CITY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume III, Issue 286, 30 September 1863, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, September 28th. The Council held their weekly meeting; the Chairman in the chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The following letters and papers were produced and read:— From the Provincial Secretary, as follows— " September 23,1863. "Sir—ln reply to your letter of yesterday's date, respecting the temporary footbridge across the Avon in the Marketplace, I have the honor to state that the matter was immediately referred to tho Assistant Provincial Engineer, who reports as follows —' The bridge is not erected, and all necessary precautions have been taken to prevent danger from the use of the temporary scauolding. I must decline to carry on any work under the supervision of the Town Council.' " I have, &c, " Ot. TUBNEE, " For the Provincial Secretary. " George Gordon, Esq., " Town Clerk." A letter from the Warden and Fellows of Christ's College, September 16th, calling the attention of the Council to the state of the streets immediately adjoining the College, which were chiefly cut up by the carts drawing gravel to other streets from the Government Domain, and suggesting that Antigua-street should be formed and i metalled from the College Bridge to the entrance to the College. Letter from Mr. Walter Lawry, of the Lincoln road, in reference to tho metal posts wliich were broken recently by him through his horso taking fright and breaking away. He said he had been already fined forty slullings by the magistrates, and he threw himself on the sympathy of the Town Council not to deal severely with him, as he was not long in the colony, and had a family of ten children to provide for. The report of the City Surveyor was read. He reported the trees on the East Town Belt were now fenced in. The formation of Cashel street from Montreal to Antigua street was being continued, and at the same time he was fining in Marshal's gravel pit in Montreal street. The fencing between Colombo-street bridge and the Papanui bridge along Cambridge-terrace was completed. He again suggested the desirability of Manchester-street being formed and metalled, that the bridges over the south drain should be increased in width, and other works in this locality undertaken previous to the opening of the railway. The report of the Inspector of Nuisances was read. He stated that he was still making a thorough inspection of each block and leaving notices where necessary. Tlie Town Clerk reported the receipt of £3 Bs. for gravel during the week. Bills to the an-ount of £130 were ordered to be paid. The subject of the Provincial Secretary's letter was much discussed, each member taking part, and speaking very strongly against the uncourteous manner in wliich tho Assistant Provincial Engineer referred to a corporate body. Mr. Alport said tliat when the approaches to the new bridge were made on the south side of the river it might interfere with their drainage. Mr. Luck thought it most advisable that the bridge should be put up by the City Surveyor. Mr. Barnard said the Government would save money by so doing, and the levels being all taken and carried out by the City Surveyor, there would be one opinion, one plan, under one responsible

person. The Chairman said it was only right that all works within the City boundary should be carried on by the Council, and be under the sole control of their officers. The works heretofore done by the Council were done well and economically, and he hoped the Provincial Government would see the advantages of handing over the erection of the Papanui Bridge to the Council; the approaches and the adjoining street, as regards the necessary levels, would be the better done by being placed under the judgment of one engineer, and he would no doubt be careful as his professional talent would be at stake. Should the Government not hand over this work to them, the Council should see tliat the work was done without delay, for he had heard it stated by competent persons that Colombo-street bridge would hardly stand for six months when all the traffic was thrown upon it. In fact, it was extremely doubtful if the condemned bridge was not the best of the two.

Mr. Barnard moved—That the following letter he sent to the Provincial Secretary, in answer to his letter of the 23rd inst. Seconded by Mr. Luck.

" Sir, —In reply to your communication of the 23rd instant, I am directed by the City Council

| again to draw your attention to tho dangerous state of tlie approaches to the temporary bridge across the Avon. The Council is seriously apprehensive that accidents will occur, unless the Provincial, Government take immediate precautions to prevent them. The City Council regrets to note the extremely uncourteous comment of the Assistant Provincial Engineer to tho effect that he " declines to carrj- ovit any works under the supervision of tho Town Council." The Assistant Provincial Engineer should bo informed that if he will not take such measures as the City Council from their greater knowledge of the local necessity deem essential for the public safety, that either the work should be delegated to the Council, or the Assistant Provincial Engineer should be compelled to comply with reasonable requirements for the public protection,, lam further directed to inform you that the temporary bridge was opened for public traffic on the Saturday previous to my last communication."—Carried. In reference to the letter from the Warden and Fellows of Christ's College, Mr. Barnard said it was a very reasonable request, and tho gravel being so convenient it would not be a very expensive work. Tlie City Surveyor suggested that the street should be made from Armagh-street to Herefordstreet. It was accordingly moved by Mr. Barnard, seconded by Mr. Tribe, " That the City Surveyor do advertise for tenders for forming and metalling Antigua-street from Armagh-street to Herefordstreet." Carried. Mr. Lawry's letter was referred to the Surveyor to report on what would be a reasonable charge to make him pay for the two metal posts which his horse broke. The Council suggested to the Surveyor that he might take two posts from where the openings were left when tho chains were attached.

The City Surveyor was also instructed to advertise for tenders for forming and metalling Manchester-street from its junction with Tuamstreet to the South Town Belt; also for tenders to complete the formation and metalling of Madrasstreet, from the Ferry road to the Town Belt. The Town Clerk was ordered to acknowledge the receipt of the letter from the Warden and Fellows of Christ's College, and inform them that tenders are invited for the formation of a portion of Antigua-street. It was moved by Mr. Alport, seconded by Mr. Barnard, " That a deputation of the Council be appointed to confer with the Executive Government relative to the proposed erection of the Papanui Bridge, at twelve o'clock on Tuesday." Carried. The Council then adjourned. WASTE LAND SALES. The following is a return of the land sold in the different districts, for the month ending Sept. 30th, 1863 :— Districts Acreage. Cliristchurch . . . 974 Ashley 907 Timaru.'.... 945 Lincoln 367 Mandevillo .... 274 Ellesmere .... 734 Banks' Peninsula . . . 435 Lyttelton . . . .375 Waipara . . . .40 Oxford . . . .1080 Malvern .... 184 Ashburton .... 385 Total . . . 6700