CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2206, 22 March 1881, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The City Council met last evening. Pro eent—His Worship the Mayor, Ors. .Lambert, England, Thomson, Hulbert, Treleaven, Taylor, Vincent, Bishop, King. The Mayor reported the debit at the Bank to be £IO9O 5s 6d. The accounts statement for the fortnight ending March 19th, was read, to the following effect :—Receipts on general account, .£524 Is ; bills to be paid, £672 Is 5d ; do, £4ll 11s lOd. The accounts wore passed, and the bills ordered to be paid. Or. Hulbert apologised for the unavoidable absence of Or. Ayers. A petition from residents of Colombo street was road, questioning the justice of the Council's decision re the direction of the tramway extension to Addington. The petition also pointed out that by the original scheme the points for the Addington line were put in at the junction of Colombo etraet with Cashel street.

Or. Hulbert said the Council had not been

influenced by the Ooshel street petitioners ; they determined on the present route because they thought the Oxford terrace way would be dangerous. He moved—“ That a reply be sent to the petitioners, stating that in the opinion of the Council the route chosen was the more natural outlet for it.”

Cr. Bishop seconded the resolution. Or. King differed from Or. Hulbert. The petition from Cashel street had certainly weighed with the Council in the choice of a route.

Or. Bishop corrected the last speaker, and showed that the recommendation of the committee (which the Council adopted) was based on the understanding that Tuam street was the best direction for the tramway extension

in the interests of the public generally. A letter was road from Mr R. J. S. Harman, stating that the engineer had pointed out a difficulty in carrying the tram along Tuam street, in view of the drainage works to be carried out. The working of the sower would probably cause a subsidence iu the road, which would be fatal to the working of the line for some time at least. He (Mr Harman) suggested that some other street, say, St. Asaph street, in which the sewer pipes would not be taken, might be chosen. Or. Lambert pointed out that the Council could not now open up the question after deciding on it. He also submitted that the matter bad been veil weighed by the Connoil. Besides, the concession had been made, and they might bo called upon for compensation.

Or. Biohop asked whether the Council could rescind any official resolution granting a concession.

The Mayor was of opinion that they could not.

Or. Taylor objected to receiving the petition in any shape or form. : , Or. Treleaven looked upon Tuam street as far the best. If the trams were taken by Oxford terrace there would be any quantity of accidents. [Hear, hear.] Or. England felt bound to say that although he presented the petition now before the Council, he informed tho gentlemen who entrusted him with it that ho could not personally agree with it. Or. Thomson pointed ont that they had apparently overlooked Mr Harman’s letter. Or. Hulbert said they were not considering it.

Or. Thomson submitted that it bore upon the subject under discussion. The Mayor ruled that the letter referred to

simply dealt with tho practicability of tho route as an engineering work, and that if necessary oould be dealt with afterwards.

Or, Hulbert having replied. The motion was put to the Council and carried. Letters were read from Mr James Cochrane and others, and Mr Wilson and others, in reference to the erection of a proposed bridge over the Biver Styx, in a line with the Canal reserve, and asking that a member of the Council ehould be appointed to accompany a deputation to wait on tho Selwyn County Council with a request for assistance. Some discussion took place on a motion that the matter be referred to the reserves committee, Councillors generally expressing the opinion that the Council was not called upon to contribute any money towards the proposed work. Eventually it was decided that the Mayor be asked to represent the Council in the matter.

A letter was read from Mr Holmes, a solicitor, requesting the Council to pay the costs of the case Crew against Pratt, an action for false imprisonment, as it was owing to the negligence of a corporation official that bis client bad suffered loss. The matter was referred to the by-law committee. A letter from the city valuer was read, showing that the assessment of the city had been completed ; that the total valuation of the city was £220,577, or an increase of £2600 on last year, A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary’s office, acknowledging receipt of by-laws Nos. 1 and 2, for the regulation of building within the city. It was resolved that the town clerk give the requisite notice that the by-laws will come into operation on the 30th March instant. An application for permission to erect a coffee stall was referred to the Mayor. The Oonnoil decided to grant a month’s leave of absence to Mr Murray, assistant clerk in the Council offices. The city surveyor reported as follows : 1. At the request of Mr Dick, the Christchurch Postmaster, I have erected a pillar letter box at the west end of Armagh street. 2. The works committee recommend that Paten place and Allan street shonld be taken over by the Coancil, bat they think, in future, no private street, which has not two entrances, and consequently is not a thoroughfare, sbonli be taken over and made into a public street. 3. I last week laid three informations against persons for breach of building by-law, one of which cases was decided in the B.M. Court this morning in the Council’s favor, and in the other two the persona have since complied with the provisions of the by-laws. 4. In consequence of a child having been lately drowned in the river through swinging on the willow trees, I have had most of the long branches shortened, so as to be out of the children’s reach. The report was adopted. The sanitary committee reported that they had considered the petition for the removal of the Victoria street urinal, and regretted they could not recommend the Council to make the change requested. The report was adopted. A lengthy circular, enclosing resolutions passed by the Manawata County Council, making suggestions as to amendments in the present laws regulating local government bodies, was read and laid on the table. The departmental committee reported as follows :

Yonr committee beg to report on Mr Dowdell’s complaint, that the error arose from the proper officer not having struck oat the names from the list of peraona who had paid before handing the same to the person engaged to collect. Your committee recommend the Council to reduce the commission for collecting the Waimnkariri rate from 10 per cent, to 5 per cent.

The report waa approved. A motion standing in the name of Or. Cuff was postponed at the suggestion of Cr. Thomson, who, at the same time, apologised for that gentleman’s absence.