CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1679, 8 July 1879, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

OHBISTOHUBCH. Monday, Juiy 7. The ordinary meeting of the Council was held at seven o'clock. Present—His Worship the Mayor. Crs. Gapas, Tremayne, Lezard, Wilson, Jenkins, Cass, Binstead, Ayers, and Clifford.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. QUARTERLY ACCOUNTS. The Mayor stated that the accounts of the past quarter had been passed by the auditor, and were now on the table. The statement referred to showed—Beceipts for the quarter, general account, £6531 6s lid; overdraft, .£3284 4s 3d. The payments for the quarter amounted to .£9815 lis 2d. WEEKLY ACCOUNTS. The usual financial statement of the past week was presented, the total items being:—Overdraft at the Bank, .£2849 12s 7d ; receipts, £1167 18s 7d; Drainage Board rate, £139 2s Id; credit balance, £3610s 7d ; bills to be paid, £1340 19s Bd. The accounts were passed for payment. QUESTIONS. Cr. Binstead asked what was involved in the resolution Jhat all the wooden bridges should be abolished. He should like to see it given effect to, but it would involve an immense outlay. The chairman of the works committee, Mr Jenkins, said the matter was not yet out of the hands of the Council. It required a distinct resolution first. Cr. Wilson asked if any amendment had been made to Lyttelton street, as several complaints still reached him about the condition thereof. Cr. Binstead remarked that the street was not yet out of the hands of the contractor. Cr. Cosb asked th*t tho surveyor should be requested to allow a few loads of gravel on the footpath in Allen street. Cr. Jenkins stated that this waß a private street. The Mayor remarked that this was a street which it was proposed to deal wivh shortly. Cr. Wilson drew attention to the want of repairs to the culvert at the corner of Tuam street. The Town Clerk stated that there was a letter to the Council on that subject. In answer to Cr. Gapes, Ihe Surveyor stated that an artesian well in Montreal street had, with others, been plugged, by request of the Drainage Board.

CORRESPONDENCE. A letter wis received from the Ashburton Borough Council, stating that employment had bsen given to as many unemployed as possible. A letter was read from Mr Lane _ with reference to a nuisance caused by the carting of rubbish near the Manchester Btreet bridge, and referred to the works committee. From residents of Madras street North, in reference to tho bad state of the footpath in that locality. The Surveyor said that the state of things complained of was the result of drainage operations, and nothing could be effected till the channelling was laid down, and he thought perhaps the subsoil was sufficiently settled down to admit of tais being done. Cr. Gapes asked what extent of work would require to be done. The Surveyor said it would require 18 chains. Cr. Cass pointed out that in view of the present circumstances they Bheuld be cautious in their expenditure, as it was unwise to calculate on an incoming loan. He moved —"That the matter stand over till tho finance committee should meet and consider their position.''

The motion was carried. Cr. Ayers said there was a footpath on the west of Antigua street, which had been destroyed by the Drainage Board, and he should like to know whether they could not be compelled to repair the sime. It was resolved, on the motion of the last speaker, to take the advice of the Council's solicitor as to whether the Drainage Board were not legally compelled to repair footpaths injured by the operation -ef the Board. Several communications touching small works in various localities were referred to the works committee. PETERBOROUGH STREET. A letter was received from Mr W. B. Scott anent the flooded state of sections of land situated on the south Bide of Peterboro' street. The locality was most unhealthy in consequence, as the residents could scarcely more about their premises. After some discussion it wa3 resolved, on tho motion of Cr. Gapes, that the letter be referred to tho Local Board of Health. A COMPLIINT FROM THE EAST BEI/T. A letter was read from Mr Bobert King, complaining that his land on the East belt had been flooded owing to defective drainage, and threatening legal proceedings unless steps were taken to effect a remedy. Cr. Lezard moved the letter be allowed to lie upon the table. Cr. Cass seconded the motion.

Cr. Wilson thought tho letter was of an insulting and offensive character. Cr. Jenkins suggested that it might be referred to the Drainage Board. Cr. Gapes pointed out that tho writer might be suffering from irritation, seeing that ha had (according to his own statement) written the Council on the subject before. Cr. Jenkins said tho surveyor's report last week was an answer to_ that letter, seeing that nothing could be done in that locality till tho underground drain was completed. Cr. Ayers remarked that there was no rea3on why the Council should not do their obvious duty in the matter, notwithstanding a little hoat displayed by the writer. Cr. Binstead concurred with the sentiments of the last speaker, adding that two wrongs never made a right. Tho Surveyor Baid nothing could be done till underground drainage was provided. The motion was then put and lost, on a division by 5 to 4.

