CIVIC AFFAIRS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 34, 17 March 1914, Page 4

CIVIC AFFAIRS.

CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL. LAST NIGHT'S MEETING. The meeting of the City Council last night was attended by the Mayor (Mr H. Holland), Crs W. H. Cooper, G. Scott, J. M'Combs, H. Hunter, A. S. Taylor, H. D. Acland, H. B. Sorensen, W. Miller, H. Burgoyne, A. M. Loasby, C. H, Otley, A. H. Morten, A. Williams, J. B. Hayward, and J. M'Cullough. THE MAYQB'S STATEMENT. The Mayor stated that he had given permission to the Sumner Branch of the Boyal Life-saving Society and the New Brighton Surf Club to take up a street collection on Saturday, April 11. "I have to remind ratepayers that there are £24,641 in rates still owing, on which the 10 per cent, penalty will be enforced on and after March 31. Those who have not paid should note this fact, as they are sometimes a day or two late." The Mayor thanked Cr Sorensen for acting as Deputy-Mayor during his (the Mayor's) absence in Dunedin. WEST COAST MAILS. The Town Clerk of Greymouth wrote to the effect that his council requested the co-operation of the Christchurch City Council in a matter that greatly concerns Christchurch and the West i Coast, viz., the urgency of establishing a daily mail service between the city and the Coast. The letter continued: "The West Coast people realise that in the past they were badly handicapped in the matter of communication with the rest of New Zealand via Canterbury owing to unbridged rivers, heavy roads, and other inconveniences,, but now that the gap in railway connection is short, and the troubles of the rivers, etc., are matters of the past; we consider that it is high time that a daily mail service should be established. I have already written to the sister local bodies on the West Coast, and the unanimous opinion is that the West Coast is far behind the rest of the Dominion in the matter of intercommunication. '' The Mayor said that the question affected the city considerably, .and he thought that something should be done. On the motion of Cr Hayward, seconded by C. Miller, it was decided to co-operate with the Westport Council in this matter. TECHNICAL COLLEGE. Mr J. H. Horrell, director and secretary of the Christchurch Technical College, asked if the council could again contribute to the funds of the college. The contribution made by the council last year was £3OO. He reported that the last session proved a record one in the history of the college. There had been 1475 individual students enrolled, as against the previous maximum of 133.0. The hostel was now completed and fully occupied, and in the course of the next year 90 girls would have the benefit of the training it can give. The second storey added to two of the workshops had provided much-needed accommodation, and had made it possible for the college to furnish instruction in elementary electrical engineering. As the present roll number was considerably in excess of that at the corresponding period last year, there was every promise of another prosperous season. Cr Cooper moved that a grant of £3OO be made. The college was doing a great work, and the hostel was one of its greatest works. Cr Otley seconded the motion. Cr Hunter entered his protest against this method of getting money for

education. The whole of the money for education should come out of the Consolidated Fund, and be made a national charge. (Hear, hear.) The motion was carried. ELECTRICITY. The following tenders were recommended for acceptance : Transformers: The British Electric Transformer Company, at £3635 4/-. This tender was received through the High Commissioner in London. Marline: Messrs Turnbull and Jones, at £177 9/-, provided the marline was supplied in balls of approximately 21b in weight, otherwise the tender of Messrs J. J. Niven and Co., at £lßl 6/8, was recommended for acceptance. Tape: Messrs A. and T. Burt, at £79 10/-. " x Rubber Mats: Messrs Turnbull and Jones, at £B6 8/4. That was not the lowest tender by £2 8/4, but the sample contained 10 per cent, more rubber. Enamelled Iron Tablets: Messrs Richardson and M'Cabe, at £ll3 2/6. Insulators: Messrs Turnbull and Jones, at £249 15/6. Tenders for other materials were in hand, but the engineer had not been able to complete his examination and schedule them for the last meeting of the committee. The committee reported having purchased a new Calthorpe motor-car for the use of the electrical department. The Montreal Street sub-station was nearly completed, with the exception of the floor, which was now being laid down. The reticulation of North Richmond was still under consideration, and was,, in the hands of a sub-committee. S \ The supply to local bodies was also under further consideration, in view of the recent interview with the Minister of Public Works. The Works and Sanitary Committee reported as follows: — Dust Abatement Agreement: The committee and the Tramway Board's committee had been unable to agree as to the amount to be paid to the council for its interest in the street watering plant. As the council's estimates for the year includes £IOOO under this head, the committee would like to have the matter settled before ' the end of the financial year, but, as this appeared to be unlikely, the committee had proposed that as it was a question of accounts the matter should be submitted to an accountant, in whom both parties would have confidence, to settle as arbitrator; in the meantime the amount the board admitted should be paid to the council (£957) to be paid over, the final adjustment to be made when the arbitrator had given his decision. The committee requested authority to agree upon an accountant to act as arbitrator. —This course was agreed to. Widening Balfour Terrace: Referring to the strip of land given by Mrs Wilson for widening Balfour Terrace, Messrs Rhodes, Ross, and Godby reported that, as the original street had never been actually dedicated to the public, before the transfer by Mrs Wilson dedicating the additional strip of land for widening purposes could be accepted by the Land Transfer Office, it would be necessary for the council to furnish a certificate that it had for some years past treated Balfour Terrace as a public street and expended public money thereon. The committee therefore recommended that a certificate to that effect be issued.—The recommendation was adopted. Widening Wilson's Road Bridge: The Hcathcote County Council wrote, stating that in connection with the construction of the St. Martin's tramway it had been found necessary to widen the bridge at Wilson's Road, to the cost of which the Tramway Board was contributing £2lB, and asked if the council would pay one-third of the net cost.

