CITY COUNCIL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 59, 16 April 1914, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

LAST NIGHT'S MEETING. At the meeting of the City Council last evening there were present: —The Mayor (Mr H. Holland), Crs W. H. Cooper, J. R. Hayward, A. Morten, A. M. Loasby, G. Scott, H. Hunter, James M'Cullough, W. Millar, if. Burgoyne, A. S. Taylor, A. Williams, H. J. Otley, 11. B. Sorensen. CR ACLAND >S RESIGNATION.

The Mayor stated that he had received from Cr Acland his resignation from the council. He was sure that the councillors would join very heartily with him in expressing their regret that Cr Acland found it necessary to sever his connection with the council. It had been very pleasant to work with him, and he had discharged his duties efficiently and faithfully. He moved:—"That the council learns with regret that Cr Acland has found it necessary to resign his seat on the council, and places on record its appreciation of the efficient manner in which he had discharged his municipal duties."

This was seconded by Cr Otley, who expressed his great regret that a law existed in this country which made it necessary that Cr Acland should have to resign.

Cr Sorensen also supported the motion, and expressed the hope that Cr Acland would in the near future again offer his services to the citizens. He would receive a very hearty welcome to the council if he came back. The motion was carried. . THE NEW PICTURES..

The Canterbury Society of Arts notified, that ."The Fruit Market, Bruges," by A. F. Nicoll, and "A Valley by the Sea,'.' by W. Menzies Gibb, had been selected in compliance with the conditions of the grant made by the council. The letter was received, and it was" decided to forward the cheque for £SO forthwith.

The Mayor said that he and Cr Hunter had to be congratulated on the choice made. (Laughter.) There was one thing in this connection to which he wished to refer. In the course of the discussion of this matter when it was previously bofore the x council, he had unwittingly made a statement prejudicing the professional reputation of an artist. Referring to the picture '' Up for Repairs,'' which had been purchased 12 months ago, he had said, speaking purely as a layman, without any knowledge of art, that some of the figures were out of proportion. l3ince then he had seen the figures measured in the presence of the artist and others, and he had found that the picture was not as it seemed. He would be the last man iri the world to do of say anything to injure,any man's reputation, and he now believed that the figures were properly proportioned. Cr Sorensen said that probably both the. Mayor and Cr Hunter would greatly improve as their acquaintance with art extended. (Laughter.)

ST. PAUL'S JUBILEE. The congregation of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church invited the Mayor and council to attend the jubilee service of. the chujrch on Sunday morning next. Cr Sorensen moved, that the invitation be accepted. The council had accepted an invitation to the Methodist Church, and it might as well accept one to the Presbyterian Church. ".'.'. The invitation was accepted, the Mayor expressing the hope that all the councillors would attend. VICTORIA PARK. The Heathcote County Council asked for a grant to enable the road between the tram terminus on Cashmere Hills and Victoria Park to be improved. Cr Scott said thaat the road was considerably used by residents of the city, and he thought the council ought to assit in improving the road. Cr Burgoyne thought that the money should be expended in the formation of a track from the terminus up the spur to the park. The Mayor supported the proposal to form a track. There were a good many men out of work at present, and if such a track were made it would provide employment for these men. A letter had been received from Mr G. M'Cullough, caretaker of the park, suggesting the formation of such a track. "Cr Scott said that the Heathcote County Council was not toying to force its proposal on the City Council, but as there was a small sum in hand for expenditure in this district they had thought that this would be a good way of spending it. Cr Burgoyne asked that Mr M'Cullough's letterbe read.

The letter described the fire which occurred last Easter Monday. If there had not been a few willing hands from the Cashmere station, and some others, the plantation and house itself might have been destroyed. He caught the four boys who started the fire, and forwarded their names. The fire started at noon, and it took the fire-fighters until 9 p.m. to extinguish it. Mr M'Cullough also drew the council's attention to the track from the stiles at the tram terminus up to the park. As the dark evenings were coming on, it would be a great advantage to have the tussocks chipped and boulders removed for a four-foot track, such as Mr Ell had caused to be formed at the top of the hill on the Summit •Ttoad.

Cr Burgoyne said that the council should endeavour to make the park attractive, and the track would be a very great help. The work would also give employment to many of the unemployed. As to the fire near the park, he would move later that the men be recompensed in a small way for saving the plantation. He moved that the letter be referred to the Reserves Committee. The motion was carried.

At a later stage Cr Burgoyne moved that the sum of £lO be voted to Mr M'Cullough and those who assisted him.

The Mayor said that this might make a very dangerous precedent. l Cr Burgoyne said that he would have no objection to referring the matter to the Reserves Committee.

