CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1867, 17 February 1880, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, February 16, The weekly meeting of the City Council was held on Monday at seven p m. Present— His Worship the Mayor, Crs. King, Vincent, Taylor, Oherrill, Cuff, Lambert, Englard, Wyatt, Ayers, and Hulbert. The receipts for tho week were stated as being £387 17s 2d. Tke debtor balance at the Bank was reported as being £9IG 9s 2d. Accounts to the amount of £lOll 16s 9d wore passed for payment. The Mayor read a letter which he had received from tho Lord Mayor of London, asking him to collect subscriptions towards a fund which was being raised to found an institution for decayed postal servants as a memorial to the late Sir Rowland Hill. Tho appeal had come at a somewhat inopportune time, as they were busily engaged in collecting for a national calamity. He thought moreover that any contributions given in this direction should go towards a benevolent fund for their own postal servants in the colonies. If this was their view, he would communicate with tho Lord Mayor of London to that effect. He trusted that councillors would consider the matter, and give their views on it. In reply to Cr. King,

Cr. Lambert said the sanitary committee had given instructions to the surveyor to have the urinals put in order, painted, &c., ready for erection.

In reply to a question from Gr. Oherrill, Tho Mayor said that the advertisement had not yet appeared respecting the iom. Tho solicitor required further time to consider the matter. No time would bo lost. Cr. Cuff said he desired to call attention to the fact that information had been given c£ what had taken place in committee on the last sitting. The matter had been held to bo strictly private, and yet it had been broiled about the town almost as soon as it was decided. Cr Lambert said that ho understood that the information had been given iu the Garrick Hotel.

Crs King, Hulbert, and Taylor spoke strongly upon the matter, as the discueaion was stated most pointedly to bo one of a private character. The Banger was called in, and stated that he had heard in the office that a reduction in salaries was contemplated. Satisfaction was expressed by the Council that the information had not been given by a Councillor.

In reply to a question from Or England, The Town Clerk s.ated that instructions had been given to the assistant town clerk by the chairman of the works committee to take I O U'a from persons liable to pay for the formation of private streets. Cr. England said as a member of the works committee he was perfectly astonished to hear that £6OO had been taken in I O U’a. The Town Clerk road an extract from the minutes of the works committee, at which it was stated that £6OO had been taken in I O U’e, and that the matter should be brought before tho Council. Or. Cuff said it was just aa well that the public should know that these I O U’s had been given for work which had not yet been commenced. It was just as well that the public should know that the council were not so unbusinesslike as to take I O U’s for work done. It was resolved to leave the matter u ntil the chairman of the works committee was present. Or. Oherrill called attention to the neglect of the night soil contractors as regarded his premises in Cashel street.

Cr. Hulbert said that the sanitary erm mittee had no power over the contractor, who did as ho liked. He had his carts out some time before the proper hour. They had numerous complaints as to the way in which the work was carried out.

Or. Lambert supported what had fallen from Cr. Hulbert as to the carts being in the street before the time.

Or. Gapes having entered the room, the question of the I O U’s for work to be done on private streets was re-opened. Or. Gapes said that he had never given any special orders or authority to receive I O U’s, but bad been told that they had been so received. The practice had been to get up an agreement which all those interested signed, but latterly I O U’s had been taken. Or. King said, as a member of the works committee, he know nothing of this being done at all.

The Mayor said there was no harm done, as the work had not been done, though the taking of I O U’s was an irregularity. Cr. Oherrill asked what opinion had been received from the city solicitor regarding the validity of the by-law regarding driving round street corners ?

The Town Olork said that the solicitor had requested to be furnished with all the minutes, &c., regarding the making of the by-laws before ho could give his final opinion. So far as he could see without consulting the minutes, ho wao of opinio jthat the by-law was not in force.

It was resolved that tho Town Clerk seethe solicitor on the matter.

A letter was read from the West Christchurch School, complaining of the street drainage being carried into the school grounds, as likely to be prejudicial to the health of the children.

Tho parograph in the surveyor’s report respecting this drain was read, stating that he had only adopted the same method of disposing of tho drainage in force before the channels were laid. Unless the drainage were put into the school ditch they would have to carry it through private property by means of concrete channelling. It was resolved to refer tho letter to the works committee and surveyor, to take such action as they might deem advisable.

