CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 79, 1 September 1874, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

* Monday, August 31. The usual weekly meeting was held in the Council Chambers. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Bishop, Ick, Gapes, Jones, Hobbs, and Farr. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The town clerk reported the receipts for the week to be as follows From rate collector, account general city rates, 1874, £2ll 8s; Waimakariri do, £35 4s 8d; fines from Resident Magistrate’s Court, £5 ss; carrier’s license, 15s; rent of market place, 7s. Total receipts, £252 19s Bd. Drainage account, Dr £B7O 11s lOd; drainage rate account, Cr £843 17s 3d. Overdraft at Bank on general account, £645 3s. Wages, &c., to be paid on general account, £497 Is Bd, Wages, &c, on drainage account, £l9 ss. Cr Ick referred to the slow manner in which the rates were being collected. He thought that this matter ought to receive the earnest attention of the Council, or his Worship would find himself on the wrong side of the ledger when his term of office had expired, o± Tfishop felt that the finance committee should give tnio matter their consideration. Cr Hobbs, as a member ot the finance committee, would be glad to report on the financial state of the Council if a meeting were called by the chairman of that committee, Cr Farr thought that the system adopted in getting in the rates was a very faulty one, and he considered the Council were a great deal to blame. A system should be adopted that would compel the payment of rates into the office. Cr Bishop desired to say that one thing the finance committee would no doubt do, would be to wait on the Government, and take steps to have the other instalment paid of the £3OOO. Cr Hobbs said that Mr Maude and Mr Jollie had promised Mr Lane and himself that the second instalment would be paid in three months after the date of the first payment. The Mayor considered it was wrong, with so much money outstanding, to have to pay such an overdraft as shown on that night’s sheet. Cr Farr—“ And we would have had no occasion to pay this, if we had received the money voted to us by the Provincial Council.” It was understood that some action would be taken by the Finance Committee, and the subject dropped. The Mayor saidjthat he had received, through the kindness of his Honor the Superintendent, the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Act, 1874, which would enable the Council to remedy the mistakes made in the Cab Bye-laws. It would be for the Council to consider the bye-law again, and then hand it to their solicitor Jto frame. He had also received the Christchurch Drainage Debenture Act, 1874, which would rectify a few little mistakes that had been made. Another Act which he had received, but did not know that it came within the jurisdiction of the Council, was an Act called the Employment of Females Act Amendment Act, 1873. All these Acts had passed both Houses, and he felt that the Council were very much indebted to the hon Mr Richardson, for the trouble taken by him in the Debentures Act, and also to his Honor the Superintendent, for his trouble in connection with the Cab Act. While on his feet, he would present to the Council in the name of Mr Andrew Duncan, his link towards the chain, which he (the Mayor) hoped to live to see a very long one. Mr Duncan had sent instructions from home to have the link manufactured with the present result. [Hear, hear.] He would also mention that it had been suggested to shingle Park terrace, but as the majority of the work was only formed ground it was not expedient that it should be shingled. Many of the residents on the terrace were desirous that grass should be laid down instead. Mr Robinson told him he would give £lO towards that object, and the other residents had also subscribed various amounts, the whole of the subscriptions amounting to £6O, and that sum would be sufficient to complete the work.

Cr Ick did not think the result would be satisfactory if the terrace were laid down in grass at the present season of the year.

