outstanding, £4857 7s. All the rate notices have been served, and owners of those properties are being served with, notices where their tenants have not paid.

In consequence of the large overdraft, your committee recommend the Council to give instructions to have all outstanding rates at once recovered. H. Thompson, Chairman. In speaking of the question of the addition to Inspector Hobb's salary, the Major spoke very highly of the work of that officer, and said he could speak from actual experience that the city was very fortunate in the possession of so efficient an officer.

The report was then adoptedThe town clerk was then instructed to advertise for an assistant inspector. SANITARY COMMITTEE'S REPORT. Yonr committee have considered the letters referred to them by the Council last meeting—viz.:— 1. That from the Christchnrch West School Committee, asking for a reduction to be made in their scavengering account. Yonr committee have decided to recommend to the Council not to make any reduction, as the whole of the public schools do not pay anything in the form of rates towards the maintenance of city works : and further, the Council's financial position will not permit of their being generous at the ratepayers' expense. 2. With regard to the question of stopping the waste of water from artesian wells, yonr committee after considering the subject decided to ask the Council to appoint a new water supply committee, and remit the qnestion to be reported upon by them in connection with their general report on a water Your committee have visited Lyttelton aud Allen streets, and from their lilthy condition would ask the Council to give directions that they he formed and drained nnder clause 210 of the Municipal Corporations Act. Your committee have also considered a petition from a portion of the ratepayers of the Avon district, aud are of opinion that their request to 1)3 joined to the city should he acceded to by the Council, W. Wilson, Chairman. When the last clause came on for consideration, his Worship read the petition signed by fifty-seven persons, praying for the annexation. The counter petition, signed by sixtytwo ratepayers, was also read. The Mayor said that some of the persons had signed both petitions. The Mayor thought the counter petition should not come to them ; it would have to go to the Governor. Cr. Wi son moved the adoption of the clause in question, and in the coarse of his remarks said there could be no doubt that before very long the City Council would absorb the whole of the Borough of Sydenham All such little districts would ultimately be absorbed into adjoining and larger municipalities. Seconded by Cr. Ick, who said the very fact of Sydenham or other districts being joined on to Christchurch would add immensely to the value of their property. The Mayor said there had been influence at work in the getting up of this counter petition. Cther members having spoken, and Cr. Wilson having replied, the clause was agreed to unanimously, and the report as a whole was adopted. CR. AYERS' NOTICE OF MOTION. This motion was again adjourned, on the understanding that at the next meeting it should come on at an earlier hour. surveyor's report. No. 1. Now that the weather is favorable for the work, I am going to give Mr Smart instructions to lay the asphalte crossings in Cathedral .square in pursuance of the resolution of the Council some time back. I have also given him instructions to repair the footpaths generally where required. A short length of footpath has been taken np in Cashed street and rolaid to a more convenient level, for which the owners of property fronting on it have consented to pay the usual rate. No. 2. With regard to the letter from Messrs Jones, Haigh, and others concerning the open ditch along the Ferry road, I beg to susgest that wooden bridges would at present be sufficient. If a concrete channel were laid now it would have to be an exceedingly largo one, aud if the work is delayed until the'Drainage Board works are constructed at that pliuo, a channel of the ordinary size would answer. No '3 I beg to call the Council's attention to the fuel that I have no stone yard. Also, that since the reclamation of the river between Victoria aud Colombo bridges have been completed I have no place to deposit mud and sweepings ol the streets. it would be a very expensive process, to cart it to the Sandhills. If we had some place mor near the town for a depot the material collected would be very valuable for many purposes-m the park, for instance, where the sand is so lienr the surface, a layer of street scrapings would be an ettectnai remedy against the sand blowing. , No t Since I last reported on the subject the following building licenses have been granted, viz. -Airs Dicky, Harry street; Pengelly, Durham street; Tulloy, Manchester street; D. Jiiisk, St. Asaph -Heel'; Wadey, Manchester street; Humsen, Timni street; llaig, ferry road; liobaay, Colombo street; Kobson, Durham si reel-; McGregor, tiarbadocs street ; ' awsou.Kilmoro street; Williams, Cashel street ; Smith, Durham street; Toombs, Olnticester street; Pnrdie, road oil St. Asaph street West; Hooper, Wilson road; Rose, Gloucester street. C. Wai-kpen, City Surveyor. The report was approved.

LAMP WANTED. Cr. Wilson moved—" That a lamp be orectprl at the junction of Cambridge Terrace and Kilmore street." Agreed to. HIGH STREET. Cr. Wilson moved—" That the attention of tho works committee be directed to the unsatisfactory condition of the High street, from Barrett's Hotel to the Cavershain, with a view to its early repair." Seconded by Cr. Cass. Supported by Cr. Irk, who stated that last year the Council spent ,£IO,OOO over broken metal aloie. The works committee was then empowered to purchase a quantity of broken metal from Mr J. L. Wilson at 8s 9d per yard. YVEiailßtiirXlE. Two tenders were opened for the lease of this weighbridge for a year, one from the present leasee, Mr Morgan Lawrenson (£66), and the other from Mr W. J. Burke (.£104). The highest tender was accepted, snbject to the usual couditions. NOTICES OF MOTION. Cr. Gapes gave notice to move at the next meeting—" That the side channel on the south side up High street, from Madras street to the Ferry road (train, be formed with concrete." Several notices of motion were postponed until the next meeting. The rouncil adjourned at ten minutes bofore midnight.