CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2076, 19 October 1880, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The weekly meeting of the City Council was held last evening at 7 o'clook. Present — His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Ayers, Lambert;, England, Cuff, Vinoent, Bishop, King and Grapes. The Mayor had great pleasure in stating, as he had no doubt the Councillors would in hearing, that the credit at the Bank amounted to £1824. Is 3d.

The ordinary statement of accounts was presented, showing—General receipts, £475 lis 9d; drainage rate, 1880, £39 12s 2d; Drainage Board rate, 1880, £l3B 12s 7d; interest and Government debentures, £27 15s ; bills to be paid, £417 8s Bd. The accounts as read had been before the finance committee, and were duly passed. The Mayor stated that he had received letters from Crs. Taylor and Cherrill, stating that they were unavoidably prevented from being present. Or. King apologised for the non-attendance of Or. Hulbert.

His Worship the Mayor at this stage introduced the question of the park roads. He informed the Council that some nine days ago a meeting was held of delegates from the Selwyn County Council, the Avon and Bicoarton Boad Boards, and this Council, and at that meeting certain resolutions were proposed as to the maintenance of these roads, but no definite arrangements were made, it being resolved to postpone the matter for further consideration. He should for the better guidance of the delegates from this Council be glad to take advice on the subject, which might be considered as part of the business for this evening. The business as set down on the order paper was then proceeded with in the ordinary course.

A petition from the residents of Yictoiia street as to the watering of crossings in that locality, was received and read. Or. Gapes mentioned that the crossings had only been watered once during the past week. The Chairman of the works committee remarked that they were short of carts and water.

The petition was referred to the works committee to attend to.

A deputation waited on the Council to represent that the City By-laws were apparently being evaded by certain owners and drivers of' vehicles, who, without a carrier's license, were in the habit of carting goods for payment. Thus the licensed carriers were at the disadvantage of having to pay for a license simply for the privilege of occupying a position on the stand. The deputation pointed out that Mr O. C. Bowen, when 8.M., had decided in the direction that all who carried goods for money were liable to be classed as carriers, and should have a license ; and they respectfully suggested that the Council should take the matter into consideration.

The Mayor remarked that the question set before them was one certainly demanding attention.

In this opinion the councillors generally expressed concurrence, and it was resolved to refer the matter to the by-law committee. A letter from Mr Gilmour was read re a nuisance caused by the chimney of Mr Bates' factory. The Town Clerk explained that the inspector had ascertained that the chimney was to be removed within two months.

It was resolved, on the motion of Or. Lambert, seconded by Or. England—" That Mr Bates be instructed to abate the nuisance."

A letter was read from the Sydenham Borough Council re the South town belt question, expressing an opinion that in pursuance of clauso 3 of the Sydenham Borough Council Empowering Act the duty of preparing a plan and specification of the formation of the belt devolved upon the City Council, and suggested that the settlement of the question would be facilitated if the works committee would confer with them on the matter, on some evening to be decided on for the purpose. A clause from the surveyor's report bearing on the subject was read. Or. Lambert said the works committee had had this matter before them, and had instructed the city surveyor that the work was only to be done under his supervision, in which they considered they had complied with the Act.

The matter was allowed to stand as the aotion of the works committee had left it.

The City Surveyor's report was read as follows :

1. A letter addressed to tie Mayor from the Sydenham town clerk on the subject of the South belt will be laid before you, and in answer to it I beg to say that I have furnished the Sydenham municipality with a section and specification, and in aa doing I consider I have complied with the Act they quote. 2. Latimer Square—The cost of the work done on this square was as follows -.—Labor, .£137 19s 2d ; gravel, £8 ; seed, £5 3s. Total, £lsl 2s 2d. 3. Bowman's Corner—The cost of this work was as follows :—l£ chains of channelling, £lO 10s ; labor, £4 Is. Total, £l4 11a. 4. Cashel street Bridge—l find the foundations of this bridge are quite safe, with'.the exception of the corner of one abutment, as they are carried down about 2ft. below water line. The cost of adding a footpath to one side of this bridge 6ft. wide would be £55. 5. Cambridge Terrace — The cost of forming, shingling, and channelling Cambridge Terrace, from Cashel street to Montreal street, would be £126. 6. Manchester street Bridge—l will report on next week. 7. The Victoria street well is progressing slowly, but otherwise satisfactorily. 8. The following building licenses were granted during the month of September last: —Mr Bryce, four houses, Oxford Terrace; Mr Brooks, Colombo street; Mr Best, Chester street; Mr Coakley, Lower High.street; Mr Heath, two houses, Bichmond road ; Mr Symes, Worcester street ; Mr McConnel, Gloucester street; Mr Mavin, St. Asaph street; Mr Fannel, Worcester street; Mr Carter, Chester street ; Mr Dawson, Kilmore street ; Mr Ballard, Salisbury street; Mr Webber, Colombo street; Mr Lusk, Lichfield street; Mr Suckling, Manchester street ; Mr Wilson, Salisbury street ; Mr Carter, Ferry road; Mr Fergusson, Colombo Btreet ; Mr Goss, Kilmore street; Mr Beece, Lichfield street; Mr Gee, North town belt. Clause 3 of the above report was referred back to the city surveyor to further report. It was. resolved to construct a footway in connection with the spans to the Cashel street bridge. Clause 5 was allowed to stand over till a future meeting. The report as a whole was then approved. In reply to Or. Cuff, The City Surveyor said he had laid informations against persons for breaches of the building by-laws. Or. England moved—" That the suggestion of the works committee of the Sydenham Borough Couuoil that the works committee of this Council meet their committee re the South Town belt question be given effect to."

Cr. Gapes seconded the motion. Or. Lambert failed to see what good would be effected by a conference. The aotion of this Council on all occasions in reference to the matter under notice was perfeotly clear, whereas the letters received from the Sydenham Council seemed to be olothed in obscurity. After some little disoußßion, the motion was carried.

After considering an application for a driver's license, The Council then went into committee to oonsider the Park roads question, and on resuming adjourned.