CITY COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume XLIII, Issue 9690, 20 January 1900, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of this Council was held last night, when, owing to the absence of the Mayor, Cr Bout was voted to the chair, and there were also present : Councilors Akersten, C. Harley, Moller, Fairey, Kirkpatrick, Light, Baigent, and Piper. The minutes having been confirmed payments were authorised as follows :—

The usual report showing the state of the Bank Balances At date was presented as follows : —

COBBESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read and considered, amongst the letters received being the following : — From Mr B. F. Nieholls, urging thatthe construction of drain from Upper Collingwood street should be carried out as soon as possible. The Surveyor said he had laid the work out that afternoon. The pipes had arrived. It was resolved that on those interested giving a guarantee to contribute half the coßt, the work be proceeded with. From the Waimea County Council, stat*

I ing that the Council wished the City Council to maintain the Bocks road wall and charge the County with the cost. From Messrs Davis and Bradshaw, offering to contribute £2 10s each if the Council wou'd extend the Halifax street sewer to serve their residences. It was agreed that the offer be accepted From Colonel Pitt, calling attention to the inferior quality of the gas supplied to his residence, and stating he was compelled to use candles on some nights. From Mr Deck, complaining of the gas recently supplied to him, and stating that he was obliged to use kerosene. Cr Baigent said he had had a similar experience* The Surveyor said the complaint was due to the presence of napthalme in the pipes, but with oooler weather the difficulty wotdd disappear. It was resolved that the letters be referred to the Surveyor for him to take action. From Mr T. H. Smith, re drain from Trafalgar-street South, and asking the Council to allow him the cost of drain pipes used by the Council. Referred to Committee. It was resolved to give notice to the agent of a property in Trafalgar-street South to provide traps, &c, to drain connecting with new sewer. From Mr S. Gorman, stating that footpaths in Bussell street badly needed repair. Referred to Committee. From Mr Millar, applying for leave to connect residence of Miss Snart with Collingwood-street sewer. From Messrs Stringer & Scott, applying for leave to connect premises of Miss Witney with Trafalgar-street sewer. Both the applications were granted. A telegram from the Colonial Secretary to the Mayor re bubonic plague was then read (the telegram has already been published in these columns). Cr Piper moved that the telegram be reterred to the Works Committee, and that in the meantime the Sanitary Inspector and his assistant inspect all the ditches and report thereon, the Committee to have power to act. Cr Fairey seconded the motion, and said that later on he would prove that the Council was the greatest offender in the city. The Surveyor said he thought there should be a complete inspection of the whole town at once. The motion was carried. Reports were then read as f ollowS : — Finance Committee. A meeting of this Committee was held on January 9th, 1900. Present the Mayor (Mr J. A. Harley) in the chair, Crs Akersten and Rout. The Committee reported as follows :— 1. On letter from Mr j. P. Hornsby.— That they have no recommendation to make. 2. That they recommend that the wages of the gasfitter be raised to 10s per day. 3. As to turncock Brook street. — That in addition to his rates Mr Bashford be allowed £5 per annum. 4. As to ordering gas mains and retorts. — That consideration be deferred until next meeting. The report was adopted. Public Works Report. A Meeting of the Public Works Committee was held on January 11th, 1900. Present, the Mayor (Mr J. A. Harley) in j !}he chair, Crs Piper, C. J. Harley, Moller, and Baigent. The Committee reported as follows : — 1. As to drains running into Maitai and Brook street streams. — That a by-law be made to prevent persons draining water