After some further discussion it was resolved that the works committee be instructed to have the work done as suggested by the Mayor. The city surveyor reported as follows - “ 1. I have examined into the number of bricks on the ground at the new drainage works, and find the following :—ln the work up to the 25th August there are 26,080, and on the ground 73,685, making a total of 99,765. The total quantity required for the new drain will be with extras 131,600, so that 31,835 remain to be delivered. At the rate the work is now going on the whole job will be finished in about six weeks ; therefore it would be advisable not to delay ordering the bricks requisite to finish the work, as the contractors will require them within a month, “ 2. The plans for the North town belt and Lichfield street water supply, I hope to lay before the Council next Monday. “3. As I have now obtained the boards, I intend to commence the planking of Antigua street drain.” Cr Jones moved—“ That tenders be called for 85,000 bricks to be delivered where required, samples to be sent in by Saturday next, and tenders by Monday night.” Cr Parr seconded the motion, which was carried. The remainder of the report was approved as read. A circular was read from the town clerk of Launceston, Tasmania, asking for a copy of the yearly abstract of corporation accounts ; also area, population, length of streets, number of lands and houses assessed, and value of assessed property. The town clerk was instructed to forward the information asked for. A letter was read from Mr J. Blyth, Whateley road, requesting permission to erect a lamp over his door to be lighted with gas. Granted, under the supervision of the city surveyor. A letter was read from Mr T. Henley offering to rent the paddock contiguous to the drain, the property of the City Council, for six or twelve months. Offer declined at present, A letter was read from Captain Mitchell, of the Volunteer Fire Police, to his Worship the Mayor, submitting the rules of the corps for his approval, and requesting his assent to the same. The rules were unanimously approved of by the Council. The works committee reported as follows : “ With reference to the resolutions passed on the 24th inst respecting the supply of shingle, the works committee beg to report that having had an interview with the Secretary for Public Works with reference to being supplied from a pit on the South line, the committee think that, taking into consideration the expense of haulage and sidings, it would be inexpedient for the present to obtain shingle from such a source; particularly as an offer has been made to supply any quantity of an excellent kind, and screened, from a pit not far from Christchurch, at 2s 6d per yard ; and they recommend this offer to be accepted, and advertise for the carting of same. Under these circumstances it is suggested that Mr Packer’s offer for a site to deposit metal should be declined with thanks. “ The committee have to bring under the notice of the Council the desirability of obtaining a quarry at some place in the neighborhood of the Port Hills, which may be made accessible by a siding from the main line of rails. If such would be sanctioned by the Provincial Council, and if this could be accomplished, the advantages would be very great as the haulage would be but comparatively small, the supply unlimited and of far greater value than shingle. The committee beg further to mention that they have, in conjunction with the surveyor, made an inspection of our present quarry and the breaking machine. Of course there is any quantity of metal and of good quality (a sample is here produced). The committee, therefore, recommend that the machine should be thoroughly overhauled, cleansed, and put in working order, and ‘afterwards put to the test to ascertain definitely what it is capable of performing, before taking any further steps with reference to procuring another machine. “ E. B. Bishop, Chairman. “ C. T. Ick. “ T. Gapes.” The report was received, and it was resolved that it be considered in committee at the termination of the ordinary work. The fire brigade committee brought up the following report : “ The fire brigade committee beg to report that under the resolution of the Council, they visited several localities with a view of recommending a suitable site for a Fire Brigade Station in lieu of the one at present in the Market Place, and they recommend the Council to erect a station on the piece of ground on the north side of the Market Reserve fronting on Colombo-street.” The report was received and adopted. Cr Jones moved—“ That the surveyor be instructed to prepare plans for a Fire Brigade station, with the necessary offices ; to be built of brick, stone, or concrete.” Cr Farr seconded the resolution, which was agreed to. The weekly report of the inspector of nuisances was read and approved, one portion being referred to the sanitary committee, to take action as may be found necessary. Cr Jones mentioned that Jackson’s Creek was being filled up by some persons, and he thought the committee should take some action in this matter, Cr Gapes stated that he had been informed that in some houses there were two or three families living together, having only one fireplace to use among them. He thought the sanitary committee should look closely into all these cases, as if a fever were to break out no one could tell where it would end. Cr Bishop considered that no councillor should bring down general cases, and ought to have some specific case to bring to the Council before making these remarks. He was assured that if the sanitary committee were made aware of any such cases, they would be remedied at once if pointed out to the Government. Of this he had been assured by his Honor the Superintendent. The Mayor said he might here mention that by an Act of the General Assembly earth closets would have to be generally used after July, 1875. He thought that public attention should be called to this. After some further remarks it was resolved that t his should be done. It was resolved to call the attention of the Heathcote Road Board to some stagnant

water on the East Town Belt, referred to in the inspector’s report. A license to sell kerosene was granted to Mr G. Gaul, High street. The Council then resolved itself into committee.