BOROUGH COUNCILS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 40, 30 June 1868, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

— ♦ — CHRISTCHURCH, Monday, June 29. Tho Council mot at tho usual hour, his Worship tlio Mayor, and Councillors Duncan, Uuddonklau, Calvert, Shoppard, * Jameson, Anderson, Tombs, and Thomson being present. Tho minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. Councillor Shoppard asked how tho printing was done, whothor by contract or private arrangement. The Clerk said it had hitherto been dono at tho Press Ofilco, and had not been tendered for. Councillor Jameson said ho considered the printing should bo equally distributed, amongst tho offices in tho city.* Tho Mayor and other members of tho Counoll agreed with these romarks, and it was understood that tho printing work should bo divided as might bo deemed advisablo by tho Council when any was required. Tho receipts for tho wcok wero stated to have boon £00 Os, which, aftor liquidating tho small overdraft remaining irom last meeting, loft a credit balance of -£89 2s Gd. Accounts amounting to £04 14s wero passed and ordered to bo paid. In considering tho amounts contained in tho pay sheet, Mr Duncan called attention to tho manner ln which men aro employed with carts at work for tho Council. Ho suggested thnt if threo or four oarts woro employed at eaoh work, it would prevont tho lois of time uooruing from men walking backwards and forwards with them, No motion was made, and tho subject droppod. X'iho Mayor hl«a.callod attention to the unsatisfactory and very dirty condition of! the streets, 110 considered that the Surveyor had been vory remiss in his duty in not having mado greater cfibrto to clear tho mud away. Numerous complaints had been made by ratepayers, and he himself had come specially to tho Clork'a ofilco with instructions to pro* coed moro vigorously with tho scraping, but it had not been attonded to. Councillor Calvert supported theso remarks, and also complained of two men being employed at ono scraper, no thought ono man quite sufficient for tho work. After a brtof discussion, tho Surveyor was called in nnd questioned by tho Mayor on tho -.mull progress made iv clearing the streets, He explained that ho had employed all the labour available for such a purposo, and had paid overy attention ho possibly could to tho work, Tho Mayor considered that ether works ought to havo given placo to tho ono in question, which was by far tho most impor* taut for tho timo being. It was ultimately resolved that tho Surveyor should he authorised to employ such extra labour nn ho thought necessary for carrying out tho latter with expedition. Tlio ourroyor'a roport was read. It stated that in accordance with instructions, a sketch plan of a urinal had been prepared, and the estimated cost wai about £57 10a. Ono thousand ana four yards of tho broken metal in Lincoln road had been measured off, and it would bo desirable to stato where it should be carted to. It had been necessary during the past week to tako up the lead gutter over the offices belonging to tho Resident Magistrate's Court, and havo a now ono laid down. A groat portion of tho roof requires shingling, nnd it was greatly .cured that part of the plaster celling would givo way, in consequence of tho rain having washed away tho koy to tho plastering. Tho carting of the broken motnl from tho Government Buildings, to the footpath In Madras street, had been completed, but tlio wet weather had prevented the completion oMho rolling. Tho iron lamp at tho cornor of Madras and Lichfield streets had been erected as ordered, and was lighted by kcroslnc. Mr Reedier having declined to pay for lighting tho lamp in front of Monoy's stables, tho Gas Company had been served with a notico to dUcontlnuo supplying it with gas. Attention was called to tho footpaths in Colombo street, and information asked whothor tho Counoll would sanction tho formation of ono of them from Lichfield street to tho South Town Belt. The exnenso would be considerable, in consequence of tho dlstanco which the sand would nave to bo carted. Tho erection of tho Manchester street bridge had not yet hcon commenced, but tho necessary plant was on the ground. Tho labour gang had been employed during tho week metalling Madras street footpath j fencing and planting on tho East Town Belt t putting In pipe culverts on the Ferry road and St Asaph streot i filling up crossings in High street * repairing Colombo street j clearing out side

