CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2252, 21 June 1881, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the Oi!y Council was held last night. Present—The Mayor and Or. Ayers, King, Bishop, Vincent, Taylor, King, Oherrill, Cuff, England, Thomson, Treleavan, Hulbert, Lambert, and Taylor. The Mayor reported that the receipts for the fourteen days ending the 18th inst. amounted to £OO2 Is 2d ; the bills paid by (he works committee amounted to £7B 2s sd, and bills to be paid £lsl 7s. The receipts from the suspense account amounted to £3O 19a 4d, and from drainage rate account £llO 10a 4d.

The Mayor called attention to the necessity for giving effect to the standard survey of the city. If the necessary steps were taken a great deal of trouble would bo saved. Os. Taylor said he intended to move in the matter at a later stage of the proceedings.

The Mayor, who called attention to the fact that more power was wanted with reference to making crossings over footpaths to private premises, hoped the matter would be taken into consideration.

A letter was read from Mr Kiddey, asking permission to erect a horse trough in front of his hotel, the Star and Garter. Granted.

A letter was read from Mr Alfred Poster, enclosing a petition from owners of property in Tuam street, Oxford terrace east, asking that the street might bo made, and asking the Council to receive a deputation on the subject. The deputation complained that the street was almost impassable for females, while there was also groat danger of an outbreak of disease through bad drainage. Consideration of the matter was postponed. A letter was read from the secretary of the Ohristohuroh District Drainage Board, forwarding a copy of a resolution delegating the powers of the Board as Local Board of Health to the City Council. A letter was also road from the secretary of the Drainage Board, saying that the Board were only taking the side-channel sewage to the river as formerly, but [that so soon as the works of the Drainage Board wore sufficiently advanced the sewage now going to the river would go to the pumping station, A letter from the same body stated that the Board proposed to proceed with the proposed amended Drainage Board Bill, but would inform the Government that they were agreeable to the excision of all the clauses bearing on the carriage of excreta in the sowers.

Prom the secretary of the Local Board of Health, enclosing letter from Dr. Ned will. The writer brought under the notice of the Council the serious nuisance which arises from neglect to empty closet pans on premises where rates were in arrears. The Town Clerk said the matter had been attended to.

The secretary of the Postal and Telegraph Departments, enclosing account for £lO for maintenance of a private wire. It was resolved to pay the amount, A letter was read from the authorities of Christ’s College, asking that the kerbing and channelling of the street opposite the College ground might be completed. The matter was referred to the works committee for a report. The city surveyor reported as follows : 1. The flushing of the channels has been discontinued for the winter season, and I am using the horses and men for other purposes, such as repairing roads and footpaths, and I am very glad to have this extra assistance just now, as I have a good bit of work on hand. 2. In consequence of the streets being flooded at the junction of Manchester and Tnam streets during the storm last Saturday week, I have, by instructions of the works committee, written to the Drainage Board’s engineer to know whether anything is going to be done in that locality to relieve the surface drainage, and when. 3. The alterations in connection with the footpath at the end of the Government Buildings, will be finished in a few days. 4. The channelling on Cambridge terrace, between Cashel street and Montreal street, is now being laid. 5. A few days ago a report was shown me from the city surveyor of Sydney to the mayor and aldermen of that city, which stated that the macadamised roads of Sydney cost for maintenance Is 3d per superficial yard per annum, and as it occurred to me that I should like to be able to compare the cost of maintenance of the macadamised roads in Christchurch with the Sydney expenditure, I searched carefully through the record of expenses for the last five years, and I find the following results Quantity and cost of stone for each year—--1876, 8245 cubic yards, £1257 12s 6d; 1877, 8744 cubic yards, £4353; 1878, 4021 cubic yards, £2094 15s; 1879, 5278 cubic yards, £2802 7s; 1880, 3566 cubic yards, £IB3B Bs9d; total number of yards, 29,854; total cost, £15,346 3s 3d. Cost of carting and spreading 29,854 cubic yards at 2s, £2985 4s; cost of rolling, including blinding for five years, £1678; total coat for five years, £20,009 7s 3d. The above expenditure shows an average cost of £4OOO per annum, which sum, divided by the number of superficial yards macadamized, gives the cost as sevenpence per superficial yard per annum, and consequently compares very favorably with the cost of Sydney roads. 6. The contract for the supply of 180 superficial yards of pitching was given to Mr Hale, of Halswell.

