CITY COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6494, 20 December 1881, Page 5

CITY COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of the City Connoil was hold last night, when the following members were present: —Hie Worship the Mayor, Councillors Bishop, Vincent, England, Ayers, Louisson, Thomson, Treleavon, Hiorns, and Bowman. APOLOQT. The Mayor read an apology from Councillor Lambert. PtHAHOB. The Clerk reported the expenditure and receipts for the past fortnight to be—expendituro, £628 9s 7d 5 receipts, £897 Os 6d, leaving a credit balance of £2161 8s Bd. COBBESPOSDHKOB. Correspondence from the Colonial Secretary and Department of Justice was read, acknowledging the election of Mr Buddenklau as Mayor, and appointing him a Justice of the Peace. bubtbtob's bbpobt. The following was read “ In compliance with the Council's wish, I have examined several of the public buildings in Christchurch in order to ascertain whet damage they have sustained by the late earthquake, and am surprised to find that so little injury has occurred to them. “Normal School.—The only damage sustained by this building is the severe shaking of one chimney stack at the junction of the old building and the addition which was last made to it. And I have been informed by the Chairman of the Education Board that the chimney will be repaired when the school breaks up for the Christmas holidays. Several of the ceilings have been damaged by the plaster cracking and falling, which appears to have been caused by the vibration of the ceiling joists. In all other respects the building seems to be uninjured. “ Supremo Court —This building does not appear to have sustained any injury. “Wesleyan Chapel and School, Durham street.—One stone on the exterior of this building has boon thrown down, which in my opinion arose from its being improperly bedded. This is the only indication of any damage having been inflicted on the building. It is supposed that some of the cracks which were caused by the settlement of the building shortly after its erection have, to a very slight eztent, widened, but there is no positive evidence to lead to such a conclusion. “Saint Paul’s Church.—l have carefully examined this building both inside and out, and it does not appear to have sustained any damage winterer j in fact, the only indication of there having been sny movement whatever is shown in some very alight crocks in tlie interior plasterwork. « Cathedral.—l flu® that Mr Mountfort, the superintending architect, has made a thorough and careful examination of this building, an ' f«m his report thereon (which is very T B at “« p i# n 0 damage whk - at all thought to endanger the iafotyofw building, except what may have happened 'fo the opire. But as the actual damage to this portion of the building cannot bo positively determined until an outside scaffolding i« erected, ko has recommended that a scaffold should bo constructed and the necessary >epairs effected, although ho does not consider the spire to bo by any means in a dangerous state, but he thinks it advisable to repair it, and by that means enable it to stand the shook of another earthquake should it occur. . , . . “ I have also examined a number of private buildings, eg., Messrs Hobday's new building, Colombo street. I selected this building for examination because a short time back a rumour was current that the building was unsafe, but I am happy to say that there is not the slightest indication of any ill effecto

having arisen from tho earthquake. Mr B, Reece’s building, Colombo street; Messrs Mason and btrulhers’ building, Colombo street; Messrs Montgomery’s building, Colombo street. I selected those buildings for examination because they wore all three* storey buildings, and that it was tho custom of tho owners to store heavy goods on tho upper stories, but notwithstanding these drawbacks to tho stability of tho buildings, there is no indication whatever of their having sustained any injury. “I also made enquiries of tho different tenants occupying the buildings known as Mr Green’s and Ur Widdowson’s, in Manchester street, but they ail assured me that nothing in tho interior of tho buildings indicated any damage whatever; and ray own examination of tho exteriors wos equolly reassuring. With regard to Widdowson’s buildings, the cracks consequent on tho settlement of the work may have slightly opened, but there is no positive indication that they have. One chimney of a two-storied house in New street I_ found to be severely shaken, and I have given the owner notice to have it taken down. “ Tho Works Committee recommend that tho Mayor elect and tho Fire Inspectors should visit tho theatre and other public places of amusement, and report to the Council whether they think and can recommend that any alterations or improvements ought to be made to the moans of exit from such places, and state what such improvements should be. They also recommend that the police authorities should bo requested to give the constables in attendance at such places instructions to see that all doors and means of exit are free and unencumbered during the hours of performance, or other occasions when a number of people are assembled in the buildings. “ The Works Committee desire to point out to the Council that Latimer square is being so much used now by boys playing cricket in it that great damage is arising from their so doing, and to request the Council to express an opinion as to whetber it is advisable to allow it to continue after spending so much money to have the square put in proper condition. “ Tenders for cement and timber have been called for to channel some private streets, and the tenders accepted were from B. H. Wood for cement and J. Smith for timber. The tender of J. Anderson and Son for lamp-posts was accepted. The asphalt crossing on the South belt has been laid.”

The first clause was approved. On the second clause being read, Councillor Lonisson called attention to the filling up with chain of the gangways in the dress circle of the Theatre Royal when the bouse happens to be crowded; a very dangerous practice, to which the attention of the police should be drawn. Councillor Ayers said that the report further recommended the police being com* municated with on the matter of keeping the gangways clear. Councillor Hiorns said that Air Beatty had asked him to mention that that gentleman wished to moke every provision possible. It would not be sufficient to throw the whole responsibility on Mr Beatty, who let the theatre to others. He (Councillor Hiorns) thought that with the communication with the hotel now available upstairs there was sufficient means of egress from the dress circle; downstairs too, was well supplied with doors. Councillor England recommended that the Surveyor should go with the Fire Inspectors and Mayor elect. The suggestion was adopted, and the clause as amended was approved. With regard to clause 3, Councillors Eng* land, XiouissoD, and Ayers thought the boys did no harm. The Mayor was of the same opinion. The Council decided to take no action in the matter. The other clauses were considered satisfactory, and the report as a whole was approved. IIABKBT HOLDINGS. Councillor Bishop moved, in accordance with notice-—*“ That the resolution of the Council, making the rent of the temporary holdings in the Market 20s a foot, be rescinded.” He thought the old system might be retained for another twelvemonth. Councillor Louisson suggested the postponement of the matter till a larger meeting of the Council. Councillor Bishop would not postpone his motion, as all the* Councillors had received notice of it. Councillor Hiorns seconded the motion. Councillor Ayers supported it. The motion was lost by the casting vote of His Worship the Mayor. OFFICIAL PAPER. Councillor Bishop moved, and Councillor Hiorns seconded—“ That the Press be the official paper for the year 1882.” The motion was agreed to unanimously. HOLIDAYS. The Council agreed to give their employees Boxing Day and Jan. 2 as holidays. LICENSES. A number of licenses were granted. The Council went into Committee, and on resuming, adjourned till Jan. 9,1882.