CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2649, 3 October 1882, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL.

KTCHDAY, COTOBBB 3. Tho Oounoil met at the usual hour. Pre B8H*;—I !is Worship the JMrtyir, C«. Ayer-t, Hioim, Ircncson, Bowman, Pi-uohoe, Km r, ilhoinE.-n, iwMjett, Brico, sact Reese. Tuo roceinia during the fortnight w-.re Olfitrd t» b.:-'.- f.QiJi 9< 3<j bills to the Bmcnr.ft r,f £1397 ">'<!< 2-1. ins;udirig salariet Sot elfe£ and »•"•<- .:..>e were pattod raid •rdered to bo \.-a.\A. I'io credit balance at She bank was sUi- : =s •n.-irg £2244 2j Bd. A letter from iilr G. L. Lie, ths returnSig officer, declaring ISx Frederick Jenkins duly eU-oied r<i member for ths South-east Ward, in plaoa of Mr 0, P. Hulbort, resigned. Mr Jenkins baiug present made (ho usa&l daclaraM'iii uaii look t'.ia i«eat, £is Worship U:e ooagratnlatod OrJenkins on his election, expressing bis pleasure at s? exjjarwiicsd a Councillor coming amongai then?. Ho sty that there was » credit b%lu'3cn of £2244 2i Bd, betides which thsra was a fixed deposit of £4OOO, making in nil a credit baknoe of £6244 2s Bd, Or. Bowmen gsva notice of motion for next Sleeting, to hjo7s—" That tender* for 200 iron Oalverts bo called for to bridge ths various crossings o. iho scree!* over the side channels; also, that lcn-1-cra ba callad for all stores required for public works in ths city during tho yaar, to a specification to be supplied by ib.9 surveyor." The fol!ow!i:.£ eorrajpondeßco was rsad : Brora Superintendent Harris, tendering his resignation as Suporintfndont; of tho Fire Brigade frosa October 3l3fc, in corstquence of his leaving the colony for a, short period. C>. K'.jt,-" moved—" That thefiwignaiion of Mb Superintendent Harris bo accepted with much regret, ccd that the Mfvyor and Jhs brigade committee bo requested to draw Bp n special letter conveying the nD:woiation ct the oitiz&njj and tho Oouuoil of his lengthened eoivieea as Superintendent." The citir-jns of Ourietohurch were losin;: the Services of a most able and efficient officer, and one who had, during tho long period ho had hold offioe, most »atisfactorily carried out Che duties of Baporinterideut of the Fire Brigade, Or. Thomson said he alao desired to express ftbe *egret hs 'eit at the los3 o: Mr Supurin-tend-n4 Harris' sorvicsa. Ho seoanded ths motion.

The Mayor E&id that Jar Superintendent Harris hiwi boon las fourteen yea?s chiof of their brigade, and had egtsblißbod a moat perfect tyetsm of discipline throughout the oolony, but outside of it, Mr Superintendent Harris was an authority to bs consulted on all Hiatiflri conneotod with fire brigade concerns. He had suggested to Mr Superintendent Harris that he might obtain leave of absence, but he declined to do this, as it wouid not he fair to the gentleman occupymz tho position. This was a special occasion, and he thought that it was only right that (hey should give Mr Superintendent Harris a tangible expression of their appreciation of the lengthened end valuable aorvioes rendered bj him. The motion was then put and carried. The report of the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade was read. It stated that the Brigade had attended eight fires during the quarter, fire of which were in the city, and throe in Sydenham. The chemical fire engine hid arrived and was ready for nse. Mr Headings had stated that the eleotrical firo alarms would be finished and fixed within one month. The plant was all in good order. Or. ViHCont asked the chairman of the fire brigade committee whether they had conaidered the question of going outßide the oity to fires.

Or. Hiorns s&id that the members of the fire brigade themselves were averse to going ontiiia the oity, as they had banded themselves together to serve the Oity of Christchurch. It would therefore be necessary for tho Borough of Sydenham to consider tho matter of firs prevention themselves. Or. Pradhoo said that he believed the Brigade had deoided to go ss far a 3 the belt swd no farther.

Or. Lonisiion could not agree with this, fte'ause the Fire Insuranoe Companies insured properties outside the belt as well as inside, aud as they contributed towards the staintenance of the brigade, they might well expect, thai; the fire prevention apparatus should not be oonfined by a hard and fast rule within the belt.

