CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 202, 17 August 1880, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, August 16. A special meeting waa held at 6.45 p.m. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Ors. Ayers, Lambert, King, Taylor, England, Hnlbort, Cuff, Gapes, Oherrill and Bishop. The business before the meeting was the taking over of a private street called Bath street. The surveyor reported that the usual conditions had been complied with. The town clerk read the petition of the residents of the street, asking that the same should be taken over by the Council. Cr, England moved—“ That the street as stated be taken over by the City Council as and from the 4-‘,h day of October next.” Or. Gapes seconded the motion, which was carried. Or. Ayers moved—“ That the town clerk give the requisite notice by advertisement, as provided by the Municipal Corporations Act, that the said Bath street will bo taken over by the City Council.” Or. England seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The ordinary meeting of the Council was then held, Or. Thomson being present in addition to those mentioned above. The debit balance at the Bank was stated as being £253 Is Id. The receipts for the week were announced as being £873 4s Id. Accounts to the amount of £Bl6 13s lOd were passsd for payment. The Mayor said that a deputation wished to wait on the Council with respect to Ohndley’s lane. . The deputation was then introduced, and in reply to questions from the Mayor, stated that they nquired to know why the lane had not been formed and shingled. It was in a very bad condition, there being no drainage at all. The Mayor said that there was £l3 10s still outstanding of the one-third of actual cost, so that the Council could not have done the work.

Or. Gapes moved—“ That the matter bo referred to the works committee to carry out under the rule applicable to private streets.” Or. King seconded the motion. The persons who had not paid would have to pay for channelling as well as forming, whilst those who had paid would only pay for the metalling and forming. The Mayor thought that before taking the very severe measures which could be carried out by the Council, they should give the persons who had not paid another chance. The resolution of Of. Gapes was then put and carried.

Or. Taylor asked if anything had been done with regard to the Tramway Company and the cabstand on the South Town belt.

Or. Bishop replied that the Bye-Law Committee were prepared with all the information -and a recommendation on the subject, which they would bring up so soon as they knew whether the works committee had arranged for stands for the tramway under the Tramway Act. Or. Oherrill asked whose business it was to interfere to prevent the reckless riding of bicycles in the street. That afternoon a very serious accident nearly occurred. The Mayor said this was a matter for the interference of the police. Or. Oherrill moved—“ That the town clerk call the attention of the police to the reckless speed at which bicycles are ridden in the city.” Or. Cuff seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Or. Lambert called attention to the deposit of rubbish on the section at the comer of Oxford terrace and Hereford street, near the Public Library. The Surveyor said that he had obtained the permission of Messrs Harman and Stevens to place road scrapings on that section. Or. Gapes moved—“ That the matter be referred to the sanitary committee.” Or. Ayers seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A petition was read from 179 persons in opposition to the line of tramway being taken up Oxford terrace, and suggesting that the line should go by the South town belt, leaving Oxford terrace free for coaches, vehicles, and horsemen.

The petition was received. Or. Bishop raised the question whether a petition could bo received except it was presented by a member. Or. Gapes said that along Cashel street, thence along Oxford terrace to Montreal street, and along to the Lincoln road, had already been granted under the concession given by the late Council. The Mayor said he distinctly understood Mr Brown to say that the Tramway Oompany did not intend to carry out this line at present. Or. Bishop moved—“ That the petition bo received, and the petitioners informed that the concession over Oxford terrace to Montreal street was given by a former Council, but that the subject mentioned in their petition would be considered when it came up.” The motion was seconded and agreed to. A letter was read from the Avon Boad Board, with reference to the shingling of the North town belt.

The matter was referred to the surveyor, to report ao to the necessity of this work and the cost.

A letter was read from the secretary of the Associated Insurance Companies, offering on the part of the companies to pay one-third of the cost—£lo—of the wire communicating between the house of Mr Superintendent Harris and the stations.

Or. Taylor said that this was purely for the benefit of the insurance companies, and ha must say he was surprised at the insurance association cavilling at such a small matter. Cr. Gapes moved—“ That the matter be referred to the fire brigade committee.” Cr. Taylor said that ho understood that the Council were not responsible for the work, and he should therefore bo prepared to see it thrown up by the Council. Cr. Thomson thought that the contribution offered by the insurance companies was a fair one.

