CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1932, 4 May 1880, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, May 3. The usual weekly meeting of the CityOoun--cil was held at seven p.m. Present—His Worship the Mayor (in tho chair), Ora. Gapes, King, Bishop, Taylor, Cherrill, Cuff, Wyatt, England, Hulbert, Lambert, and Ayers. The receipts for tho week were announced as being £213 7s 3d. Tho debtor balance at the bank was stated as being £4914 16s lid. Accounts to the amount of £343 17s Id were passed for payment. The Mayor said that a conference had taken place between tho committees of the Sydenham and City Councils and three of the members of the House of ’Representatives for tho district, Messrs Stevens and Fisher and Hon. E. Richardson. Resolutions had been agreed to, and a bill drafted by the Sydenham Borough Council would be laid before the Council that evening. Ho trusted that the Bill would be the moans of settling this vexed question. A draft agreement had been sent down to the Council for signature, giving tho company the same powers for the extension of the tramways that hid been granted by the Sydenham Council and Heathcote Road Board. He thought that it would be a very good thing if tho town clerk was instructed to prepare a digest of resolutions passed by the Council for convenience of reference, and if the members thought so ho would like a motion to that effect. Ha suggested that a special meeting of the Council should be held to pass the yearly accounts, and they could also consider tho building by-laws, which had been submitted to them, and consider tho Drainage Board Bill, and a very important letter from the Thames Borough Council, relative to hospital and charitable aid. He might also bring before them an application by Mr Searle for the patronage of the Council at his benefit prior to leaving the colony. The late Mrs Searle had always been to the fore in giving her services for any charitable object, both at the Asylum and the Oddfellows’ Hall, and though the Council had passed a resolution declining their patronage except in cases of charity, &c., ho trusted they would consider this an exceptional case.

Cr. King called attention to a letter signed “Victorian,” stating that his testimonials sent in for the office of tramway inspector had not been returned, though he had inclosed a stamp for the purpose. The Mayor and several Councillors deprecated the Council taking any cognizance of anonymous letters. The Town Clerk explained that tho testimonials were remaining in the office for the persons owning them to call for them. Cr, Lambert asked what had been done with regard to the well in Victoria street ? Or. Gapes explained that Professor Bickorton had been too busy to make arrangements f- r putting the charge of dynamite into the well. Or. Cherrill said he understood the trial had been made and was a failure.

The Surveyor explained that the cases holding the dynamite had been leaky, and had allowed the water to got in.

A letter was read from the Sydenham Borough Council forwarding a draft of the Bill proposed to be submitted to tho Assemblv in terms of the resolutions of tho conference held on Friday last respecting the South town belt. The letter further went on to say that the Council considered it advisable that a public meeting should be called to consider the question of tho removal of the railway cashier’s department to Dunedin, which they understood had only been temporarily countermanded. The draft Bill was read by the town clerk. Cr. Taylor pointed out that the Bill did not contain any provision for the expenditure of the money by the Sydenham Council being under the supervision of the City Council.

The Mayor said the resolution passed contained the words “ under the control and supervision of the City Council. ” He would see that the words were added in the draft Bill.

It was resolved that the Bill as drafted, with the addition of the worda called attention to by Cr. Taylor, bo accepted by the City Council. Or. England moved—“ That the draft Bill and resolution arrived at by the joint conference be handed over to the city solicitor for perusal, and to draft tho clauses embodying the resolution, and that it then be forwarded to the committee already appointed by the Sydenham Borough Council and the City Council, so as to allow of it being sent to Wellington as speedily as possible. ” Or. Lambert seconded the motion.

A letter was read from Mr Tatton, asking for an interview with the Council with reference to his license.

The matter was deferred until the question of licenses came before the Council. A letter was read from the Canterbury Tramway Company, stating that at the request of the residents on the Ferry road the company were considering tho laying down a line from Manchester street to Woolston or the Heathcote bridge, and prior to settling the point they wishtd to know whether the Council would give the company the same concession as had been granted by the Heathcote Road Board and the Sydenham Council. Mr J. E. Brown, the chairman of the company, explained the nature of the concessions asked for, which were, he said, similar to that granted for Christchurch. Cr. Taylor expressed his desire to consider tho matter fully, and hoped the Council would defer until next meeting night any decision on this subject. Cr. Gapes agreed with Or. Taylor as to the necessity of delay. The matter stood over until next Monday.

