CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1810, 9 December 1879, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, Dbcbhbbb 8. The visual weekly meeting of the City Council was held at 7 p.m. Present —His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Gapes, King, Bishop, Yincent, Taylor, Cherrill, Hulbert, England, Lambert, Ayers, and Wyatt. The receipts for the week on general account were stated to be £383 8s lOd. The balance at the Bank to the credit of general account was £645 5j 3d. Accounts to the amount of £390 6s were passed, and ordered to be paid. The Mayor said he had received from the Government a copy of the proposed Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill now before the House, which was well worth perußal, as the matter was one of great interest to the Chrißtchurch City Council. The following report was read from the Water Supply Committee : Tour committee have received the reports of Mr Hubbard and Mr Blackwell on the water supply scheme, and they both report favorably of it, and recommend that immediate steps be taken to bring the matter before the ratepayers, with the view to carrying out the works. Jas. Gai'es, chairman. Bth December, 1879. It was resolved that the report be received, and that the reports of the engineers be handed to the reporters for publication. A petition was read from the cab drivers, asking that the licence foe for owners be reduced from £2 to £l, and the license fee for drivers to remain as at present. The letter pointed out that the City carriers were only charged £1 10s per annum, whilst Messrs Hey wood and Co., who damaged the streets far more than all the cabs in the city, paid nothing whatever. The petition was signed by fifty-one cabmen. In reply to a question, The Town Clerk stated that there were eighty-seven owners' and 123 drivers'licenses issued. After somo discussion the matter was adjourned until next meeting, a motion by Cr. Gapes, that the reduction be granted, being withdrawn. The town clerk was instructed to bring up an estimate of the cost of the alteration in the by-law, consequent on the reduction of the fees as fixed therein. In reply to Cr. King, The Mayor said that the Council some time ago had taken step? to acquire a piece of land on the North town belt, now in the possession of the Cemetery Board, but unsuccessfully. A letter was read from Mr S. 0. Farr, asking the permission of the Council to lay poisoned wheat within the city for the destruction of sparrows. The Mayor said that Mr Earr had stated that they would select places where no danger could arise, and that notice would be given of the intention of the society to lay the wheat. Cr. King opposod the granting of the permission. Cr. Cherrill suggested that permission should be given to the members of the Council of tte Acclimatisation Society to scatter poisoned wheat in their own gardens. Cr. Ayers said that he was disposed to fall in with the suggestion made by the " Globo," that a premium should be offored for heads and eggs. Ho totally disapproved of allowing poisoned wheat to be scattered. He should move—" That no formal permission be given by the Council to the Acclimatisation Society to scatter poisoned wheat." Cr. Gapes seconded the motion, which was carried. A letter was read from the Drainage Board, stating that the Board were carrying out Mr Clark's scheme in its entirety, and that no water found its way into the Avon which did not do bo before. A letter was read from Mr J. S. M. Jacobsen, stating that the Drainage Board were draining sewage into the Avon, and denying that the Board were at all carrying out the drainage scheme of Mr Clark, either in the form of the construction of the sewors or the drainage of sewage into the river. The Mayor said that the Drainage Board was the proper body to addreßß on thiß subject, and not the City Council. Cr. Lambert moved—" That the letter of Mr Jacobsen be forwarded to the Drainage Board."

The motion being seconded, was put and agreed to.

A letter was read from the Government, acknowledging the recoipfc of a communication to the effect that Mr C. T. Ick had been re-elected as Mayor of Christchurch. A letter was read from Mr P. Hill oilering to rent the market reserve, now occupied by MrsJSwale for the purpose of a market, at £lO per annum, payable quarterly in advance He proposed to establish stalls, &c, for the purpose of a market, charging such a rate as the Council might fix. Or. Hulbert was of opinion that tho best mode of dealing with this section would be to advertise for tenders for leasing this piece of land. [Hear.] Or. Taylor spoke strongly of the heathenism of the people of Christchurch in allowing fish carts to stand at tho Al oornor, to the annoyance of the public. It would be much better for the Council to compel these people to stand on the site of the Market Reserve.

Or. Bishop proposed—" That the application be referred to the reserves committee.' Or. Cherrill seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The report of tho City Surveyor was read as follows: — No. I—l have been making some inquiries about the land hitherto occupied by open drains in Salisbury streot cast and Madras street north, and I find that those in Salu-bnry street were cut out of the private laud, and, therefore, the owners can now fence up to the street frontage, as the ditch is no longer required. The space in Madras street between Salisbury street and tho North Belt was reserved for a ditch, and now that the ditch is no longer required, it remains with the Council to decido what is to bo done with tho land. No. 2—The open dit.h on the Lincoln road T find occupies part of the 6(3f t. which shonld bo devoted to road space. I find that tho levels would easily admit of this drain being carried into the one in the park opposite tho corner of the South Belt ; but that would not enable us to olose up the road ditch, as that ditch is the only available means at present for draining the West Christchurch school.

No. 3—Mr Agrati has applied, on behalf of a company, for permission to erect a tent opposite the Theatre, in Gloucester street, for the p jrpose of a circus, to be openo;l to tho public on the 17th inst.

No. 4—Some time back tho Council agreed with the Drainago Board to bear part of th j expense of purchasing land to continue Salisbury streot East from BarV.does street to Cambridge terrace, and to form that portion of the road. The Drainage Board have now finished their work underground, and desire to hand the lan d over to tho Council, to enable tho street to he completed. C. Walkden, City Surveyor. The clauses of tbe report wore considered seriatim.

