CITY COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4174, 25 June 1885, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

...The usual fortnightly meeting of this Council took place last evening, when Or Little was voted to the chair, and Crs Cooke, J. A. Harley, Stringer, Everett, Moorhouse, Bolton, and'T. Harley, Eobertson and Crewdwere also present. The minutes of the previous meeting having been confirmed vouchers to the amount of £320 4s 9d were passed for payment, made up as follows : — Gasworks Account.. .. £76 9 3 Waterworks Account .. 58 16 4 General Account: .. .. 178. 5 10 Cemeteries Account .. 6 13 4 The correspondence was then read. A letter from Mr 0. Curtis and others asked that a lamp might be placed in Bronti street near the Girls' College.—Eeferred to Works Committee. A letter from Mr H. Hounsell asked permission to remove two loads of turf from public streets.—Granted on usual conditions. A letter from Mr H. Hounsell asked permission to drain into the Collingweod street sewer. ■It was said the drain was for a water closet, and Cr Bolton then said that he considered'the Council having adopted the earth closet system no further closets should be drained into the sewers. The Chairman thought they should give timely notice before they ceased to allow people to drain into the sewers. Cr T. Harley moved that the application be granted, "provided1 six inch'pipes were'used. He said the earth closet system was adopted for outlying districts; and'where people could drain into the sewer he should always support the granting of these applications. „ Cr Cooke moved as an amendment that the letter be held over till the matter was finally dealt with. He disagreed with Cr Harley, for the earth closet system was, he understood, adopted to relieve the sewers. Cr Everett thought it would be invidious to deny this! application. He should support the motion if proper pipes were used. Crs Robertson and Crewdson having spoken, the original motion was adopted and the application granted. | A letter from Mr .E. Leß asked the, pouncil to give him employment1 A was made that employment should be found for him for a short ■time. The letter waa then referred to the surveyor. A letter from the Under Secretary for Mines asked that the • Council would use its best endeavors to obtain specimens from the various mines of the district, with particulars and descriptions, for exhibition at the Colonial Exhibition in London. After some remarks, the letter was ordered to lie on the table. A letter from Mr G. Clements asked the .Council to reconsider his application for leave to put up sign boards, on top of which he suggested to place a lamp. He said a verandah would darken his shop. It, was stated tbat Mr Clements would be satisfied with permission to erect a lamp, and thereupon leave was granted him to erect one. '" A letter from Mr Yon Stermer, Secretary to the New Zealand ; Railway League, enclosing resolutions and petition for signature. The latjter set forth that the management of the New Zealand railways .wasunsatisfactory, and also, the tariff 'of charges, and prayed that a Commission mi^ht be appointed to enquire into the proposed schemes for better management. Cr Gooke' moved that the petition be considered that day six months. Cr Everett suggested that it should lie on the table, and this was agreed'to. A'letter'from Dr Hudson, dated 17th June, reported a case of diphtheria at the house of Mr Hudson, Waimea Eoad. . A letter received 'from Adams and Kingdon was set forth that Mr James Dqnaldson. complained of damage done to him on the 6th and 7th instant by reason of flood water. Mr Donaldson, it was stated in the letter, alleged that he had sustained this damage through the action of the Council in, filling in tha ditch in front of his premises, and,making no;provision for carrying off flood water. Mr, Donaldson further alleged that the manhole at Waimea street was often burst open, and the sewage matter flowed on to! his property therefrom, arid.that on the days stajtqd the Jower floors of his house ; were covered some inches, damaging, his furniture and driving his boarders away. Mr Donaldsop alleged that all this damage was in consea uence of the actions of the Council, and the writers stated they were instructed to ask wliat compensation the Council was prepared to' give for past damages, and what action they i roposed to take to prevent a recurrence of such damage. , „,' iii}{: .', } a *£.- , r A The' Surveyor, in reply to questions, said

