CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2040, 7 September 1880, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Council was hold last evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Ore. Ayers, Gapes, King, Taylor, Vincent, Lambert, Thomson, Hulbert, Cuff, Bishop, Cherrill. The business before the special meeting was the making of the special watering rate as provided at a former meeting. The town clerk produced the advertisements which had been inserted in pursuance of the Municipal Corporations Act, and also the petition of the ratepayers in the various streets, signed by 324 persons. Cr. Thomson moved—" That the Council now agree to make a rate of lsd in the £ for watering certain streets in the city,” and pointed out that in certain parts of the city large premises which are rated for watering purposes did not have frontages on the streets watered. For instance, the Central Hotelhad but a short frontage on Colombo street, while it had a very long one on Gloucester street, which was not watered at all. Now it seemed to him an injustice that persons should have to pay on a large rateable value whilst receiving but little benefit. Or. Ayers also supported what Or. Thomson had pointed out, and trusted the works committee would bo able to make some arrangements to meet the case.

The motion was then put and agreed to. Or. Thomson then moved—“ That the town clerk summon a special meeting for the 11th October, to confirm the above resolution.” Or. Gapes seconded tho motion, which was agreed to. This terminated the business of the special meeting. The ordinary meeting was then held. The credit balance at the Bank was stated as being £lO3l 18s. The receipts for tho week were £824 15s. Accounts to the amount of £2BS 17s 4d were passed for payment. Or. Bishop said he desired to explain, with regard to the cabstand on tho South town belt, that the official plans shown with regard to the tramway formation wont away from the cabstand. The fact was that the whole matter had arisen from the divergence by the Tramway Company from the line as laid down on the official plans. He had made this explanation as the late by-law committee had jeon charged with having allowed the tramway lino to be laid down over the cabstand, as proclaimed. Or. Lambert said he had inspected the plans deposited at the time of the concession being granted, and found that there had been a considerable divergence by the Tramway Company therefrom. Cr. Ayers said as chairman of the late bylaw committee he had gone down to the South town bolt with the chairman of the Tramway Company at the time of the rails being laid down, and from the plans he ascertained plainly that tho line would not, if the plans were adhered to, go near the cab stand. He was glad this explanation had been made, as the late by-law committee and the Council generally had been blamed for allowing the tramway line to cross their cab stand. Tho Mayor was glad to hear the explanation of Or. Bishop, as the late by-law committee had been blamed for what had taken place. Or. Gapes moved —" That the works committee be authorised to have the ends of the several streets coming under the watering rate watered where they deem it necessary.” This would meet the case referred to by Cr. Thomson.

Cr. Ayers seconded tho motion, which was agreed to. Cr. Lambert asked a question with regard to tho five feet of a site in the Market square built upon by Mr J. P. Olliver, belonging to Mr Fiddes,

The Town Clerk replied that the matter had been before the 'reserves committee, who had advised Mr Fiddes to consult his legal adviser.

Or. Gapes asked whether any official notification had been received from the Government with regard to the taking over of the powers of the Local Board of Health by the city. The Bill empowering this to bo done had passed. The Mayor said that there appeared to be some misconception in the mind of the Government on this matter, as he had received a letter from the Government pointing out that the District Drainage Board had referred a ease of a filthy dairy near Stanmore bridge to the Central Board of Health, and pointing out that it was advisable as typhoid had occurred in the neighborhood that the corporation should take some steps in the matter. He (the Mayor) had spoken to Mr Harman on the matter, and ho had undertaken that tho matter would be looked into. A letter was road from the Drainage Board, stating that tho Council could now take possession of the small piece of ground near the cemetery required for a road. The matter was referred to the works committee.

A letter was read from the secretary of the Excelsior Band, stating that they intended playing in Cathedral square on alternate Thursday evenings with the Railway Band. The matter of the High street deed of concession to the Tramway Company was referred to the by-law committee. Another letter, with reference to a conference between a committee of the Council and the Tramway Company as to passing places and standing places, was also referred to the same committee.

A letter was read from Mr J. P. Jameson, chairman of the Cemetery Board, asking for a'grant of £IOO or £l5O towards the cost of constructing the road to the cemetery. In reply to Or. Bishop, tho Town Clerk said that the legal opinion was that no money could be spent outside the city boundaries unless a private empowering Act wore obtained.

Or. Thomson said that this seemed strange, when so much money was spent at the Waimakariri.

