CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1745, 23 September 1879, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, September 22.

The uaual weekly meeting was held at 7 p.m. Present—His "Worship the Mayor, Ors. Hulbert, Oherrill, Gtopes, Bishop, Vincent, Taylor, King, Wyatt, England, Lambert, Ayers. The receipts for the week were announced as being £327 16s lOd. The debit balance at the bank was stated as being £1950 17s 2d. The drainage rate account was stated as being in credit to the amount of £605 Is lOd. Accounts to the amount of £93117s 7d were passed and ordered to be paid. The Mayor said that the Bail way Band had kindly preferred their services to play one afternoon a week in Cathedral Square, and it would be for the Council to give them permission to play, say in front ot the Q-odley statue, one afternoon a week during the summer season.

The Council expressed their appreciation of the offer of the Bailway Band. Cr. Ayers asked whether it was incumbent on the Drainage Board or the Oity Council to fill up the holes left by the former ? The Mayor replied that he was unable to answer the question without consulting the solicitor. Or. Cuff moved—" That the Mayor consult the solioitor on the subject." Or. Hulbert seconded the motion, which was carried. Or. Lambert asked the Mayor whether the Council had any control over the morality of stage ? The Mayor replied that the Council had no control over the performances, but only over the entrances, exits, and general supervision of the buildings in which amusements were given. Cr. Vincent asked whether the Council had any power to compel Messrs Heywood and Co. to take out carriers' licenses ? They_ cut up the roads more than any ocher carriers, and yet paid no licenses. The Mayor said that this was a very vexed question, and the Council were not in a position at present to take any steps in the matter. A letter was read from Mr J. Brunt, drawing attention to the bad state of Taylor's lane.

Beferred to the sanitary committee. A letter was read from Dr. Edward Ellis stating that damage had been done to his brougham by going into a hole on the North belt opposite Carlton place, and applying for the payment of the bill of the coach builders for repair of the brougham, £5 sb. The surveyor Baid the hole had been worn by the traffic running over it, and had not been repaired, because he had no material to do it with.

After a lengthy discussion it wag resolved that the matter be referred to the -works committee, with power to act. The Mayor said that two men had waited -on him that day with the following letter, which he would ask the town clerk to read:— From the Unemployed : "We desire, as representing the, unemployed, to nrge and strongly impress npon your minds _ the necessity there is for prompt action in alleviating the distress at present raging in the community, and we desire that you may be induced to place such works in hand as will tide over the present depression, and that'Bach be done at once. And we desire to point out to yon the fact that the mass of men at present unemployed, although really inquiring have declined to seek for charity only as a last resource, and we therefore desire you, as men having the interests of the people at