Mr; .Donaldson-; could.'^ia^hjfflself,, 'jAny damage" that ""m;giiV"Hav,e"reßultea[ .was not bwng;t<J'anyffiing ike Council haa'db'^e,. ■ '^ \ Several Councillors spoke on the maWe'r;:; Cr/Crewdson statlngithate he jionsidered /Mr l^njlldson[hadc!lwen; l y.ery o |jar,Bhly treated,! r that he'jwas'entitled to drainage.,; :v .-',. -, . j had'been; resolved by Council*'tha? a ■drain" be''opened byi'-th'e-Council ji and the cost charged lobMr Donaldson,:,: He; didjnot knpWjWhy thl^*had E not been, done. " > .] f (i - f { i Cr Everett said.it did not appear,to nun tha*l:;fhis J would [ preveni "the1 'watei* 'flowing, through' the > manholein the? WAiinea street; seweftjand flooding his property,. ,'m.n'l ] .The j Surveyor « said that ..Mr.Donaldsonfs, property,, had always been ; flooded,; and. nothing, but .filling up' wbuld: aVert the 'dang6r.v Ittwas true the water flbwediifrom the^ewef/ biujfeu that .[could ;not; berhelped (-at .present,,What was wanted was that a 'draiashQuJdjb^ cut, from Mr Donaldson's -to ,carry the water off.— " -\V^' }1- ''• lM '•'■'; r ' u- / '',[■'■ -*'■■■■ . ! Gr1 Bbitoii'"said:ithe ;dama'ge!-was*thd re rsult' of tother;ipeople havingi-filled:! up'their ilandiJ andfthejorily remedy,was for Mr Donaldson tp/| filltup his.land a(so. . r r '- ( yi -.^■•'•'•rj r fo i I Mr T. Harley"'moved .that 1 the ,_preyiotis resolution of the Council :;be": Carried 1 into 1 effect, andcthat'if Mr Donaldson did:n6t:op'qn a;drain f ftt/,oncej[the,,Suryeyipr-get;the same done, and;charge him with;the,same. [„,,,;■.,,,■ Cr J. Harley thoughtVthey'jwere running1 away- frbrn.the' !c6mplaint; which1 was tha^'the water iantfQ'from the Wwerj intb the[frbfit-'6f his. and| not : at the: back; ; They, were about, to.construct a new,se\?,er, toaveri, the. 'danger of an."'oversow, .and.' thep.there would be ho more "reason'f or complaint; 'Mr Donaldsbh,'!he ;tboughti!.had: received every consideration); and he, had failedrtoput ia:,a; drain when he- had i ,,the,;ogp ( ortur!ij,y i . t He, thought 7 the claim ' for' compensation was: absurd. ;If every; person who ;had "received damage from flood had a claim he -(CrJ.; Harley) would get,aflarge share, >;for,he:had sustained' great damage, but he was'convinced: he had no claim.' „,.<' , -,'-- The Chairman'said the only, thing * they could dtf'would b©':t6 write to Messrs' Adainß aod> /Kingdon stating < they;, could not; vhold themselves responsible, for any damage done, and' that any damage sustained' had. been owirig'tb 'flood'waier. ' " "' l. ' ,' It'was then resolved to1 reply to this effect.' A^letter from Mr M.'M. Webster complained that he had he^n put.AQi muob damage owing to the state of the ditches above his .propeftj. He also compjained that'gorse was growing from Montreafroad towards bis place. The Surveyor said the ditch was blocked up-during the rain, and was cleared out before the letter.was received. Eegarding the gorse, it was stated tbat.it would be cleaned off in its turn. ; A letter from Mr J. Hale asked permission to : raise the footpath in front of his house, taking the earth from the bank opposite.— Granted The reports were then read as follows.: — The Public Works Committee reported as follows:— j 1. As to ditch at the back of St. Vincent and Hampden streets—That this ditch be cleaned out. 2. On letter from Mr Stevens—That a load or, two of gravel be laid at the head of the dulvert, and the ditch cleaned out on the west side of Trafalgar street. 3. As to lamp in Waimea road—That they are unable to recommend that this request be complied with The Cemeteries Committee reported as follows :— 1. That they visited the Cemetery and recommend that the following small works be carried out:—lmprove the footpath, and place a seat., in the Presbyterian ground; a load or two ; of gravel in a slack part of the road near the'top of the hill; clear the scrub, &c., from the top corner, and mow the fern, &d., on the South side ; grub up briars and mow grass, <feo., on south-west side. 2. The Committee are unable to recommend that a telephone connection be made with the Cemetery. 3. That half the usual interment fee be charged for : children under twelve years of age. The whole of the clauses in each of these reports were adopted. The report of the Inspector of Nuisances was then read. It was stated therein there were few complaints, but one from residents of the neighborhood of Van Dieman street, to the effect that some houses drained into the ditch there, was referred to. It was stated that after repeated applications the drainage from the St. Mary's Orphanage into Brook street stream had been stopped, and it was explained that an earth closet had been substituted for a water closet. The report also stated that the fence round Mr Fell's land had been broken, and some persons were again throwing rubbish there, but as the agent took no notice and did not replace the broken fence, the Inspector could do nothing. Some discussion took place on the nuisance referred to in Van Dieman street, but no action was taken. ...