CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2383, 22 November 1881, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last evening in the Council Chambers. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Ors. Hulbert, Ayers, Bowman, Vincent, Hiorns, Lambert, Bishop, Thomson, Louisson, and England. Previous to the ordinary meeting a special meeting of the Council was held.—His Worship said the business was to confirm the resolution of October 10th for taking over Mortimer place and Lyttelton street. The clerk having read the minutes relating thereto and the clauses of the Act, the resolution was unanimously confirmed. Items of finance were reported as follows : Receipts—General account, £791 8i; suspense account, £94 8a 8i; drainage rate account, £46 2s ; drainage account No. 2, £739 15s lOd. Expenses—General account, £215 10s lid ; suspense account, £97 2s 41 ; credit balance at Bank, £2035 13s 2d.—Cr. Hulbert asked if anything could be obtained by way of interest for the largo credit balance. His Worship said the agreement with the Bank precluded this. Or. Louisson presented a petition from the carriers of Christchurch, asking that the license fee be reduced, owing to the monopoly of the carrying trade by Heywood and 00. The petition was signed by upwards of sixty licensees. Or. Louisson moved, and Or. Hulbert seconded—“ That the petition be referred to the by-law committee,” which was unanimously agreed to. A letter was read from the secretary to the Cabmen’s Society (Mr 8. Thomas), asking if the Council would receive a deputation from that body with regard to licenses and other matters at next meeting of the Council. Cr. Bishop proposed that they should state what they desired in writing, and thus much time would be saved. Or Ayers seconded, and it was unanimously agreed to. The Chairman of the Christchurch District Board of Health wrote, enclosing copy of a report from the medical officer to the Board re the Madras street sewer, and stating that the contract for laying the pipes referred to in the report would be let next month. The letter also mentioned that advantage was not being taken on the north side of the river of the pipe sewers already laid, and also drew attention to the defective sanitary condition of certain streets in the north and west portions of the city. Dr. Nedwill’s report also called attention to a nuisance at the mouth of the Madras street storm water sewer from certain side channels. The remedy pointed out would be to lay pipes for sewage as soon as possible, as at present the sewage was draining into the river. On the suggestion of Or. Hulbert, seconded by Or. Treleaven, the matter was referred to the sanitary committee. Erom the secretary to the Canterbury Fire Assurance Association, enclosing cheque for annual contribution of £250 towards the fire brigade funds. The receipt was ordered to be acknowledged. From Mr G. L. Lee, returning-officer, enclosing result of the recent poll of the burgesses on the water supply scheme. The report was received with regret, Cr. Vincent remarking that it was little encouragement to the Council to do anything for the ratepayers. Messrs Harper and 00. wrote, enclosing plan of intended right-of-way in Montreal street, as re their application a; considered at the previous meeting of the Council, and after consideration the application was granted. Madam Lotti Wilmot applied for a license for the New Progressive Lyceum, in Madras street, regretting the opposition to Spiritualism in Christchurch, and claiming the same liberty as extended to other creeds. Cr. Hiorns asked if the lessee of the theatre could let that building on Sundays to Madame Wilmot for delivery of her lectures. His Worship replied that the license to that building was a six day a week license. Cr. Louisson asked what was the condition of granting a license as asked—the stability of the building, or the status of the applicant. His Worship replied that the building was first considered, and any license granted would be a six days a week license, unless a special application was made for Sunday to the Council, which that body could grant or refuse, Cr. Louisson moved, and Cr. England seconded—‘‘That a reply be sent that the Council refused to grant a license for Sunday meetings.” This was carried unanimously. Mr Joseph Swan, of Newcastle, England, wrote, stating that there was no organization that could undertake to supply apparatus for the lighting of Christchurch by his method of electric lighting. It was probable that his patent would be shortly sold, and be would take care that the interest shown by Christchurch in his patent would bo remembered. A letter was read from Mr J. G. Warner, of the Tramway Company, complaining that the steam roller was ordered off Colombo road south on the show day. Or. Ayers stated that on the dayin question his attention was called by Or. Vincent to the near occurrence of accidents, and with his concurrence Or. Vincent took the onus of ordering it off the road. Or. Vincent explained the matter farther, and stated that the Tramway Company only asked for the use of the roller for two hours. They had it out at 6 a.m., and were using it at 10 a.m., and he thought in such thoroughfares that the work if necessary should be done at night. After further remarks the action of Or. Vincent was unanimously approved. A letter from Mr O. Cuff respecting Mr Widdowson’s assessment was read, in which the writer justified the assessment. It was agreed that a copy of the latter clause of Mr Cuff’s letter be sent to Mr Widdowson.

