CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1926, 27 April 1880, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, April 26, A special meeting of the Council was held at 6.45 p.m. Present —His Worship the Mayor, Ors. King, Gapes, Wyatt, Lambert, England, Ayers, Cherrill, Hulbert, Taylor, and Cuff. The business before the meeting was the consideration of the burgess roll, and any objections thereto. The Town Clerk having read the advertisement giving notice of the intention of the Council to hold the meeting, and reported that no objections had been received, it was resolved —” That the burgess list be signed by the Mayor and Ors. King and Gapes certifying to its correctness, and that the same be the burgess roll for 1880-81.” This concluded the special business. The ordinary meeting was then hold. The debit balance at the bank was stated as being £4353 2s. The receipts for the week were announced as £152 13s. Accounts to the amount of £775 12s 2d were passed for payment.

The Mayor said ho had forwarded letters to all those connected with local industries, and had received a number of answers, which he would forward to Mr Wakefield, the chairman of the Royal Commission on Native Industries. The poll on the question of water supply, &0., would be taken on the 6th May. The Mayor then referred to the South town belt question, and stated that ho had been informed that a requisition was being circulated to the Sydenham Borough Council, asking •them to do something to the South town belt, and failing this that the General Assembly be petitioned to annex that portion of the borough of Sydenham north of the railway line to the city of Christchurch. [Hear, hoar.] A letter had also been received with reference to dog fees belonging to Sydenham, which it was alleged had been taken by Christchurch. It was resolved that the Sydenham Borough Council be written to, asking for more specific information as to the alleged taking of fees. In reply to Cr. England, Or. Ohcrril' said he was not aware that the delay at the fire on Sunday was owing to the machinery of the steam fire engine having been under repair, or that steam was unable to he got up rapidly. The reason of the delay was the length of the hose that was out. Or. Hulbert said that the whole plant was in a bad condition, and would cost as much as a small water supply scheme to replenish. Or. Taylor said that Mr Superintendent Harris had told him that it would coat £2OOO to replenish the plant. Or. Ayers said that he would suggest that the matter be referred to the Eire Insurance Companies, as it was their concern, since keeping a Eire Brigade was a luxury. Or. Oherrill said that one of the boilers in the steam fire engine was in a very bad condition. They had sent to England for a new boiler, which it was hoped would arrive before the old one burst. In accordance with a suggestion from Or. Bishop, the Mayor undertook to see the city solicitor as to the legality of holding the poll re water supply, &0., in the old Post-office. A letter was read from Mr J. L. Wilson, offering metal at 8s 3d per yard. It was decided, subject to the approval of the surveyor, to authorise the works committee to accept the offer, . . A letter was read from the city solicitor, stating that in their opinion the Council were not bound to provide sixty miles of footpath under the contract with Mr Smart. A letter was read from Mr Grisbrook, calling attention to the nuisance arising from the side channels in Montreal street North.

On the reading of the letter a chorus of “ Things won’t be better till we get a water supply,” arose from the Councillors. The matter was referred to the inspector of nuisances.

A letter was read from Mr M. Murphy, requesting the Council to order the removal of a boat shed in Cambridge terrace West, occupied by Mr Aiken, as it blocked up the road in front of his property. The letter was referred to the reserves committee. A letter was read from the chairman of the Tramway Company, giving notice that on the 29th inst. the company would proceed to construct a line of tramway to the Railway station via Manchester street. It was resolved to consider the matter later on. A letter was read from the Sydenham Borough Council, stating that at the suggestion of the representatives of the district a deputation had been appointed to meet the members for the city and a similar deputation of the City Council on the matter of the South town belt, and asking the City Council if they were prepared to re-open the question. Or. Hnlbert moved —“ That the Mayor, Crs. Gapes, Ayers, and Cherrill bo a committee to meet the deputation from Sydenham on the matter of the South town bolt, to report to the Council.” Cr. England seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr Husband had an interview with the Council regarding his fish stall in the Market square, and the matter was referred to the reserves committee. Mr Wadey, contractor for the tramway, applied for an interview with the Council, and it was resolved that the Council could not deal with any third party, but only with the Tramway Company. The surveyor’s report was read as follows :

1. I have written to the manager of the Tramway Company with reference to the state of Colombo street, and also the manner of carrying on the work in Victoria street, but as yet no reply has been sent. 2. The contract for forming and shingling Allan street and Harry street was given to Mr Keiley. 3. The contract for cement was given to Mr C. W. Turner. 4. The works committee have arranged with Mr Fergusson to pay him £lO for the damage his

horae sustained at the Barbadoes street bridge. 5. Mr 801 l will renew bis application for a right of-way, and send a plan of what he requires in a few daj s’ time. The Surveyor read a letter sent by him to the Tramway Company, in which he pointed out that the broken metal taken up on the Whately road had been carted away by the contractor, and reminding the company that the road had to be replaced with the same thickness of broken metal as that existing before opening the road. The letter of Mr Brown was considered. Or. Bishop moved—“ That the town clerk write to the city solicitors and enquire whether they intend to represent the City Council or the Tramway Company, and other bodies for whom they are retained, on matters arising with reference to these bodies and the Council coming before them for advice.” Or. Ayers seconded the motion. The report of the inspector of nuisances was read. After referring to a nuisance in which ho had taken action the report proceeded as follows:

Noticing that the condition of the side channels were spoken of at the meeting on Wedneaday last, i' have thought it advisable to lay before you the extent of work necessary to carry out such a system as recommended. After carefully considering a plan of the city belonging to the surveyor’s department, whii_h shows the various falls of the whole system of side channels X am in a position to state that it wonld be necessary to deliver water at about forty different places to effectually flush them, besides a large amount of extra work in connecting them. It is utterly impossible, as suggested, to flush them from two or three different points on the river, owing to the many places at which water would have to be delivered. To deliver this flushing power at the above mentioned summits, it would be necessary to connect them by means of over six miles of piping, supposing the same to be pnmpol from the river. It is very evident to me that unless a sufficient supply of water is forthcoming for properly cleansing these channels, the nuisance arising from them will increase in proportion to the population, and I cannot see how this evil can be abated without a proper system of flashing, as no manual labour : a able to keep them in a satisfactory condition. F. Hobbs, City Inspector.

The report was approved. Or. Bishop brought up an opinion from the city solicitor, to the effect that the Council could stop up the lights in Messrs Sargood, Sons and Ewen’s warehouse by building on their own land within twenty years. Unless this was done within twenty years, the title of Messrs Sargood and Co. to the lateral light would be indefeasible.

It was resolved that the solicitor be asked to forward a letter to Messrs Sargood, Son and Co., embodying their opinion on the subject. Cr. Bishop brought up the Driving Round Corners by-law. The committee only recommended the making of the by-law respecting driving and riding at a walking pace to apply to the intersections of Hereford and Colombo street, and Cashel street and Colombo street. Ho moved—“ That the by-law be forwarded to the solicitor for drafting.” The motion was agreed to. Cr. Bishop also brought up the draft building by-law. The water supply committee was authorised to draw up the voting paper for the polling on the municipal loan, &c. Or. Hulbert moved—“ That the sum of £IOO be voted by the Council for improving Latimer square by forming asphalt pathways and grass plots and repairing the fences.” He should have been happy to have included Cranmor square, but he thought this square should be loft for football for this season, besides the residents in the west portion of the city had an excellent recreation ground, which those of the east had not. Cr. Cherrill seconded the motion.

Or. Taylor moved as an amendment—- “ That both squares be put in order as follows :—Levelled and laid down with grass, footpaths formed from corner to corner and through the centre, north and south-east and west, said paths to be covered with metal screenings, and well rolled.” Cr. Gapes seconded the motion. Crs. Lambert and King supported the amendment.

Or. Bishop thought they should not deprive the footballers of both squares, and he would suggest that Latimer square should be done this season and Cranmar square next. [Hear, hear.] This would enable the money to be taken out of next year’s rate. Or. Cuff would oppose both resolution and amendment. They had no money for necessaries, and these were luxuries. Or. Wyatt supported the motion, and Or. England opposed both motion and amendment.

After some discussion, Cr. Hulbert amended his resolution to the effect that £IOO be expended on Latimer square this season, on the understanding that £IOO be expended on Oranmor square next season.

The amendment of Or. Taylor was then put, with the following result—Ayes, Crs. Taylor, Gapes, Lambert, and King. Noes, Ors. Bishop, Oherrill, Cuff, Wyatt, England, and Hulbert, The amendment was thus lost.

Cr. Cuff then moved “ That the expending of any money on putting the squares in order be deferred until next year, owing to the Council not being in a position to afford the money.” Cr. England seconded the amendment. Crs. Taylor and Gapes supported Cr. Cuff’s amendment.

Cr. King opposed the amendment. The amendment was then put, and lost Ayes—Crs. Gapes, Taylor, Cuff, and England. Noes—The Mayor, Crs. King, Bishop, Cherrill, Hulbert, Ayers, Wyatt, and Lambert. The amendment was lost and the resolution was then put and carried, Crs. Gapes, Taylor, Cuff, and England voting against it. Or. Lambert brought up a very handsome sketch for the clock tower, and suggested that it should be erected on the South Town Belt, near the Kailway Station. The cost of erection he estimated at £SOO, with drinking fountain and horse trough, about £6OO or £625. He would give notice of motion as follows :—" That provided the public will subscribe the sum of £6OO, the estimated cost of erecting the clock tower on the South Town Belt, the Council will place the clock now in its possession, thereon.” Cr. Gapes moved that the surveyor consult with the chairman of the Tramway Company as to the lowering of High street, in order that the tramway may run along there on the proposed route to Manchester street.

The surveyor explained that though there was no actual danger, the vehicles would have to drive on a part of the road which was not so smooth as the crown of the road.

Or. Hulbert enquired whether the City Council would have to pay the large amount necessary to lower this street for the tramway. Ho considered it monstrous that they should have to spend £IOOO of the ratepayers’ money for the convenience of a private oompany. Or, Ayers seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The town clerk reported that there had been no objection to the rate book. Or. Gapesjmoved—“ That the Council make and levy a general rate of Is in the £, payable on April 27th.” Or. Ayers seconded the motion. On the motion of Cr. Gapes, the Council struck a rate of 2d in the £, to provide interest and sinking fund for the Drainage Loan.

The rate book was then signed by the Mayor and two councillors. The Council then adjourned at 10.45 p.m.