CIVIC AFFAIRS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 880, 5 December 1916, Page 2

CIVIC AFFAIRS.

THE CITY COUNCIL. LAST NIGHT'S MEETING. The Christchurch City Council met last evening. Present:—The Mayor (Mr 11. Holland), Crs G. Scott, A. Williams,' J. W. Beanland, F. Burogyne, W. Millar, .1. McCullough, E. Peek, J. McCombs. M.l'., 11. F. Herbert, J. B. Hayward, \V. 11. Cooper, J. Reynolds, D. G. Sullivan, and J. O. Jameson. CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS. The manager of the Opera House asked for permission lo hold an entertainment "suitable lo the day" on Christmas night. The managers of the Globe Theatre and His Majesty's Theatre applied for permission to give picture entertainments on Christmas Day. The Mayor: In the past we have alwavs refused permission. Cr Williams: I move thai permission be refused. This was seconded by Cr Herbert and carried without dissent. THE CITY ORGAN. With regard to a suggestion, made at a recent meeting of the council, that (here are organists in the city who would be only 100 glad to give recitals on the city organ, the Baths and Entertainments Committee reminded the council that any competent organist may have the use of the organ for recitals on payment of the fee of five guineas in terms of the council's resolution of October 20, 1908. The scale of charges for the use of the organ was set out. It was as follows:—Religious services, including one hour's practice, £1 11/(i; concerts, including two hours' practice, £2 12/0; oratorio, including three hours', practice, £3 3/-; recitals including five hours' practice, £5 5/-. Cr Burgoyne moved: —"That the clause be referred back to the committee for the purpose of revising the fees, or at any rate of altering the regulations lo give other organists a chance of practice. It was time the council loosened its pursestrings in the matter. Cr Cooper, who seconded this, thought that for Sunday concerts the use of the organ should be made free. It should be open lo the use of the various churches, whose organists should, on approval, gel permission to use it free for the giving of Sunday concerts, which would no doubt prove very popular. The concerts should be given under the supervision of the council for patriotic or charitable purposes.

The clause was referred back to the committee.

FIREMEN AT PICTURE SHOWS. The By-laws and Finance Committee reported that the Christchurch Fire Board had asked the committee to amend section 010 of the by-law requiring the attendance of firemen at moving picture shows during day performances, and that attendance be required only in the evenings and on holiday afternoons. To this the committee had replied that it was of opinion that, although it is compulsory for the licensee or other person to make application in writing for the attendance of at least one fireman in uniform at such performances, the board may exercise its discretion in the matter as to whether a fireman is required to attend or not.

This was approved. ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER

The Electric Light and Power Committee recommended the council to accept the tender of the British Electric Transformer Company for supply of transformers, the lender of the National Electric Company for street lamps, and Mr Wcddcrspoon's tender for street lighting fittings.

The committee reported that in the past fortnight 11 applications for current had been received, and 43 connections had been made.

The report, was adopted. NORTH RICHMOND DRAINAGE

It was reported by the Works and Sanitary Committee that a complaint had been received regarding the condition of the side channels in Medway Street, North Richmond, and the committee asked the District Health Officer to approve of the work of pulling in concrete channelling for which a loan could be raised under the Public Health Act. The department inquired why underground drainage could not be provided, and asked thai the opinion of the engineer to the Drainage Board be obtained regarding the extension of the sewers into the district. A reply had been received from the Drainage Board slating that the district is beyond the area which can be sewered by gravitation. The board also staled thai nothing could he done in the way of extensions until the question of sewering the suburbs had been considered and a comprehensive scheme decided upon.

Cr Cooper said that this opened up the large question of taking in the outer areas. The secretary of the Drainage Board had stated that the question of extensions could not be decided without considering a comprehensive scheme that would cost nearly £600,000. A member of the board considered the cost would be nearly £1,000,000. When Ihe city look in the outer areas ttiey had no destructor, no sewerage, no electric lighting, but they were practically forced into a city which Ihe governing bodies had been trying for 25 or 30 years lo purify. Cr Sullivan remarked that there had been no attempt to try to force in the outer areas. In every case repeated invitations had been sent to councillors lo address the residents of the outer areas on the advisability of joining the city. The outer areas benefited. With regard lo drainage and municipal works, the whole system ought lo be centralised. He pointed out that putting the sewer-

age into North Linwood on such conditions would double the rates of the people of that district. The Drainage Board should consider the subject from the point of view of the interests of the city and of the outer areas being almost identical. Cr McCullough pointed out that the matters of street channelling and underground drainage were distinct. Before they could have such street improvements as kerbing and channelling, the people of added areas must tloat a loan, under the conditions in which they came into the cilv.

The Mayor said ll.al the estimate that a comprehensive scheme of sewerage for the suburbs would cost a million was only that of a layman. The Drainage Board's engineer's estimate was £600,000, and that included £IOO,OOO for New Brighton, while a good deal of the remainder could be left for many yean; to come, and it should not deter the board from getling a comprehensive report on the matter. The main object of gelling such a report was that when the board was pulling in a main arterial drain it should put in one that would serve the growing population for a reasonable time. It was very desirable that the Drainage Board should go on with the scheme. Cr Reynolds remarked thai 50 percent, of the residents of Christchurch live outside the city area. Cr McCombs could not see any connection between Cr Cooper's remarks about the outer-areas and the drainage question. If the city took in the whole of Canterbury it would still leave the drainage problem. The report was adopted.