CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1667, 24 June 1879, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, June 23

The usual weekly meeting of the Council was held at 7 o’clock. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs. Gapes, Wilson, Lezard, Clifford, Jenkins, Tremayne, Binstead, Cass, and Ayers. FINANCE. The town clerk reported the debtor balance at the B nk, £3762 3a Id, Receipts during the week, £256 12a ; Drainage Board rate, 46 15s 2|d; bills to be paid, £1297 Os 8d ; drainage rate account, £264 4s 8J ; sinking fund account, credit balance, £56 10j 8d j interest, £1 2s 2d. QUESTIONS. In answer to a question from Or. Wilson, the city surveyor stated that Lyttelton street would be in [proper condition as soon as the weather was favorable. In reply to a question from Cr. Ayers, Mr Walkden said nothing had at present been done to improve the condition of Cambridge terrace East. Or. Lizard drew attention to a verandah post in Gloucester street East, near the belt, which was some four or five feet from the edge of the footpath. Or. Jenkins said the works committee had given the surveyor instructions to take action in this matter as well as in that of verandah posts generally, BATH STREET. The Mayor read a letter signed by a number of the inhabitants of Bath street, drawing attention to the condition that street. The letter was referred to the works committee. THE INSPECTORS OF NUISANCES.

His Worship the Mayor of Christchurch. Sir,—ln the conduct of the business of the Local Board of Health, it not nnfrequently happens that information is required which can be most readily afforded by the_ city inspector. On being appealed to by the inspector of the Board (Mr Pearce), your inspector declined to answer his enquiries, and I am now instructed by jthe Board of Health to express the hope that, with a view to avoid delay in the transaction of business, you may see fit to direct that in all such cases our inspector’s questions may be answered. . Though one or two cases have arisen is which the Board has thought it advisable to take action itself, it is anxious to avoid any unnecessory interference with the work of the city. In the present state of the law the Board cannot neglect its duty of exercising a supervision over the whole district; and it will he a great assistance to it if you will allow your inspector to afford the Board’s officer such information as by reason of the nature of his office may, from time to time, most conveniently be obtained from him.

The Board’s inspector has standing instructions to communicate to the city inspector any information which may reach him with reference to nuisances in the city, leaving, however, that officer to take such steps as may seem to himself best adapted to meet the circumstances of the case.

I have, &c., E. J. S. Harman, Chairman.

Mr Hobbs, the inspector of nuisances to the city, said that Mr Pearce was continually coming to him on little pettifogging questions in which the parties themselves ought to bo referred to him (the speaker). The matter referred to by Mr Pearce was in reference to cesspits within the city. He had never refused to answer questions.

After some observations by different members of the Council, and explanations from Mr Hobbs, It was resolved that the town clerk should acknowledge the receipt of the letter, and state that the Council did not consider their officer (Mr Hobbs) was to blame. BEPOETS. The reports of the surveyor, the city inspector, and the city ranger, were read and adopted. THE COLLECTOR OF BATES. Report of the joint committees of works and finance re the superannuation of Mr Tribe, the rate collector: —• Your committee, after due consideration, recommend that Mr Barker, with a view to proving his competence, bo allowed the opportunity of managing the collector’s department at a salary of .£2OO per acnum, and that as superannuation is repugnant to the feelings of Mr Tribe, that officer be retained as assistant collector in the office at a salary of .£175 per annum. Mr Tribe, who was in the chamber, then addressed the Council, and said he should like to know what he was charged with. After being thirteen years in the service of the Council, and grown grey in it, he was to be degraded by a reduction of £25 a year. He was not charged with getting drunk or coming late, but simply with having grown grey in their service. If ho was thus degroded it would be his ruin, and it could not but be considered degrading to have a junior officer placed over his head. He felt as strong now as ever he did, and would inform the Council that the rates wore got in better this year than they were last year. It was only a few weeks ago when in their report the reorganisation committee had described him as being a good and faithful servant, and now in reward for this his salary was to bo lowered, and as he said before he was to be degraded. The head and front of his offending was that he had grown grey in their service.

