CITY COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 7483, 24 February 1885, Page 6

CITY COUNCIL.

Special Meeting. A special meeting of the Christchurch City Council was held last evening, for the purpose of adopting a resolution making a special annual Vale of lid in the £ for 60 years to provide interest and sinking fund upon the municipal loan; present—His Worship the Maydr, Councillors Vincent, Hosking, Kiver, Eeese, Ayers, Andrews, Crooks, Prudhoe, Bowman, and Brice. The resolution was formally adopted, on the motion of Councillor Vincent, seconded .by Councillor Ayers, and it was resolved to hold a special meeting on April G, at 6.50 p.m., for the purpose of confirming the motion just passed. • Ordinary Meeting. The ordinary meeting of,the Council was then held. finance. .. It was reported that since last meeting, the receipts had been as follows: —General (account, .£1673 Os 8d; suspense account, j.£Bs 3s 7d ; drainage rate account, lls 2d. JThe expenses had boon : —General account, i£i23 9s 2cl ; Suspense account, .£22 17s 6d; fcredit balance at Bank, .£490 17s 7d. I ■ : ptermoN. Councillor*Hosking presented a petition from certain residents of Windsor, drawing attention to : the neglected condition of Eeserve 209, which, was, they stated, a resort for larrikins, whose conduct was annoying both to residents in the neighbourhood and to persons journeying to New Brighton. The petition was referred to the Eeserves Committee. CHURCH OF ENGLAND CEMETERY. The A. Lingard and Mr P. J. Kimbell waited on the Council as a deputation from the Church of England Cemetery Board, and stated that the Board had decided to apply to the Government for a twelve months’ extension of J the time fixed for closing the cemetery. The Eev E. A. Lingard pointed out that the City Cemetery was a long distance from town, and that the tramway leading thereto would net be opened for several months, so that access to it was at present difficult. The Church of England Cemetery had been always most strictly managed, and could not be described as in any way a nuisance to the neighbourhood. The distance to the new Cemetery was so great that clergymen would be considerably inconvenienced by having to attend funerals there. Clergymen’s stipends, were not large, and the continual expense of travelling to and fro would be a. somewhat serious thing to many, The Board therefore hoped that the Council would assist in the request to the Government to allow the Church of England Cemetery to remain open for another year till the tramway was ready, or at least would not oppose the application. If the Council were prepared to pay the expenses of clergymen attending the cemetery out of the fees received, there would of course be no difficulty. In answer to Mr Kimbell the Mayor stated that the tramway would probably not be opened for six months at least. The Eev E. A. Lingard said that, in that case, an extension of time for six months would be considered sufficient by the Board.

The Mayor said that the Council would consider the-matter, and let the Board know their decision.

The Rev E. A. Lingard would like to have the Council’s opinion in reference to clause 75 of the Public Cemeteries Act, which provided that persons having purchased sections in cemeteries closed under [the Act should receive similar plots in the iburial ground opened instead. I Councillor Bowman thought that plots in ahe new cemetery could be given to the holders of plots in the old ones if the Cemetery Board would pay for them. ' j The Rev E. A. Lingard repAed that the Cemetery Board had not sufficient funds fr that purpose. The Mayor and several Councillors expressed the opinion that the owners of pots in the old cemetery were at liberty to Jiavo interments made therein till the plots .Were fully occupied. §' The Rev E. A- Lingard pointed out that ffliis permission did not apply to cases where no interment had yet taken place in ahe plots purchased. There were several in She Church of England cemetery in that [position, and it would be a hardship to the Swners if they were compelled to lose Shem. He was doubtful, however, if the Church of England cemetery came under the provisions of the Act. The deputation then withdrew. Ijt CORRESPONDENCE. | The following was read: — I Prom Mr Edward Peterson, Woolston, Stating that on last Saturday evening his Horse had been frightened at the band of pie Salvation Army and had thrown him |ff, bruising his arm severely. He desired |he Mayor to stop the Army from going put on Saturday nights, as he feared a fatal Occident would probably be the result of Iheir continuing to do so. t The Mayor thought that it was a very pbjectionable proceeding for the Army to parade the streets with bands and banners on Saturday nights, as it was very dangerous. He believed that a letter had been

received from an officer of the Army, agreeing noktb do so. Councillor Bowman suggested that the Army should be communicated with on the subject, and that if they did not discontinue the practice the police should be instructed to stop it. >, Councillor Vincent thought that the ;Army should be forbidden to march on night with bands and banners. i Councillor Andrews spoke strongly of fthe danger arising from the Saturday Inight parades of the Army. He moved—tf‘ That his Worship the Mayor be requested |to interview the Inspector of Police, with ;the view of suppressing the nuisance paused by the Salvation Army parading phe streets with bands and banners on

