CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2028, 24 August 1880, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, August 23. The ordinary meeting of the City Council was held last evening. There were present— His Worship the Mayor, Ors. Lambert, Ayers, England, Thomson, Hulbert, Cuff, Oherrill, Taylor, Vincent, King, Gapes, and Bishop. In accordance with arrangements made at a previous sitting, a special meeting of the Council was hold in reference to tho question of private streets. A petition had been recei red from certain ratepayers, asking the Council to take over a street known as Edward street, between St. Asaph street and the Town belt, A resolution was passed to tho effect that the street named be formally taken over by Council.

Subsequently, an amendment was carried that the matter be deferred till a suitable plan of the said street be laid before the Council.

The ordinary business was then taken into consideration.

■ The Mayor stated that the credit balance at the Bank was £lO4 9s Bd. The usual statement of accounts was read, giving the following results : Receipts : General account, £1174 4s 7d ; drainage rate, 1880, £14116s ; Drainage Board, 1880, £196 6s ; sinking fund account, £22 10s. Bills to be paid, £205 3s 7d ; No. 2 account. District Drainage Board, £1402 6s sd. The accounts were duly passed as read. A deputation (Mr Pratt and Mr Allan) waited on the Council on behalf of the Tramway Company. Mr Pratt explained that they had come to the Council with a request touching the concession granted to the Tramway Company. They required an extension of time; in fact, so that the concession might run concurrent with oub they were about to seek from the Heathoote Road Board, namely, for twentyone years. He pointed out that it would be inconvenient to have one portion of the line terminating before the other. Mr Allan also addressed the Council, and in general corroborated what had fallen from Mr Pratt as comprising the request with which they had been asked to wait on the Council.

Cr. Taylor asked whether it would be possible for the company to make such arrangements with the Avon Road Board as would meet the views of the Council.

The Mayor—That would be for nineteen years instead of twenty-one. Mr Allan explained that it would be a serious obstacle to the company’s coming to an arrangement, as it would entail a considerable loss.

As to the question of time Mr Pratt pointed out that there were certain pre-

liminary steps to be gone through, such as giving the necessary no! ice, &c., before the contract could be entertained.

The deputation were given to understand that tho Council would give tho matter their consideration, and they then withdrew. Mr Oherrill asked if anything more had been heard of tho Board of Health re scavenging arrangements in the city. The Mayor stated that no official communication had yet been received. A petition, presented by Or. Lambert, from the stonebroakers was read, praying for a continuance of employment. A proposal was made by Cr. Gapes that an additional 500 yards of metal be procured. Upon this motion there ensued a discussion on ways and means. The proposal would involve an expenditure of £250. A division was taken on Or. Gapes’ motion, resulted in its being carried by 7 to 4. A petition from residents in certain streets within the city was received, praying that an additional rate of lid in the £ be levied for watering the streets. The Town Clerk brought up an estimate of the cost of watering the streets, with an estimate of expenditure derived by the rate. On the motion of Or. Ayers tho estimates were approved. The proyer of tho petitioners as above to be acceded to, and the necessary instructions were given for giving due notice of the striking cf the rate. The Mayor mentioned that he had been called upon by some of the cabmen with regard to obtaining copies of the by-laws, and ho thought tho Council might give each of those who took out licenses a copy. Resolved—“ That on the issue of each new

license the licensee should be presented with a copy of the by-law.” Dr. Symes wrote complaining that he had been summoned for a scavenging rate which he had already paid. The Town Clerk explained that he had given strict instructions (posted up inside and outside the office) that no money should be paid in without a receipt being obtained, as mistakes were found to arise otherwise.

The Mayor thought there might perhaps have been eomo laxity in the office. Cr. Taylor took exception to the blame being . attached to the public, as put by the Town Clerk,

Or. Bishop reminded the Council that the office accommodation hitherto had been very inefficient, which had no doubt led to a certain amount of confusion.

