CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2371, 8 November 1881, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last evening at seven o’clock. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Ors. Thomson, Cuff, Lambert, Bishop, Vincent, Bowman, Treleaven, Hiorus, Bulbert, England, aud Louisson, The town clerk made the following statement of finance Receipts for fortnight, £422 17s 3d; suspense account, £240 18)2d; drainage rate account, £35 3s; drainage account No. 2 (district drainage rate), £236 7s 6d ; hills paid, £239 2s lOd ; bills to be paid, £3OB 18s 3d. Credit at Bank, £1796 6s 3d.

The following correspondence was road : From Messrs Jouberfc and Twopony, acknowledging with thanks the Council’s letter of September last granting the patronage of the Council to the proposed exhibition, and stating that they were prepared to encourage local exhibits in every possible way. They hoped to be in Christchurch in February next. —From the hall keeper of the Oddfellows’ Hall, asking for a refund of a sum of money handed to the Council for the purpose of assisting in the formation of a right of way, the work not having been curried out. Or. Yinoent explained that the matter had been delayed owing to the Council not having been able to obtain a signature to a deed. The clerk was instructed to write to that effect.— From Mr W. Ward, setting forth his inability to contribute his share as a resident towards the coat of the formation of Fyke street. It was explained that the locality was a poor one, end that though for sanitary reasons the formation of the street was very desirable, yet the residents appeared to be unable to meet the necessary payments. Cr. Hulbert thought that as the notices had been served the work had better be proceeded with, and an endeavor made afterwards to obtain the contributions of the residents. Ho moved a motion to that effect, which was agreed to.— From Mr H. W. Lee and other residents on the East belt, calling attention to the disgraceful state of the belt between Kilmore street and the Ferry road. The Mayor said the matter was dealt with in the surveyor’s report.— From Mr F. Jones, Tuam street, re thoroughfares leading from High and Tuam streets to Lichfield and Madras streets, protesting against the amount of contribution required from him by the Council towards the formation of these roads. Letters to a similar effect were read from Henry Keane and Wm. Wilson. Or. Hiorns said one of these thoroughfares was simply a private right-of-way. The Mayor thought they would never get such rights-of-way in proper order until the Council took them all over iato their own hands. Or. Treleaven moved, and Or. Bishop seconded—“ That the writers of the letters be referred to the previous resolution on the subject passed by the Council.” Motion agreed to.—From William Widdowson, in reference to an alleged over-assessment of his property. Referred to the assessor.— From Mr N. J. Suckling, calling attention to the very dangerous state of the Armagh street watering place. The City Surveyor explained that the cost of keeping this watering place in repair was from £3O to £SO a year. It would cost a considerable sum to effect a permanent improvement. Or, Treleaven asked what the coat would bo of constructing a landing place on the other side of the river ? The Mayor thought it would be better to alter the site and make a new watering place on the other side of the bridge. The matter was referred to the Works committee to report.

The city surveyor’s report was read as follows:

1. The money for the asphalte crossing on the South belt in line with the east side of Manchester street has been sent in, and the work will be done directly after the holidays. 2. The contract for shingling Cambridge terrace and Queen street north was this morning given to Mr O’Donoghne. 3. Wednesday next is one of tho holidays fixed by the City Council for their workmen, and it has been the custom to give them .£lO to aid them in their holiday expenses. 4. The works committee have had under their consideration the lotting of tho work of repair to asphalt footpaths, and the tenders sent in, and they recommend that the tender of Mr Smart be accepted for a period of seven years. 5. The works committee have considered the subject of the tenders for a plot of land for a stone yard, and they find that none are so suitable as the first tender from Mr Bowker which was sent in. 6. The formation of Queen street north is now completed. 7. Mr Smart has signed his contract for relaying and top-dressing several pieces of asphalte footpaths in the city, and the work is commenced. 8. In several parts of tho town small pieces of wood kerbing are in a very bad condition, and they are now being taken up and replaced by concrete. 9. An application has been sent in from Messrs Harper and Co. for permission to construct a right of way in Gloucester streat ten feet wide and two chains long. The plan and application are annexed hereto. 10. I wrote to the Drainage Board’s engineer as to the bad state of the roads through which their works had been carried, and his answer was to the effect that the matter would be attended to at once. 11. The following building licenses have been issued during tho month of October, and the fees received for the same amount to £35 15s : —Mr Stenning, Montreal street; Mr Ayers, High street; Mr Marks, Oxford terrace; Messrs Duncan and Cotterill, Bedford Row; Mr Crerar, Cashel street; Mr O’Neill, Mollett’n right of way; Mr Sogers, South belt; Mr Williams, Mollett’s right of way ; Mr Conningham, Lichfield street; Mr Patterson, Cashel street; Mr MoSweeney, Manchester street; Mr Barrett, Oxford terrace; Mr Cunningham, High street; Mr E. Monldey, Armagh street; Mr Patten, Armagh street; Mr Monldey, Armagh street; Mr Davie, Chester street; Mr Liliey, Salisbury street; Mr Wilcox, Chapel street; Mr Waller, Cashel street; Mr Elerig, Worcester street; Mr Landergan, Armagh street; Dr. Wilkin, Worcester street; Mr Jenkins. Stewart street; Mr Brittan, Cashel street; Mr Pullan, North belt: Mr Buckstono, Barbadoes street; Mr Stenning, Queen street. C. Walkden, City Surveyor. Clauses 1,2, and 3 were agreed to. Or. Vincent moved and Or. Hulbort seconded the adoption of clause 4. Or. England moved as an amendment—“ That Mr Smart’s tender be accepted for ten years.” The amendment was not seconded, and the original motion was carried. Clause s—Or.5 —Or. Hulbert •aid that the decision of the works’ committee was not properly represented by the city surveyor. The resolution of the committee, as would be seen by the minutes, was that none of tho tenders were suitable. Or,

Vincent explained that the decision reported by the surveyor was arrived at in a conversation in committee before Or. Hulbert arrived. On the motion of Or. England the whole of the sites offered were rejected. Clauses 6,7, and 8 adopted. Clause 9, after some discussion, in the course of which >'t was urged that, as the right-of-way in question was required eolely for a private carriage drive, the Council had nothing to do with it, the matter was referred to the works committee to obtain further information and report. The remaining clauses were adopted. The reserves committee reported as follows :

Your committee has considered the question of Cr. Cuff’s resolution for the erection of permanent market buildings, and has had by-laws and regulations before it relating to the Melbourne markets, and letters relating to the purposes of the site. It is found that the site can only bo used for the purposes of a market, and your committee, after careful consideration, cannot recommend tho Council to erect buildings there, as the requirements of the city are not such as to warrant tho erection of suitable buildings for a market, which would cost from £3OOO to £10,000; but that application should he made to Parliament next session for power to lot the reserve, as a source of revenue. Your committee have had the question of the South belt drain under consideration, and find from the solicitor's opinion to the Drainage Board, that the land—the site of tho abandoned drain—cannot bo dealt with. The application of Messrs Bennetts and Co. for sites for hoardings was considered, and in several instances tho Council has no power over the sites indicated, and with the others tho committee could not decide, as the sites were not particularly pointed out. Your committee consider that if each sites are to be granted at all it would be more satisfactory that tho privilege should be put up to public tender. Three tenders were received for the office of city valuator. Tho lowest tender —that of J. Whitelaw, £6s—was accepted, —A number of licenses to carriers, hawkers, and cabdrivers, were granted, and the Council adjourned.