CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1885, 9 March 1880, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, Maeoh 8. The usual weekly meeting of the Council was held at 7 p.m. Present—His Worship the Moyor, Ors. Gapes, King, Bishop, Vincent, Taylor, Cherrill, Cuff, England, Lambert, Ayers, and Hulbert. The Town Clerk reported that the sum of £269 15s lid had been received during the week. The debtor balance at the Bank was stated as being £2869 Is. Accounts to the amount of £355 lls 2d were passed for payment.

In reply to Cr. Taylor, the Mayor said the striking of the rate for the present year would commence next month.

In reply to Or. Cherrill, Or Gapes said that the Surveyor did not intend to take any steps towards resuming possession of the streets used by the Tramway Company until the tramway began to run. In reply to Or, England, Cr. Bishop said that the reserves committee had not visited the reserve of 900 acres belonging to the Council.

The Mayor said he thought the Council ought to take steps towards letting their reserves at Geraldine, which he thought would be easily done now, as it was well adapted for running sheep and cattle. Or. Gapes wished to ask how the reserves committee had obtained the information which had led them to state to the Minister of Lands that the 2000 acres at Geraldine was a bad selection.

Or. Bishop said the committee were in possession of such information as undoubtedly proved that it was a bad selection—a very bad selection.

Or. Gapes said that he thought the reason for such a statement should he publicly given, as the land had been selected after inspection by professional men. Or. Bishop said that maps and all information concerning the land were in the town clerk’s office. Ho did not believe that one acre of it could be used for agricultural purposes. Or. Ayers said he must differ from Or. Bishop. Some two or three hundred acres could be ploughed, but it was out of the way. In reply to Or. Lambert, The Town Olerk said that letters had been sent to all the principal municipalities concerning the question of co-operation as regarded Sunday trading. A letter was read from the secretary of the Eastern Football Olub, asking permission to play football on Latimer square during the ensuing season. It was agreed to grant the request. A letter was read from Messrs Harper, Harper and Scott, asking, on behalf of Mr C. 0. Bowen, who intended cutting up his section, if the Council would take a road over a chain wide if he made the same subject to the usual conditions, and asking what the forming would cost.

The letter was referred to the surveyor, with instructions to attach Or, England’s motion respecting private streets to his estimate of cost.

A letter was read from the city solicitors, stating that the Council had no power to rate the Tramway Company. In England, where it was done it was under legislative action. Or. England asked who were the solicitors for the Tramway Company. The Mayor said Messrs Garrick and Cowliahaw. He thought it was a most peculiar position to place the solicitors in, as they wore solicitors for the Drainage Board, Local Board of Health, Tramway Company, and the City Council. Ho ventured to say such a state of things did not exist in any city in New Zealand.

Or. Cherrill asked who Garrick and Cowlishaw would appear for in case of any collision between the City Council and any of the numerous public bodies represented by them. Or. Hulbert—For both. The Mayor eaid this was the question which had occurred to him.

After some discussion, it was resolved to refer the same to the by-law committee, with a view to legislation being taken on the same.

A letter was read from the city solicitor, stating that the street corner by-law was bad, for unreasonableness.

A letter was road from the Sydenham Borough Council, asking whether the Council intended to do anything to put the South Town bolt in a proper state before winter. It was agreed to defer discussion of the matter until Cr, England’s resolution was brought on.

A letter was read from Captain Warner, asking for the use of the Old Post Office to billet Volunteers in during the Easter Review. It was resolved to grant the request. A letter was read from Mr O. N. Bell, engineer to the Drainage Board, respecting the damage alleged to be done to the streets by the Drainage Board, offering that the Board should give the City Council four cubic yards of shingle to the chain on the streets where the drainage operations had been conducted.

Or. King pointed out that this was by no means an adequate return for the damage done, as it extended beyond the actual disturbance.