«•" Cr Moorhouse complained of the growth of briar in upper Collingwood street between the residences of Mr Wilkie and Mr Adams, the street being almost impassable. Cr Stringer suggested that some tar should be applied to the roots, as he believed that would MlKhem. Eesolved to cut the briars, &o. Cr Bolton moved that the St. Vincent street ditch be cleaned out as far as Victory Square to give the water a free passage and prevent the water overflowing towards Vanguard street.—Agreed to. Cr T. Harley said his attentiou had been called I'by* 'Mr" Sharp "to some snags in < the river on either side,of the Normanby Bridge, and which^ he thought would' damage' the bridge.—lt was resolved to remove the snags. Cr Cooke asked:leave to move Jthat the Council agrees to vote an annual sum of £20, to be supplemented by donations fromprivate citizens and others, to be spent when available by prison labpr, ,'for-'planting,-cleanin.g; and general uakeep of the Church Hill, the same to be expended; by / four citizens to be called1 Church'Hill''Committee. He said that as : this was the time-for plahtirig'he asked that the motion should be agreed to at once. He then; spoke;, of the, present.state of the trees on the Hill, and said there were some dead andVothers requiring attention. He would like- to kee-it fenced1 and made to look decent. The motion suggested that two Crs and two gentlemen whojiyere daily passing the Church Hill be formed into'a Committee to 'Iqqk'after, the place, and he believed: : many would assist in; donations of money or trees to beautify the place. It was not proposed to incur a great expense. „, . : „ Cr T. Harley agreed" with ,".the remarks of Cr Cooke, but .disagreed with anyone .outside, the" Council having, anything } to do with the; matter. He would noif restrict the vote to £20, buit would spend £50 if : necessary, and he thought the paths should be, asphalted, and the place made attractive for visitors. Cr Everett would like to see the work carried out by the Council, but that if the .prison labor had not been applied for, it should be asked for, and the work carried out byj prisoners, under the supervision of the Surveyor. He moved an amendment that prison labor be applied for, and the work in id entirety be carried out under the supervision of the Surveyor. Or J. Harley pointed out that they could not pledge their.successors to an annual vote. He had himself thought of bringing the matter forward, and his idea was that they should obtain prison labor, and engage the services of some gardener to look after the ,work, for the Surveyor's time was too much taken up.: The trees he said, wanted looking after to badly, most of them being blighted. jCr Everett said he would be willing to accept the alteration concerning the employment of a practical man. tor Cooke said the Church Hill had often been touched up, but what he wanted was that some one who took an interest in the thing should supervise the whole oontinually. He knew they could not bind their successors, but they would only be in the same position as the annual vote to the Fire Biigade. ;• Cr Moorhouse supported Cr Everett's motion. He did not think it would be right to! hand over city property to the management of: outsiders. iCr Cooke's motion receiving no seconder, the amendment of Cr Everett was adopted.Cr Crewdson made a complaint that certain cabmen engaged at funerals by persons, also charged the persons who used their cabs. He hoped the Press would take notice of the complaint. Cr J. Harley said this was a serious charge, and if the person offending could be pointed out, his license would be taken'uway. iCr Crewdson suggested that the Council should t'cancel the license of any cabdr ver guilty of such an act. ■•■• v On the motion of Or Stringer, seoonded by

Cr'CqokVit'wasreM caU'lvoaiAe biicancelled?f'', ;'"'"''■'?'. ' il''. i,J-: ,) On the motion' of Or Robertson^the gravel- ' ling jand: kerbing^of jithe footpath near,Mr. Cann's,', in Collingwood, street,, was referred to the'Works'Committee? 1 *",,":•??! j Or Everett said that some time ago two pites were recpmrnendedior a. depot for nifeht soil. He said ;thai the |first> recommended would be very suitable-but for the number of residences, neaot^by;, .For that,reason, however, he' should' 'object to : .that'/site?being adopted?J As .o rthe 'si.c offer^. by MrHar-, ley; he daid there -wrs no such 6bjeotioh,; -and: ihere WASfnot likely, to ibe, [the only disadvari? tago was,the.land was;,a little more distant.; The cost'bf'lhis land' would be £100 for the acre, He moved that the Surveyor be in 'structedto select one acre of the land offered ;bvMr Harley,! i<: : ? ex!J »" •: :xx>xxU.x^-:-II Cr Robertson;seconded the rn,otion. ; '; .;-. 