CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2059, 27 July 1867, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

♦ Fbiday, Jolt 26,

A special meeting of the City Council was held this evening, at 6.30, for tho purpose of appointing a Superintendent and Engineer for the Fire Brigade, and for considering other subjects connected with the Brigade.

The following members were present : Messrs Thomson, Calvert, Tombs, Anderson, Jameson, Hislop, Ruddenklau and Duncan. In the absence of the Chairman, Mr Buddenklau presided.

The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed.

The following letter from the Provincial Secretary was read : Government Buildings, July 25,1867.

Sir,—Tho Volunteer Fire Brigade have informed the Government that they have tendered their resignation to tho City Council at the end of the present month, and that they wish at the same time to be rolioved of the charge of the manual fire-engine which belongs to the Government. I have the honour, therefore, to request that you will be good enough to inform me whother the City Council will take over the charge of that .engine, and allow it to remain in the building it now occupies, the Government supplying the funds necessary for the looking after ;the engine ;and maintaining it in proper order. I havo the honour, &c., F. E. STBWABT, _ , Provincial Seorotary. To the Chairman of the City Council. The Chairman here entered the room, and took the chair.

Mr Jameson moved "That the letter of the Government should be acknowledged, leaving it to the discretion of the Government to award such sum as they might deem proper." Mr Calvert seconded the motion, which was carried.

A letter was read from the secretary of the ; Fire Brigade stating that they had ordered from Messrs Shand and Co. some additional apparatus for the fire-engine, and a portable flre-esca(e. The amount would be about £SO, and the Brigade requested that the Council should guarantee Messrs Heywood and Co., through whom the order had been sent to England, in that sum, which was due to the Brigade. i Mr Thomson said that he should object to giving Messrs Heywood and Co. a written guarantee, unless the exact amount were specified, He moved that the consideration of the letter of the Secretary of the Fire Brigade should be deferred, at the same time he had not the slightest intention of repudiating any just obligation resting upon the Council.

;'i The motion haying been seconded, was carried, the letter being ordered to be acknowledged. Mr Ruddenklau moved a resolution to the effect that the Town Clerk should be instructed to write to the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade, requesting him to furnish a balance-sheet and a statement of the plant now in their possession.

Mr Jameson seconded the resolution, which was carried.

A letter was read from Mr T. Anderson, enclosing one from Messrs. Newton and Barnes, stating that they had completed their contract with regard to the firealarm, and requesting the Fire Brigade to test its efficiency.

Mr Duncan moved that the letters received from Mr Anderson should be returned to him, with a. copy of the resolution as recorded in the minutes of the Council, September 3, 1866.

: Mr Calrert seconded the resolution which was carried.' SThe Council went into committee for the purpose of electing a Superintendent and Chief Practical Engineer of the Fire Brigade, There were eight candidates for the office, and the testimonials as to their respective qualifications for the office were handed in, :> A ballot was taken, and Captain 6. H. Wilson was elected. 'The next business before the Council was the election of a Chief Practical Engineer, There were six applicants for the office. A ballot was taken, and Mr 11. J. Howarth was elected.

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