At this stage the Council ad journed in a body to the Christchurch railway station to receive the volunteers. Upon resuming the report of the reserves committee was brought up, and created considerable discussion. Or Hulbert called attention to the fact that the market reserve was now in the fire block, and that if a fire resulted the Council would be blamed for breaking their own by-laws. As the leases fell out in January the question would have to be considered. Or. Bishop objected to two of the clauses of the report and the allegation that the market interfered with the lighter trades of the city. He had made inquiries of traders, and the answer was that it had not interfered with business, but had rather brought trade in the increased crowd. In one thing alone it had done good, viz., in sweeping away the fish barrow nuisance. He would move—“ That the present tenants be offered a continuance of their holdings for another year, the terms to bo left to the committee.” Cr. Lambert seconded the motion, corroborating the statements of the previous speaker. The Mayor characterised the experiment as a failure on the ground that half the shops were shut up, except on Saturday, and he thought the Government should be applied to for the site to be made over for municipal purposes. He did not object to the fish shops, but he thought the Victoria street frontage should bo used for something better than the present shops. After remarks by Crs. Hiorns, England, and Treleaven, the latter of whom expressed the hope that two good members would be sent to Wellington, who would see that the restrictions on these reserves were removed, Or. Thomson said ho could not see what the use of these reserves were to the city if tied up with such conditions. He did not see what Auckland, Nelson, and Invercargill had to do with the matter. They could not know the reserves were so tied up as to be practically valueless. Or. Hulbert pointed out that the market really cut against the Council's interests. A certain trader left premises for which ho paid £l5O a year—and took a market site for £5 a year—that spoke for itself. Ho thought all the New Zealand borough reserves should be amalgamated, and the proceeds dealt cut equally to ell. A member that would do that was the man he wanted. He thought that in re-letting, the present tenants should have a preference at an increased rental. Ha hoped Or. Bishop would add such a clause to his resolution. The resolution was agreed to. It was decided to fence a portion of the Sandhills reserve, seven and a half acres in flitent, with the idea of letting it as a paddock for grazing purposes; and another portion of the same property, for which an application to rent had been received, was decided to bo let by public tender, and that the applicant bo advised to that effect.

The Railway Band having made an application for permission to erect a rotunda in Latimer square, as it was considered advisable not to play in Cathedral square now the Cathedral was erected, Or Louisson moved—- “ That permission be given to the Railway Band to erect a rotunda in Latimer square, provided the plans and specifications be first submitted to and approved of by the Oily Council.” Cr. Bishop seconded. Or. Hulbert thought it hardly wise to grant the application, as Latimer square might be used for the forthcoming exhibition. Or. Louisson, in reply, deprecated the remarks of Or. Hul-

bcrt. Ever since the exhibition had been mooted every one with an eligible site seemed to think he ought to get £4OO out of Messrs Joubert and Twopeny. He did not think the Council should join in the rush. Cr. Thomson would move, as an amendment—“ That the further consideration of the matter be referred to the by-law committee, to report in a fortnight.” Or. Hiorns seconded the amendment, which was carried by seven to 'our.

Or. Lambert resd a communication from Messrs Joubert and Twopeny, making formal application for the use of either Oranmer or Latimer squares for the purposes of the forthcoming exhibition. Or Hulbert wished to know on whose authority Cr. Lambert made the application. Or. Lambert replied, on behalf of those gentlemen, whose letter he held in his hand, Cr. Bishop thought the application should be put into writing, which was done accordingly. The matter will be considered at next meeting. After dealing with several applications for licenses the Council adjourned. Cr. Hulbert gave notice of motion to move at next meeting—“ That clause 10 of the surveyor’s report of the 10th October, relative to constructing Jones' or Wilson's right-of-way under the Act be rescinded, and that the said right-of-way be constructed by the Council.”