Or. Kiver suggested that the various looal bodies outsido should contribute a oertain amount of cost for the use of the plant. Th-:, Sl'.vyor said that he thought this was a Babject which required consideration, because their plant was a vary expansive one, and every fire was a strain on it. He thought thst the outside bodies should contribute a portion of cost. Or. Thomson said he did not think their engines should atop at the belt when citizens m<ght be in distress. If Sydenham and St, Albans decliaod to contribute, then so muoh tho howu ; but this was a part of the polioy of the mo-iel borough, whiah was to have a water supply without inoreaso of taxation. This trtis an experiment which ho should watch with great interest. After subo further discussion, the report was received. A lettor was read from the members of the Fire Brigade, stating that they had considered the matter of the resignation of Mr Superintendent Harris, and recommending the appointment of Foreman E. W. Turton to the Taonnt post.

The letter was referred to the Fire Brigade oommittee to report upon. A letter was read from Mr (J. J. Bsesell, asking the Oounoil to consider the question of erectir-g a rotunda in one or ether of tbe public squares in which the Oity Guards Band and other bands could give open-air performances.

i'ha consideration of the letter xru deferred an til a later period. The surveyor's report was read as follows: In compliance with the petition which was roferred to me by the Council concerning the state of IJarhirn and Salisbury streets, I bag to report that I have visited those localities, and, 13 far as Salisbury street is concerned, I cannot see anything to complain of, &s I consider the atsto of the atrcst to be as good ob other streets in tha neighborhood, with the exception of two or three crossings over the footpaths into private property, which ought to bo paved or otherwise made good by the owners. With regard to the complaints about Durham street, aa the level of tho channels cannot be altered without taking up a considerable portion of channel, I see no othor method of getting rid of the water than by an underground newer, or, as tha works committee recommend, that a piece of channel, extending from Salisbury to Kilmora street, on the east sido of Durham stro t should bo taken up and re-laid in order to facilitate tha getting rid of surface water. Xi e cost of this will be about .£7O. The channel was laid at the time to fit in with acmo former work th-.it could not be removed. Ike ironwork for tha Manchester bridge has been submitted to tender, and that of Messrs Scott Bros, has been accepted. Tandors were invited for the bath on Cambridge terrace for the season, and that of Mr Kdmonds was accepted. The bath has been cleaned ont ready for use. The works committee attended to see a trial made of the comparative merits of tho chain pumps, and the result was found to ba that each of tbeti lifted 52 gallons per minute. I should t-fcaii th.t since ray last report on this subject Mr JL'anks h»s altered his pump by sub. Btituting ft new wrought iron pipe and new buckets, whicn have bean turned up in a lathe, oonssqaently it now lifts the same quantity as 2flocd'a pump. The revolutions of Flood's pump were at tho rate of 46 per minute, and of Danka" 39 per minute. An ingenious metal ladder, to bo u?ei as a fire eae&po, haa been mannf actnred by Messrs Isherwood and Little, sand is now in the room for tho Council's inspection. Korih etreet—A patition was sent in to tha Council s,f. lest meeting for this street to be taken over. The ntreot w&3 formed, ehiog'.ed, and chaai oiled at the expense of tho owners of property abutting on the street, and is now in fair condition. 'The paths were not els it was intendad they should bo done in tho usual way when it became necessary to do them. This street runs from Madras to Barbados street, and is 38 feet wide. If it should be taken over by the Council it will bo necessary that the petitioners should furnish the Council with a plan showing the position of the street with regard to tho datum stones laid down by the Sui-rey Dep-rtment. A number of buildini? permits have boen issued during the month of September. The sum of .£l2 5 s has beon received on account of building fees during the past month. X'he report waß oonsiderad clause by olbujb, tmo approved. It was reßolvcd that North etreet bo taken over on the owners supplying correct plana. In reply to Cr. Baver, the City Surveyor stated that he hod waited on Kr Harrnan with reference to tho removal of tho barnt buildings in High street, whioh wos promised to be attended to.

Cr. Louisson moved the adoption of the resolutions passed at tho recent conference of various local bodies respecting the amend* meals in the Health Act, Of, KXros eeoouded tho motion.