The matter was referred to the by-law committee to consult the solicitor on the subject. The report of the city surveyor was read as follows : No. 1. I find the works committee have reported to the City Council concerning Mr Drewett. I should therefore like to explain why I suggested that Mr Drewett should be kept on to assist in my department. For some time past, owing to the great increase of work, I have been unable to compass it single-handed, consequently much of my work has fallen into nrrear ; also, I find that the public are greatly inconvenienced through there not being always some one in 'my office to afford information, which is hourly sought after. The building bylaw is not looked after so well as I could wish, in consequence of my not having time for the purpose. The block plans are also considerably in arrear, and those ought to be constantly kept up, otherwise they are almost useless for reference. 2. Owing to my having had to attend the Magistrate’s Court all day. I was unable to bo at the meeting of the works committee this morning, but I find they have accepted a tender for the artesian well in Victoria street, subject to the approval of the Council, and on condition that I will alter the specification, but I do not see how I can alter the specification after it has been tendered on. Cr. Thomson moved —“ That the first clause of the surveyor’s report be approved.” Cr. King seconded the motion. In connection with this matter the report of the works committee was read as follows : l.“Tonr committee beg to report that the services of Mr Drewett, as tramway overseer, terminated on the 22nd July last. He has been since employed, by the authority of your committee, to make a copy of the key to the standard survey of the city and other matters. The surveyor asks to be allowed to further retain the services of Mr Drewett to make up the block plana, and other business which has got into arrear. 2. His Worship the Mayor has kindly offered the sum of £3O to bo applied to the erection of a pedestal lamp in the centre of Latimer square, which your committee recommend should be accepted.— James Gapes, Chairman. September 6th, 1880. After gome further discussion the motion was carried. On the second clause considerable discussion ensued, and ultimately Cr. Taylor moved—“ That the tender for the sinking of the artesian well in Victoria street be accepted on the specifications as they stand.” Or. Oherrill seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Council then considered the second clause of the report of the works committee. The Mayor said that as there did not, appear to be any chance of the clock tower

being erected in Latimer square, he had determined to offer £3O for a pedestal lamp, which would be a great boon. If the clock tower were erected during his year of office he should be prepared to give £SO towards the erection of the pedestal. It was resolved to defer the consideration of this matter until Cr. King’s notice of motion with reference to the erection of the clock tower in Latimer square came on. The report of the inspector of nuisances was read.

The report of the reserves committee was read as follows :

Tour committee beg to report that, according to the Council's instructions, they advertised the Geraldine Reserve to bo let by lease, and sent to various places near the locality of the reserve the conditions for the basis of the lease. No tenders have been received. The only offer made to the committee was at the rate of one shilling per acre per year for seven years, without any conditions for fencing, &c., attached, which the committee cannot recommend the Council to accept. Your committee visited the Bottle Lake Reserve, but are unable to see that the same can be utilised at present, and therefore do not recommend it should be fenced and planted on account of the cost and the difficulty of obtaining suitable plants. Your committee take this opportunity of drawing attention to the fact that the leases of the market reserve will be shortly falling in, and would suggest that the Council take into consideration the desirability or otherwiss of erecting a permanent market or leasing the site to a company for that purpose. They are further of opinion that the experiment made during the past twelve months has proved beyond doubt that the public have appreciated even the crude convenience provided. Tour committee also wish to direct attention to the desirableness (when funds will permit) of forming footpaths through the reserves along the river banks, where practicable, for public use. ' They also suggest, when funds are available, that the clock tower be erected in the centre of Latimer square, the base thereof to be so constructed as to provide accommodation for band performances, which would have the effect, in their opinion, of further enhancing the value of the square as a pleasant promenade for the citizens. Your committee would recommend the acquiring of a suitable reserve for storing and breaking the metal required for the streets of the city. The triangular pieces on which the stone is at present stored are inconvenient and unsightly, and are a fruitful source of complaint and annoyance to the occupiers of property in the immediate neighborhood. Tour committee are therefore of opinion that these reserves should bo devoted to the .purposes for which they were granted, viz. ornamental and recreation purposes. 0. P. Hulbeet, Chairman.

The matter of erecting a permanent market or leasing the site to a company for that purpose, was referred to the reserves committee to report specially upon at a future date. The Council affirmed the necessity of forming footpaths through the reserves when in funds.

That paragraph in the report of the committee regarding the clock tower was deferred until next week.

In connection with the stonebreaking on the triangular spaces in the city, the Mayor read a letter, signed by a number of residents in Gloucester street and Oxford terrace, comjlaining of the nuisance caused by the stonejreaking depot there. The subject then dropped, it being understood that the Council would take the matter into consideration.

Or. Gapes moved-—" That the water carts be employed to flush some of the side channels of the city, as, in consequence of the advancement of the season, some of the side channels have become a nuisance and dangerous to health.”

Or. Lambert seconded tho motion, which was agreed to. Or. King gave notice to move next meeting :—“ That this Council take steps to have the clock tower presented to the citizens of Christchurch by the General Government, erected in Latimer square, with a suitable pedestal, at a cost of not more than £550.” The Council then adjourned."