CITY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13461, 29 June 1909, Page 9

CITY COUNCIL.

The. Christchurch City Council mot last night, when there were present: — The Mayor (Mr C. Allison), and Crs. W. H. Cooper, T. Gapes, J. J. Dougall, H. J. Otley, J. Forrester, C. Taylor, A. H. Webb, Geo. Hyde, A. Williams, H. T. J. Thacker, and T. N. Horsley.

The Amuri County clerk forwarded a resolution .visaed by his Council strongly protesting against the proposal of the North Canterbury Hospital Board to exceed tho amount provided for the Children's Ward in view of the largely increased amounts asked for from the contributory local bodies this year. In the event of the resolution being approved of, the writer asked the Council to instruct its representative on the Hospital Board to use his best endeavours to check the wave of extravagance whioh appeared to be passing over the Board s affairs, and which was obviously unfair to the country districts that had to provide a considerable amount of the Board's funds from which they derived very little benefit.

The Mayor fully explained the position, and the letter was received. The secretary of- the City and Suburban Burgesses' Association forwarded a resolution asking tho Council to promote a conference of the Government and the Christchurch or Canterbury local authorities interested in the prompt harnessing of water power for tbo most economic development of electrioity for traction, lighting, and mechanical purposes, and that the (proposed conference should be empowered to decide upon the most serviceable and economic scheme for Christchurch and the surrounding districts. The writer also called attention to previous resolutions forwarded to tho Council relating to the control of motor traffic in the city. The letter was received.

The By-laws, Finanoo, and Departmental Committee reported upon the Christchurch Fire Board's request that the superintendent of the Fire Brigade should be appointed an inspector, with the right to order the removal of cases, rubbish, etc., stacked against buildings, and recommended thdt a by-law be made to restrict the storage of packing cases containing iriflammahle material in close proximity to buildings. In reference to the theatre by-law, Cr. Morris's notice of motion had been considered by the committee, which could not see its way to recommend the Conncil to pass tho motion, and was considering the question of re-drafting the by-law. Tlie resport was adopted. The Electrical Lighting and Power Committee reported that no further legislation was necessary to authorise the Council to expend money out of a special loan of £5000, whioh might he raised under Section 9 of the City of Christchurch Electric Power and Loan Empowering Act, 1902, in investigating and obtaining expert opinions upon any proposal to supply the city with electrical energy, or as to the fitness of Lake Coleridge or any other lake, river, or stream, for use in providing the pdwer to produce such energy; but should the Council, haying obtained the requisite data, adopt a scheme involving the use of Lake Coleridge as a means of providing power, it would then bo necessary to obtain Parliamentary authority to -use the'lake. It had been decided, therefore, not to take any further stops in promoting the proposed amending Bill for the present.

The report was adopted. Tho General Water Supply Committee repotted that Messrs Scott Bros, had erected the pumping plant. The official test had been made, and proved very satisfactory. The pumgis had delivered 16 per cent* more water than tho contract requirements, and .the coke consumption was under fib per 1 h.p;. Twelve feet of witter h*<t heen pumped into the reservoir, which represented about 700,000 gallons. The reservoir contract had been completed; and tho work had been very well dope; excepting the outlet pipes under the embankment, which had been carelessly jointed, and some were found to leak when th© pressure was put on them* Apfpro-dmately 36 miles of pipes had been laid; there now remained only seven miles to complete the Central Ward. The Colombo street main was now being filled and tested. ; The report was adopted. Cr.. Cooper complained of the large increase in Fire Brigade exjp-ndituro since the Fire Board had assumed control. Not long ago councillors objected to the rise to £2000 per annum, but the estimates for the present year totalled £700 Q. To his mind that was a tremendous increase.

The Mayor, in reply, said that the brigade now consisted of permanent men, who were paid an average annual rate of £110. In addition, the Board had purchased two new motor engines during last year, and proposed to purchase another this year. The expenditure authorised -while he was a member of the Board! was neceeeary expenditure, and the hrigado now was more efficient than it had ever l>een. The great fire in Casbel street had demonstrated very clearly that a considerable improvement had to he made. Cγ. Horsley stated that the estimated expenditure last year was not reached by £2147, and that amount came into this year, and" reduced the amount requireH to £5500. The Council then went into committee.