CITY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume XXI, Issue 2490, 29 July 1873, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, Jult 2S. The Council mot at the usual honr. Prosent—His Worship and Councillors Calvert, Ick, Crooks, Lane, Gapes, and V\ r iLliani3. FINANCIAL. The Town Clerk reported the overdraft at the bank to be dSC(>3 16s 4d ; drainage account, Cr, £4023 3s 10d ; drainage rite account, £180 ISe 2d ; receipts. £29 13s 9d total, £210 11s lid. The receipts for the week were as follows: From the rate collector on account of general city rates, 1872, £2 2s (id ; Waimakariri. 8s fid ; general city rates. 15". , ?. £117 Is ; Waimakariri, £19 10s 2d ; from the inspector on accouut of scavenging, £23 13s 9d; quarter's rent for Resident Magistrate's office, £31 5s ; fines from Resident Magistrate's Court, £1 ss: deposit, on contract for South towu belt, £13 14s; rent of market-place, 7s ; bye-law, Is : total, £20S 17a lid. The sum o"f £21S Is, including £138 Is Sd expenses iv connection with fire brigade, was passed snd ordered to be paid for wages, &c., and £S5 for draiDage expenses. CITY SURVEYOR'S REPORT. The Citt Surveyor reported as follows: —Tenders will be laid before the Council this evening for lighting the kerosene lamps within the city, for a period of twelve months, from the 12th day of August. 1873. The number of lamps nt present being lit is twenty-three (23"): a large number of these will most likely be taken by the Gas Company during the present year.

"The workmen for the last week have been employed carting broken metal and shingle for repairs, scraping and carting scrapings from roads, wood kerbing Madras street, filling in holes near Colombo bridge and Whately rond, clearing out side drains, sweeping crossings and other small works. A tender was accepted for lighting the keroseno lamps within the city for a period of twelve months, commencing"from August 12th, 187 H. The remainder of the Surveyor's report was adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was read from Mr J. P. Jameson, on behale of the Music Hall Company, requesting that the front of their premises might be wood-kerbed aud stone-channelled on the usual terms. Referred to the works committee to have the work carried out. A letter was read from Mr Shrimp ton, calling attention to the state of the footpath in Durham and Montreal streets, and requesting that the same might be repaired. Referred to the works committee. A letter was read from Mr A. Sharland, pointing out the bad condition of the footpath and eide-channel in Madras street, at the north-west corner, and requesting that steps be taken to improve it. Referred to the works committee. A letter was read from Mrs Eliza Jones, calling attention to the fact of the creek running through her ground in Manchester street having overflowed, causing serious damage, and requesting- that the matter might be taken into consideration by the Council.

The matter waa referred to the works committee, to instruct the City Surveyor thereon.

A letter was read from Mr Walter Martin, requestiog permission to place a pipe running into the city drain from his property, in consequence of the construction of the city drain having deprived him of the means of draining a portion of hie land. Referred to the works committee. A letter waa read from Messrs Tombs and Co, requesting the permission of the Council to use the portion of the footpath opposite their premises during the unpacking of some heavy imported machiuery.

Permission was granted, with the understanding that the thoroughfare is obstructed as little as possible.

A memorial was read from certain residents in the neighborhood of Free's creek running from the North Town belt to the Avon, near the Madras street bridge, calling the attention of the Council to an increasing nuisance arising from the creek being used as a channel for carrying off the drainage from the district north of the city. The memorialists stated the nuisance was prejudicial to health, and pressed on the Council the necessity of diverting the water in order to prevent it running through the city.

It was resolved that the works committee have an interview with the Aron Koad Board, and report upon the matter to the Council.

A letter was read from Mr J. Boot requesting that the Council would form that part of Kilmore street running from St Luke's church to Cambridge terrace, and take away the creek which is becoming an offensive drain.

The application was declined. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. The following reports of committees were read :— BYE-LAW REPORT. In accordance with the resolution of the Couucil of the 7th April la"st, the Bye-law Committee submits, for the approval of the Council, the following bye-law hi re all wheeled carriages having lights :— A bye-law of the Council of the City of Christchurch, made under the " Municipal Corporation Act, 1867." In pursuance of the 186 th section of the "Municipal Corporation Act, 18t>7 " the Council of the City of Christchurch ordain as follows : The owner of any carriage in actual use at any time between sunset and sunrise shall provide the same with two proper lights, one to be used on the off side, and the other on the near side of such carriage; and the driver shall keep the same properly lighted while such carriage is so used in any part of the City.

The driver of any cart which shall be in actual use within the boundary of any part of the City, at any time between sunset and sunrise, shall keep a proper light attached to the off side of such cart so as to be plainly visible to the driver of any carriage, or cart, proceeding in a direction contrary to that in which such first-mentioned cart shall be directed.