4 j ..OV Bolton','saicL ■ he, had given the subject much "though.?and he considered the site adjoining the" Gas Works'would in every way -'be/more fl'uitable.ipTb:the ground Offered 'by Mr. Harley..th.er,e would have; to; bd,■&■ road made,' which"w.ould Cost ,much, and there, was, &\ difficulty ihJ getting level" land' for. building meds/ As to 'the'- land by the Gas Works, that was level and the soil suitable, whilst there was a good road to it.; It was close to I the Gas Works, and , the lime kilns, so that linie could easily be obtained, and there was water for washing' the buckets,_which he did hot think there;would be at Mr Harley's 'Besides that. he,-thought they could get sale /or the earth, and Dr Leggatt,stated that, if properly carried out, there , would be ho nuisance, and at all .events"it'could not be uvbrse than the Gas Works. If the soil 'were ttaken a couple of, miles out! of Town, there could be little inspection, and a slovenly man wpuld be the cause" of great. nuisance, bist thjere would be every facility for inspection at 'the Gas Works, and there would be little chance of any nuisance there. He thought that if they continued, : . an . iron. fence round' the acre, it would be rather an improvement 'than otherwise.' S. Ay „' , ?? '■' jGr Crewdson thought the objection to Mr Harley's land, was its distance, and he thoughts there woujd be no/water in the summer. , ■ The entrance to the ground, was through a swamp, .and ' the distance of carting would add considerably to cost. ' If-they could get one 'of the,lower acres.,by. the, Chinaman's garden, he thought that would meet :their require. ments. ' ? ; "?.,' „; : „■;.,.. Cr J. Harley said thai every spot, suggested had been objected to', and it would be.so? ;He suggested that they should^ballotone member out of each Ward, and let the four go and pick out a piece, of ground, and agree .to its purchase. ' Everyone would object ; to, the deposit -being";near his? property, and he thpught.the plan he suggested was the fairest andjbesV,, „■,.■ x Xi ;,:: . ■.-■;■,, _Cr 'Everett would strongly oppose:the. selection'of the:site suggested by Cr Bolton, which was in the midst of a large The effluvia, for there must be some, would be inhaled; by. every; gerson.passihg up anddown: the Beach road. ,He hoped the Council would not sanction such a proposal. „,:-. Cr Crewdson thought Cr Harley';* suggestion the best. Cr Cooke thought they would have great difficulty in persuading the people of Beaohville that there was no nuisance. He thought the Gas Works bad enough without having a nuisance.on the next acre. Cr Stringer urged that the soil should be taken away from town. „. ; r , ; Cr Crewdson seconded Cr J. Harley's amendment. Cr Bolton's motion received no seconder. On the amendment-being put, a division was called for. , Ayes—Crs Moorhouse, Cooke, Robertson, J. Harley, Bolton, and Crewdson Noes—Crs Stringer, Everett, and the Chairman. ? The amendment was therefore carried. Cr J. Harley then moved that MrD. Winton, Bank Manager, and Mr Gully, Town Clerk, be appointed' agents for the purpose of the City loan. ? • Cr Everett seconded the1 resolution, which was adopted unanimously. • Cr. J., Harley then that he had made arrangements,by which the, loan account might be drawn on, 'and he" therefore .moved thai any of the Works, under the loan for which plans were ready should be proceeded with. He mentioned that the plans, &c, for cutting down the hill near Mr To.vet's in Waimea street were ready, and he moved that tenders be at once invited. Cr Stringer suggested' that a plan of drainage should be carried: out in conjunction with the work. Cr Bolton also stated that some drainage was necessary. It was then resolved that tenders for the work at Touet's hill be invited by next meeting. , :•..-.. In reply to Cr J. Harley the Surveyor said he would be ready for tenders to be .called by next meeting for filling in in Halifax street between Trafalgar and Waimea streets. Cr Bolton suggested that the bridge work should be next gone on with; as that would give employment to another class. It was then understood that' tenders for the work in Halifax street should be invited by next meeting. . ■ ... A ballot' for the Committee propossd by Cr J. A. Harley was then taken, with the result that the choice fell opon Crs Cooke, Little, Stringer, and. Everett. Or Everett said he should decline to act. Cr Bolton asked whether the work in Alfred street could ; not be, done by contract, and on his motion it was resolved to invite tenders for same. Cr ; Cooke then;.moved that in future the "ordinary meetings of Council be held on Friday evenings', the next to take place on Friday, the 10th, July. Cr Moorhouse seconded the motion, which was carried. Leave of absence was then granted to Cr J. Kerr. .. ; Cr Everett then gave notice of motion for next meeting as follows :—" That a footway be formed, gravelled and k'erbed, and a handrail fixed near, the edge of the ditch as far as Renton street on the north side of Washington Valley ; that the road .be gravelled where necessary, and good water tables formed. Cr Bolton gave notice that he would move that for the future no application for connecting water closets with a sewer be granted. Th* Council then,adjourned. v „