ployment at least for some of those now unemployed. We think, that having the subsidy paid over to you, that you cannot raise the cry or "no funds." Further, we desire to point out to you the question of employing married men, and married men only, and to ensure this that the men be recommended by committee. But tnese are minor details, the question is, can and will you find us anything to do, and when? We take it that it is impossible with the distress amongst married men in a great measure, to maintain two houses, and, therefore, a great many married men cannot go on the railway, and it is for these that we desire your interest. A deputation will wait on you at 8.15 p.m. this evening. We are, Ac, W. E. Bbown, Chairman. George Boud, Treasurer. The Council decided to discuss the matter prior to the deputation coming in. The Mayor said that Mr Austin had offered to provide work for men on'the railway and to furnish them with tents and tools. Cr. Gapes asked if the Mayor could tell them roughly what was the financial position of the Council. The Mayor said that they had been in debt some £3OOO, and the Bubsidy had gone part way towards paying that off. Or. Ayers pointed out that the dangerous state of Lower High street required immediate attention, which might be seen to at once, and this would give work to the unemployed. This was a work which must be done, and they, with the request of the unemployed before them, should be prepared to stretch a point to carry out this work. The Town Olerk stated that the Council had seriously overdrawn their account for works for the current half-year. In reply to a question from Or. Cuff, The Town Olerk stated that there was about £4137 owing to them in the shape rates. Cr. Taylor wished to point out that however wishful they might be to afferd work to the unemployed, they would find themselves unable to do works when they had no money. If any course could be pointed out by whioh the money could be raised he would be willing to aid it. Cr. Gapes pointed out that there was a great deal of work to do with respect to the private streets of the city, which would _be paid for by the owners of property abutting on the streets. This was mostly excavation, and would afford work to a large number of the men who were out of work. After some discussion, Cr. Vincent moved the suspension of the standing orders, in order to consider resolutions given notice of by Or. Ayers as regarded the lowering of Lower High street, and one respecting the formation and channelling of private streets given by Or. Gapes. Or. Cuff seconded the motion, whioh was carried. Cr. Ayers then moved his resolution as follows—" That in consequence of the extremely dangerous condition of the Lower High street, on account of the crown of the road being so much higher than the side ohannels "and footpaths, that this Council proceed to have the same lowered forthwith bo as to prevent accidents, and at the same time provide work when so much needed by the unemployed, and that the' side channels and footpaths'be completed to the East belt; and if this should be deemed a special work that the same be made a first charge on the Council's next loan, but if not to be paid out of the Council's next year's funds." Or. Cuff seconded the motion. In reply to Or. Vinoent, ! The Surveyor said the cost of the work would be £9 per chain, and there were twenty-five chains of work. After some discussion the resolution was carried unanimously. Or.. Gapes moved—" That the Council hereby directs that all private streets be formed and shingled under the Municipal Corporation Act and Amendments, and that the channelling be done in the usual way, as provided f r in other parts of the city." Or. England seconded the motion, whioh was carried, the understanding being that those employed should be married men and ratepayers of Christchuroh. The Mayor Baid he thought >t was only right that the adjoining Municipalities and Eoad Boards should put their shoulders to the wheel and provide work for their own ratepayers. [Hear, hear.] The result of the discussion was announced to the deputation of the unemployed by the Town Clerk. The City Surveyor's report was read as follows: — 1. Mr Smart, the asphalt contractor, has now done all that portion of his contract which can at present be carried out, the remainder of the streets not being properly formed and channelled. Annexed hereto is a detailed statement showing those streets which are yet undone. 2. There are 307£ chains of concrete channelling still to be done, and a detailed statement of it is annexed hereto. . 3. The stone lamp pedestal opposite, the Carlton bridge is now finished, and will be lighted up in a few days. 4. The two gas lamps ordered by the works committee are being fitted up on Madras bridge. 5. The works committee recommend that one more water cart be provided for flashing those channels not supplied with artesian water. 6. The cab stand at the junction of High and Cashel streets is being paved. 7. The shrubs have been removed from the North belt. . ' ~ 8. The works committee gave me instructions to advertise for two new horses, one to replace the one sold some time back, and the other to replace one that is to be sold. C. Walkden, City Surveyor. Clauses 1 and 2 were referred to the finance committee to report upon to the Council at the earliest possible date. The remainder of the report was approved and adopted as a whole. The report of the inspector and ranger was read and approved. The town clerk was directed to forward a letter to the Heathcote Boad Board, bringing under its notice the conduct of _ one of its officers in giving false information to the ranger. The report of the by-law committee was read as follows: Your committee having considered the two letters referred to them by the Council at its last meeting, beg to report. That having carefully considered the one from Mr T. Cross.lthey cannot recommend the Council to interfere with the decision arrived at by the Council. __ And with regard to the other, from Mr Hayward, to allow him to alter the route of his 'bus, your committee can find no power given under the by-law to grant the permission asked for. B. C. Bishop, Chairman. Cr. Ayers moved—" That as none of the competitive designs for Town Hall and municipal buildings comply with the advertised conditions, the whole of the same be returned to their respective authors, and no premium be awarded, but that a committee be appointed to go through the more highly approved designs, with a view of selecting therefrom the one nearest the conditions required, and report to the next meeting of this Council; such committee to consist of Crs. England, King, Bishop, Hulbert, Taylor, Cherrill, and the mover." Or. Hulbert would second the motion if the mover would alter the committee to that of the whole Council. Cr. Ayers had no objection to the Council being appointed as a committee on this Bubjeot. It was resolved —"That Or. Ayers have leave to amend hifl resolution, so as to appoint the whole Council as a committee on this subject." Or. Cherrill moved as an amendment—- " That in the opinion of this Council the proper course would be at this stage to apply to the ratepayers for their sanction for the erection of a suitable Town Hall and Municipal offices, at the same time asking their opinion as to the coat whioh should be incurred for the same." Cr. Cuff seconded the amendment. Cr. England advocated the award of the premiums to the designs now in the possession of the Council. Cr. Bishop did not care about the resolution or amendment in their present state. The amendment was negatived by nine to two, Cr. Lambert not voting. Cr. Bishop then moved as a further amendment " That all the words after the words ' premium be awarded 'be struck out." The resolution would then read as follows: " That as none of the competitive designs for town hall and municipal buildings comply with the advertised conditions, the wholeof the same be returned to their respective authors, and that no premium be awarded." Cr. Taylor seconded the amendment. After a desultory conversation, Cr. Ayers stated that his idea of carrying out this resolution was that the whole of the designs should be sent back; the committee of the whole Council should go through the information at their disposal, select one design, and then communicate with the author to ask him to meet the Council.

Cr. Ayera obtained leave to amend hi» motion bv putting the words " with the oonisnt of the competitors" after the words " to ■elect therefrom in the original motion. This was carried unanimously. Or. King moved—" That the surveyor be instructed to prepare an estimate of the cost of the tower for the olook recently presented to the city by the Government." He might Bay that he believed that no one knew the coat of erecting this clock. He believed it was a white elephant, and he moved this resolution with a view of preventing the erection of it. After a long discussion, in which nearly all the Councillors joined, Or. King withdrew his motion. The Council adjourned at 9.45 p.m. KOTICBS OF HOTION.

Cr. Ayers —That as the advertised amount for municipal buildings and town hall, this Council approves of increasing the amount from £20,000 to not more than £35,000, so that the whole may be carried out consistently with the credit of the Council in view of its future requirements.