closets into any streams, or river, or water- ( course, 2i As to drain (A. Davies).— That the original resolution be adhered,- to thel^ew Street drain being unsuitable; 3. As to Supplying water to fountains, Queen's Gardens.— That the water be turned down low during the day and turned on after 10 o'clock at night sufficiently to keep the fountains clear. 4. As to dwarf wall and concrete steps, Church hill.— The Committee approve of this idea, but recommend that the Work be deferred for the present owing to want of funds. .''"''' 5. On letter from Messrs Trent and A. T. Maginnity. — That the writers be informed that owing to want of funds the Cbmnittee is unable to recommend the Council to grant the request at present. 6. As to fountain ( W. Roberts and others) . — That the owners of fountains be asked by letter to curtail the amount of water used, or the supply will be cut off or supplied by meten ! t. That the following licenses have been granted : —Drivers, passengers : G. W. Harris. Express : J. Gay. Drain connectors S fl. Buff. Plumbers ; H. A. Hobbs and R. Glover. The report waß adopted. AbAtSolbs Cgmmittee Be?oMj The Abattoirs Committee reported, recommending that the Surveyor prepare plans for workman's cottage near abattoirs, the cost to be about £130 ; that Steps be taken to raise the balance of the abattoir loan in April; that applications from qualifield veterinary surgeons willing to act as inspector, at a salary of £275 and house, be invited by the 31st March;, and that the duties commence about the Ist ifuly j that the Committee found the work progressing \ satisfactorily, the foundations being completed, and the walls in course of construction ; that they had fixed the site for the workmen's cottages ; that the land be cut |up in five-acre paddocks, and that the | butchers be approached as to what paddocks they require ; that steps be taken to provide for drainage, and that the ditch alongside Messrs Wilkie & Co's property be cleaned out. Aiier cuscnssion, Cr f ipel' moved, and Cr Moller seconded, the adoption of the report. Cr Jfairey moved an amendment that the ijuestion of constructing a slaughterman's cottage be stru.ck out; and . gaid that .if the Council clid the slaughtering) the smaller ! butchers would be materially affected. | Cr Harley said the amendment struck at the whole scheme. .-; The (Council had decided that it should do the slaughtering. 1 The amendment was^not; seconded, and the motion was carried qn the ypices. Cr Moller referred to a paragraph in the Coi-ofjlsi about dirty watel:; ]H«f, had had a similar experience, and, found.. thai^oti letting rhe pipe run a few minutes thei .wate_r became quite clear. ;i He kinentioned this that people might take precautions. The Surveyor said a Bottle was left, at the office by, he presumed, the gentleman who had sent water to the Colonist, and he understood the gentleman was advised to let the tap run for a time. The water | looked black, but there was no danger, and he drank some of it. The sediment was composed of small particles of leaves, and they could not prevent these passing into the mains, as they had , ho filter bed,; In St. John street the water had ho circulation, and should be drawn off at tinjes. On the motion of Cr Moller,' it was resolved that in the absence of the Mayor, Councilors should take the chair in rotation from right to left. Cr Fairey said he had stated that the Council was the greatest offender in the city in the way of permitting; jand creating nuisances, He moved that tenders be called for filling in Milton's Acre. The other day he saw a dray conveying stuff;: from that offensive drain near Messrs' JSeale <fe Haddow's and emptied on Milton's Acre. On a summer evening the place smelt worse than any place in town. \ . Cr Piper asked whether they deo'derised stuff thrown on this acre? ',■ .-, The Surveyor said the orders were general to put lime and earth on such refuse, and once a week a man was sent to level the heap. The Chairman said it would cost a vast amount to fill up this acre, Cr Moller said about a third of the acre was already reclaimed, and about a couple of years would see it finished. After further remarks the motion lapsed for want of a seconder. Cr Kirkpatrick moved that the stuff from the drain be covered up. This was carried. The Chairman suggested that they should commence tarring their streets, and he was informed by a Ohristchurch gentleman that tarring would soon pay for its cost. It was stated that it would be necessary to have a road roller for such work, and, besides, that they had not the means. Cr Fairey said it was disheartening to hear on each hand " We've no money," but he should move that a house for the Gasworks foreman be erected at a cost of about £250, as the place was not fit to live in during the winter. He thought it was time the Finance Committee went into the matter, and showed how. they could get the necessary money. Cr Akersten seconded the motion, but said he should oppose the overdraft being increased. Already it cost them^ £200 a year for interest, and they got nothing from that. The Chairman said the motion could not be put till they got rid of the previous resolution. Cr Moller moved that the Gas Committee visit the house and inspect same. This motion was carried. Tender fob Sinking Well. Only one tender was received for sinking a well at the abattoir site — from Mr J. Gribble, whose* price was 5s a foot for the first 10ft, 10s a foot for the second 10ft, 15s for the third, 20s for the fourth, 22s 6d for the fifth, 25s for the sixth, 27s 6d for the seventh, 30s for the eighth, 32s 6d for the ninth, and 35s for the tenth. With 10s a yard for timbering. The tender was accepted. The question of Mount street was then again dealt with. The Chairman said they received a letter from the Bank, and had written regarding same, but had received no reply yet. Cr Piper moved that they lay a 3in water main to Mount street. Cr Light seconded the motion. Cr Akersten supported the motion. Cr Harley asked from what fund the money was to be taken, as the Waterworks Account was overdrawn. He asked whether they had power to overdraw that account. The Town Clerk said they had not. Cr Harley said when he attended the special meeting they were reading a letter from the Bank which so staggered them that they could do nothing. They had received no further word from the Bank, but the Councilors appeared to have got over their fright. Cr Fairey wanted to see who it really was that was opposed to giving the water. Crs Baigent and Moller both said the residents of Mount street ought to have the water, but they would like the motion postponed till they heard further re the Bank. Cr Harley moved that consideration of the matter be deferred for a fortnight." Cr Moller seconded the amendment. Cr Piper said he should press his motion. The people must have water, and if there was not the money it would have to be taken from the General Account. The Chaiaman saw no. objection to wait- j ing another fortnight, by when they would know more of the Bank business. He should eventually vote for giving water. On the question being put the amendment was lost on a division. ! Ayes : Crs Baigent, Moller, Harley and I the Chairman. Noes : Crs Light, Kirkpatrick, Piper, Fairey and Akersten. . \ The motion was then carried on a division, Crs Harley and Rout alone voting No. The Council then adjourned.

Dr. Cr. £ s. a; £ s. A. General •• 3799 3 2 Water ... 25 18 11 Interest .. 142 9 5 Gas .. .. 296 7 7 Cemeteries .. 173 7 1 Contractors' deposits .. 70 15 0 Trafalgar Park 45 14 3 Special Fund (Abattoir) 1749 15 10 £3870 16 4 £2432 14 11

£ s. d. Gasworks Account .. 142 18 6 Waterworks „ . . 11 14 4 General „ .. 331 0 3 Cemeteries „ .. 11 2 4 Special Fund, Abattoirs .. .. 218 13 4 Total .. .. £715 8 9