CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2046, 14 September 1880, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The usual weekly meeting was held at 7 p.m. yesterday. Present—The Mayor, Crs. Gapes, King, Bishop. Vincent, Taylor, Cuff, Kulbert, Thomson, England, Lambert, and Ay era. The credit balance at the Bank was stated as being £llBB 14s 4d. The receipts of the week were £443 13a Bd, and the accounts fur payment as passed were £36719a 3d. Cr. Lambert asked whether any official intimation had been received of the change of the powers of tho Local Board of Health to the City Council. The Mayor replied in the negative. Cr. Lambert ask?d why some Bix-inch boulders had been placed on Montreal, Durham and Kilmoro streets.

The Surveyor said that he would inquire into tho matter.

Cr. Gapes inquired whether the surveyor would explain how it was he had not reported the outting of the tramway through the cabstand on the South belt.

The Surveyor Baid that ho was under the impression that ho had reported the matter to the Tramway committee or the Council, he was not sure which.

Cr. Bishop asked whether there had been any application on the part of the tramway company for a deviation from the Order in Council aB to the tramway. The town clerk replied in the negative. Or. Lambert asked whether it was not the duty of the tramway inspector to conserve the interests of the citizens and see that there was no deviation from the line ?

Cr. Gapes said that the tramway inspector had worked under the orders of the surveyor. Or. England endorsed the remarks of Cr. Gapes. Cr. Hulberfc asked whether any steps had been taken to repair Manchester and High streets beyond tho tram rails.

The Surveyor said he had brought the matter under the notice of the engineer of the Tramway Company. A petition was read from residents in Victoria street, near the bridgo, calling attention to the fact that the wator carts commenced too late.

The Surveyor said that the men went out at 7 a.m. Cr. Hulbert advocated that the carts should go out earlier in the day. When people were opening their shops there were no carts about.

Tho matter was referred to the works committee, with a request that they would see that the carts went out earlier.

A petition was read from several residents in Horatio street with reference to the defective drainage, which was causing an outbreak of typhoid fever. A letter was read from the Drainage Board and from Mr John Russell on the same subject.

The Surveyor's report was read as follows :

1. I have received a letter from the chairman of the Drainage Board relating to Horatio street, and asking if it is in such a state that the open ditch running across to Baker's land can be filled up. The last time I reported to the Council on this subject I pointed out tbat Horatio street required channelling, but I believe at that time it was not taken in hand in consequence of want of funds. The inhabitants paid for the formation of this street some considerable time back. 2. A letter has been received from the Avon Road Board relating to the formation and shingling of the North bolt, ond stating that they consider the work to be unnecessary ; I would, therefore, beg the Council to refer to my report on the subject, dated 31st August last. 3. The work of driving the artesian well in Victoria street is progressing satisfactorily. It is now abeut 100 feet down.J

4. The shingling of the North belt is r now finished as far as regards the town side, and the North side has bsen temporarily repaired. 5. The contract for shingle with Mr Knowlea is now ompletod. 6. The following building licenses were granted during the month of August laat: — Messrs. Fisher, High street; Inglesby, St. ABaph street; Treleaven, Kilmore street; Cox, South belt ; Withnall, Armagh street; Bushman, Martin Btreet; Andrews, Durham street; Fleming, Colombo street; Houghton, Richmond road ; Andrews, South belt; Eennington, Cambridge terrace; Temperance Hotel, Cashel street; Gibb, Cashel street; Paul. Armagh street; Bradshaw, Richmond road ; Bradahaw, Richmond road; Atkinson, Colombo street : Mundy, Peterborough street; Montgomery, Colombo street; Sheath, Gloucester street; McDowell, East belt.

Cr. England moved—" That Horatio street be channelled."

