CITY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10759, 12 September 1900, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The Council me* on Monday evening. Present—The Mayor, Crs. Gray, Payling. Green, Longhnan, Andrews, Samuels, Clark, Cooper, Morris, Prudhoe, Kincaid, Applebv, -orensen. J. T. Smith. The "receipts since last meeting were stated a_ being: —General account £693 Os account £35 ls 7d, interest account £81 B.*, account £33 ls 7d, interest account £818, loan account (No. 1 rates) £8 lis, loan account (No. 2 sale of debentures) £450. Accounts were passed as follows: —Genera: account £813 Is lOd, cemetery account £1 12a, Richmond loan account £31 16s, loan account (No. 3) £3 2s. The debit balance was stated as being £2359 10s 7d. Mr J. J. Sinclair wots complaining that tha Art Gallery in Durham street, was rapidly becoming a public nuisance. A letter to a similar effect was read from Mr E. W. Seager. Mr R. D. Thomas, who attended' as one of the vice-presidents of the Art Sodetv, said he had made enquiries as to the complaints, and found that there had never been any complaint about the conduct of persons inside the buildings. The sanitary convenience- in the gallery were __ee_tent, and the inspector of nuisances had spoken in terms of approval of them. It was probable that those using the Gallery did not know where the sanitary conveniences were. He would cause »notices to bo printed notifying where they situate. It was decided to send copies of the letters to the Inspector of Police. The Drainage Board wrote, stating that the tender of Messrs Soa_.s had been accepted for the Lincoln road storm-water . sewer for £793 15s, and asking for the subsidy, £200, promised by the Council. Cr. Sorensen pointed, out that it was stated at the tu___ that the cost would be £1000, and upon that sum £200 was promised. Now it appeared that it would only cost £793 15s. On his motion it was decided, after discussion, "That the Drainage Board be paid pro rata on the cost of the work." A letter was read from Messrs Garrick, Cowlishaw and Fisher, reporting decision of Mr Beetham in the prosecution under the by-law No. 1, 1897, section 10, re failure to roof over a hoarding. It was suggested that the Council should enact a by-law, which would enable the Council to determine each case, having regard to the nature of the building to be erected, how -much of the street might be boarded off, and for how long, with power to grant an extension should circumstances justify it. Cr. Appleby said that the By-law Committee intended communicating with the Architects' Association and Building Association as to the drafting of a by-law relating to buildings, etc. "Several Councillors expressed their opinion that it was time some steps ; should be taken to- see that their by-laws were properly made. The letter was received. i ,A letter was read from Miss Smith, the secretary of the Beautifying Association, stating that though it was not intended to ■ carry out the planting of the South belt -this year, the Association purposed purchasing the trees necessary to carry out the planting, and asking that the £25 voted by tha Council for the purpose should be handed i over.

In reply to a question, his Worship the | Mayor said the money was voted on the un- j derstanding that the trees should be planted ; in the middle of the road. On the mdtion ' of Cr. Kincaid, the amount was voted for payment, the Surveyor explaining that no : plane trees of sufficient size could now be I | got this year. j The City Surveyor reported that the fob ' lowing building permits have been issued during the fortnight, viz.—Outer area, 5, valua £1400; inner area, 2, value £1700; total, 7, value £3100. j The Works Committee considered that the crossings asked for at the clock tower were not required in the meantime. The ! Committee recommended ihat the three bridges be proceeded with, in the following order:—East belt, Colombo street, and j hospital. In the opinion of the Committee, the tenders would run higher if all these were put in hand at one time. As to the East belt bridge, the elevation and pre liminary specifications were submitted foi approval,- and the Committee ask for in -tractions to call for tenders, as soon as detail drawing, and full specifications are ready. Borings for determining the founda tions of the Colombo street bridge are nearly completed. The Committee recom mended the acceptance of Lucas Bros.' tender for new water-cart, complete, for the sum of £80. The Committee recommended the acceptance of Chas. H. Cox's tender (£1812) for the erection of the stables and brick wall, as per plans and specification. The report, after some discussion, wai j adopted. The Committee appointed to draw up a report re retiring allowances to officerbrought up a recommendation that, on the death or retirement of any officer in the service of the Council for not less than twenty years, one month's pay for each yeai of service should be paid, and that the officers to whom the recommendation was to apply should be the town clerk, assistant town clerk, city surveyor, and rate collector. An amendment adding the name of the chief inspector of nuisances was agreed to, and after some discussion the report was adopted. The By-law Committee reported that it !had considered an application from tht Bazaar Committee of the Roman Catholic Church, for the erection of a temporary wooden building on the vacant land in [ Gloucester street, opposite the theatre, and I for the erection of a large canvas structure in rear of above temporary building for bazaar purposes, and recommended the Council to give consent to snch application, , and a license be issued therefor, the construction, lighting and other arrangements to be subject to th. approval, in writing, of the city surveyor. Hie report was adopted. I The Mayor brought "before the Council the question of acquiring more land on the ; site of the present Council yard. | The Council went into committee to con- ; sider the question. i On resuming, it was reported that a resolution had been carried authorising the Special Committee to purchase the whole block of land adjacent to the yard on the best terms.

The Sanitary Committee repotted that they had accepted a tender for pans for the next twelve months, and asked for authority to order four waggons for the carriage of the sealed pans. The report was adopted on the motion of Cr. Sorensen.

Cr. Gray moved, "That the Mayor be requested to proclaim. Wednesday, 10th October, Labour Day. as a holiday from noon, instead of the Thursday in that week." Cr. Clark seconded the motion, which was lost.

Cr. Smith moved, "That this Council expresses its appreciation of the services rendered to it during the past six years by Cr. Kincaid, and hopes that in the near future he may see his way to again place his services "at the disposal of the ratepayers."

Cr. Payling seconded the motion, which was supported in eulogistic terms by several councillors, and carried by acclamation.

Cr. Pavling drew attention to the fact that the City gas was turned out at 1 a.m. In all other cities it 'was kept lighted till sunrise. He moved. "That it be a recommendation to the Lighting Committee to see whether the lamps could not be kept lighted longer." Cr. Clark seconded the motion, which was lost. The Council then adjourned.