Or. Thomson objected to the formation of a third body. Xaoy were doing very well r.nw, and he thctight they should let well alone. Too ruction wss then put and kit on ths VOj'Off. Or. Hiorns, pursuant to notice, moved—"T'<ut fcl is Oounoil take into ooneid«raiion tho s of appoin'ii g an irrptcr,-). of «s. mc-.en for the city of Ohristchnroh." 111. move'! this as a protector. _lo tb». pu>lic, a-id not i'.i any way aniagooistio to tho (ia.a Company. They had in»peotora of weights and measures, and therefore he thought they should have an inspector of gas meter«, to see that they were registering oorreotly. Tbcro Troro over 3000 rasters in tho city of Ohrisfcrfmrob, and he was oertain that they could not, lact the time they ■wero oxpectad to <ito. Hi had & meter which had been in his house for ton yoors. Perhaps tho best way to deal with the matter would be to refer it to the by-law committee find tho mover, to report upon the best metes of oaiiying tho rtfolutiou into effect.

Or. Tinoent seconded the motion. He was not award whether, under tho Gas Companies Act, they had the power to appoint such an officer or not, but if they had, then he thought it wa» a good thing. Afcer some dißouesion tho resolution was ultimately carried as follows : —" That the consideration cf this matter be referred to tho by-la w committee irith Or. Hiorns, to report upon. i Or. Ajer3 moved—" That it ia desirable that two or moro tanks be ereoted in the, eastern p.-rtion of tho oity for fire prevention purposes, and that the matter be referred to the Fire Brigade committee and the mover to ascertain as to sites and what amount would be eubscribed by tho residents or the fire insurance companies." Cr. Thomson sooorded tho motion pro forma. Or. Prudhee moved, a< an amend mont—- " That the words 'in the eastern portion * be struck out."

Cr. Ajers accepted the amendment. Or, Lotrisson moved, as a further amendmant—"The omission of the words'two or more " and the insertion of the word ' additional.'"

Cr. Ayers complained that hia resolution was roceiving a very severe maulinjr. The eastern portion of the oity was without water, and ho bad done his duty by bringing it bofore the Council. Or, Beese seconded the amendment. The amendment was lost on the voices, and the original motion as amended according to Cr. Prudhoo's suggestion carried. Cr. Thomion moved—" That the Mayor and Oounoil, on behalf of the citizens of Ohriatcburch, desire to offer to the Imperial Givcemmer.t their hearty congratulations on the suc<-0.3s of her Majesty's forces in Egypt." Hs thought that tbey should &?rangs to fend a joint message of b.tiou together with Ducedin, Auckland, Wellington and Invorcargill. Cr. Lambarfc sooonded tho motion. It was resolved that the osrrjing ont of tho resolution bo left in the hands of the Mayor. Or. Thomson moved—" That the woik« committee be requested to tafco steps to make Latimer tquare available for tho general public." Or. Hiorns seeonded the morion. The latter of Ms Busiell re a bnnd rotunda was alao rsad. A lengthened dißcmsion ensued, Ore Aysvs, Kce-zo, and Vincent protesting against the resolution as framed. Ultimately Or. Thomson agreed to substitute the words "City Council" for "tho works committee." Or. Louies jn moved, as an amendment—- " That no aotion bo taken in tho matter, but that if any action be taken, both Cranmor and Latimer squares be treated by the Council in the same manner." Or. Lambert seoonded the amendment.

On being put the voting on the amendment was equal, viz.:—Ayes : Ors. Ayers, Louiiseon, Prudhoe, Baese, Bowman, and Lambert. Hoes: Ors. Vincent, Hiorns, Thomson, Kiver, Brioe, and Jenkins. The Mayor then gave his casting vote against tho amendment, which was lost. The original motion was then put, with the same result. Ayes: Ore. Vinoent, Hiorns, Brice, Jenkins, Kiver, and Thomson. Noes< : Ors. Louisßon, Ayers, Bowman, Bceoe, Prudhoe/and Lambert, The Mayor gave hia easting vote against the resolution, on the ground that it was too indefinite.

A lengthy discussion on Mr Russell's letter, re band rotunda, took place, and, ultimately, it was resolved to roply that the Council did not see its way to comply with the request contained in Mr Buseell's lettor.

Or. Louisson moved—" That all private streets in which the regulations of the Council have been complied with be taken over at onoe."' After some disousrion, the motion was withdrawn, the Mayor ruling it out of order. Cr. Beeze said that he wished to give notioe of motion—" That a oommittee be appointed to confer with tho Chapter respecting the tank reserves, suoh committee to consist of his Worship the Mayor, Ors. Vincent, Louisson, and the mover." The Major ruled that, as the matter was now under consideration by a, oommittee, tho notioe of motion was out of ordor. After granting several licenses, tho Oounoil adjourned.