CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2661, 17 October 1882, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, Octobbk 16.

The usual meeting of the City Council wo: .braid at 7 p.m. Present —Hie Worship the Mayor, Ors. Ever, Ayers, Vincent, Hiorns, ‘Thomson, Lambert, Reese, Prudhoc, Bowman, Jenkins, uni B;lce. Tho rsosipti for the fortnight were announced Jos lnng£9l2 6» 31. The credit balance at t v o Pink vai fitated as being £1758 15s oAccounts to the amount of £791 8s 111 were passed and ordered to bo paid. The following correspondence was road— From tha Bay. Canon Cotterill, stating that the Chanter could not see their way clear to accept tie proposition of the Council respecting ’he tank reserves in Cathedral square. Or. Beose gave notice of motion that he would move r.t z later stage os follows — “ That the reserves committee and the mover be oppointed to confer with the Cathedral Chapter of the city, with tbe object of exchanging tha half of each of Ihe two reserves set apart as sites for tanks in Cathedral squats for an equal quantity of the Cathedral Bite, aa may bo agreed to by the said committee and Cathedral chapter, such committee to have power to employ any professional service that may bo required to arrive at a fait exchange of these sites referred to in thie resolution, and report to the Council as early possible.”

From Mr P. Hill, asking for a remission of rent during the period his stall was closed. It •priß decided that the Council cannot comply with tha r< quest. T'uo surveyor’s report was road as follows :

No. I—Tha foundations of tha Manchester street bridge are now completed, and the masonry on tha south side is aiso almost flnisliKil. "he timber from New South Wales has not yot arrived. 2—Tho bath at the West Christchurch school is now available for fire purposes in Stuart street, as tho sump connecting it with that street is now built. 3—The oonorile channel is being laid on Oxford Terrace, from Kilmote street opposite Ward’s Brexery. 4—Annexed hereto is a plan showing tha right-of-way applied for by Mr Sandstein, and also an undertaking from him to construct it in compliance with the Act, therefore the matter is now in a position to enable tbe Council to sign the necessary deed previous to its being committee attended to see a practical trial of She l idde s th.-.t were sent oat from America ■with tho Chemical Fire Engine, and they were tested in tho following manner: —First the asperate pieces ware tested in the yard_, by Elaciog each end of a piece on trestles iu a orizontal position, and two men walking backwards and forwards on it. After each piece had been tested repeatedly in this manner without showing any signs of weakness or defect, two pieces were coupled together in order to try Shorn when placed vertically against a building, ami tha former test having proved so satisfaatory.’threo men unhesitatingly mounted the land ;r (one men at the bottom, one man at tha centre, nnd tbe third man about two-thirds up the ladder). This test tha ladder was totally incapable of bearing, as it snapped suddenly in two and let tho men fall to the ground. As this trial is not anything like so severe as the ladders would bo put to at a fire, tha committee condemned them as being quite unfit for the purpose. The first and second ond third clauses were passed. On tha fourth the Mayor was empowered to eign tho necessary deed. On clausa 5, Cr. L caisson proposed that the report o! tho Fire Brigade committoe should ba read, which was as follows:—'• 1. Your committee has considered the letter of the Firs Brigade, suggesting a successor to Mr Harris, and begs to recommend tho Council to appoint Mr Foreman Turton as acting flupsrmtondcnt, in piece of Mr Harris, reeiaaodi 2. Your committee, as a recognition of the many years’ valuable services of Superintendent Harris to the city, begs to recommand the Council to present him on his retirement with 100 guireaa as a bonus. 3. Tho resolution of Or. Ayere re providing more tanks for fire prevention has not yot been decided upon. 4. Tho tender of Mr Jno. Ellen for horses for the brigade has boea accepted. 5. Your committee is sorry to have to report an accident to one of the members of the brigade (Roar) through one of tha ladders breaking whilst practising with the chemical fire engine and plant belonging to it. Your committee ordered a (searching trial of tho strength of tha ladders to be made, which resulted in another brt kkags. As it was evident that the construction of tha ladders was faulty, your committee condemned them, and otepa will be taken to provide ladders to replace them. On tho motion of Or. Vincent, seconded by Or. Bsese, the Council agreed to appoint Mr Foreman Turton os acting superintendent of the brigade vice Mr Superintendent Harris, resigned. Clauses 1,2, 3 and 4 were passed. On Clause 5, Or. Louisson thought that it would bo advisable to obtain more informs£ion as to the intention of tho manufacturers of tho ladders before condemning the ladders. In the course of tho discussion Or, Hiorns mentioned that the chemical engine sent for was one of lOOgalo. but the one sent was only ISgals, so that they wore entitled to a refund of one-third. After some further discussion, Or. Bsese moved— 1 11 That the Council draw tha attention of the makers to the result of the trial of the ladders, with a vie# either to their Binding new ones to replace those condemned or refunding their cost." Cr. Frndhoe seconded the motion, which was carried, and the report as a whole, with dense 5 of the surveyor’s report, sgresd to. The report of tho committee to whom tho question of appointing an inspector of gas meters tad been submitted, was read las follows ;—“ Your committee, with Cr. Hiorns, have considered the question of tbe desirableness of appointing or otherwise an inspector of gas meters. As tho question to be properly considered required the knowledge of experts, your committee decided to invito gentlemen thoroughly acquainted with the working of gas meters to assist them in their deliberations. Tbe chairmen and inspector of tho Gas Company and Messrs Baja and Campbell responded to tho invitation, and afforded the committee valuable information. The whole of the meters before leaving England are tested and sealed by the Government Inspector, Tho complaints mode, which are very few, of the meters not working correctly, have, in many instances, been traced to leakages in tho house.connections, which could have been easily detected by the consumer (when not burning gas) noting tha working or non-working of the index wheel over the dial plate. The company's inspector is ready at any time to tost consumers’ meters on application to the office. Testing apparatus and shop would be required if any inspector were appointed. It was the opinion of tho experts that the recarding of tbe meters wis extremely correct, any faulty meters were a rare exception. The meters registered correctly the gas passing through them, and it was quite ss much in Ihe interest of the company, as well as the consumers, to see that tho meters are kept in correct working order. Your committee, after carefully considering tho question, with .the information derived from the experts, unanimously recommend the CLnnoil not to entertain the proposal to appoint an inspector of gas meters. Your committee desire to record tho readiness and courtesy of tho gen tle men who assisted thorn to arrive at the foregoing decision.” The report of the committee was adopted. Or. Bowman, pursuant to notice, moved—--11 That tenders bo called for the supply of 200 iron culverts, for bridging the crossings over the channels of tho principal thoroughfares of the city.” Or. Loaissan seconded the motion.