7. A letter from Mr MoSweeney is annexed hereto, in which the writer requests to have William street footpaths asphalted, but the expense of the asphalt was not, as he supposes, included in the amounts paid by the residents. It was resolved to inform Mr MoS weeny that asphalting was not charged for in the formation of the street. The report was adopted as a whole. A sub-committee reported that tenders had been accepted for the removal of dust end refuse matter. The report was approved. Or, Vincent ashed whether the Mayor had forwarded the resolution passed at the meeting held last week with reference to the Drainage Board, as an expression of the opinion of a majority of the ratepayers. The Mayor said he had simply forwarded it as an expression of the opinion of the meeting. A deputation from the directors of the Tramway Company waited on the Council to place before them their views with reference to a proposed by-law affecting the tramways. Mr Evans Brown said they did not object to any by-laws that were consonant with the efficient working of the tramways to the convenience of the public. Their object now was to show that the proposed by-law was one which it was impossible for them to work under. He believed the Council did not desire to interfere with the traffic in any way, while the bond of concession gave them complete control of the traffic in every respect. For the past fifteen months there had never been a complaint from the City Council, nor had any order been received from that body. The proposed bylaw conflicted with the interests of the public and with the by-laws made by the Governor. If the object was revenue simply the company would be willing rather to arrange to pay a further sum than to submit to regulations that would involve a great deal of trouble. The proposed by-law proposed that every person employed by the company must be a proper person in the eyes of the Council. This they did not see how they could carry out. No person could be employed without the consent of the Council, and no matter what the present Council might do their successors might stop the tram cars from running. With reference to No. 2 bylaw they had not been officially informed what the standing places were, but no complaints had been received with reference to the railway station stand. The stand in Cathedral tquare, however, was inadequate to the traffic, and would be still more so when the Addington and Ferry road lines were running. They would like to come to some arrangement by which they could be relieved of the necessity of shunting or standing in the square. If the Council could not deal with the matter the Government might bo asked to relievo their disability. Ho thought it would bo agreed that sufficient provision was made for the public safety, and for the convenience of the public, but the company would be very willing to confer with the Council to alter their by-laws if necessary. It might bo well for the Council to consider the whole of the by-laws that had been passed by the Governor and to accept or reject them as they thought proper. As a matter of fact the company wore entitled to charge one shilling where they were only charging twopence halfpenny, and in other respects they were doing all in their power for the convenience of the public. The proposed by-laws would be impracticable and vexatious,

and would hamper the company to a very considerable extent. Or. Hulbert thought they should bo furnished with the actual objections to the by-laws, Mr O. W. Turner said the by-law limiting the number of passengers could not be carried out, however much the company might desire to do so. There was no necessity for the by-law regarding the standing places. It had been said that the passing of the by-laws was to bring the tramways under the direct control of the City Council. Under them it was said that, in the event of an employe of the company being lined for carrying a passenger in excess of the number laid down, the concession to the company could bo withdrawn by the Council, That was the opinion of two leading lawyers in this city,but ho was convinced that it could never have been the opinion of the Council, He, therefore, asked them to hesitate before they passed such a by-law. He would be very glad, indeed, if the matter of the standing places could bo settled at once, go as to do away with the existing danger to women and children. There had been no act on the part of the Tramway Company to call for the passing of by-laws at the proient time, and he hoped the Council would pause before doing so. Cr, Cberrill was of opinion that a by-law of a moderate character was wanted. The penalty referred to by Mr Turner, namely, that of stopping the tram cars, was such a heavy one that it was virtually null and void, and the public would no more hear of the tram cars being stopped that they would allow the Lyttelton tunnel to be blocked up. Or, Oherrill acked if it could be arranged to have the line carried round the G-odioy statue whether the views of the company would be met ?