It was resolved to refer the letter to the officer concerned, Mr Tribe. The City Surveyor’s report was read as follows :

1. Eo North Belt —I was required last week by the Council to say whether it is necessary to shingle the north side of the North Belt, and I now beg to say that in consequence of its not haying been done when the belt was formed the belt will now require re-forming the shingle can be put on. I do think _it highly necessary to now shingle the north side of the belt, for, although it may he passable during the ensuing summer, so soon as winter comes it will be again dangerous for traffic. The complaints about the state of the channel on the north side have been very frequent, and as the ground of complaint can never be removed until concrete channel is laid, I think it would be very desirable to channel that portion lying between Whately road and Colombo street, a distance of 33 chains. The following is my estimate for the work required on North Belt: —Shingle from Whately road to Colombo street, 15 cubic yards per chain, 33 chains, equal to 495 yards ; shingle from Colombo street to_ Barbadoes street, 30 yards per chain, 36 chains, equal to 1080 yards ; 1575 yards at 4s, £315 ; forming 36 chains, at .£l, .£36 ; 138 cubic yards of shingle on footpath, at 4s, ,£27 125—£378 12s. 2. Ee South Belt—l have prepared a plan and specification showing the work necessary to be done on the South Belt, and by my estimate, annexed hereto, it will bo seen that the cost will be £5521 12s. I have not included anything in the estimate for shingle on footpaths, as I imagine they will he asphalted. In compliance with the request of tho Sydenham works committee, 1 have placed tho level of tho channel on the north side higher than that on the south, in order to reduce the quantity of earthwork. 3. I have taken levels over the new road running from Selwyn street to Richmond road, applied for by Mr Izard, and I find the work necessary to be done to it before the Council can take it over will amount to £l5O 49, This sum includes forming and shingling the road and footpaths, and laying concrete channels. If the road is formed and channelled, and tho surrounding ground levelled, it will obviate the necessity of any further drainage, which was the other point Mr Izard wrote about. 4. Now that the watering season is commencing, I beg to call the Council’s attention to the want of sufficient water in the tank at the Whately road. 5. The contract for forming and shingling the private streets off Lower High street was given to Mr J. Miller.—C. Wjuokdbn, City Surveyor,

Some discussion arose on clause 1 of the, report, touching the responsibility of the Boad Board to contribute to the cost. The surveyor explained that his estimate did not include the channelling, by including which it would make the amount £609 12s. Or. Thomson proposed—“ That an estimate of the cost be sent to the Avon Boad Board.” Or. Lambert seconded the resolution, which, after some discussion, was carried. Eagardlng clausa 2 of the report, it was resolved that the plan and estimate of the proposed work be forwarded to the Sydenham Borough Council. On clause 4, it was resolved to communicate with Mr Izard. The report as a whole was then approved. The report of the tramway committee was read as follows : Your committee havereceived Mr Cowllshaw’s opinion on the power to make by-laws under clause 49 of the Tramways Act (which is attached hereto) and your committee recommend that the Tramway Company be asked to indicate the places where they desire standing and passing places on their lino within the city. J. Gapes, Chairman. The report was approved, and a notice of motion, given by Cr. Oherrill on the same subject, withdrawn. The fire brigade committee’s report (approved) was to the following effect : August 25th, 1830. Your committee beg to report that they have considered the offer of the Associated Insurance Companies of the 10th instant to pay one-third (J) of the account (.£10) sent in by the Government for the maintenance of tho private wire to Mr Harris’ house, which they recommend should be accepted. Tho reason your committee make the above recommendation is that the insurance companies paid nearly the whole cost of laying tho lines, and. in ' all other contributions towards fire prevention have hitherto only paid a proportion of the total cost, and therefore they cannot see any reason for departing from the usual custom ; besides, your committee when they consider the value of the uninsured property within the city cannot but conclude that the service is a public one. C. B. Taylor, Chairman.

Cr. Hulbert moved his resolution as to the advisability of forming a Mayor’s Court in Christchurch. He briefly spoke in support of his motion.

Or. Thomson also favored the proposal. Or. Gapes had not yet been able to penetrate to the wisdom of the course suggested. Or. Hulbert pointed out that it would facilitate the purely routine business of the Magistrate’s Court, and add to the dignity of the Mayor’s office. The Mayor was surprised to find that Or. Gapes had altered his opinions within eighteen months.

Or. Hulbert having “replied ” by remarking that there was nothing to reply to in the way of objection—[Laughter] The motion was put and carried, Or. Gapes being the only dissentient. The Council also resolved to forward a copy of the above resolution to the Government.

Re drainage on the South town belt, it was resolved to write again to the Drainage Board, pointing out that the nuisance complained of still existed, to the great danger of public health.

Or. Bishop drew attention to the fact that in regard to applications to build under the proposed new building by-laws, it would be breaking their own by-laws to permit it. Resolved—“ That the applications be not entertained.”

Applications for licenses, &e., were then considered and dealt with. The Council then adjourned.