CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 1925, 19 February 1867, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

The usual weekly meeting of the City Council was held yesterday evening at their offices, at 7 p.m. The following members were present: Messrs Wilson (chairman), Ruddenklau, Duncan, Tombs, Anderson, Hislop, Jameson, Calvert, and Thomson.

The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The balance at the bank to the credit of the Council, was stated to be £429 148 7d. The Town Clerk reported the receipt of the following suras : Collector of rates ... £lO6 13 6 Drainage 7 17 6 Inspector of scavenging 28 14 6 Licences 4 3 6 Rents—From Market Place 4 19 0 Total £152 8 0 The weekly pay-sheet was produced and ordered to be paid. The amount was about £l2.

Some other accounts were also ordered to be paid. A letter was read from Mr K. Wilson, drawing the attention of the Council to the necessity of forming a footpath and roadway in front of his property in Gloucester street. Some other gentlemen, as well as himself, were inconvenienced by the present condition of the land.

The matter of forming a footpath along the frontage of the property in question, was referred to the City Purveyor. A letter was read from Mr Edwin March, asking if the Council would contribute to the sinking of an artesian well at the corner of Tuam and Durham streets, as one was greatly desired for the use of the children attending St. Michael's School, who at present were compelled to go to the river for any water they may require. It was decided that the receipt of Mr March's letter should be acknowledged with the information that the sinking of artesian wells could only be supplemented by the Council when the wells were on the property of the Council.

A letter was read from Mrs Dew requesting a remission of the rates due by her, on the ground of ill-health, The subject was referred to the Collector of Rates for explanation. A letter was read from Mr W. Swale, complaining of the bad condition of Kilmore street, in consequence of its not being metalled. The writer stated that he had sustained a great loss from the damage done to his fruit by the dust, arising from the condition of the road.

Mr Calvert remarked that the road in question was a great thoroughfare, and he should move that the subject of metalling it should be taken into the consideration of the Council. Mr Ruddenklau seconded the motion. Mr Thomson moved as an amendment that the matter should be referred to the Public Works Committee. The amendment having been seconded pro Jorma, Beveral nfembers of the Public Works Committee stated that they were acquainted with the locality, and that they thought that it ought at once to be put in order. Mr Duncan took the same view of the subject. Mr Thomson thought that before undertaking the work some estimate of its cost ought to be furnished. The funds at the disposal of the Council were but limited, and they ought to be husbanded as carefully as possible. At this stage of the proceedings the City Surveyor was called in, and gave an estimate as to the expense of the work.

Mr Thomson, by leave of the Council, withdrew his amendment. The original motion was put and carried, with the addition that tender! should be invited for the work. A deputation, consisting of Messrs Alport and C. M. Ollivier, attended with a petition from someof the cattle-dealers of the city and its vicinity, requesting that an alteration might be made in the by-law recently passed by the City Council with reference to the hour fixed for driving cattle to the markets in the city. The petition was numerously signed. Mr Alport read the petition and addressed the Council, pointing out the evils which would arise from the by-law being carried out. He thought that the petitioners had made out a very strong case. _ It was unanimously resolved that the petition should be received.

Mr Thomson, with the permission of the Council, would ask Mr Alport if it was not possible to drive cattle through the less frequented streets of the city. Mr Alport replied in the affirmative, but at present there was no option in the matter. Mr Ollivier drew the attention of the Council to the fact that under the present regulation it was often found necessary to remove cattle on Sundays. He thought this arrangement was a very objectionable one. ■ The deputation withdrew, the Chairman announcing that the subject would be considered, and the result communicated to them.

The report of the City Surveyor was read. It drew the attention of the Council to the desirability of forming stone channelling in some parts of the city. Mr Ruddenklau moved that side channellings should be laid down immediately, in order to provide for the removal of the water at present flowing in the streets. Mr Calvert seconded the motion. He thoughtfthat side channellings were absolutely necessary in order to carry off the surplus water so as to promote the health of the inhabitants of the city. Mr Jameson suggested that side channellings should be laid down from Colombo street to the river by way of experiment. At the request of the Public Works Committee, the City Surveyor had prepared a plan which he (the speaker) would submit to the Council, He thought that some portion of the workshould be at once undertaken.

Mr Thomson thought that such of the inhabitants as desired side-channelling should bear half the expense. The finances of the Council were already pledged to their fullest extent. Even if £IOOO were obtained by the sale of the pipes, which was very doubtful, the Council would not have a shilling to spend upon the side channelling. Besides, it was not just to the inhabitants of the outlying districts to spend the revenues of the Council upon merely the centre of the city. After some discussion Mr Ruddenklau's motion was put and carried, with a slight verbal alteration. The report of the Collector of Rates was read. Owing to the illness of the Inspector of •Nuisances noreport'was received from him. The Chairman remarked that a great nuisance was occasioned by the overflow of water from the offices of the Lyttelton Times; several persons had complained of the annoyance. Mr Thomson remarked that he had not observed the nuisance arising from the overflow of water from the offices of the Lyttelion Hotel, but he had noticed that a great annoyance had arisen from the filthy state of the premises in the rear of the Central Hotel, It was decided that the owners of the property in question should be communicated with in reference to the nuisances complained of. It was resolved that the seal of the Council should be affixed to the appointment of Messrs. Tribe and Haskins as assessors for the ensuing year. The report of the Committee appointed for

the sale of the drain-pipes w|B. reaq\l IpraV recommended that the pipe's,.phould be.dispnscd of at an ( adyMlce on ,lhe English cost, and that a'j.educjion of 2Jjijir cent should be made to purchasers of £SO and upwards. ; , , J Mr Duncan suggested that tjle pipes should he sold according to .their value, a higher price being charged in proportion. report was adopted unanimously. The Chairman stated that he had had an interview with the Government, with reference to the supply of broken metal. The Government had refused to furnish the metal on any other terms than thoso already arranged, namely) 10s 6d per cubic yard, to be charged against the sum voted by the Provincial Council for the use of the City Conncil,

The Council adjourned until Monday next, at the usual hour.