Or. Gapes said the works committee were not prepared to accept the offer. [Hear, hear.] Or. Taylor thought the Drainage Board were endeavoring to shirk their, responsibilities. The surveyor hod mode an estimate of

£2 per chain, whilst all the Drainage Board offered them was 14s. Ho (Or. Taylor) thought that the estimate of the surveyor was a very moderate one. If the vjorks committee could not arrange the matter, he thought the whole Council should go to the Drainage Board and press upon them the necessity of seeing that the streets were put in as good a state as they were prior to the commencement of the works of the Board. It was resolved that the matter be loft in hands of the works committee and the surveyor to make such arrangements as they deemed fit. The surveyor’s report was read as follows—1. Annexed hereto is a letter from Mr Bell, engineer, to the Drainage Board, concerning repairs to roads. 2. The contract for the supply of 4000 cubic yards of shingle was given to Mr Knowles. 3. Dr. Frankish’s right-of-way and Mr Clarkson’s right-of-way are being formed and channelled.

4. That part of the South belt open sewer, which was mentioned in the inspector’s report last week, I find wants filling up, as I find there is no longer any necessity for its remaining open; and I have measured the frontages on Fife street, which crosses the drain and which wants forming, and when that is done there will bo a good bit of earth available to fill up the drain. 5. Building licenses were granted to the following persons during the mouth of February :Mr Roberts, Salisbury street ; Mr Oram, Oxford terrace ; Mr Tate, Gloucester street; Mr Messenger, Lichfield street ; Mr Marrie, Hereford street; Mr Marrie, St. Asaph street ; Mr Sutton, Walker street ; Mr Cox, Fife street ; Mr Walker, Colombo street ; Mr Blanket, Avon street ; Mr O’Connell. East belt; Mr Jones, Cashel street; Mr Henley, Armagh street ; Mr Hatehard, Walker street. C. Waieden, City Surveyor. A deputation waited on the Council with regard to Eaton place, and stated that they were not satisfied with the formation of it.

After the deputation had stated their views, The Mayor pointed out that the street was a blind alley, and therefore the Council could not take it over.

The Surveyor stated that the shingling of the street would be proceeded with as speedily as possible. The deputation then retired. The report of the collector of rates was read respecting a case of remission of rates. The report of the sanitary committee was read as follows :

Your committee have had under consideration the question of sites for the nrinals, and have decided to recommend the following for the ap. proval of the Council: — Cathedral square, Market place, Wilson’s right-of-way—One each for eight persons. Opposite City Hotel —One for six persons. Opposite Goss’s yard, opposite Wilson and

SawteU’s —One each for two persona

Tour committee have also instructed the city surveyor to estimate the cost of erection, including a plentiful supply of water, and laying on gas to each urinal.

Or. Gapes moved —“That the sites opposite the City Hotel, Goss’ yard, and Wilson, Sawtell and Oo.’s stand over for reconsideration.” He objected to those open triangular spaces being taken up with urinals. Or. Hulbert pointed out that all the committee wished for at present was that the surveyor report on the cost. Hence Or. Gapes’ motion was not in order.

intimately the motion stood over until the question came up again with the estimate of the surveyor. The Surveyor was directed to furnish the estimate required as early as possible. The following report was read from the reserves committee :

Your committee bog to report and recommend that the concrete floor for the fish hawkers shall be 48ft. in length and Oft. in depth, including the channels in the rear thereof.

The rent shall be £6 per section of 12ft. frontage, payable quarterly in advance. E. C. Bishop, pro Chairman. In reply to Cr. King, The Mayor said that the Market square was not within the building block. Or. King regretted that the Council had allowed those unsightly buildings to go up.

Or. Hulbert said it was merely a temporary measure, and the committee regretted that those buildings should have been erected, but they had no other course to pursue. Or. Gapes desired to see the concrete extended to 12ft, as the 9ft. would not be enough. Or. Hulbert said that the committee considered the matter very carefully, and had come to the conclusion that nine feet would be sufficient.

Or. Gapes moved—“ That the width of the concrete to be done be twelve feet instead of nine.”

