CITY COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIX, Issue 9985, 14 March 1893, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

ORDINARY MEETING. An ordinary meeting of the Christchurch City Council wag held last night; present—the Mayor, Councillors Anderson, Swann, Payling, Gapes, Wood, Gaidar, Thomson, Pleaher, E. Smith, Widdowson, Bennington, Cooper, Gray and Appleby, i An apology for absence was received from Councillor J, T. Smitn. FINANCIAL. The City Treasurer reported receipts since last meeting at £992 16s Id, payments .£444) 11s 10d, leaving the debit balance £4469 19s lOd. The accounts were passed. THE MAYOR, The Mayor said there was nothing to report except that the funds for the relief of the Queensland sufferers had amounted to £lBBl in cash, and between £SOO and £6OO worth of goods had been sent; so that despite the delay the list presented a very creditable appearance. The several entertainments had passed off very satisfactorily. The central liot would close that day, and a full statement would be presented on Thursday, but a supplementary list would be kept open till March 30, when the amount would be cabled over. NOTICE OF MOTION. Councillor Smith gave notice that he would move at next meeting—" That the necessary steps ho taken to levy a special rate for the purposes of fire prevention; also, that a special rate be struck for purposes of street watering, and that provision be made for these rates when preparing the estimates foe the year.” CORRESPONDENCE. The Public Works Department wrote, asking the Council's permission to remove the two gum trees at the entrance to the old Government Buildings. The Mayor said that an officer of the Public Works Department had waited upon him and asked his permission to remove the trees, but he (the Mayor) did not care to take the responsibility, so he had brought the matter before the Council. After discussion it was resolved —"That ;a Committee, consisting of Councillors Appleby and Gapes, and the City Surveyor, be appointed to decide whether the application should be granted, and that they [be empowered to grant permission if [desirable." ; ; A letter from the Church Property -Trustees, with regard to the fencing on the [Cemetery Reserve, was referred to the Works Committee. The Drainage Board wrote, declining to take any steps with reference to the drainage on the North and East Belts, as it considered that it had no responsibility in the matter. Councillor Widdowson moved—" That the whole question be referred to the Council's solicitor, Mr Joynt, with instructions to state a case before the Judge.” He had reason to believe that the Drainage Board would agree to the case being brought before the Judge for decision. Councillor Wood seconded the motion pro forma, saying that there would be no use in stating a case, as the Board appeared to be adopting an unreasonable course of inactivity. Councillor Gray moved as an amendment—“ That the Surveyor be instructed to put the work in hand at once." Councillor Pleaher seconded the amendment. After a discussion. Councillor Gray altered hie amendment to read, “ That the Works Committee be instructed to put the work in hand at once." Further discussion took place, and a division resulted in seven votes being cast either way. The Mayor then gave his vote against the amendment. The Mayor then put the motion aa follows:—"That the Works Committee be requested to confer with Mr Joynt and endeavour to arrange with him to state a case before the Court,” which was carried nem. con. CONDOLENCE. The Mayor mentioned the sad loss sustained by the Mayor of St Albans (Mr H. 0. D. Meares) by the death of his wife. Councillor Appleby moved —“Thatthis Council hears with the deepest regret of the death of the Mayoress of St Albans, and dpsiros to express its deepest sympathy with Mr Meares in his bereavement.” Councillor Anderron seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. RETORT OE CITY SURVEYOR. The City Surveyor reported as follows : (1) An offer of a small piece of land at the east end of Salisbury street has been sent in by Mr J. B, Mansfield, at a yearly rental of £7 for three years, and the right of purchase within twelve months for £l5O, and the Works Committee recommends that the offer to rent it be accepted, and that it be used aa a stone yard. (2) A couple, or perhaps throe, fine days will enable ua to complete the top-dressing of the footpaths on the southern half of the city up to Worcester street, after which the asphalt men will be set to repair all bad and damaged places in the footpaths, and construct the entrances into private property. (3) The two iron culverts crossing Lichfield street audits junction with Colombo street are now in hand, and will be substituted for the stone ones now at that place, as provided for in our yearly estimates. (4) During the last month I have had occasion several times to write to the Canterbury Tramway Company relative to the state of the roads, and in some instances the complaints have been attended to. (5) The Works Committee instructed me to ascertain the coat of connecting Richmond with the fire alarm system, and I have reported that the cost would be £25. (6) With regard to the crossing over the South belt asked for by the Sydenham Borough Council, the Works Committee recommended that the request be granted, and that they be allowed to do the work on the city contributing half the cost, viz., £4 10s. (7) An application from Mr Markey for a right-of-way four, Ill'll I'WnWteHMEwtf*" imimiw

feet wide off annexed, has been received, and the work* | Committee recommended that consent be | given on the usual terms and conditions. (8) A verbal application has been made by j Mr Q, Roberta to be allowed to make a j right-of-way twenty-fonr and a quarter ( links wide, from the south-east corner of jj Cathedral square, and there does not ap- | pear to be any objection to its being | granted. . i< The clauses were discussed seriatim, and 4j were passed, with the exception that Mr G. 7; Roberta' application should be granted on f a written request being made. j|i The report aa a whole was passed. $ QUESTIONS. ft In reply to Councillor Gray, the Chair- y, man of the Cemetery Committee eaid that S' the Committee had not taken any steps in connection with the mortuary chapel. Ha ; understood that the Works Committee waa J* going to briug up a report. He would call a meeing of the Committee and report at next meeting. i’ EXTRA RUBBISH. jj Councillor Wood moved, pursuant to notice—" That the scale introduced by Councillor Widdowson should be charged for any removal outside the regnlar service, as it has been found that an immense quantity of material is being removed at rates ridiculously low, and to the detriment of the regular service.” Councillor Gray seconded the motion, which evoked considerable discussion, and was carried nem. con. BOWEON’S LAND, Councillor Swann moved, according to notice given—“ That all necessary steps bo taken, under the Municipal Corpora-' tions Act, to acquire Bowron'a land, fronting on the River road, so as to make such road a chain wide, and also the pieces of land jutting on the Sfcamnore road, belonging to Messrs Godfrey, M'llraith and Nash.” Councillor Flesher seconded the motion, which was carried. ; TELEPHONE AT RICHMOND. Councillor Flesher moved—“ That the Fire Prevention Committee be authorised to communicate with the Police Department with a view of having a telephone placed in the police depdt at Richmond, so as to provide means of communication in case of fire.” Councillor Appleby seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. MORTUARY CHAPEL. Councillor Gapes moved —" That the Works Committee be joined to the Cemetery Committee to consider the question of erecting a mortuary chapel in the cemetery.” Councillor Gray seconded the motion, which was carried. NUMBERING! HOUSES. Councillor Flesher moved—" That it it advisable to have the houses in the Richmond ward numbered, and that the Works Committee be instructed to call upon the householders to number their houses as soon as possible, on the usual conditions.” Councillor Calder seconded the motion, which was carried. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Councillor Bennington obtained leave of absence for one month. licenses. . The consideration of several Uoeiuet was then takes, and the proceedings terminated.