CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2684, 14 November 1882, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, November 13. A special meeting of the Council was lield at 6.45 p.m. Present—His Worshipthe Mayor, Crs. Ayers, Vincent, Hiorns, Louisson, Bowman, Brice, JenHne, Prudhoe Reese, KiTer, Lambert. The business before the Gouncil was the consideration of the miscellaneous by-law which dealt with a number of matters connected with the good government of the city.

After several clauses had been gone through, the further consideration of the by-law was postponed till next meeting. The ordinary meeting was then held. The receipts for the fortnight were stated as being .£565 3s. The credit balance at the Bank was stated as being .£1097 3s Gd. Accounts to the amount of .-210G2 18s 3d were passed and ordered to be paid. The Mayor reported that a meeting of delegates of the local bodies respecting the formation of a Railway League had taken place.

A letter was read from the Drainage Board requesting the Council to take legal proceedings to recover outstanding rates. Prom the Tramway Company, requesting: the Council to issue instructions to the city surveyor to authorise the forming of th» stand for the tramway cars in Cathedral square.

The letter was referred to the works committee, with power to act in the matter.

The city surveyor's report was read.ae* follows : ... '■

1. The right-of-way called Hawdoa's right-of-way, also the right-of-way leading from it to Tuam and Lichfield streets, have been formed and channelled. 2. As thafootbridge work is somewhat of an experimental character, the works committee" recommend that fifty of each pattern should be laid down, and that Mr Atkinson'stender of 27s per bridge be accepted for fifty of the cast iron ones, and that Messrs McKay and Stevenson's tender of 15s 8d per bridge be accepted for fifty of the 3 wrought iron and timber ones. 3. Nineteen building licenses have be*n issued during the month of October. 4. The amount of building fees collected during"tEe month of October is .£l9 10s.

The report of the fire brigade committee was read as follows:

Tour committee beg to report having visited -with. Superintendent Harris several parts of the city with the view of reporting on Cr. Ayers* resolution re more tanks for fire prevention purposes. Tour committee find that tanks are urgently required aij the intersection of Durham and St. Asaph streets, Lower High street, Barbadoes, Cashel streets, and Durham and Salisbury streets, but as there are many other places which require tanks, your committee is unable to make any recommendation. Superintendent Harris reported to your committee that the recent trial of the chemical fire engine could not be taken as a. fair test of its capabilities, and, therefore, asked the Council to suspend its judgment on the engine until it has been tried under ordinary circumstances. The committee recommend that application be made to Mr E. H. Rhodes for the sum of .£2l for assistance rendered at the late fire at his residence.

Cr. Hiorns spoke at some length with, regard to the chemical fire engine, entending that it would be found to te ef practical use in Christchurch. Cr. Eeese thought that if the engine was to be a white elephant they ought to keep it good order. Cr. Ayers said that he had been credibly informed that in England these engines were a total failure.

Cr. Louisson said that it was a pity Cr. Ayers had not discovered this before the Council sent for this engine. He was one of the oldest councillors, and it was therefore rather discouraging to the young councillors to find that the spending of the money of the ratepayers had not been prevented.

On the clause with regard to tanks, Cr. Ayers expressed his total inability to understand the logic of the committee in saying that there was urgent necessity for tanks, and yet making no recommendation on his motion.

Cr. Hiorns explained that the committee found 60 much would be required to be spent in tanks, that they thought it would be better to leave the matter over until there was a chance of a water supply. After some further discussion. Cr. Thomson moved—" That the clause be referred back to the committee to bring up a. report in accordance with the order of reference."

This was seconded by Cr. Kiver, and was opposed by Crs. Prudhoe'and Hiorns. The motion was debated at some length, and ultimately it was withdrawn, and the clause as a whole was agreed to. Cr. Hiorns explained that the charge made to Mr Ehodes was done to recoup the actual cost of the use of plant, &c. Cr. Ayers spoke in terms of strong reprobation of the manner in whieh the horses belonging to the Council were driven to the fire referred to. It was nothing more nor less than the greatest possible cruelty to animals. Cr. Eeese corroborated the remarks ©f Cr. Ayers. Cr. Vincent could not see why, after refusing to go to several fires in Sydenham, the horses should have gone out at all. It had been decided, after discussion in the Council, that outside fires should not be attended. Cr. Louisson said that he was averse to making a specific charge to a private individual. In other cases, where persons were not in such reduced circumstances as Mr Ehodes, a donation had been made at once to the funds of the Brigade as a recognition of their services. Of course, if Mr Ehodes had been in a position to do so, no doubt he would have sent a handsome donation to the Brigade.

His Worship said that Mr Rhodes was not a of Christchurch, and his property was not in the city, therefore it wa« hardly to be supposed that the city could supply, free of cost, the fire extinction plant, which had cost them so much. He was of opinion that the time had now arrived when the subject of charging 1 for the use of the plant outside the city should be settled on a proper basis. [Hear, hear. 3 Cr. Jenkins said that Mr Rhodes, as he understood, had not even thanked the Fire Brigade for their efforts on the occasion. Cr. Reese could see no hardship whatever in charging this amount to Mr Rhodes. The firemen had lost several hours of thenday, and the very valuable plant had been taken out, the sum charged for the use of which would only be recouped. Cr. Thomson was opposed to charging in this way. He thought they had been somewhat too hasty in this matter. Besides this he contended that they could not charge for the use of their fire engines to a private individual, lie understood, speaking on the broad subject, that tho Sydenham Borough Council intended making arrangements with the City Council for the use of the brigade, and no doubt the St. Albans Borough Council would follow their example. Cr. Prudhoe pointed out that Mr Rhodea had made a special demand, not only once, but twice, for the engines, as if he had a right to their services. Cr. Bowman was in favor of sending in the little bill. He was sure of this that it would be impossible to lay down a hard and fast rule charging for the use of the engines, because a poor man's house might be burned down. Cr. River thought the discussion had gone far enough, and that if the clause was withdrawn now the matter would be settled. Cr. Hiorns said that the matter simply meant this, was the Brigade to go outside or not ? The Brigade had determined not to go outside the city, [Cr. Vincent —"Why did they do so then ?] There was an imperative request sent to the Brigade, and they did not know what to do. Cr. Thomson moved— " That the clause stand over for the present." Cr. Kiver seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Cr. Louisson moved—" That the list of stands for cabs and carriers, as advertised, be confirmed." . '«»• Cr. Bowman seconded the motion, wMoi was agreed to. .«'' Cr. Ayers moved —"That the the works committee in re-letting be approved." .i^j Cr. Vincent seconded the motwtt,m«*c» j was carried. chxudsh I After granting several llolebse^^ih^ Co Jiciladjourned, , -* ;u '- - -«■;'''