Or. England seconded the resolution, which was carried, Crs. Hulbert, Oherrill, and Bishop dissenting. The report, with the amendment as made, was then adopted. The report of the water supply committee was read as follows : March Bth, 1880. Tour committee beg to report that they have interviewed Mr Blackwell relative to the proposed alternative water supply scheme, and beg to recommend the Council to allow them to commission Mr Blackwell to report on same, in order that the whole subject may bo brought before the ratepayers at the earliest possible date.

William Vincent, Chairman. Or. Vincent said that they had held a meeting of the committee that day, and Mr Blackwell had attended and stated that he could have a report on the alternative water supply scheme by the end of the present week. Or. Hulbert asked the town clerk how many water supply schemes had been before the Council ?

The Town Olerk—Between twenty and thirty. The Mayor said that lie for one objected to taking the opinion of the gentlemen assembled at the recent meeting as that of the ratepayers. He wanted to see the question brought before the ratepayers once fpr all. The papers had been saying for years that what was wanted was a grand water scheme, and that they regretted they had not a Council with sufficient brains to devise one. An excellent scheme had been prepared, and they should not take any notice of what appeared in the papers, either as leading articles or by anonymous writers.

Or. Cuff thought that the opponents of the Waimakariri scheme were the persons who wanted to see the scheme brought before the ratepayers at once, when they thought it would be thrown out. They all had seen the necessity for a water supply, but one less expensive than the Waimakariri one, and they now came to ask for power to place one before the ratepayers which would meet their views, and which would be able to be dovetailed into the Waimakariri scheme if it were ever done.

Cr. Taylor should oppose any further expense being gone into in this matter. Let the matter go before the ratepayers and be decided, but he should not vole for one penny being expended on engineering works or reports, What he would suggest was that they should invite schemes from engineers, but not that they should go on spending money in a speculative manner. Cr. Hulbert desired to say that the reason why the Waimakariri scheme had been temporarily withdrawn was that they had received information from the engineer which showed them that a scheme might be got for a very small rost. The Mayor said that he should object to any alternative scheme being put before the ratepayers until they had a clear statement of what it would cost to a pound. Ho said now most distinctly, that ho had no idea that the Waimakariri scheme would cost anything like the amount now estimated.

Cr. Cherrill said they were quite prepared to give the Council the estimate of the alter, native scheme if the Council would go into committee to receive it.

Or. Gapes objected to the Council going into committee on the subject. Ho thought that it was most peculiar that the water supply committee should have had their opinions altered by the three gentlemen who were present at the recent meeting. [“ No, no.”J Or. Cherrill desired to deny that the temporary withdrawal of the 'Vaimakariri scheme had anything whatever to do with the opinions of those present at that meeting. The reasons for this withdrawal had been given fully by both Cr. Vincent and himself at last meeting, and Cr. Gapes heard this. Hence, he could not understand how Or. Gapes could deliberately make such mis-statements. Or. Bishop moved—“ That the Council go into committee at the close of the ordinary business to consider the report of the water supply committee.” Or. Lambert seconded the motion.

Cr. Gapes objected to the Council going into committee on this subject. It was a matter of public importance, and, as such, the public were entitled to know what was being done. If the Council was to be a secret society, let thorn keep all their business secret, but as they were not, he objected to their going into committee.The motion was then put and carried, Or. Gapes alone dissenting.

Or. England moved—“ That the city side of the South town belt between the Lincoln road and Antigua street be made passable for traffic, without danger to persons driving thereon. That in consequence of the OonnciTs funds being low, no metal should be used, but the road be roughly formed only, by levelling and filling up large hollows and excavations made from time to time.”

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

The subject of the reply to the letter ol the Sydenham Borough Council was nexl discussed.

It was resolved—“ That the town clerk reply to the Sydenham Borough Council to the effect that the City Council regret that the state of their funds will not permit ttom to do anything with the South town bolt, but that so soon as they will do so, the Council will be prepared to consider any proposal.” Or. Cherrill moved—“ That the question of driving round street corners be referred to the by-law committee for the formation of a new one, and that the notice boards at the corners of streets be taken down.”

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

A letter was read from Mr Livingstone, asking for a re-consideration of the withdrawal of his license as a cab-driver. The request was refused. The Council then went into committee, and afterwards adjourned.