Cr. Thomson pointed ont that it was ccosEnary fur tho Council to have before them the estimate of cost and design before passing a resolution to call for tendsrs. He would suggest that the matter be referred to the works committee to report upon. As an amendment he would move—“ That Or, Bowman’s motion bo referred to tho works committee to report upon.” Or. Hiorns seconded the amendment.

His Worohip suggested that Or. Bowman should nmerd his resolution by affirming tho desirableness of tho scheme of having crossings, and referring tho matter to the works committee.

TheJ original motion was withdrawn, and Mis amendment carried. Or. Bowman then moved—" That tenders be culled for the supply of tools and other stores required for the use of the city during the year, and that the surveyor be instructed to furnish a list of probable quantities required.’’ Ha said that it was tha right thing to do, and as business men the matter was before them. If they liked to accept it well and good, if not, they could do the other thing. [Laughter. 1 Or. Bioros seconded the motion. Several councillors spoke against the motion, pointing out that the cost of the artiolee supplied, except these tendered for, was too inud] for any one to contract for them.

The motion, on being put, was negatived. For— On, Hiorns, Bowman, Frudhoe, Yin* cent, and Reese, Against—Ore. Ayers, Louision, Brice, Lambert, Thomeon, Ever, ond Jenkins. Or. Lambert moved—“ That suitable temporary ornamental timber coverings be erected ov >r the tanks placed on the river banke.’ Or. Bowman seconded the motion pro forma , and said that before sitting down he would move an amendment. [Laughter.j Or. Jenkins wished to ask whether the ornamental structures were intended to be of pagoda s'yle. Or. Bowman withdrew his seconding, and the motion fell through. Or. Vincent moved—“ That the scavenging chargee book for 1880 81 be closed.” Or. Ever seconded the resolution, which was agreed to. Or. Ayers moved—“ That tenders for the valuation of tbe city for 1883 be invited in the usual way.” Or. Hiorna seoondad the motion.

Cr. Hiorns gave notice of motion for next meeting—“ That the sum of one hundred guineas bo voted to Mr Superintendent Harris in recognition of his services es Superintendent of the Christchurch Volunteer Fire Brigade.” Or. Reese then moved his resolution for tha appointment of a committee to confer with the chapter on the mattsr of the tank reserves. In the course of a lengthy address Or. Eeece went into an exhaustive chronological disquisition with regard to the Cathedral site, dating back to 1852. Cr. Brice seconded the motion. After some discussion, Or. Thomson moved—‘‘That the discussion be adjourned until next meeting,” Or. Ayers seconded the amendment, which was carried.