Saturday nights, and that he be authorised Jo take such legal advice on the subject as me may deem necessary.” f Councillor Kiver seconded the motion, jwhich was agreed to nern con. i From the Secretary to the Zingari Football Club, requesting permission to play ffand erect goal posts on Cranmer square. . The application was granted. I, From the Auckland City Council, enclosing copy of a letter sent to the Government, pointing out that under the provisions of " The Police Statutes Act, 1884,” fa very large number of the City By-laws |had been absorbed, and that the fines and Penalties inflicted for offences were required to be paid into the Consolidated KFund, thereby causing considerable loss to She city funds. The Auckland Council wherefore asked that an order might be piven that all penalties arising from convictions for offences within the Borough Ipight be paid into the Borough Yunds. SThey requested the Christchurch* City i Council to forward to the Government a f Setter to the same effect. | j:' ■ On the motion of Councillor Vincent, I (seconded by Councillor Ayers, it was de- ; cided to write to the Government in simi- ’ lar terms to the Auckland City Council.

From the United Bands Committee, requesting a grant in aid of the construction of a rotunda in the Market place, a plan for which had been selected. Iti was decided to grant the sum of £25 towards the erection of a rotunda, conditionally on the plan selected being carried out.

. From Mr B. J. Leahy, requesting the , Council to grant him some compensation ; for the loss of his position as Inspector. He gave details of the work done by him since his appointment. ' Councillor Vincent - said that the letter had been before the Departmental Committee, who were not-prepared to recommend the granting qf-the request. ' , The application vraVaceordingly refused. Prom Mr T. S. ? Lambert, resigning his position as a member of the Council. On the motion of Councillor Vincent, the resignation of Mr Lambert was accepted, with regret. city surveyor’s report. The following report of the City Surveyor was read:— "The following tenders have been accepted, subject to the Council’s approval:— Broken metal, 2500 cubic yards from Halswell quarries, and 2500 cubic yards from Kaituna. Cement, 1000 barrels White’s brand, and 500 barrels, Knight and Co.’s. Iron lamp-posts, 125 from Messrs Booth and M’Donald. Artesian wells, to supply underground tanks, Mr Fletcher’s. Lanterns for street-lamps, 125, Messrs Taylor and Oakley.” The report was approved. FIRE BRIGADE COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

The following report was read: — “ Your Committee has received a letter from Mr Superintendent Turton, asking the Council to contribute towards the expenses attending the Dunedin competition and the proposed picnic of the Brigade, and recommends the Council to vote the sum of £5 towards the Dunedin competition, and £5 towards the picnic.” The report was approved. traction engines.

The Works Committee reported that*' they had considered the letter from '4|ie agents of the firms interested in the us"e and sale of traction engines, and recommended the Council to agree to sending a reply to the effect that there could be no doubt that it was dangerous to drive traction engines through the principal streets; that the Council suggested that the agents should endeavour not to use the streets for the passage of engines during the busy part of the day; should, where possible confine the running to the less frequented thoroughfares, and should request the drivers to exercise more care in future, and not to recklessly endanger life and property. If these suggestions were not attended to, the Council would feel it necessary to restrict the passage of traction engines within the city to certain hours of the day. The report of the Committee was adopted. QUESTIONS. In answer to Councillor Vincent, the Mayor stated that the water carts had not been employed during the present season in flushing the side-channels. In reply to Councillor Bowman, the Mayor said that Port Chalmers stone had been specified in the tenders for Worcester street bridge, on account of the difficulty experienced in getting Hoon Hay stone when Armagh street bridge was under construction. As the bridge would have to be tendered for again, however, the Committee would have no objection to putting Hoon Hay stone in the specification. Eeplying to Councillor Prudhoe, the, Mayor said that no answer had been received from the St Albans Borough Council to the City Council’s offer as to the fire engine going out to fires in the Borough. ‘ Councillor Andrews asked if the con-, crete kerbing would be laid so as to coincide with the standard survey of the city, y After a brief discussion, it was decided to refer the matter to 11 the Works Com- : mittee to report. [ IN MEMORIAM. Councillor Hosking moved —“That this Council, on behalf of the citizens of Christchurch, desires to place on record its deep sympathy and sorrow with the sad disaster which led up to the death of ; General Gordon at Khartoum; also to| accord its thanks to his Lordship they Bishop and his Worship the Mayor for pro-" viding a fitting opportunity of showing its condolence in the loss sustained by the British nation through the death of ] General Gordon.”

