CITY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19892, 1 April 1930, Page 7

CITY COUNCIL.

v 5 LAST NIGHT'S MEETING.

The Christchurch City Ooaueß met last night, when there were present: The Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer), Org. H. T. J. Thacker, F. R. Cooke, T. H. Butterfield, E>. G. Sullivan, M.P., A. E. Armstrong, W. Williamson, E. Parlane, J. Parlane, A- W. Beaven, M. E. Lyons, J. W. Beanland, and K H. Andrews. The financial statement gave the following particulars for the last two weeks:—General rate levied, £148,410 lis (id; collected, £140,919 Oa sd; outstanding, £7591 lis Id. Receipts since last statement amounted to £208,019 19s 4d. Accounts authorised for payment totalled £136,252 16s 4d. Abattoir Committee. The report of the Abattoir, Markets, and Reserves Committee stated: — When tenders were originally called for the erection of the Richmond Park pavilion the lowest received.was for the sum of £309, but as the total amount available for the erection of the building was considerably less than this amount, certain features were eliminated. Of the items the following are urgently required:—Lining walls and ceiling of s dressing-room and servery £34 lis; provision of sink, wastos, drain, and water supply £25: total £59 lis. As both of these works are considered to be necessary, the committee asks for authority to have the mentioned placed on next year's estimates. The Superintendent of Resorves reports that donations of plants and bulbs have been received from Mr Lawrence, of Avalon Btreet, Richmond, and from Mr W. Balch, of Warrington street, St. Albans. The committee has written to the two gentlemen mentioned expressing its appreciation of their gifts. The following trees, shrubs, and other plants are being grown at the nursery, and will be available for planting out this season: —Trees for Bottle Lake plantations: Pines 84,000, poplars 2000: total 36,000. For parks, reserves and river banks: Trees and shrubs 2300, herbaceous perennials 700, annuals, biennials, and bedding plants D 250: total 12,250. This does sot include plants that are being raised and grown on for next year, nor does it include the annuals and bedding plants that were raised in the nursery and planted out last year. The report was adopted. By-laws and Finance. The By-laws, Finance, and Departmental Committee reported:— The committee has given very careful consideration as to what form of sign should be installed in front of the Civic Theatre, and recommends that the offer of Mr H. Jacobs to erect an electric sign reading "Civic" in two ways in two-feet letters, at a completed cost of £290 be accepted. As the erection of this sign will be of benefit to the lessee of the Ball for picture purposes, it has been arranged that he shall pay at the rate of £4 per month during the time he is occupying the Hall, to cover the cost of maintenance and interest on the outlay for the sign. The report was adopted. Electricity Department. The Electricity Department recommended the acceptance of the following tenders:— Supply and delivery of 4000 yds of .06 square inch underground cable and accessories, Lawrence and Hanson, £1964 4s 6d; 40 tons of coke for office heating, J; B. Pearson, £126. It was recommended that authority be given for the purchase of a lathe for use in the department's workshop at a cost of upwards of. £IOO, the final selection to be left in the hands of the engineer in consultation with Or. Beaven. The report was adopted. * Town Planning. The Town Planning Committee reported: — The question of the erection of residential shops in various parts of the City has caused the committee some concern, applications having been received for permission to erect combined shops and dwellings on - sections of land which have not the frontage or area required for residential buildingß. Prior to the passing of the Town Planning Act, permits for the erection of residential shops were issued provided the maximum amount of air space required by Section 299 of the Municipal Corporations Act had been provided. This, leads to an undesirable density of population, which may reach to as high as 200 persons to an acre. While in the outlying districts'it may be considered advisable to insist that all Bhop-dwellings shall have the minimum area and frontage required for a residential building, it might be considered a hardship to demand similar requirements in business areas. The committee is of opinion that the by-law of the City of Toronto, Canada, would meet the Council's requirements in this connexion, and it is therefore recommended that this by-law be.taken as a basis In framing regulations, under. the town planning scheme in reference to ahoprdwollings. The report was adopted. '•"" WorksCommtttas. Tho Works and Water Supply Committee reported:—Owing to the Increased rate at which applications for the installation of •water meters are .being received, the Council's stock will shortly be exhausted. As the Council has always had In hand a large supply of spare parts for Tylor meters it has been customary in the past to obtain supplies of that particular typo of meter, but it is considered that by calling for tenders for the supply of. say, 2000 meters, better prices could be obtained, and In the event of the Tylor meter not being the selected one, the spare parts of that meter in hand would not amount to sneh a targe cost proportionately. In the circumstances the eommitteo asks for authority to call lor tenders for the supply of _2OOO meters. The report was adopted.