The Mayor reminded Mr Tribe that the report ■was not yet adopted. Mr Tribe then withdrew. Cr Cass then moved the adoption of the report. Cr. Gapes moved the following amendment “ That the office of Mr Tribe and Mr Barker be transposed, so that Mr Tribe’s duties be inside the office and Mr Barker do the outside collecting, and Mr Tribe be the chief officer, the salaries of both officers to be £2OO a year.” A considerable amount of discussion ensued.

On the amendment being put the following was the result: —Ayes—The Mayor and Ors. Gapes, Wilson, Ayers, and Clifford. Noes — Crs. Cass, Jenkins, Lezard, Tremayne, and Binstead. The Mayor gave his casting vote with the ayes. The amendment was then put as a substantive motion, and agreed to. VEBANDAII POSTS. Cr. Lezard moved “ That the owner of property at the junction of the East belt and Gloucester street should be requested to remove his verandah posts from their present position, they being now some sft. inside the footpath.” It was stated that the footpath in question was widened after the erection of the verandah. The motion was ultimately withdrawn, the matter being referred to the works committee.

LOWEE HIGH STREET. Or. Tremayne moved “ That in view of giving work to the unemployed, the lowering of Lower High street bo precieded with at the conclusion of the work now going on in Victoria street, the whole cost of both streets not to exceed £500.” In answer to a question, the city surveyor said it was impossible to say how much the work in Victoria street would cost. For his own part there were some of the men there getting 5s a day JwhoJ]were not worth 5d a day. The Mayor and Cr. Tremayne thought the majority of the men in question were good workmen. Mr Walkden said his remarks only applied to a few of the men. Or. Jenkins stated that instructions had been given to the city surveyor to weed out the men, and place some of them on piece work. At the present time there were sixty-fourmon employed in Victoria street, forty-five were employed on stone breaking, and forty-seven of the old hands were at work in different parts of the city. Cr Gapes seconded the resolution. Cr. Wilson moved as an amendment— That no new works be entered upon until the cost of forming Victoria street be more nearly ascertained.” Seconded by Cr, Binstead. The Mayor stated that he had been informed by Mr March that he was in a position to send gangs of men up to the Waipara railway as soon as the new sections were commenced. Cr, Tremayne said men were returning from the railway. They could not earn more than 3s a day. The Mayor said Mr March had told him the men could earn good wages if they would work. The amendment was carried on the casting vote of the Mayor. HESIQNATION. Cr. Ayers resigned his position as a member of the finance, the water supply, and the by-laws committees. The Council requested Or. Ayers to reconsider his decision by the next meeting of the Council. THE EAST BELT BRIDGE. Cr. Cass reported that the committee had inspected this bridge. It was in his opinion a piece of “ bush work.” It was no doubt very strong, but the workmanship was notoriously bad. Or. Lezard said a more disgraceful piece of work he had never seen in his life. Or. Wilson spoke in similar strains. Mr McNamara, the contractor of the bridge, who was in attendance, said ho had understood all along that he was giving satisfaction to the city surveyor. He believed the bridge was as good as any bridge that had been put up. He would remind the Council, however, that they had taken possession of the bridge. The Mayor said this was not a fact.

Mr McNamara said it looked to him that it was a made up thing of the Council not to pay him. He did not know whether they had got the money, or what The speaker was called to order and resumed his seat.

Or. Cass moved the following resolution i—- “ That with a view to the settlement of this vexed question the contractor be allowed to rectify the defects as required by the city surveyor, so as to fulfil the conditions provided in the specifications, three weeks being allowed for effecting such improvement in consideration of this Council foregoing the enforcement of fines due, and amount to date, to the sum of £105.” Seconded by Or. Lezard.

After some discussion the motion was agreed to. The Council adjourned at twenty minutes past ten o’clock.