CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2673, 31 October 1882, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, October 30.

A special meeting was hold at 6.45 p.m. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Kiver, Jenkins, Eeese, Vincent, Prudhoe, Louisson, Ayers; Lambert, Hirons, and Bowman.

The business before the meeting was the Confirmation of the watering rate, which was agreed to, and the rate book signed. The ordinary meeting was then held, Cr Brice being also present. His Worship the Mayor stated that he had been nominated as a member of the Domain Board. He believed that in future all mayors of Christchurch would be members of that Board.

The receipts during the fortnight wore Stated as being .£959 Is Bd. Accounts to the amount of .£790 9s Id were passed for payment, and the credit balance at the Bank was stated as being £1926 Ss 6d.

A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary, stating that the Hackney Carriage by-law had been received, and that the Tramway by-law had been laid before the Governor.

A petition was received, signed by a number of residents in the neighborhood, asking that the piece of Land bounded by Oxford terrace, Madras and Chester streets might bo enclosed and improved. The petition was referred to the reserves committee.

Oh the motion of Cr. Louisson, it was resolved that the Town Clerk give the requisite notice that the hackney carriage by-law will come into operation on the Bth November.

The report of the City Surveyor was read as follows : No. 1. The fire brigade committee have given, rue instructions to have the American lire engine ladders, which were broken on being tested, renewed. 2. By instructions from the works committee, I have had the channelling on the side of Durham street, between Salisbury and Kilmore streets, relaid at a lower level. 3. Incompliance with Councillor Bowman’s resolution re foot bridges, I have had two drawings made, one showing a cast iron bridge, in accordance with Councillor Bowman’s opinion, and another one being a combination of timber and wrought iron, which I think would bo preferable, because it could be easily repaired in the event of its being damaged, whereas the cast iron one, if broken, must bo replaced by a new one. The cast iron one will cost £ll7s, and he 7it. long. The wrought iron and timber one will cost IGs, and he Bft. long. The works committee recommend that tenders be invited for 100 of each description, with the view of accepting one or the other. Some modifications will be made in the drawing of the cast iron one previous to inviting tenders. 4. The works committee recommend that the supply of boulders he stopped, and that stone for the roads should lie supplied from other sources, as it would bo a groat saving, from the fact of the broken metal now being obtainable at a much lower coat. 5. The 9th of November next is the anniversary of the Council’s workmen’s holiday. It has been customary to vote them £lO towards the expenses of their day out.

The first three clauses of the report were approved. On that referring to discontinuance of having boulders. Or. Reese waid that the present method cost something like lls 6d per yard, whilst this would not come to more than 5s Od.

Or. Jenkins enquired how many stonebreakers would he thrown out of employment by the adoption of this clause ? Cr. Ayers said this was not a fair quesThe works committee were quite as willing to give employment to stonobreakers as any other Councillors, but they did not believe in providing stone for stonebreakers at some 50 per cent, advance in cost-out.of the ratepayers’ pockets. Cr. Beesc pointed out that it was only new th it increased facilities were offered them of obtaining stone at a lower rate. The clause was then passed, as were the other clauses of the report. The report of the Fire Brigade committee v/aa read as follows : Your committee begs to report that the resolution of Or. Ayers, ro more tanks for fire prevention, is still under consideration. It is intended to go over the city with Superintendent Harris, to ascertain where tanks are more urgently required, when your Committee will be in a position to definitely report. Superintendent Harris reports that the engineer at the Chester street station has considerably more work to perform now that the chemical fire engine has arrived, which ho has to keep clean, and suggests an increase in his pay from .£4O to £SO. Your committee having considered the application, recommend the Council to make the increase.

Cr. Hiorns mentioned that Fireman Rose was improving in condition. Tho first part of the report was passed. On the second portion, referring to tlio increase of pay to tho engineer, Cr. Vincent pointed out that there had not yet been a trial of the chemical fire engine. The recommendation had therefore better stand over till after tho tost of the engine. It was resolved that the matter stand over till next meeting.

The report of the finance committee was road as follows : Your committee have received a letter from Mr Daurenson, of the weigh bi'idge, which is attached hereto, asking for a rebate on his rent. Your committee considers that Mr Laui'enson should receive a rebate on his rent, as there is no doubt that through the competition with weigh bridges in and out of tho city not under control, the weigh bridge has not been used as much as it would have been, and consequently the takings have not been such as Mr Daurenson expected when his tender was accepted three years ago. Cr. Louisson said that tho by-law committee had under consideration a by-law compelling farmers and produce vendors to have carts weighed on the authorised bridge. The ropox-t was then adopted. Cr. Reese moved —“That tho reserves committee be apxxointed to confer with the-Catlxedx-al Chapter of this city, with tho object of exchanging the half of each of the two reserves set apart as sites for tanks in Cathedral square for an equal quantity of the Cathedi-al site, as may be agreed on by the said committee and Cathedral Chapter; such committee to have power to employ any professional service that may be required to arrive at a fair exchange of those sites refex-rod to in this resolution, and report to the Council at as early a date as possible.” Cr. Brice seconded the motion.

Cr. Ayers spoke against tlxe proposal if it was intended to give up all tho tank re-sex-ves.

Crs. Vincent and Louisson having spoken in opposition to the proposal. Cr. Boxvman supported the motion, as also did Cr. Hiorns, Cr. Jenkins, and Cr. Prxxdhoe. A lengthened discussion ensued, and ultimately Cr. Reese, on the suggestion of his Worship tlxe Mayor, agreed to alter his motion so as to make it read that an exchange might bo made for a part instead of “ half ” or “ equal portion,” as originally stated in the resolution.

The resolution was carried on division. Ayes—Crs. Hioms, Bowman, Eoesc, Brice, Jenkins, Prudhoe, and Lambert. Noes— Crs. Kivcr, Louisson, Vincent, Ayers. Cr. Hiorns moved —“ That in recognition of the long services of Mr Superintendent Harris as Superintendent of the Christchurch JFire Brigade, this Council grant him a gratuity of one hundred guineas.” Cr. Jenkins seconded the motion, and suggested that the word “ bonus ” should be substituted for “ gratuity,” and that the following words be added after the conclusion of the motion, “On the occasion of his retirement from the brigade.” Cr. Hiorns agreed to this alteration, and the motion was put and carried unanimously. Cr. Jenkins moved—“ That ActingSuperintendent Turtou bo appointed as a Fire Inspector, and that the appointment be publicly notified.” Cr. Hiorns seconded the motion, which was agreed to. On the motion of Cr. Louisson, the bylaw committee were authorised to make the provision for now cabstands and alterations rendered necessary by the new hackney carriage by-law.

On the motion of Cr. Louisson, several by-laws wore repealed, and a by-law introduced to take their place called a miscellaneous by-law. A special meeting was fixed for November 13th to consider the same.

The following tenders for the assessment of the city were received :—Messrs Whitelaw, £OO ; C. Cuff, £75 ; Huddleston, £6O. Cr. Prudhoe moved—“ That the tender of Mr Whitelaw be accepted, subject to the obtaining of a legal opinion as to the necessity of giving notice under the Eating Act.”

Cr. Hiorns seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A number of licenses wore granted, and the Council adjourned.