CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1780, 4 November 1879, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, Novembers. The usual weekly meeting of the Council was held at 7 p.m. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Ors. Lambert, Wyatt, Hulbert, Vincent, Cuff, Bishop, King, Taylor, Gapes, England, and Ayers. The receipts on general account for the week were announced as being £902 2s 10d ; drainage rate account, £llO 3s 4d ; drainage rate account No. 2, £385 11s Bd. The overdraft at the bank on general account was stated as being £2473 2s lOd, Bills to the amount of £507 9s fid were passed and ordered to be paid. Cr. Oherrill called attention to the practice which existed of sweepers leaving the solid matter taken from the channels on the side of the road. By this means the germs of disease were dried by the sun and converted into powder, which was blown about by the wind. The Mayor said that the carts had instructions to follow the sweepers and pick up what was swept out of the channels. As, however, there were about thirty miles of streets to go over, it would be seen that some time would be consumed in doing so, Mr J. L. Wilson forwarded an offer to supply the Council with broken metal at 8i per yard. Cr. Gapes pointed out that this was a saving of some 20 per cent, on the ordinary price of broken metal. After some discussion the letter was directed to bo acknowledged, with thanks. The deed of submission relative to the East belt bridge was returned by Mr McNamara with some amendments. Or. Taylor said ho thought that the Council should resolve itself into a committee to adjudicate upon the question as to what amount should be paid to Mr Macnamara. Cr. Lambert said that every possible contingency had been provided for in the deed, and the amendment proposed was simply an evasion. Cr. Vincent moved—“ That the deed lie on the table.” The motion was not seconded, and it was agreed that the matter should be discussed in committee at the close of the meeting. The city surveyor’s report was read as follows : No. I—The Lower High street is now finished with the exception of spreading broken metal on it. The quantity of earth removed was 3600 cubic yards, which was disposed of as follows : —IBO3 yards into convent grounds, 500 yards to improve East belt, 300 yards taken away by private carts, 1000 yards sold. The cost of the work, after deducting what has been received for earth, was £491 Is Sd. No. 2—The artesians that supply the tanks now run so slowly that we cannot get a sufficient supply for the water carts, and unless a supply is soon brought into the city in pipes, the storage capacity of the various tanks will have to be largely increased. No. 3—ln reply to Cr. Taylor s motion of the 20th October last—” That the surveyor be instructed to prepare an estimate of the cost of maintenance of roads before and after the drainage works,” I beg to say that I find it rather a difficult matter to accomplish with any degree of accuracy, so little time having elapsed since their works were commenced, but I believe that if the Drainage Board were to allow the City Council the coat of ten yards of shingle for each lineal chain of road broken np, that it would be found to be very near an equitable compensation for the injury done to the roads. Another reason why it is so difficult to form an accurate estimate is that some of the streets are twisted ont of all shape, while others sustain very little injury. The north belt, for instance, was so considerably sunk that we have had many hundred loads of earth to cart on to it. Madras street north was! so thrown ont of shape that it was necessary to re-channel and re-asphalt a portion of it, and Antigua street, where the excavation was not rammed on being filled in, was obliged to have earth carted on to it all last winter to make np for the sinking. The sum I have mentioned above is intended to cover these contingencies. C. Wadkdbn, City Surveyor. The report was considered clause by clause. On clause 1, the cost of Lower High street. Or. Taylor pointed out that the cost of the work had been nearly double the estimate laid before the works committee.

The surveyor explained that the extra, coat had been caused by the fact that only a small portion of earth had been sold, instead of as much as was expected. Or. Taylor said that the report of the surveyor showed that the damage done by the Drainage Board to their streets was a very important matter. He had noticed that the streets were in a very different condition after the Drainage Board had completed their works. The matter was referred to the sanitary committee, to hold a conference with the Drainage Board. With regard to the failure of the artesian well supply mentioned by the surveyor. Or. Dambert moved—“ That the artesian wells connected with the tanks be cleaned out.” He thought that the corrosion had perhaps filled up the pipes. Or. Ayers, though not thinking that the remedy would succeed, would second the motion. The Mayor said that looking at the result of the experiment tried by the Canterbury Club in sinking to the lower strata, they might try if sinking lower would improve the flow. The Surveyor pointed out that what was wanted was an increase of storage for the water, in the shape of increasing the size of the tanks. If the tanks were larger then the present supply would bo sufficient. As it was now the Californian pumps could not raise the water when it had fallen to a certain depth. The motion of Or. Dambert was then put and carried, the works committee being instructed to try one well. Or. Dambert pointed out that it was possible to obtain water for the streets in the river near the mill bridge. The surveyor said that the VV hately road quarter was the most difficult to supply. They had enough for the centre of the city. It was resolved—“ That the well at the Whately road should be cleared out first.” The report of the inspector of nuisances was read. The usual amount of £l2 was voted to the workmen of the Council in aid of their annual picnic on the Prince of Wales* Birthday, A letter was read from Captain Willis, of Southbridge, asking what price the Council would ask for the dried night soil per ton. He thought that about 5s per ton delivered at the railway station would be a fair price. If this were done he felt euro a large business might be done by the Council is this direction. The report of the Inspector of Nuisances was read, stating that it would cost more than was offered per ton to cart it, exclusive of the cost of digging. . Or. Taylor moved—“ That Captain Willis have permission to remove the soil from the depot at his own cost.” Cr. Bishop seconded the motion, which was agreed to. „ , Cr. King moved—“ That all resolutions upon the matter of private stree! s prior to 29th September, 1879, be rescinded.” Cr. Gapes seconded the motion. As the resolutions already passed did not interfere with the one passed on the previous night it was necessary to rescind them. [Daughter.] The motion was then put and agreed to. It was agreed that the Council should at its rising adjourn to Monday week. The Mayor called attention to the fact that the larrikins had been injuring the beautiful willow trees near the Royal Hotel, and the result was that the trees [would very likely It was resolved —“ That a reward of £5 should be offered for the conviction cf the offenders, and that the police be requested to exercise strict surveillance over the part of city referred to." Deave of absence was granted for five week* to Or. Cuff. The Council then went into committee to consider the matter of the conference with the Borough Council of Sydenham at to the South Town Belt,