Interpretation —The word " carriage" shall mean to include any ' stage coach, borough stage carriage, omnibus, cab, hackney carriage, private carriage, waggonette, trap.light cart, drag, and other vehicle of the character here named.

The word " cart" shall mean to include any waggon, cart, dray, agricultural machine, and other vehicle of the character here named. Penalty—Not exceeding forty shillings. On behalf of the Committee, E. B. Bishop, Chairman. City Council Office, July 28, 1873. " City Council office, " July 28,1873. " The Fire Brigade Committee beg to hand in their annual report. " The expenses during the past year have been kept within the sum voted by the Council, viz, £418 —the actual expenditure amounting to '£393 Cs 2d.

" The committee request the Councii to authorise the sura of £418 for the general expenses of the Brigade during the current year. " They have also to remind the Council that the hose ordered from England and Wellington by the Conncil may shortly be expected to arrive, the cost of which will probably be about £200. " The usual report from the superintendent will be l.»id before the Council this evening. " The thanks of the Council are due to the members of the Brigade, and also to the

Fire Police, for their services during the past year. " On behalf of the convnittoe. "E. n. Bisn-.p. "' (.'hau iiiuu."

"Fire Rri.ca.le Station. "Christchuroh. Ja!y2fi, 1573. '•To his Worship the Mayor. "rtir. — I have the h >nor to !av before you the following report of the zviniber of fires I attended by [];,-> Ki:\.» !>■!,'( u> the j year:—Fnts of uu extensive kin-i. ;s ; cottage?, '2 ; stabU-s. .*> : bik-r's shop. 1 ; chiinneTs. (> ; fc -orse icnci-*. 7 : i'ai>o alarms. 0 ; total. 22. "All of an extensive kinil I have already reported upon : the remainder need no comirivnt beyond that there is nn increase of eight over those of '72 and "73. " During the last quarter the Deluge has had (lie new piston rods fixed, and, with the other engines, is now in good order. " I shall be glad to receis-e the new hose ordered in March last, as uiat now in use is much worn. 11 1 hare the honor to be. sir, " Your obedient servant, " W. Harris. " Superintendent." Cγ Ick moved that the bye-law respecting vehicles carrying lights through the city be adopted, and ordered to be transmitted to Dr Foster, for the purpose of being drafted in legal form. Cγ Crooks seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The report of the fire brigade committee was also adopted. Or Calvebt moved—" That the thanks of the Council be recorded to the Fire Brigade and b'irc Police for their services during the i. past year." 'j Cr Ick seconded the motion, which was /agreed to. Cγ WILLIAMS drew the attention of the Council to the fact that the heaps of mud which, after being scraped off the streets, were allowed to remain by the side of the footpath, for what he comidereri au unnecessary long time, to the iuconveuieuce of the public. Cr Ick said this was the consequence of having diminished the number of the Council's laborers. Several men had been taken off work at the beginning of the winter, and it was a matter of impossibility for three or four men to do the work of a dozen.. He had already, on more than one occasion, called attention to the impolicy of curtailing the nurube. , of laboring hands during the winter mouths, and the result was what might have been expected. Cγ LANE thought the works committee should have a discretionary power to engage additional hands iv cases of emergency, such as the present condition of the streets might fairly be considered. Cr Gapes expressed the same opinion, but considered that additioual carts and horses would be required as well as more men. Cr Ick said he had a conversation with the City Surveyor, and had suggested to him that a letter should be written to Melbourne to ascertain the price of one of the pateut street sweeping machines, which he (Cr Ick) thought could be used to the greatest advantage in a small city like Christchurch. Cγ Gapes agreed with Or Ick, and suggested such a machine would economise the work of a number of men in the centre of the city who could then be employed in the outlying streets. Cγ Williams said he would shortly be going to Melbourne and would be happy to make the necessary inquiries as to cost, &.c, of the street sweeping machine. The Council accepted the offer of Cr Wil- I liams, and the matter dropped. INSPECTOR'S KBFOKT. The Inspector of Nuisauces reported that he had served notices on several persons to fill up hollow places and remove surface water that had accumulated during the late rains. The report was approved. LICENSE. A carrier's license was granted to David Howard, of Madras street. NEW MAKKET. A discussion took place with reference to the proposal of leasing the ground near the Post Office for the purpose of erecting Market buildings. Cr Ick spoke in favor of leasing the ground at a nominal rental for a term of years but was quite opposed to the Council building the market at the city's expense. Cr Lane agreed with Cr Ick as to leasing the ground but was utterly opposed to borrowing money for the purpose of building a market, as he opined the ratepayers generally, and those residing in the southern part of the city especially, would be likewise. The opinions of Crs Ick and Lane were generally endorsed by the Council, and Cγ Lane moved the following resolution — "That a portion of the Market Place be offered to Mr Lewis for the purpose of building a market-house provided terms can be arranged and with that view resolve that the market committee have au interview with Mr Lewis, and report as early as convenient." Cγ Ick seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Council then adjourned.