A letter was read from Mr Hayward, asking for leave to stand his ’bus back to back to the tram cars at the railway station. The matter was referred to the by-law committee to report upon. A letter was read from Mr Blackwell, enclosing a telegram from London, stating that owing to the fall in the price of iron his estimate of the Waimakariri scheme would be reduced by £4OOO. A report was read from the Inspector of Nuisances, covering one from Sub-Inspector Leahy, stating that be had been interfered with seriously in the discharge of his duties by Or. Wyatt. The latter, in advising a person not to pay the scavenging rate made use of the expression, “ Those follows in that office all want turning out.” Ors. Lambert, Ayers, and Taylor spoke very strongly as to the conducted Or. Wyatt in the matter. Or. Cherrill moved—" That this Council expresses its entire satisfaction at the manner in which Mr Leahy has discharged his duty on this occasion.” Or. Lambert seconded the motion.

Or. Wyatt said that the inspector had brought the woman to his shop, and he objected to the servants of the Council coming to him on such occasions.

After some further discussion, the rcsolulution was put and carried with one dissentient —Or. Wyatt. The city surveyor’s report was read as .follows:

1. The plan of sidings in Cathedral square sent in by the Tramway Company to the City •Council having been referred to me by the chairman of the by-law committee to report upon, I beg to Bay that I cannot see the necessity of the loop lines shown on the company’s plan on the north and south sides of the Godley statue, and would therefore suggest that they'be left out, and the lines extended in a westerly direction, which arrangement would enable the train to be turned without uncoupling the . engine, which I think would prove an advantage to the working of the tramway, besides leaving thirty-four feet of driving way for ordinary traffic on each side the square, instead of twenty--two feet as shown on the company’s plan. As the alterations I have proposed may not be clearly -understood I have prepared a plan showing them which is annexed hereto. The sixty-foot radius ■curve north of the statue (shown on the company’s plan) I think ought also to be abolished, as it cute through the cab stand and footpath, and will he of little or no use to the working of •the tramway. As the line along the road in front of the Cathedral is not shown as it was conceded by the Council on the original plan, T suppose the company wish the present plan to he a substitute for the former one, in this respect, and not desire to avail themselves of the lines shown in both plans. The main street in front of the cathedral is now called into requisition for a very large traffic. I therefore think it would bo more advantageous to place the loop lino shown on the company’s plan, to the west of the main track, instead of the east, thus leaving a wider road open for the ordinary traffic. It will be observed that I have introduced curves of a much larger radius than those shown on the company’s plan, which will conduce to tho easy working of the tramway. I have not in my plan shown the branch line at the north side of the cathedral, as there is nothing oz tho company’s pku to indicate its utility or ultimate destination. 2. With regard to the question of lowering High street, mentioned last Monday evening, I think it wo Id be very unwise to do so, as it interfere with tho level of so many streets that join on to .jt, as well as destroy several asphalt crossings,

