CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1354, 2 February 1865, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

Wednesday, February 1. A special meeting of the Council was held yesterihv at 7 p m., for the purpose of considering the Sect of the City drainage, an alteration in the nlan recommended by the committee appointed to report upon it having been suggested by the City Surveyor. Owing to the lateness of the hour at which the matter came on for consideration at the usual weekly meeting, it was decided that a special evening should be set apart for the purpose of discussing the estimates of the two systems. The following members were present:—Messrs. Luck, (chairman), C. W. Bishop, E. B. Bishop, Farr, and Burnell. * .... The minutes of the last meeting having been read »nd confirmed, The Chairman stated that the deputation apnointed to wait upon his Honor the Superintendent, on the question of finance, had done so at 1 p.m., yesterday. They had been most courteously received, and bad been assured that the Government had the will, but not the ability, to t»y over to the Council the money due to them. At the present moment, the Government were not more than in a position to pay ordinary liabilities. They had an arrangement with the Bank to allow them to draw to a certain extent. Now, if the Government handed over to the City Council the sum they wished them to do, that amount would be exceeded. The Government, however, admitted the claim of the Council, and undertook to furnish them with a letter to the Bauk which might perhaps assist them in obtaining the amount necessary to enable them to carry out their operations. The chairman added that the subject had been discussed in all its bearings, but the Council was unable to obtain from the Government any more definite answer than ths one he had now announced to the Couucil. A letter from the Council to the late Chairman was ordered to be inserted in the minutes, expressive of their regret at his resignation, and of the gratitude they felt for his kiud and able assistanceat all times, and of the sense they entertained of his courteous'demeanour, even when differing in opinion from his colleagues. The question of the different _ systems of draiuage then came on for consideration. It appears that, by the committee's report, the cost of public drains paid by the Council out of the rates, but exclusive of the traps, gratings, &c., with house drains to communicate with the main drain,would be £Sl9O, the cost to each householder being £11. By draining according to the plan suggested by the City Surveyor, the cost for draining two blocks by means of mains and sub'mains would be £396, with a cost to each householder of £6 10s. The cost of draining two blocks', according to the committee's report, would be £2186. with a cost to each householder of £11. A saving of £410s to the householder would thus be effected. In addition to this advantage, the plan suggested avoids the expense of having a main in each street which runs north and south.

Mr. C. W. Bishop supported the system recommended by the Committee. The subject had been amply discussed, and had received the sanction of persons fully qualified to form an opinion. It was a waste of time to entertain any further consideration,on the matter. The Ordinance was defective, and "it was impossible for the Council, with their present powers, to adopt imperatively the second system; they must wait for further powers. He thought that they could not do better than fall back upon the system of the committee. All that the Council, in his opinion, had to do was to order pipes. Mr. Burnell was strongly in favour of system No. 2; the great object was to get the pipes. Mr. Farf greatly preferred system No. 2, but thought that, in the present position of affairs, it was scarcely possible to adopt it. The discussion resulted in the adoption of the system recommended in the report of the committee. Mr. C. W. Bishop should oppose very strongly any proposal-ta..raise money by loan; unless the power of borrowing could be extended over a" Considerable period of time. He thought that it would be unjust to the present generation to borrow money under the existing Ordinance, unless the repayment was spread over a period of, say, twenty years. The fairest way to commence the work would be to raise £3000, by means of a rate of sixpence in the pound. He hoped that the rate would be levied, and that the City Surveyor would be authorized to advertise for pipes to the amount of £2000. When the Provincial Council met, the City Council could apply for fresh powers, to enable them to compel the public to drain from the backs of their houses. It was high time to commence the work, and this was the best com B men cement which could be made. Mr. Burnell cordially agreed with Mr. Bishop— a sixpenny rate would be the fairest way of commencing the work. , Mr. E. B. Bishop took the same view of the subject. He very much objected to borrowing money for the purposes of drainage. Melbourne, a vast city, had no drainage, and he could not see why we, with merely a village population, should incur such an outlay. He did not believe that Christchurch was so unhealthy as people asserted ; on the contrary, he thought that it was a very healthy place. . Mr. Farr should prefer borrowing, if it could be done; bat if the Council were not able to do so, they must content themselves with the sixpenny rate. The Chairman thought that the best plan would be to make the best terms they could with Mr. Sprott, and accept his proposal. He (Mr. L.) was sure that, in the long run, it would be much more advantageous to contract with Mr. Sprott than to advertise for tenders. They could get the pipes both better and cheaper in England, than from either Auckland or Sydney. Mr. Sprott, senior s, works were the finest in the world, and he (Mr. L.) was sure that the Council would derive the extra-advan-tage of dealing with a gentleman who would extend that consideration in the matter of payment towards them' which they could not expect from other parties. The proposition of Mr. C. W. Bishop, that a rate of 6d in the £1 should be levied, in order to commence the work of draining certain portions of the city, was put and carried. A comparison of prices, freights, &c. t showed that the balance of advantage was in favour of obtaining the pipes from the home market. There being no further business to be transacted, the Council adjourned until Monday next, at the usual hour.