On clause 1 the subject was referred to tho reserves committee to report upon. On clause 2, Cr. England moved—" That the deputation already appointed wait on the Drainage Board with reforence to this clause."

The motion was agreed to. On clause 3, Cr. Taylor suggested that it would only be fair to charge a license fee for permission such as that asked for. The theatre just opposite paid very heavy rates, and was a permanent institution. Cr. Hulbert also spoke strongly in favour of a heavy license fee being charged. Cr. Taylor moved—" That tho fee for permission be twenty guineas." Cr. Vincent seconded the motion.

Cr. Bishop proposed as an amendment—- " That the word " twenty " bo struck out, and the word " ten " inserted."

Or. Ay era seconded the amendment. The amendment was then put with the following result: Ayes—Or. Gapes, Bishop, Cherrill, England, and Ayers. Noes—Crs. King, Hulbert, Vincent, Taylor, Wyatt, and Lambert. Tno original motion was then put and agreed to. Clause 4 was put and agreed to. It was arranged that one hundred copies of Mr Hubbard's report should be printed. The report of the inspector of nuisances was read and approved. A letter was read from the inhabitants of Triangle, complaining that they were prevented from using the artesian wall which they had bad free access to for twenty years. It was decided that a reply be sent that the Council had no power to deal with this matter, as it was on private property. Or. Gapes said that the Fire Insurance Association had agreed to subscribe £IOO towards the cost of sinking three wells to the lower stratum, provided the Council spent £3OO ; that is, they would give a third of the cost up to £3OO. As regarded the bell they declined to give any assistance.

It was decided that one well be sunk as a test, and that alternative tenders be called for sinking 2iin. and Sin. wells to go to the lower stratum, the experiment to be made at the Cathedral square tank. Cr. Lambert, as chairman of the sanitary committee, reported the result of their conference with Mr Brightling, as to the commencement of the removal of the night soil later than at present. Mr Brightling waited on the Council, and stated that he could not see his way clear to commence later. It would involve the extra expenditure of £lO per week. If the Council would pay the cost of the extra two men required—£s 10s per week—he would be prepared to find an extra cart. Cr. Hulbert said he would givo notice of motion of two resolutions which would settle this matter.

Cr. King moved—" That Cr. Cherrill's motion respecting the erection of the fire bell tower be rescinded."

Cr. England seconded the motion.

After some discussion, the motion was negatived. Cr. Ayers moved—" That the Council be requested to dissolve the present water supply committee, such being the wish of a majority of the members."

Crs. Hulbert and Bishop suggested that the simplest course would be for those members who desired to do so to resign. The Mayor ruled that notice of motion must be given. Crs. Ayers, Cherrill, Wyatt, and Vincent tendered their resignations.

Cr. Gapes also resigned, stating that this was the first he had heard of the matter. The resignations were accepted. Or. Vincent moved—" That the following gentlemen be appointed as a water supply committee—viz., Crs. King, Ayers, Cherrill, and the mover." He might explain that the reason the resignations of the former committee had been tendered was that they found that some of the membera did not agree with the others that the scheme they had been elected to carry out should be gone on with. Cr. Hulbert seconded the motion.

Or. Ayers explained similarly to Cr. Vincent why the resignations of the members had been tendered..

Or. Gapes expressed his great astonishment at the attitude of the gentlemen forming the late water supply committee. He would move as an amendment—" That Crs. England, Taylor, King, and Lambert be appointed as a water supply committee." Cr. Wyatt seconded the amendment. Cr. Taylor declined to serve on the committee.

After a lengthened discussion, Or. King suggested that a ballot should be taken.

Cr. Gapes withdrew his amendment. Cr. King then moved—" That a ballot be taken for five members of the water supply committee."

Or. Gapes ot corded the amendment, which was carried. The ballot resulted as follows :—Crs. Vincent, Cherrill, Cuff, King, and Ayers. Or. Vincent to be chairman.

The Council then adjourned until the annual meeting on the 17th inst.

SYDENHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL

The Sydenham Borough Council metyeater day evening at the usual hour. Present —Ors. Brown, White, Andrew, Nicholl, Pavitt, Langdown, and Charters. Cr. Hall was elected to the chair. A letter was received, notifying the election of Mr J. T. Brown, as Mayor of Sydenham. A considerable amount of correspondence was read, treating of several matters in referenco to which the Council had devoted some consideration. With regard to a communication from the Drainage Board the Council passed a resolution to meet tho half way. Other letters were considered and dealt with. The finance committee's report was then read ard adopted. A report from the works committee was road, from which the following items of interest are extracted— The deed of submission in connection with Beattie's contract is approved and signed on behalf of the Council. Wilson's bridge having been reported as unsafe for heavy traffic, the committee have asked the Uoathcoto Road Board to contribute one-half the cost of a new bridge. The report was adopted on tho motion of Cr. White. The report of the sanitary committee was read and adopted. Cr. Hall moved —" That the unsuccessful candidate for

the mayoral ch.ir bo deputy Mayor for the year ensuing." He pointed out in advance of his motion the many benefits that might arise from the adoption of such a course, Jparticu larly as the candidates who had lately stood for tho position of Mayor were held in almost equal esteem by all the electors. Ho also explained that it would do away with the formality of appointing a chairman during the absence of tho Mayor. Some discussion ensued upon the motion, which was ultimately rejected. Tho meeting then adjourned till Tuesday next for the formal installation of the newly elected Mayor.