Cr Hunter seconded this, and expressed the opinion that a fire belt, of evergreen grass, should be planted round the plantation. Fires happened, on the hills every year. The Mayor agreed that the Reserves Committee might deal with the matter. The danger he saw in giving rewards was that unscrupulous people might set fire to the grass, and then claim a reward for extinguishing it. The motion was carried. ' PAGE'S ROAD. The city solicitor wrote stating that the New Brighton Borough Council had suggested that the City Council should join with it in testing the question as to whether the very large expenditure on the original portion of Page's Road was construction or maintenance, seeing that the report did

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ter. The matter was referred to the Financial Committee. The following reports of committee: were made: — BY-LAWS AND FINANCE. Bates on "Holly Lea" property The committee had demanded rates on this property for the" year ended Marcl 31 last. The M'Lean Institute refused to pay on the ground that it is a chari table institution and exempt from rat ing. The committee was advised that as the premises were rateable property on the first day of the rating year, they remained rateable during the whole year. The committee considered that this point should be definitely settled,, and had instructed the city solicitor, to take proceedings in the Supreme Courl to recover the rates. This course had been adopted as the committee under stood that if judgment were given ii) favour of the - council in the Magis trate's Court the institute would appear against the decision. The amount of rates involved was considerable, and the committee hoped that the decision will result in a great saving to the coun cil in future years.

Accident Insurance Fund.—The committee has to report that the accident insurance fund now amounted to £1316 18/10, £583 18/10 was on deposit with the Lyttelton Borough Council, and the current year's contribution, amounting to £773, would be placed on deposit at the bank for twelve months at 3* per cent.

Bight-of-way in T.S. 712 and 714-717. —The freehold of this right-of-way, .which leads from Oxford Terrace near Gloucester Street, was vested-±n the cqufieil, and the committee had accepted the dedication of two small strips of land, being part of Lots 6 and 7, D.P. 360, for widening the right-of-way. Water Bates.—The committee recommended the council to instruct the Town Clerk that the water rates for the current year are to be levied for the year instead of half-yearly, as formerly. Deans's Bush.—The committee regretted to have to, report that damage had already been done to Deans's Bush by persons who, it was presumed, imagined it was public property. In order to safeguard the bush, the committee recommended the council to appoint a caretaker forthwith. Mr Deans quite concurred in; this .course. Valuation .Bolls.—The committee recommended that a remit be sent to the Municipal Conference urging the Government to furnish the valuation rolls much earlier in the year than has been the practice heretofore, to enable borough and city councils to levy their rates so that the additional charge of 10 per cent, may be imposed some time before the close of the financial year. This would have a beneficial effect on* the council's finances. j1 i '•'' * , V ELECTBICITY COMMITTEE. Supply of Meters.J-|jl|ssrs J. J. Niven and Co. 's tender was previously recommended for acceptance, provided suitable clock-face refclji-ding dials: could be supplied. The!''electrical en-j gineer reported that the dials Messrs j Niven and Co. proposed to supply are too small for easy reading, and thej additional cost would be>,l/l for eachmeter. The;committee noyri recommended that the .tender of fejssrs,, Turnbiill and Jones, at £1790 17/s', tie accepted for the D.C. meters, and that of Messrs A. and T. Burt, at £2251 4/6, for the A.C. meters. In the case of Turnbull and Jones's tender, the price was £ll7 0/3 more than that of Niven and Co., but the ampere hour meters were the same type as those at present in use by the council, which were igiving satisfaction, and were easily read from a distance. Messrs A. andcT. Burt's tender was' £l7 7/2 lower than that of Messrs Niven and Col,> after, adding to the latter tender the; extra cost of clock-face dials. ..^5.

Oil Dehydrator.—The following tenders were received for the oil dehydrating apparatus:—Turnbull and Jones £9O, A. and T. Burt £475, tional E. and E. Co. £ll7 18/6; and the committee recommended that that of Messrs Turnbull and Jones be accepted. Transformers with Ammeters.—The following tenders were received for the above: Turnbull and '■ Jones £lO7 13/-, J. J. Niven and l Co. £IOB 9/-, Elliott Bros. £164 7/-y Noyes Bros. £l7O 8/4, A. and T. Burt £lB6 6/-; and the committee recommended that Turnbull and Jones's tender be accepted.

Showroom. —The committee had under consideration the question of renting suitable premises for, the purpose of establishing a showroom', and the city electrical engineer had been instructed to draw up a list of appliances and fittings that require to be ordered. WATER SUPPLY COMMITTEE. The /Water Supply' Committee reported that the city surveyor had been authorised to purchase from the Christchurch Gas Company all coke required at ,the pumping station at, 25/6 per ton at the gas works, the estimated quantity being 50 tons per month. The committee reported ; that 59 connections with the , high-pressure supply had been made during March (33 ordinary and 26 extraordinary). The total connections now numbered 11,465 (9072 ordinary, and 2393 extraordinary). WORKS AND SANITARY. Tenders for Steam Road Roller. — The following tenders were* received, the undermentioned sum being the price without duty:—Niven and Co. (Clague and Shuttleworth), £683; W. Wood and Co. (Fowler), £700; Andrews- and Beaven (Marshall), £731; Andersons Ltd. (Aveling and Porter), £BO9 9/-; M'Clelland and Co. (Roby), £Bl2. The council had a Fowler rpller, which it took over with the St. Albans borough. It had done good work and was satisfactory in every respect, and the committee recommended the council to a'ccept W. Wood and Co. 's offer. • : All the reports were adopted practically without discussion. OFFICERS' REPORTS.

The City Surveyor reported that during . March he had issued 52 building permits in respect of buildings valued at £33,505, on whicli fees amounting to £7l had been paid. The Abattoir Manager reported that during March 15,042 animals were slaughtered at the City Abattoirs, of which 76 were condemned.