CITY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9903, 7 December 1897, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, December 6. r A special meeting of the Council was held at 7.30 p.m. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs. C. M. Gray, W. Woods, G. Andrews, J. Hamilton, H. H. Loughnan, R. Kincaid, H. B. Sorensen, W. Prudhoe, G. Payling, J. T. Smith, W. E. Samuels, M. Sandstein.

An apology was received for the absence of Cr. J. Stapleton.

A motion was passed, proposed by Cr. Sorexsex, seconded by Cr. Lofghxax, confirming the resolution of 28th October, levying a special rate of Is in the £ during the currency of the loan for Richmond. At a second special meetinc the resolution of October 28th wa3 confirmed on the motion of Cγ. Lopghxan, seconded by Cr. Sorexskn", levying a special rate of 3d in the £ to provide interest and sinking fund for the Richmond loan. The ordinary meeting of the Council was then held, the same Councillors being present, and also Crs. A. Appleby and C. Morris. The statemeut of accounts showed the Bank overdraft to be £7900 14s Id. Last year it was £5408. The overdraft on the cemetery account was £IyOB 7s. The receipts were—General account £1290 63 4d, suspense £100 2s 3d, cemetery £14 5s 6d, interest £355 12s 3d. Expenditure—General account £1092 14s 4d (including accounts for payments which were passed), suspense £285 15s 9d, cemetery £8 6s Bd. His Worship, in his opening remarks, referred to the rider of the jury in the recent fatal bicyclo accident, to the laying of the foundation stone of the clock, and to the presentation photo by Cr. Appleby. A letter was read from Mr W. Recce, enclosing a translation of the building bylaws of the city of Hamburg and other matters of information for the Council. The letter was received with thanks. A letter was read from the Coroner (Mr R. Beetham) forwarding a copy of the rider found by the jury on the inquest on the late Mr Hill. It had reference to th* necessity for the regulation of the bicycle traffic. On the irotion of Crs. Sam dels and SoRENSEy, it was resolved that the Town Clerk should write to the Inspector of Police in reference to the speed of bicycles in the city, which was regulated by a by-law, and to the fact of bicycles being ridden over and on footpaths. A letter was read from the Assistant Surveyor-Genera! enquiring if the Council would be willing to give a few acres of its reserve near Belfast for a recreation ground and a cemetery. After some discussion the letter was referred to the R serves Committees. A long report on the question of the water supply for atreet watering and fire prevention was laid before the Council, and its consideration deferred until the next meeting, the Town Clerk in the meantime to supply councillors with printed copies. The City Surveyor recommended that the small water cart be disposed of for £16, and a new one purchased at the cost of £36, which was agreed to. Inspector Stringer reported he had, during the past month, inspected Blocks 13 to 22, I to 3 Town Reserve, north-east, and served notices for dirty premises 6, defective drains and sumps 12, defective pans 2, other notices 5, infectious diseases 1 notice. He had every week inspected the fish markets, and ninety-three premises where food was cold or prepared, and he had found them satisfactory. Inspector Massey reported that during the month he had inspected Blocks 8 to 13, South-West, 1 to 3 and part 4, South-West T.R. Also Blocks 1 and 2, South-East, and had obtained information for Valuation Rolls at same time. He had served the following notices:—Dirty premises 10, pans 2, drains 13, dogs 2, sundry notices 18. The Inspector of Slaughter-houses (Mr J. Jarman) reported thA he had during the past month inspected the butchers' shops, slaughter-houses, small goods houses and saleyarde within the city. The carcases of meat in the butchers' shops were of good quality. At one of the salerooms he had ordered the removal of some pieces of bacon. He had condemned two beasts suffering from tuberculosis.

On the recommendation of the Fire Brigade Committee John Morrison was appointed "caretaker and- engineer at the Cheater street station.

Cr. Gray reported that the Committee had had before it a scheme proposed by Mr Hedge to prevent false alarms, but were not yet prepared to report. They had other schemes before them, some good and some absurd, and required a little more time to go into the question. In answer to questions, His Worship said the centre of certain streets had not been watered by the Council's men in order to try and get the Christchurch Tramway Company to water their width of the road. No doubt the Works Committee would again consider the question of importing a water cart. Cr. Kincaid moved—"That the City Surveyor be asked to bring up a report showing the cost of treating all the newlyrepaired streets with tar similar to the Cathedral square." Cr. Loughnan seconded the motion, which was carried. /

On the motion of Crs. Sorensen and Woods, it was decided that the Works Committee should be requested to ascertain if the under carriage of the corporation hearse would be suitable for a water cart, and, if so, what would be the cost. On the motion of Crs. Gray and Woods, the Fire Brigade were granted permission to take the chemical engines to the floral fete at the Show Grounds on the 16th.

On the motion of Crs. Gray and Pbodhoe, it was decided to erecfc four wooden seats in Latimer square and four in Cranmer square. A short discussion ensued on the question of watering the centre of the streets. After which the Mayor said a letter had been received during the evening from the Christchurch Tramway Company, who declined to do the watering. The Works Committee would no doubt do what was necessary. Cγ. Gray entered his protest again against the expense incurred in Saturday night scavengering and moved—" That the sweeping of the streets between 10 and 12 o'clock on Saturday nights be diecontinued." Cr. Sandstein seconded the motion pro forma. It was debated and lost. The Council passed a vote of thanks to Mr Appleby for the photo of th* Councillor then adjourned. JF