The committee asked for full particulars,, and an estimate of the cost, when the matter would be further considered. —lt was decided to give the necessary information. BY-LAWS AND FINANCE. In reference to by-law No. 8, clause 5, the committee recommended that the red reflector to be visible from the rear of vehicles, should be not less than 1£ inches in diameter. Mr A. J. Malley, solicitor, had claimed on behalf of Miss M'Govern, the sum of £7O as compensation for not being allowed to build up to the boundary of her land in Brougham Street. The committee recommended that an offer of £SO be made, without prejudice, the strip of land in question to be transferred to the council, which was to pay the cost of transfer. The Valuation Department had advised that the city was being revalued, and that it would be necessary for the council to appoint a person to act on its behalf as a member of the Assessment Court. The committee recommended that Mr R. Hepworth be appointed. —This was agreed to. The committee also reported that it had considered the letter from the organiser of the Australasian town planning tour, and recommended the council to urge the Government to make a grant of £SOO to enable the lectures* to be made free to the public throughout the Dominion.—The recommendation was adopted. RESTRICTION OF HAWKERS.

An area in which licensed hawkers should be prohibited from plying their trade was submitted. The eastern boundary proposed was Manchester Street, from Armagh Street on the north, to Lichfield Street on the south.

The western boundary varied between Oxford Terrace, and half-way. between the Terrace and Colombo Street; thence northerly to a point on the south side of Cashel Street, 500 links west 6f Colombo Street; thence westerly along the south side of Cashel Street to the east side of Durham Street; thence northerly along the east side of Oxford Terrace to the south side of Hereford Street; thence easterly along the south side of Hereford Street to a point 500 links west of the west side of Colombo Street; thence northerly to a point on the north side of Gloucester Street, 500 links west of the west side of Colombo ; Street; thence easterly along the north j side of Gloucester Street to the west J side of Colombo Street; thence northerly ' along the west side of Colombo Street to a point in line with the north side of Armagh Street; 'thence easterly along the north side, of Armagh Street to the commencing point.—This was agreed to. THE EATING QUESTION. Cr Hunter proposed that the council should put on canvassers to take round the petition in favour of rating on unimproved values. Tne petition had lain for months at the municipal building, but it had not been very largely signed. Cr Acland: May I ask how much this will impose on the Central Ward to'the benefit of the outside wards? The Mayor: About £SOOO. Cr M 'Combs said that the council could preserve its neutrality even although it did- seek a poll on the question. It was only in accordance with democratic principles that a poll should be taken. The Mayor said that the question had

been raised too*late to affect this year's rates. The motion was defeated by a very large majority. ' GENERAL BUSINESS.. It was decided, on the motion of Cr Burgoyne, that Cr M'Cullough' be appointed to the Reserves Committee. The Elmwood School Committee asked the council to erect notice boards on Leinster Road, and Aikman's Road, at a reasonable distance from the Elmwood School grounds, warning motorists to slow down to eight miles an uour when passing the school. Several children had had narrow escapes of late thro.ugh motorists driving at excessive speed, and the request-was made for the purpose of preventing, accidents. —The matter was referred to the By-laws i Committee, with power to act. Cr Hunter moved that a comprehen- . sive report be brought down with regard to the Sydenham water supply. "•- The motion was seconded by Cr Scott and carried.