A letter was read from Messrs W. Hobbs and Co., asking leave to place area gratings in the asphalt pavement in front of their premises, to ventilate the cellar. They would be prepared to place gratings of any kind the Council might desire. On the motion of Cr. King, seconded by Cr. Lambert, the request was granted, subject to the supervision of the city surveyor, the grating not to extend more than eighteen inches on to the footpath.

A letter was read from the assistant inspector of nuisances, drawing attention to the bad state of the channels on the north side of the North belt, and the south side of the South Town belt.

Cr. Vincent pointed out that the latter was within the province of the f-ydonham Borough Council.

The matter was referred to the sanitary committee, to take action so far as any temporary measures were concerned. The surveyor’s report was read as follows :

1. A letter will be laid before the Council from Mr McNie, relative to Richmond road being di-aincd into West Cbristchurcb school ditch. I have simply adopted the same method of disposing of the drainage of this street that was used before the channelling was laid. If the drainage of this street is not allowed to go into the school ditch it must be carried through private land in a concrete channel along the school fence to Harry street, and thence to St. Asaph street, as the fall is that way. 2, Several well grounded complaints w’ro made to me last week as to the dangerous state in which the tramway works were left at night, and consequently I wrote to the engineer to the Tramway Company, and to Superintendent Broham, on the subject, and they promised the matter should receive attention.

3. An application was last week made by Mr Stevens to make a right-of-way through blook IG, and the matter was referred to the works committee and myself to report upon. The works committee now recommend that no road should bo made through the said block less than 4Uft. in width. 4. The works committee recommend that the planta ions on the Belts should be fenced round, and declared by the Government to be plantations. C. Walkcen, City Surveyor.

A long discussion ensued on the last paragraph of the surveyor’s report, His Worship and Or. Wyatt strongly protesting against the fencing being erected. Or. Gapes said ho was not present at the meeting of the works committee that morning, and he wus most decidedly opposed to tho action taken by the committee regarding there plantations. Ultimately, tho clause was struck out, Or. King only dissenting. Tho report, as a whole, was then adopted. The report of the rate collector was read.

Or. Ouff moved —“ That, in all cases where it can be proved that the scavenger has not fulfilled his duties, for which charge has been made, the amount bo deducted from the sum payable to him.”

Or. Wyatt seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

A report was read from the sanitary committee, stating that the police could do nothing with the fish hawkers except to shift them on from time to time until the Council erected a fish market for them.

Or. Oherrill said that it appeared to him that whenever any one wanted to collide with the Council they discovered that there was no by-law. It seemed to him that they had no by-laws at all. He would move—‘That the by-law committee be augmented, eo as to enable the work of framing tho by-laws to proceed with greater despatch.” This was rendered necessary from the fact that the committee us now constituted could not cope with tho work sufficiently fast.

Cr. Ayers seconded the motion. Some discussion ensued, and ultimately

Cr. Oherrill withfli cw tho resolution. A report was read from the finance com' mittee us follows :

Since the last regular meeting of the Council your committee have met to consider the question of finance for the ensuing year, and after careful consideration have decided, after providing for various outside works of the city, that only £9UUO will be available for expenditure by tho works committee. Thera are, however, dependencies which if made avail vide will moiease that amount by £ll 009, viz., £(KK;O Government subsidy auo £SOOO spent and now being spent in special drainage works, which will be recouped out of loan that tho . oancil hope to obtain. We may say hero the absolute necessity of these works induce this expenditure, relying upon a loan being obtaiuel. Your committee took into consideration the advisability of altering the present mode of levying ami collecting the scavenging rate, but cannot at present see their way to suggest any liberation Cr. Taylor moved the reception o f tho report, which was agreed to. After some discussion, Cr. Oherrill moved —“ That tho scavenging rate bo collected annually with the general rate.” Cr. England seconded tho motion. After some considerable discussion, the motion was withdrawn, and the report was ad pted. The report of tho works committee aa to tho works for the year was read. A very long and animated discussion took place, and ultimately Cr. Ayere moved—“ That the report he referred back to tho works committee for re-consideration.” Cr. Lambert seconded the motion. Alter some further discussion, the motion was agreed to. Tho Town Clerk read the proposed advertisement, laying before the ratepayers the proposal for a loan for waterworks, municipal buildings, channelling, and paying off the present loan. It was resolved that the advertisement be inserted, provided the solicitor approved of it.

Alter tho transaction of some further business, tho Council adjourned at 10.30 p.m.