CHRISTCHURCH MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1007, 5 July 1862, Page 4

CHRISTCHURCH MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.

Friday, June 27. A special meeting was held on the above evening, to consider, a request of the Provincial Government to allow Oxford Terrace to be temporarily closed. After some discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Wilson seconded by Mr. Anderson, "That, in exercise of the authority vested in this Council, and in compliance with the request of the Provincial Government, the thoroughfare along Oxford terrace, from Montreal street to Cashel street, be stopped during the execution of the work now being carried on there by the Provincial Government, and that the Provincial Secretary be informed that, looking to the public inconvenience which this stoppage will occasion, the Council trusts that the Government will cause the street to be opened as speedily as possible." The Council then adjourned till Tuesday, July 6. Several letters were read; amongst others, one from the Christchurch Boating Club, requesting permission to erect a boat-house on the banks of the Avon; one from the Provincial Secretary, stating that the rural land selected by the Corporation for an endowment had been reserved; another from the same gentleman, stating that Oxford, terrace should be re-opened as soon as possible: one from Mr. Hichens,. recommending carbonic acid to be used as a disinfecting agent.. (The Clerk was requested to acknowledge the last named letter with thanks); one from Mr. Bragg, of Wellington, an application for the office of town surveyor; and one from Mr. Raphael, offering to contract for the lighting of the town by the newest form of kerosine. After some financial business had been disposed of, a voluminous report of the Sanitary Commission was read. It commences with a review of the natural and artificial causes in operation to render the city unhealthy; the first of which, it says is inefficient drainage, caused by filling up natural gullies, thus shutting up the water on low lying lands, where ponds are formed of the water which would otherwise flow into one of the two rivers in the locality. In this way, it is said, hotbeds of fever and other infectious diseases are originated. The use of unwholesome water is set down as only of second importance in the generation of disease. The river water, though of questionable purity, is considered more desirable than water drawn from the ordinary wells sunk into beds of decaying vegetable matter,' and- frequently found in close proximity to cess-pools, whose contents pollute the surrounding soil and form centres of disease by their noxious exhalations. The accumulati6n of animal and vegetable refuse; and emptying slops around dwellings, are pointed out as completing on the surface the nuisance which the cess-pools create beneath the soil. There are some excellent remarks on the general physical condition of newly-arrived immigrants, and the peculiaily unfavorable site of the present immigrants' barracks, with a recommendation that barracks should be erected in a more healthy and cheerful locality. The report then points out the remedies which seem most applicable. On the subject of drainage, whilst admitting the superiority of underground sewers, and believing that such a system must be ultimately adopted when the city becomes thickly populated, the commissioners recommend for the present that the streets be formed, gullies filled, up, and stonecoated channels formed at the sides of the streets to carry off rain water, from the town to the rivers. The medical men on the commission say " that the well-water of Christchurch is bad especially during the summer months, can be fully proved. We ourselves believe it to be unfit for the cooking and drinking purposes of a household. We recommend that immediate attention be paid to procuring a sufficient supply of really good water, either from a distance or from Artesian wells." The commission generally endorse the latter proposition of boring through the silt and underlying strata, with a view to ascertain whether water can thus be obtained in sufficient quantity and of good quality. They lay it down as indispensible that the present system of cess-pools should be put a stop to at once; and in its place recommend the use of moveable watertight boxes, coated with coal tar, for the reception of night soil, which should be weekly or fortnightly emptied by nightmen. The commission acknowledge they find a difficulty in correcting the evil resulting from the accumulation of slops and refuse in yards or streets; they can only suggest the adoption of watertight receptacles, and that they should be periodically emptied of their contents. In conclusion they strongly recommend that every street, including the Town Belt, be formed and metalled immediately, as being absolutely necessary to secure even ordinary health. It was arranged that the report, and the evidence taken by the Commission should be considered at the next meeting. The Town Surveyor submitted plans and specifications for the formation of Hereford street; and recommended that all kerbs be in future formed of stone instead of wood, being more durable, and in ' the end cheaper. ' The plans, &c v for forming Hereford street were agreed to.

There was some discussion upon a motion to clear the creek in Salisbury street; some of the members considered the council had no right to interfere with it as it was private property; others considered it was a natural drainage outfall, and that the public had a right to it so far as it drained their streets. As there was not sufficient evidence on the subject before the Council; at the suggestion of the chairman the motion was withdrawn. ■ Permission was given to the Christchurch Boating Glub to erect aboat-house, subject to the approval of the Town Surveyor, and liable to be removed by the Council, without compensation. The Surveyor was instructed to' form and metal Lichfield street from Oxford terrace to the Terry roadto carry off the surf ace water; and to close the street until the work was completed. ( It was agreed to remove the spikes from the chains linking the posts along Cathedral square. There was an important discussion on a, motion by Mr. Wilson to light the city by means of 20 lamps;

and an amendment, moved by Mr. Barnard, was carried, —that tenders should be invited for erecting lamps on all the bridges. The Council then adjourned to Monday next.