which would render it a very expensive piece of work. If it should be found that the tramway does cause the street to be moro dangerous than it is at present, some scheme may perhaps bo devised to alter the channel, which may be easily done when the underground drainage is complete in this street. 5. The 1000 yards of boulders ordered by the Council in January last, in order to find work for the stonebreakers, arc now all delivered —0. Walkden, City Surveyor. Mr Brown spoke on the subject, and said that ho did not think it would be possible to work the traffic as proposed by the city surveyor. The Mayor pointed out that under the Christchurch Reserves Act the Council could not give the right to run over the square as proposed. Or. Taylor, while wishing to facilitate the operations of the company, desired to say that, with a very large experience of American tramways, he never saw the city authorities finding standing room for the cars of the companies. They all had their own depots, from which the trams started and where the cars could stand. Cr. King corroborated the statement of Cr. Taylor. Mr Brown said, that the concession given to tho Tramway Company enabled them to stand in front of tho Godloy statue as long as they liked. Or. Chorrill said, if the Tramway Company had what Mr Brown said was correct, that 224 trains per diem came through Cathedral square, they might as well abandon it to the Tramway Company altogether, and take tho public traffic elsewhere. Mr Brown said the concession and the Order in Council gave them a right to lay down four lines terminating at the Godloy statue. . Cr. Hulbert protested strenuously against the square being cut up for the tramway. It was decided, after some discussion, that a legal opinion on tho matter should be taken, and that a special meeting of the Council to consider the subject take place on Friday, at 7 p.m. On the motion of Cr. England, the works committee were empowered to procure 500 yards of metal for breaking by tho old men engaged in stone-breaking. Or. King suggested that the Council should allow the Tramway Company to open more than ono hundred yards of the lino along High street, because the traders in that street felt that it would be better to loso two days’ business rather than a week’s. He would suggest that the contractors should be allowed to open up the line from the Bank of New Zealand to Cashel street and from Cashel street to Cunningham’s corner. [Hear, hear.] Or. Hulbert was in favor of this. It would he much better for them to close their shops for two days and go to Kniapoi, rather than have the street cut about for weeks. Crs Ayers and Gapes spoke in favor of the suggestion. Or. King moved—“ That this Council allow the tramway contractors to open up High street in two sections, from the Bank of New Zealand to Cashel street and thence from Cashel street to Cunningham’s corner (the first section to bo completed first), instead of confining them to the restrictions in the deed of concession, provided the work be carried on with all speed—the contractor w:rking night and day.” Cr. Ayers seconded the motion. Or. Gapes moved that all the words after “with all speed” be struck out. Cr. Cherrill seconded the amendment, which was lost. Cr. Taylor moved as a further amendment —“ That the works committee be authorised to make p.n arrangement with the Tramway Company on the subject.” Cr. Gapes seconded the amendment. Cr. Bishop pointed out that this was too important a matter to leave to the works committee, only two of whom could deal with it, Cr. England being incapacitated, from being a shareholder. Or. Hulbert opposed the amendment, because the only two members of the works committee who could act were diametrically opposed to each other on all subjects. Or. Taylor said this being so, he would withdraw his amendment. The original motion was then put and carried, Or. Gapes dissenting. Cr. Lambert moved—" That provided the public will subscribe, say £6OO, the estimated cost of erecting the clock tower, with horse trough and drinking fountain, on the north side of the South Town belt, opposite tho railway station, that this Council will erect thereon the iron clock tower now in the Council’s yard.” Or. Taylor seconded the motion. Or. Cherrill moved as an amendment—- “ That the selection of a site for the clock tower be remitted to the reserves committee, to report on Monday fortnight.” Cr. Hulbert seconded the amendment, on tho ground that tho site would interfere with the traffic. Crs. Gapes, Ayers, Wyatt, England, and King supported the amendment, which was agreed to, Ors. Taylor and Lambert being in the minority. Or. King moved—“ That this Council forward a respectful protest to the Government against the removal of the railway staff from Christchurch.” Cr. England seconded the motion. He should have liked to have seen the Chamber of Commerce move in this matter, but as they had not, he had pleasure in seconding the resolution. Or. Gapes suggested that the mover should alter his resolution so as to ask the Mayor to call a public meeting to consider the subject. Ors. Hulbert and Ayers thought that the best way would be for the citizens themselves to requisition the Mayor for a public meeting. The latter stated that he was credibly informed that the Hon. John Hall did not know of the removal of the cashier’s department, and as soon as he did he countermanded the order. Or. Bishop suggested that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the city members, the member for Sydenham district, and the Chamber of Commerce. The motion was then put and carried unanimously, with the addition suggested by Cr. Bishop. On the motion of Or. Cherrill, the Town Clerk was instructed to prepare an indexed digest of the resolutions of the Council. The Council, after granting some licenses, adjourned to Tuesday at 7 p.m.