CITY COUNCIL.

Tlie Council held its weekly meeting on Monday evening. Present: all tha members except Mr. Bailey. The Chairman in the chair. The minutes of the last meeting having been re id and confirmed, the following letters and papers were produced and read : — , A letter from the Secretary for Public Works in answer to one from the Council, in reference to the transfer of the Immigration Barracks in the Market square, stating that he would lay the matter again before tlie Government, and communicate the result to the Council. The Chairman said the Secretary for Public Works had called on him in reference to this matter, and acknowledged that the Government had conveyed the site in question, but considered the - City Council should exercise its liberality by not demanding an immediate transfer of the buddings for two reasons : first, that should the fever continue in the Immigration Barracks on the Lincoln road, the buildings in question would be required fir the accommodation of I immigrants daily expected ; secondly, as the next session of the General .Assembly would be held in Christchurch, and more than probably at a very early period, the Government would require the building for offices. After a short discussion as to the time when the buildings in question should be handed over to the Council, the following motion was moved by Mr. Pavitt and seconded by Mr. C. W. Bishop:—-" The City Council have again under their consideration a letter from the Secretary for Public Works, as well as the result of a private communication with the Chairman of the Council in reference to handing over the immigration barracks in the Market square. The City Council again desire to express their opinion that the building should be formally handed ovor to the city, when the Council will be glad to entertain any application which the Provincial Government may make in reference to the temporary use of tho building for Government purposes." Carried. Two letters to the City Surveyor, accompanied by a tracing from the architect for the Cathedral, stating that the Commissioners were most anxious to have the whole of the site fenced as soon as it is conveyed to the Bishop. A discussion took place on tho subject, and it was unanimously agreed tliat the tracing must liave t*een taken from some other plan than the one the Councd had some time previously before them, and to which they gave their consent. It was moved by Mr. C. W. Bishop, seconded by Mr. Pavitt:—" That the Cit*f Council having under their consideration a plan transmitted to the City Surveyor showing the extent of ground claimed by the Cathedral Commission as tlieir domain, and stating their desire to fence in the land in question, the Council demurs to the plan submitted to them as being at variance with that formerly brought under their notice. The Council have moreover understood that the Cathedral Commission would not require to interfere with tho existing roadway for several months to come, and therefore desire to inform, the Commission that it will materially inconvenience the City to divert tho line of road through the Square until their arrangements are completed, by the formation ofthe new line of road." Carried. A letter from H. Wynn Williams, Esq., calling the attention of the Council to the inconvenience caused to him and others by the gravel pit lately opened in Hereford street. The Chairman said the Domain Board would, he believed, allow the Council to excavate a large quantity of ground where they were desirous of forming a pond. The gravel should be removed at once, and if the Surveyor thought it worth the trouble, it could be stacked until actually required. The Surveyor said he would look over the place, and see if the quantity would be sufficient to reimburse the Council for its trouble. The Surveyor was instructed to fill up the gravel pit complained of by Mr. Williams. The reports of the Surveyor and Inspector of Nuisances were read. The chief points mentioned in the Surveyor' sreport were, that the existing contract for lighting the street lamps would expire in the course of tho month, and that the Papanui bridge was ready to be opened for public traffic, its cost was stated to be £3410 10s. The Town Clerk reported that he had received from the Rate Collector £171 12s ; from Mr. Hobbs, on account of the Armagh street well, £15; and from other sources, £3 3s 6d, which amounts he had lodged in the bank. Bills to the amount of £106 9s 2d were ordered to be paid. The Surveyor was instructed to advertise for tenders for lighting the lamps.

The Chairman stated that if the Surveyor considered the contractor for Papanui bridge had completed the work, the Council would formally open the bridge at 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning. The bridge, ho suggested, should be called the " Victoria Bridge."

After some other routine business, the Council adjourned to Monday next, October 3, at the usual hour.