The Mayor read some correspondence, from which it appeared that the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral bad already: been thanked for complying with the request of the Mayor to hold a special service. The Mayor considered that the Council had already sufficiently expressed its regret at General Gordon’s death by the action taken through the Mayor, which had led the citizens to close their places of business. He thought, therefore, that the present motion was not required. Councillor Hosking agreed with his Worship, and withdrew his motion.

WORCESTER STREET BRIDGE. The Mayor said that the Council had, through an oversight, passed two resolutions which were contradictory. ' They had adopted plans for the Worcester street bridge, wherein it was specified that the width was to be 40ft, and at the last meeting had, without rescinding the previous resolution, decided that the bridge was to be 66ft wide. An impression had prevailed at the time that the approach was to be 66ft,' and the Width of the bridge 50ft, but, the , resolution did not state this. A Bridge,- 66ft.Mdde oyer a stream like , the Avon was certainly not .required, and he would Council what action they would take in the matter. Councillor Vincent > moved—" That'the original iplah for' the Worcester; street bridge, submitted; by the Cily: ; Sur,veypi and approved by the Council, be adhered to, so far as the design is concerned, but

that the specification be amended by. increasing the width of the bridge 10ft.” Councillor Eiver seconded the %notion.» ‘ Councillor Reese opposed the motic® He thought that there would be no dif||| culty in constructing a handsome bridJ|| 66ft wide, without wing walls, at an ad<h®| tional cost of <£3oo over the first estima»|| He moved, as an amendment —“ That tins City Surveyor be requested to prepai™ plans for a bridge 66ft wide without win® walls.” ® The Mayor said that he had had estimat®| prepared of the cost of a bridge euclimk Councillor Reese suggested, and found tnw it would cost £IOO more than a bridge 5(Hr wide with wings. Councillor Bowman seconded the amena* ment. in The Mayor pointed out that the roadwaS| of London bridge was only 52ft wide. 3P, Councillor Prudhoe supported the amen® ment. He had understood that the widtßg of the bridge was to be 66£t. Councillor Andrews objected to ts« design of the bridge. He had not unde|w stood that the roadway was to be 66ft widqj| Councillor Hosking thought that thplj design was a very good one. He wa® certainly opposed to putting a bridge 66f|| wide over a little stream like the Avon. ,fe The Mayor could inform Councillor*' Andrews that Mr Dobson and other pro-i fessional gentlemen had approved of thej design of the bridge. } The amendment was then lost by four, votes to six, and the original motionS carried. a MISCEI.LA.IIEOUS. The Mayor said that the company now 1 ! performing in the Theatre Royal had*; offered to give a performance on Friday? next in aid of the patriotic fund now being? raised, and requested the Council’s*: patronage. ; ' Councillor Hosking thought that as tho ; offers of assistance from Victoria and other ! powerful Colonies had been declined by the i Home Government, there was no likeli-* hood of any help being accepted from New. Zealand, and that, therefore, there would be no patriotic fund raised in this Colony. He moved—" That the offer of the company be declined with thanks." The motion was agreed to unanimously. In reference to the matter introduced by the deputation from the Church of England Cemetery Board, Councillor Andrews moved—“ That the request be not entertained.” He thought that the Cemetery Board had never considered the interests of the Council, but had opposed it strenuously in regard to the widening of the Belt. He thought that, though such recollections should not weigh with the Council, still it would not do to grant a concession to one Cemetery which could not be extended to all.

Councillor Bowman seconded the motion. He considered that it was imperative that the present cemeteries should be closed. Councillor Vincent remarked that clergymen would not have to go so far to the new cemetery as they would have had to go to the proposed public cemetery near Hew Brighton. The former distance was only 2£ miles. The motion was carried nem con. Councillor Bowman moved— “ That the Cemetery Committee draw up a memorial to the Government, and give reasons why the application of the Church of England Cemetery Board, or any other body, to keep open their cemetery, should be refused.” Councillor Kiver seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The Mayor said that the Secretary to the Jewish congregation had applied for leave to select a site in the new cemetery. The application had been replied to in the affirmative, with a request for the representatives of the congregation to confer with the authorities on the matter. After dealing with some applications for licenses the Council adjourned.