CITY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume XII, Issue 1583, 3 December 1867, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The usual weekly meeting of the City Council was held 1-st evening at" the usual hour. Present—Messrs Wm. Wilson (chairman), Anderson, Tombs, Duntfan, Ruddenklau,; Jameson, Thomson, and Calvert. _ The minutes of thS previous meeting- were' read and confirmed. The Town Clerk reported that the balance to the credit of the Council at the Bank of New Zealand was £912 6s 4d. The receipts during the week had been —for general city rates, 1866, £2 15s ; for general city rates, 1867, £72 2s 6d 5 .from the Inspector of Nuisances, on account of BCdivengeriug. £9 13s 6J ; for rents in the Market-place, 17s ; rent for tho weigh-bridge, £6 5s 5 total, £91 13s.

The weekly pay-sheet, monthly salaries, and | several other accounts, amounting in all to £112 3s lOd, were passed and ordered to be paid. Mr Anderson said that he had seen one of the members of the Lyttelton Council regarding the hard-labour gang which had been working there for the Council. The Council were well pleased, with the work done by the gang. The Government had not charged anything for the services of the men, but the Couucil had been at some expense in providing them with tea, &c. Mr Wilson said that he had received a letter from the Secretary for Publio Works,' stating that the Government would be willing to allow the gang to work on the public works of the city provided the Council paid the ganger. It had boen suggested by a gentleman who once held the office of Provincial Secretary, that it would be advisable for the Council to pay each man a small sum, say a shilling a-day, to form a fund for the prisoner when lie came out of gaol. By so doing they would bo likely to do much more work.

Mr Jameson said that if the men were employed by the Council they must be kept separate from, the other free labourers. The men might be employed in breaking stones or trenching the Town Belt. It was decided that the Town Clerk should write to the Provincial Secretary for the use of the labour gang. ! The report of the City Surveyor was then .read. It stated the amount of stone and; wood kerbing immediately required in the different streets in the city. The following tenders for Btone kerbing and channelling were then read. The tendere were per lineal yard. Channelling. Kerbing. s. d. s. d. J. Pilburn ... ... 3 4 7 8 Gadd and Oourtenay ... 311 611 Find-ay, Hope, and Taffy... 3 9 7 6 John Potter ... ... 3 9 7 6 James Tait 4 6 8 0 James, Hurst's tender was thrown out, owing to its being informal and not according to specification, Mr Calvert moved—" That the tender of Mr J. Pilburn, for Hoon Hay stone channelling at 3s'4d per yard, and- same description of stone at 7s 8d peryard for such;stone kerbing as the Council itself may require, be accepted." Mr Ruddenklau seconded the motion, which was carried. '■

Mr Thomson thought that for the future the names, of: the, sureties . for. contractors should be appended to the tenders in their own handwriting.: ,

Mr Calvert said that such was not the usual course. When the tender was accepted the sureties signed their names. ;

Mr Duncan moved—" That stone channel- 1 ling be at once laid down in High and Cashel streets, from Stevens's corner to the A 1 hotel." .' ■< :. , Mr Ruddenklau seconded the motion. Mr Anderson-moved as an amendment—• " That stone channelling be put down only where stone kerbing eiisted." Mr Thomson seconded the amendment. Mr Ruddenklau would be sorry to see the amendment carried. The water and filth was at present soaking into the ground, and caust ing great annoyance. , . ! Mr Calvert spoke in favour of the original resolution.. Mr Duncan said if the amendment was carried they would have . all the city divided into little lengths of stone channelling. ''The channelling could be laid down in front of the wood kerbing, and could be removed at a small cost, say sixpence a yard, when it was necessary to put down the stone kerbing. j The Chairman stated that, .many of the wood kerbings were quite out of the proper line. The original motion was carried. . Mr Thomson moved —"That stone channelling should be laid down the east side of Colombo street, from Lichfield street to Cashel street, when kerbed." Mr Tomba seconded the motion, which was carried. > Mr Jameson moved—" That the Chairman should be requested to have an-interview with tlie Provincial Secretary, and aacertaiii whether the Government were prepared t® place an iron railing round the . Godley statue." The motion was seconded and carried. j A letter was read from Mr F. Slea, comr plaining of the state of the street opposite the Zetland Arms hotel. : ■ Referred to the City Surveyor. A letter was read from Mr Montgomery! complaining of the very bad state ; of street, between Salisbury and Peterborough streets, owing to the great growth of weeds. : Referred to the City Surveyor. A letter was read from several inhabitants of St. Asaph street, complaining of the bad state of a portion of the street. Referred to the .Public Works Committee. A petition was read from several inhabit* ants of Worcester street, asking that the street should be formed from .Latimer-square to the Town Belt. , ..Referred to the Public Works Committee. . A letter.was.read from the. Town.Clerk Lyttelton, requesting ; information relative to the formation and working of the City Fire Brigade. , I , The Town Clerk reported that he had furnished the information required. The report of .he* Inspector of Nuisances was read and considered.' It was decided;,that the petition to the Governor, praying that the City of Christ? church may be constituted a borough under the Municipal Corporation Act, 1867, should be laid upon the table of the Council for a week for the signatures of the ratepayers. It was decided that the Water Supply Committee should repor_ upon the best method of improving the fountain, in front of Mr,Ruddenklau's, at the next mcc.ing. Mr Duncan moved—" That the Town Clerk be requested to write to the Cathedral Commission, drawing their attention to the necessity of filling up that portion of the square between the cathedral foundations and Colombo street."

Mr.Calvert seconded the motion, which was carried: The Council then adjourned.