CITY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18547, 24 November 1925, Page 15

CITY COUNCIL.

LAST NIGHT'S MEETING.

The Christchurch Citv- Council met last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) and Crs. A. JlcKollar, C. P. Agar, J. K. Du Feu, E. H. Andrews, O. W. B. Anderson, C. T. Aschman, a'. D. Ford, T. H. Butterfield, F. R. Cooke. E. McC'ombs, C. Carr, D. G. Sulttvan, M.P., A. F. Carey, "VS". J. Sim, "W. E. Leadley. The financial statement showed the general rate levied to be £124.618 lis 6d. collected £19,586 10s Id, leaving £105,032 Is 5d outstanding. Broken Footpaths. A petition was received from 16 ratepayers and residents of Mayfield avenue, St. Albans, drawing attention to the state of disrepair of the footpaths and channels of St. Albans generally and Mayfield avenue in particular. It was stated that the cracks and breaks in the channels had the effect of stopping debris from having a clear run. with the result that it banked up, and on a warm day gave rise to a bad smell. Respecting footpaths, it was slated that the system of placing a few shovels of large screenings on tho broken part was a bad method of carrying, out repairs. The matter was referred ot the Works Committee. Claims Bepndlated.

Messrs Raymond, Stringer, Hamilton, and Donnelly wrote claiming £53 16s on account of personal injuries recently suffered by T. E. Boyie when he came into contact with a cable stretched from a willow tree on tho river bank in Oxford terrace to a road roller.

It was reported that the Reserves Comntittee had already informed the writers that the Council did not admit any liability in the. matter. The accident happened on the morning of July 24th. the driver of a pantechnicon having his leg hurt through coming into contact with a wire rope. A letter was received from Slater, Sargent, and Dale, claiming on behalf of T. Cunningham, without prejudice, £l2 10s. half the value of two cows alleged to have been poisoned at tho Spreydon shingle pit, which is under lease by the Council to the claimant. The letter stated that unless the claim was settled by Thursday legal action would be taken. It was reported that the Council had laid poison for rats, but that it had no effect after being-exposed for 24 hours. One cow died before (he poison was laid, and the other cow died three weeks after the date of laying the poison. By-laws and Finanea. The By-laws and Finance Committee reported that an application had been received for permission to screen pictures in the Washington Hall, Addington. Alterations had been made to comply with the regulations, but the Chief City Inspector did not consider.the operating box to be sufficiently fire-proof, and the committee asked for the Council's ruling in the matter. The committee recommended that a grant of £25 be made to the City Council employoes' picnic fund. A letter was also received from the Minister of Internal Affairs with refertnee to tho administration of regulations controlling the storage and use of cinematograph films, Btating that the position in regard to these regulations was much tho same as in the case of regulations dealing with explosives, and that owing to the technical nature of the inspection work in both, cases, and also to the limited number of licenses in each town, it was- considered desirable that, the administration thereof should be carried out by the Department's expert officers. It was decided that -no license be issued for the Washington Hall. The report was adopted. Baths Committee. The Baths Committee reported that a suggestion had been made that tho mixed bathing hours could, with advantage, be extended and in order to give the suggestion a trial it had been decided .to extend tho time until 8.45 p.m. on Tuesdays, This arrangement wo#ld give a mixed bathing period from 5 p.m. until closjng time. At times boys attended the mixed bathing sessions in excessive' numbers, and the - custodian, had been instructed to exercise his discretion )n the matter of excluding boys at the hours set aside for mixed batiing. The committee had made arrangements for the holdiDg of the school-children's annual carnival. The report was adopted. Abattoir and Reserves. The Abattoir and Reserves Committee reported that the 'old, Papanui Library site had been advertised, for sale by public tender, the only tender received being that of the Loyal Papanui Lodge for £225 10s. The committee recommended that this offer be accepted. The Elmwood Tennis Club had submitted a proposed lay-out of tennis courts at the eastern end of Elmwood Park, and the committee recommended that space be allocated the club for eight courts. Richmond Park had been sown down- with fine grass seed, and arrangements were being made for the installation of a children's sand-pit near the main entrance. All general work at Elmwood Park was well forward, and the park was in good order. Mrs Alice Flaus had donated a seat for this park. In the City reserves air the general work was up-to-date. The unemployed gang had heen employed during the last -week taking out docks and other noxious weeds from areas recently sown down on the riverbanks. The committee reported having received an offer of. £2O for the installation of further seats on the river-bank, and the donor asked if the Council would make a similar donation. The committee recommended that the anonymous gift be accepted with thanks, and that the amount bo subsidised at the rate of 10s in the £. The report was adopted.

Abattoir Report. lUe abattoir manager reported that stock slaughtered and condemned at abattoirs during the month of October, 1924 and 1925: Slaughtered. Condemned. 3924. li>2s. 1924. 1925. Cattle 1547 1-189 31 20 Sheep ..• 9617 7735 26 8 Lambs ~., 514 408 Pies .. 1286 925 15 13 Calves ~., 1743 1043 62 31 The report was adopted. Works and Sanitary Report. The Works and Sanitary Committee reported that negotiations had been proceedine with the owners of properties on the west side of Rossall street, between Office road and Aikman's road, for the acquisition of the necessary land to widen Rossall street at this point. One owner asked £3 per foot and the others £2 per..foot, besides Which they expected the Council to erect somewhat expensive fences for them. A tentative offer of £1 per foot and an allowance of £ls per chain for fencing was made to them, but was refused in every case. As this was the only portion of Rossall street on that side remaining to be widened, the committee had to recommend that proceedings be instituted to take the land under the Public Works Act. It was recommended that the sum of £I6OO be authorised for the purchase of a fiveton petrol lorry, such amount including the price of a trailer, should it be decided to acquire one for the transport of metal from the Halswell quarries. The report was adopted. Electricity Committee. The Electricity Committee reported having considered a lengthy report, with plan attached, showing existing cables and proposed provision for future cables, in the vicinity of Armagh street power-house. The capacity of the footpath had been reached for the present method, and some more effective measures Were now re<iV lred to provide for present requirements and future growth. The committee recommended that approval be given for the permanent provision of twenty-four 4-inch fibro ducts, with the neceßsarr manholes, between Manchester street and Armagh street, at a cost of £5500, .this being part of the natural extension of the system made necessary increase of I electrical load. J The report was adopted. |