Or. Ayers seconded the motion. The motion was carried on a division by seven to four.

A letter was read from the town clerk of Sydenham appointing a meeting of the works committee of both Councils for ten o’clock next day to arrange as to levels, &0., of the South town belt.

The Mayor soid that he had received a telegram from Mr Stevens that the Sydenham Borough Council Empowering Bill had been passed. Or. Taylor suggested that they should see the Bill before committing themselves. It was ultimately resolved that the request of the Sydenham Council be acceded to. The report of the City Surveyor was read as follows :

No. 1, All the private streets authorised to be channelled, formed, and shingled, are now completed, with the exception of four, which only require shingling and forming, which work will be at once commenced. All the public streets which were included in the yearly estimate to be metalled or shineled are now finished, except the North belt, which is being done. No. 2. A petition has been sent in to the Council praying that Harry street and Stewart street may be taken over by the Council and that the two should be proclaimed one public street, under the name of Stewart street. There is nothing to prevent the Council acceding to the request, as the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act have been complied with. Ho. 3. Eleven building licenses were granted during the month of July last. C. Walkdbn, City Surveyor. The petition respecting Harry street was read.

Or. Ayers moved—“ That a special meeting should be called for Monday next to take the petition into consideration.” Or. Gapes seconded the motion, which was carried. A report was read stating that the requisite number of signatures had been obtained for the watering rate in Oashel, High, Colombo, Manchester, and Victoria streets. It was resolved that the town clerk notify that the residents in the various streets desiring to have them watered must sign the request on or before next meeting of the Council.

A report was read from the interim tramway committee enclosing an opinion from the city solicitors to the effect that by the deed of

concession the Tramway Company were tentitled to pat down each passing places as they might deem necessary, therefore the solicitors were of opinion that the Tramway Company were entitled to pat down the passing place opposite Fisher’s corner. The Council had power to call upon the company to do any repairs which might bo necessary, and to do the work, charging the company with the cost thereof. They had power also to make rales and regulations for traffic. Or. Taylor thought the report of the committee who were appointed to consider and report upon the question did not deal with the matter fully. Or. King dissented altogether from the opinion of the city solicitor. Cr. England thought that the solicitor ought to have gone further, and said that when the by-laws were made they could call upon the Tramway Company to take up the standing place as not being one which would bo permitted under the by-laws. This, he thought, was the true rendering of the opinion, but the solicitor had not told them so. Or. England moved—“ That the tramway committee be requested to again wait on the city solicitor to enquire whether the making of the by-laws by the Council would enable them, it considered so desirable, to order the removal of the passing place opposite the City Hotel.” Or. Oherrill seconded the motion. After some further discussion, Or. Thomson pointed out that the shunting at the place opposite the City Hotel was for the convenience of the public, so as to prevent the trains passing through the narrow part of the street near the Bank of New Zealand at the busiest time of the day. It really was no convenience to the Tramway Company. After considerable discussion, the motion was put and carried, Cr. Hulbert moved—“ That in view of the present requirements of judicial affairs in the lower court of the city, and also the financial state of the colony, in the opinion of the Council the establishment of a Mayor’s Court at Christchurch is needed. That the above resolution bo forwarded to the Executive Government and the members of the city, with an assurance that this Council will use every endeavor to assist in establishing and maintaining such Mayor’s Court at the least possible expense to the Government.” He thought it would be generally admitted that a Mayor’s Court would be a very great boon to the city. Or. Thomson thought that this was a motion of which notice should be given. It was an exceedingly important question, and he thought the public should have notice of what was going to be done by them. Or. Hulbert would be quite willing to allow the matter to stand over till next meeting. It was agreed that the motion stand as a notice of motion for next meeting. Some little discussion ensued on the question of the enlargement of the strong room, and ultimately Or, Lambert moved —“That the strong room be enlarged at a cest not exeaeding £SO” Or. Ayers, seconded the motion, which was carried. A ballot took place, under the clause of the Act, to see which of tbo three members for the. north-west ward should retire, as these gentlemen were elected without opposition. The Councillors to be balloted amongst were Ors. Gapes, Cherrill,. and Lambert. The three names were then placed in a hat and drawn by the Mayor, when Or. Oherrill was ballotted out. The Council then adjourned.