Mr Brown said the company would rather stick to their original agreement and go close to the footpath. They had been forced into the square by the City Council. There were 213 trams a day now, and when the Addington lino was opened there would be 400, and there was a daily liability to accident. The Hon. J. X. Peacock had come to qncslion the expediency of the Council making any by-laws at all. It would be in their power to make by-laws at any future time if it was found that the company was not working the line satisfactorily. Cr. Hulbert said that with reference to overcrowding, the by-law was made for the protection of the company as well as the public. It was said that the employes of the company had no. power to eject persons who had tickets for the car in cases of overcrowding ; but if the by-law wore passed a policeman would have power to do so. Mr Turner said the guards had been given absolute control of the number of passengers, and had power, under the by-laws sanctioned by the Governor, to eject any number in excess of the proper complement. The Hob. J. T. Peacock said they were working under the some Act on the railways, but the latter were not restricted as to the number of passengers they carried. In reply to Or. Thomson, Mr Brown said that the Government Inspector visited the shed every month and [passed every car and every engine. They paid him £2 per month. The deputation then withdrew, after thanking the Council. Cr. puff moved, on notice—“ That the resolution of the 23rd of May last, suggesting the new tramway'laws, be rescinded.” The Council had, no doubt, heard bettor arguments on the matter than ho could bring forward. He did not see why the people of Christchurch should be the first to commence to make unnecessary laws in connection with the tramways. The by-laws in existence provided for everything, and so long as the company carried on their business in a proper manner, he did not see why they should be interfered with.

Or. King seconded the motion. If the Council made .'prospective by-laws, why did not they make prospective concessions to the company, and make better provision for the traffic in Cathedral square. Cr. Oherrill moved as an amendment—■ " That the matter be referred back to the bylaw committee for re-consideration.” The information they had received from the Tramway Company was of rather a serious nature. When he had written to the papers ho did not intend to intimate that there was anything in the by-laws that did not appear on the surface, but a now light had been thrown on the matter by what Mr Turner had now said. He thought the best thing would bo to refer the by-law back to the by-law committee for re-consideration, especially in the light that had just been thrown ou the matter. He had not seen the seventy-two by-laws in existence until they wore put in his hands a few minutes ago, Cr. Ayers seconded the amendment, and hoped it would be carried, as the matter was one that should be carefu’ly considered. After some discussion the amendment was withdrawn. Or. Cuff then asked that his motion might be withdrawn, in order that the matter might be thoroughly gone into. It was agreed that the motion should be withdrawn. Or. Oherrill, by permission, moved—“ That the by-laws be referred to the committee for the-’r further consideration.” Or. Ayers seconded the motion. Or. Halbert stated that in Adelaide and Dunedin it was sought to bring tramways under the control of the public as much as possible. Or. Ayers thought the beet place for a stand would be near the footpath by the Cathedral, The Mayor said he did not know of the existence of the tramway by-laws until ket week. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. It was resolved to rsk one or two of the Tramway Company’s directors to meet the committee, as by that course a good deal of time would be saved.

Cr. Lambert moved —" That the necessary steps be taken to get the datum stones of the standard survey of Christchurch authorised by a Bill to be introduced into Parliament this session.” Cr. Oherrill seconded the motion. After considerable discussion it was resolved that further consideration of the matter should be postponed for a fortnight. Or. Bishop moved—“ That Or. Thomson be associated with the by-law committee for the consideration of the tramway by-law.” Or. Hulbert seconded the motion, which was carried.

It was resolved that the petition from residents of Queen street should be referred to the works committee.

Or. King said he saw that the Drainage Board were going to increase the rates, and that the Sydenham people objected to it. Property there, however, was rated lower than in Christchurch, and if the Sydenham people gained their point it would be to the detriment of Christchurch. Ho intended to move in the matter at the next meeting. A number of drivers’ ar d owners’ licenses were granted. One driver's license was cancelled. i The Council then wont into committee.