CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2527, 16 May 1882, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

A fortnightly meeting was held last evening. Present The Mayor, and Ora. O. Louisson, R. O. Bishop, O. P. Hulbert, O. Kiver, T. 8. Lambert, W. Vincent, A. Ayers, R. W. England, J. Bowman, E. Hiorns, G. Treleaven, and H. Thomson. The fortnightly statement showed the credit balance at the bank to bo £1482 18s. Twenty-two wine and spirit merchants wrote of an alleged overcharge in collection of annual wine and spirit license under the new Act. The annual fee £2O, for wholesale license, had been paid under protest, and, in lien of an annual license, one had been received terminable on June 30th. The petitioners th.ught only a moiety of the license should have been paid this year, and that they were entitled to a rebate, the Legislature not intending to impose a double fee on wholesale licensees alone.—Referred to by-law committee. Owners and occupiers of land abutting on private streets, namely, Wilson’s right-of-way, Bedford row, Williams street, Chapel street, and Wilson street, requested these to be taken over as public streets.—Referred to the city surveyor for report. An account was read showing investments in the name of the Sinking Fund Commissioners to amount to £2sso.—Approved. Copies were forwarded of proposed amendments in *he Drainage Act, 1875. The Mayor was appointed to meet the Board in conference to-day at 3 p m. Be damaged footpaths, Ac., in New street and Moa Place, owing to drainage works in progress, the Drainage Board’s offer wai accepted to pay the Council £l5O for repairs, the payment to be a final settlement. Mr B. J. 8. Harman, chairman, wrote, at the request of the Christchurch committees, re Mr W. G. Walker’s remuneration for acting as secretary and clerk in ali the business of the Christchurch Licensing Committee!, that he was willing to do the work for £SO a year.—Referred to finance committee. A letter was received from the secretary, stating particulars as to amusements, scenic effects, &■>., for an Old Englyehe Fayre, for which the promoters solicited the Council’s co-operation, for the benefit of hospital destitute patients. The list included the provision of “ Court wigs for your ladies up to 100." Terms were proposed. Or. Hulbert thought it would be scarcely fair for the Council to act in antagonism to the present Exhibition, and Or. Hiorns concurred. Resolved, on Or. Ayers’ motion, seconded by Or. Lambert —“ That it is undesirable for the Council to take the matter in hand at such an unseasonable time of the year.” The City Surveyor reported that inhabitants of Queen street north applied for further formation and channelling. Agreed to, provided owners cf property fronting the si reel give land to render it a chain wide, and pay for forming, shingling, and asphalting, the Council to pay for concrete channels. Besolved —“That two additional iron mud carts be procured." The amount received last year for building fees was £3B, the permits being granted to thirty five individuals and firms. The surveyor submitted a drawing for Manchester street bridge, the timber to be procured from Australia. Cr. Hiorns thought it strange it should be necessary to import the timber. Cr. Louisson questioned if it were not time to commerce building bridges of iron. The surveyor said iron bark was said to be almost as durable as iron; and that the bridge if built of iron might cost, approximately, £SOOO. The surveyor’s proposal was approved. On Cr. Bishop’s motion, seconded pro forma by Or. Hicrns, Mr Tail’s offer was accepted for numbering houses in the oity, he to do the work under an approved bond to complete it, and details of the system of numbering to be left to the by-law committee to settle with him. Counsel’s opinion was read that a church or chapel was not a building or enclosure within the 323rd clause of the Municipal Corporations Act, requiring to be licensed. The sanitary committee reported that tenders be invited for nightioil contract, Jcc. Or. Louisson proposed that, in future, the contractor be not allowed to commence work until twelve o’clock at night. Agreed to call for alternative tenders, one for beginning at eleven a'id the other at twelve o’clock. Several applications for cab licenses were granted. The surveyor’s report on the Foresters , the Freethougbt, the Templars’ (Colombo street south), and St. Patrick’s Halls, stated that they needed alterations for facility of egress, &c. Pending these the respective licenses remain in abeyance. Notices of motion were tabled—(l) “ That the Council vote £SO towards the Technological Museum and the proposed art gallery in connection with the Canterbury Museum. [Or. Hulbert] (2) “That church and chapel buildings within the city be brought under the supervision of this Council, to insure proper means of ingress and egress, Ac., for public safety, the matter to be referred to the by-law committee for the purpose of obtaining legal powers to that end.’’ [Or. England.]