CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 170, 22 December 1874, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, December 21.

The usual weekly meetiDg was held in the Council Chambers. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Cre Bishop, Ick, Farr, Raphael, Gapes, and Jones. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The town clerk reported receipts for the week.

The Registrar - General's report on the vital statistics of the various provinces for the month of November, was laid on the table.

The Mayor, referring to the vital statistics received by him from the Registrar-General, said that the death-rate for the month of November had been 1.75 in proportion to ICOO of population, and in Dunedin 2.87. He had made it his duty to speak to Mr Parkinson, Burgeon at the hospital, and had learnt that the number of deaths in the hospital for that month was 6, so that, if that number was deducted from the death rate, it would be found that, instead of being the second highest in the ra'e of mortality throughout the co'ony, it would show less than either Dunedin or Auckland and be about equal with Nelson and Wellington. He thought these facts should go before the public. He had also learnt that the hospitals in Auckland and Hokitika were outside the boundaries of those boroughs. Cr Farr would suggest that the RegistrarGeneral be again written to, asking that the Christchurch Hospital might be placed outside the borough with vital returns.

It was determined that this should be done.

The surveyor reported : 1. "The only streets taken over by the Council are four in number, viz—ln the northeast quarter: Taylor's lane, 16ft wide ; Moa place, 33ft ; and New street, 33ft. In the south-east quarter : George street, 33ft wide. 2. " The enamelled plates for the street corners have arrived from England. 3. " I beg to lay before the Council accompanying specifications of the Lichfield street work."

On the motion of Cr Raphael, consideration of No 1 paragraph was postponed until next sitting.

With reference to No 2 paragraph, it was decided to fix the plates at the corners of the street"; as soon as practicable. The specification alluded to in No 8 paragraph was approved, and it was resolved, on the motion of Cr Gapes, to call for tenders for this work.

A letter was read from the Provincial Secretary, enclosing letter from the Commissioner of Police with reference to the proclamation of footpaths within and in the vicinity of the city, and requesting to be informed which footpaths the Council desired to have proclaimed. The town clerk was instructed to reply that the Council did not think it necessary to have the footpaths within the city proclaimed, and to mention that some of the paths referred to in the Commissioner's letter were outside the jurisdiction of the Council.

A letter was read from the Lyttelton Borough Council in reply, stating they had no control over the wharves |in that town, and were therefore unable to give the information asked for in the letter from Wellington. This reply was in answer to a letter forwarded by the town clerk, Wellington, to the Christchurch City Council, informing them that, being about to revise the rules relating to wharf charges, he desired a copy of the Lyttelton wharf charges for guidance. A letter was read from Mr B. W. C. D'Oyley, solicitor, Lyttelton, forwarding, for the information of the Council, advertisement cut from the London Times newspaper having reference to " Moule's patent earth closets," and giving his own experience in the success of earth cldsets for general use.

It was resolved that a reply, expressing the thanks of the Council, be forwarded to Mr D'Oyley, and that his letter be referred to the sanitary committee. A letter was read from the chairman of the East Christchurch school committee, calling attention to the bad state of the side channel and footpath in Barbadoes street and the neighbourhood of the South town belt.

The, chairman of the works committee stated that men had been put on to attend to the work.

A letter was read from Mr Wm, Richards, asking permission to erect a barber's pole over his premises, corner of High and Lichfield streets.

Permission granted under the supervision of the surveyor. A letter was read from Mr J. McCardell, St Asaph street, complaining of neighbours making a practice of emptying offensive matter on a piece of ground adjoining his house, and asking that the inspector of nuisances might be instructed to take cognizance of the practice. The town clerk stated that this matter would be found referred to in the inspector's; report. A letter was read from S. S. Brighting r fish hawker, stating that he had to maintain a family of eight by the sale of fist, and, though a ratepayer, had been compelled to close his shop, and asking to be allowed to stand in the streets for ten minutes at a time to serve customers, when he would move on. Cr Ick said that the particulars of this case had been submitted to him. It was a great convenience to the citizens to know where they could obtain fish when they were in the market, and he thought, under all the circumstances, it was rather a hardship on the man. He thought there would be no harm in complying with the request. Cr Parr had also heard something about this matter and would endorse Cr Ick's remarks.