Cr. Hulbert asked if the street was taken over by the City Council. The Mayor replied in the negative. Cr. Gapes seconded the motion. Cr. Thomson thought that this matter should be referred to ths works committee, with instructions to report on all other streets which required channelling. He would move as an amendment—" That the matter bo referred to the works committee." Cr. Cuff seconded the amendment. After some discussion, Cr. Thomson withdrew his amendment. The motion was then put and agreed to. On the second paragraph of the surveyor's report, Cr. Gapes moved—" That tho North side of the North belt bo shingled and channelled under clause 188 of Tho Municipal Act." Or. King seconded the motion, After some discussion, Cr. Gapes withdrew his motion, with a view to obtaining a legal opinion as to what was a " reasonable share " of the expenses. The by-law committee reported as follows — Tour committee beg to report thut the difficulty between the Tramway Company and the cabmen respecting the cabstand on the South Town belt has received a considerable amount of attention from jour committee during the week. Several meetings have taken place between your committee and a sub-committee of the Traraiway Company, as well as representatives of the cabmen. An offer was received from the directors of the Tramway Company which it was thought would meet the difficulty, and your committee were giving it their serious attention ; but this afternoon a further letter was received from the Tramway Company withdrawing their offer, as they statn the method suggested would prove unworkable. Your committee therefore will not ba in a position to make any recommendation this evening. B. C. Bishop.

Cr. King said, as he had taken professional advice, he found that the foundations of the clock tovrer in Latimsr square would have to go down 15ft; he therefore begged leave to withdraw the following notice of motion standing in his name—" That this Council take steps to have the clock tower presented to the citizens of Christchureh by the General Government, erected in Latimer square, with a suitable pedestal, at a cost of not more than £550."

Or. Gapes moved—" That the offer of his Worship the Mayor to contribute £3O towards the erection of a lamp in the centre of Latimer square be accepted." Or. England seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The surveyor was instructed to have the work put in hand at once. The Council then proceeded to discuss the letter of the Board of Health with regard to the provisions of the Act of 1880, in which they asked for suggestions with regard to carrying out the same. Or. Gapes moved—" That the Board of Health be requested to delegate their powers to the City Council, as agreed to by conferences between the two bodies."

Or. Lambert seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Or. Hulbert asked whether it required a notice of motion to ask the Government to take back the clock tower and clock.

Or. Cuff —If you gave it to Sydenham they would erect it in a week. Cr. Vincent asked whether the remarks of the Besidont Magistrate in a scavenging rate case decided the other day, in re a Mr Wright, to the effect that the accounts of the Council are always in a muddle, were called for? The Mayor said that he would read the report of the assistant inspector on the matter, which was done.

The matter then dropped, His Worship the Mayor expressing his opinion that more trouble was experienced with this rata than all the other business of the Council.

This being the first meeting after the annual election, the various committees were proposed to be re-appointed as under : Works—Ors. Thomson, Lambert, and England. Org. Thomson and England declined to act. Or. Bishop moved that the Council now adjourn. Or. Lambert also resigned. Or. Bishop's motion wsb not seconded. Or. Oherrill moved—" That a ballot be taken for the various committees." Or. Hulbert seconded the motion. Or. King proposed as an amendment—- " That Ors. Lambert, Hulbert, and Ayeru be appointed as the works and lighting committee." Or. Cuff seconded the amendment which was carried. Or. Lambert was appointed as chairman. The other committees were appointed as follows: Finance—Ors. Thomson, Cuff, and Vincent. Or. Thomson to be chairman. Sanitary—Ors. Taylor (chairman), Q-upea, and King. By-law and Tramway.—Crs. Bishop (chairman), Oherrill and England. Fire Brigade and Beserves.—Ors. Hulbert (chairman), England and King. Or. Vincent gave the following notice of motion—" That it is undesirable that the legal advisers of this Council should also act as the legal advisers of any other Board or company that is likely at any time to have disputes on points of law or otherwise with the Council, but that the solicitors now employed by the Council have the option of continuing in that capacity on these terms. The Council then adjourned.