Cr. Jenkins moved that tho matter he deferred for the present, as he understood that the Drainage Board cont"taplated taking action in regard to what was complained. Cr. Wilson, as ono of those defeated on the former motion, moved an amendment that the Council take prompt steps to relieve Mr King of the difficulties he complains of. Seconded by Cr. Cass. The amendment was negatived by a majority of ono, and Cr. Jenkins' motion was carried. A PETITION AGAINST THE VALUATION. Mr Fahey appeared in person before the Council to petition against the valuation of his house, saying that he wa3 a poor man, and his property was rated above its value. The Mayor pointed out that the Council could not legally entertain a petition against the valuation. There was a proper time and place for that, but the case might ba dealt with in another way. It was resolved that the rate collector be instructed to enquire into and report upon the cose. APPLICATION TO BUILD WITH WOOD. An application was received from Mr Morten to be allowed to rebuild with wood the fruiterer's shop at the corner of Colombo street and Cathedral square, which was recently partially burnt. The Surveyor said he had refused to grant Mr Morten permission, because the by-law gave him no power in the present case. Some discussion ensued, the Council being divided as to whether permission should be granted. Cr. Gapes remarked that no serious damage hid been done to the outer walls of the building, and he moved that the permission asked for be granted. The Mayor said this was a very serious que3 tion indeed, and he should have preferred to have the opinion of an expert on the by-law before deciding on the matter. Cr. Cass moved, as an amendment —" That the city surveyor be instructed to inspect the building in question, and that in the event of it* coming within the meaning of the by-law, that no be authorised to grant the permit asked for." Tho amendment was carried. SIDE STREETS. A communication, relative to side streets, was referred to the sanitary committee. SURVKTOB's REPORT. No. 1. Messrs Ford and Co. have applied for per- . mission to make a right of way (at the side ef their ' p emises) ten feet wide, and extending from Cashel to Hereford street. There is nothing in the Act to hinder tho Council from granting this, provided the right of way is not allowed to be open to the public. Messrs Ford and Co. also desire to know whether the Council will do the work in connection with making the right of way if they pay the amount in that it will cost after I have given an estimate for it. ' No. 2. Mr Rowley has applied for leave to make a right of way from St. Asaph street, near the corner of Manchester stroet. This application can only be granted on condition that the passage is to be used simply as a footway, as it is only eight feet wide and no thoroughfare. No. 3. The Council's horse, which was ordered to be sold, was disposed of on Saturday for £lB 10s. No. 4. Many of the roads are in a deplorable condition, more especially the North and South belts, which are covered with deep ruts and large holes, and I have no shingle or metal to repair them with. No. 5. The apparatus for sinking the cylinder in the Wairoakariri will be ready to send from Chri»tohnroh next Thursday morning. C. Walsdkx, City Surveyor, With reference to clause 2, the surveyor was of opinion that Mr Bowley had no occasion to come to the Council at all. The clause was struck out of the report, it being understood that Mr Bowley should be allowed to adopt his own course. The report was then approved. Subsequently Cr. Lezard pointed out that the Council had no power to deal indefinitely with Mr Bowley's application, and it was resolved — "That Mr Bowley be requested to make a formal application." INSPECTOR OF NVIBANCES. The report of the inspector of nuisances was laid before the Council. In reference to one clause of the report, touching a nuisance caused by Mr Martin at the corner of Colombo street and Cathedral square, the inspector stated that he had written to the chairman of the Local Board of Health on the subject. The Mayor read a letter from Mr Harman to the effect that instructions had been given to proceed against Mr Martin. RANGER'S REPORT. The ranger's report was read and considered, and the several matters referred to them were dealt with. LIGHTING COMMITTER. The lighting committee reported as follows : Your committee have considered the question of street lighting extension, and beg to recommend to tho Council that the whole question of supplying the city with gas sheuld be reconsidered with the view to entering into a contract with the Gas Company on a more satisfactory and economical basis. The question of the removal of the lamp from tho corner of Kilmore street, by Ward's brewery, to the footbridge opposite, has been looked into, and your committee cannot recommend its being done, but'when the footbridge is completed and taken over, your committee would suggest that the Avon Boad Board be asked either to fence i» their side of the river or place a lamp at the end of the bridge to prevent accident, as it is from the Avon Boad Board Bide of the bridge that the light is required, and the danger exists to persons coming from thence into the city. It was resolved that the report be approved, and that the lighting committee be requested to carry out their recommendations by suggesting the terms of a contract and reporting to the Council. STREET METAL. Cr. Gapes moved, in accordance with notice, the following resolution—" That in the opinion of this Council it is not absolutely necessary to use broken metal for the purpose of repairing some portions of our comparatively newly formed streets, and as the cost of shingle is less than half that of broken metal, the works committee he requested to reconsider the clause in the estimates referring to repairs of streets for the purpose of substituting part shingle in lieu of all broken metal, and to revoke a former resolution (December 2nd, 1878) upDn the subject." It being shown that the subject matter of the above resolution was one of which seven clear diys' notice should be given, Cr. Gapes obtained leave of the Council to withdraw it, and the motion was accordingly withdrawn. THE FIBE PrfLICE. Cr. Wilson had given notice of a motion as follows:—" That the Council is of opinion that in any amendment of the Municipal Ordinance a clause ought to be iaterted giving to the Fire Police legal status, whereby their acts, in accordance with their defined duties, should be fully validated by law, and with a right to trame bylaws for their own proper government, such bylaws to be approved by the City Council fir*t, and secondly by its solicitors." Daring the week, however, certain facts had come to his knowledge, from which he gathered that it would ba inadmissible to move the reso lution, as it might serve to create a feeling of antagonism between two nsoful public bodies. He begged, therefore, to withdraw the motion. ASPHALT CROSSINGS. Cr. Gapes drew attention to the much-vexed question of private crossings, and desired to move a resolution that step 3 be taken to ascertain whither persons could not be compelled to keep their footpath crossings in a state of repair. A legal opinion obtained by the Council some time back was read, to the effect that the Act only contemplated voluntary contributions in this respect. It was resolved, therefore, in the face of tho opinion read, not to proceed with the matter then, but consider it in committee on the Municipal Corporations Act. The Council then adjourned. Subsequently the Council went into committee of tho whole, to consider the proposed amendments to the Municipal Corporations Act.