Crs Raphael and Gapes wonld like to see the applicant have half-au-hour to stand at each place. His Worship said that among other persons a lady had spoken to him of the convenience of knowing where to obtain fresh fish.

Cr Bishop thought by giving this permission the Council was only stultifying itself. The writer of the letter had spoken to him, and when he (Cr Bishop) had asked the man why he did not take a shop, he (Brighting) told him he had been hunted out of one. Subsequently he (Cr Bishop) had made further enquiries on this subject, and had learnt that it was not the fresh fish that was takeu exception to, but the dried fish which the man also sold.

Cr Jones did not think the Council had the power to allow any man to stand opposite a shop to clean fish for ten minutes at a time. He only knew that if it were done; opposite to his shop he would object to it.

A resolution moved by Cr Raphael, " That the Commissioner of Police be written to, Stating the Council have no objection to Brighting being permitted to stand for ten or fifteen minutes at a time in one place for the sale offish," was agreed to. A report was read from the rate collector on two applications for the remission of rates on the ground of poverty, recommending the remission in one instance, and reporting unfavorably in the other. The first application was acceded to, and the second disallowed, Cr Farr moved—" That a further sum of £l3 7s be voted,by this Council to defray an excess of expense incurred by the fire bri.grade.on the account of the late torchlight procession." Cr Raphael seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Cr Gapes moved—" That the town clerk be instructed to offer the sum of £5 reward to any one who will give such information as will lead to the conviction of any person destroying the fence at the East town belt, and any other property belonging to the Council." Cr Jck seconded the motion, and thought it was high time that steps should be taken to stop this and other larrikin-like work of breaking lamps, &c, which had been going on for some time.

Crs Farr and Jones supported the resolution, which was carried. In reply to Cr Raphael, Cr Bishop said that the number of men employed in sweeping the QhannelS of the city had not been reduced.. .„.

Various'works throughout the city were brought under the notice of the works committee, and noted. The report of the inspector of nuisances was read. One part (of which MrMcCardell. had complained) was referred back for further attention, in "conjunction with the sanitary commiitee, and the remainder approved. Some discussion here ensued on the advisability of giving the inspector of nuisances assistance to make a house inspection for sanitary purposes. The letter adjourned for consideration from the Auckland City Council, stating their intention of applying to the Assembly for an Act to supply that city with gas, the powers tojbe general and apply to all corporate towns, and asking the co-opsration of the Christchurch' City Council was brought up, and consideration deferred for a week. The Mayor would like to aslc the chairman of the sanitary committee how long it would be before they could bring up their report on the sandhills reserve, and whether some temporary means could not be taken" at once, by opening the new pits, placing chloride of lime in them and then closely covering them in again. He would be glad to give the committee every assistance, and thought that taking some immediate action would be satisfactory to the residents in that neighbourhood and.to the public generally. Cr Farr felt that when the artesian well was sunk at the reserve it would considerably abate one nuisance, aB the carts could be washed before returning to town. He would, be very glad of the Mayor's assistance. Cr Jones approved of some temporary measures being taken, but thought that steps *\f a. pArmarmnt nature could not be taken until the essays, called for by the ex- Mayor, were received,.and approved or rejected. Cr Ick thought the Council should take no notice of the essays for which Cr Hart was going to give £SO and £lO. They ;could hardly expect gentlemen of ability to take any trouble for such a paltry sum, and it was his opinion fiat the subject was one of such great importance that the Council &hould vote a sum of from £l5O to £2OO for the best essay on this subject. Cr Farr would like to see the citizens of Christchurch, who were agitating in sanitary matters, send in suggestions to the sanitary committee, which might prove of very great value.

Cr Jones movpd—" That the sanitary committee be empowered to make temporary arrangements with the scavengering contractor in reference to the present contract for the conveyance _of night soil from the city to the reserves." Cr, Ick seconded the motion, which was agreed to. - Cr Raphael gave notice of the following motion:—."That a.sum of money be given by this Council as a premium for the best essay, on-the subject ' How to deodorise the nightsoil, and. otherwise improve the sanitary condition of the city.' It was resolved that the. Mayor continue to act as chairman of the finance committee. In reply to Cr Bishop, The town clerk stated that the Hackney Carriage. Byelaws would not come into operation; until sanctioned by the Superintendent It was resolved that the offices of the Council be closed from noon on Thursday next until the following Monday. The Council then adjourned.