drains in the samo street, and repairing roof of tho Court Houso. On the motion of Councillor Thomson the consideration ot the plan for* urinal was deferred, It was decided after a brief discussion that broken metal should ba employed in carrying out the the following works as suggested by tho surveyor- Metalling Colombo street from Lkhfleld street to the South Town belt, 55 chains, with SO cubic yards to the chain ; repairing Manchester street from High street to tho Railway station, OS chains with S yards to tho chain - metalling Tuam street from tho Lincoln roAd to Antigu*\ street -4 -chains with 15 yards to tho chain, and repairing other streets, which received a coating of mctnl laat winter. Consideration of tho suggested repairs to tho R.M, Court was deferred. Whilst discussing this subject Councillor Shoppard called attention to the Council Chamber having been vied by the officials of tho Magistrate's Court. Tho Mayor said the chamber had been used for witnesses, and considering the large rent they were receiving from tho Court, he scarcely thought it necessary or advisable to demur to it. The chamber had on one occasion only been used for n prisoner, but that was a very exceptional awe. After a brief di.cuaslou the matter was left in tho hands of tha clerk, who Bhould exerciso his discretion in permitting tho room to bo used, Tho formation of the footpath in Colombo street was referred to the Public Works Committee. * A conversation took place respecting the delay in commencing the Manchester street bridge Councillor Calvert said from personal knowledge he knew that the contractor had used every endeavour to commenco the work but had been delayed by the wet weather. It being understood that the Surveyor had written to the contractor on the subject, no motion was made. • Councillor Thomson called attention to tho dangerous depth of tho surface drain leading from nobba' corner to the footpath in Cathedral Square. It was very dangerous to persons riding in vehicles, and several had had narrow escapes from accident. Several similarly dangerous placea in the city wero instanced by members of the Council, ani the whole were referred to the Publio Works committee, with a request to effect tho necessary alterations. . Tho following correspondence was read ; — Letter from the Under Secretary for the Colony, acknowledging receipt of letternotifying tho election of Mr W.Wilson as Mayor of Christchurch. A conversation enfcned respecting the nonappointment ot his Worship as a Justice of tho Peace. Councillor Duncan considered the Govern* ment had been very lax in not taking some steps for doing this. Councillor Calvert naked whether an esErcsalon of opinion from the Council would avo'any effect in tho .matter. Tho Mayor said it was merely optional with tho Government whether or not Mayors should be appointed Justice* of the Peace, and nothing which the Council could do would affect their decision. Letter from the Secretary for Public Works in reply to the deputation respecting main froads. It stated that thoie specified by the deputation wero not considered main roads within tho moaning of tho Ordinanco under which tho voto of last session was passed, Several members expressed their disapproval of the courao taken by the 3overnutent, and by the members in the Provincial Council for tho city, and the subject dropped. Another letter from tho Secretary for Publio Works stating that the Government did not consider themselves liable for more expanse in connection with the Broeng.no than was necessary to keep it in working order. This they considered fully provided for by tho £75 charged for oiling the engine and drying the hoae which they wero prepared to recommend the Provincial Council to vote. The letter being considered unsatisfactory was rof erred to tho Firo Brigade committee, XLetter from the Rev E. A, Llngard, asking perintolon to take a few loads ot sand from tbe hill in ICilmoro street, near the parsonage, for the purpose of levelling tho school ground, and also calling attention to tho disagreeable stato of tho 'roads' In the neighbourhood which had a groat effect in dluiDlauing the attendanceat church^' aTIio first portion of tho tetter was referred to tho Surveyor, who was also ordered to pay immediate attention to tho copiplaint contained in the latter portion of it/ Letter from Messrs C. Klverpand Morrow. Daggett and Co, 'complaining of the stato of the road opposlto their respective places of buaincis In Cashel street, which they characterised as disgraceful, and rendering tho approach to their stores a matter ot great difficulty. Tlio Council considered the place complained of was no womc than othe? parts of the city, and the letter was laid upon tho table. Letter from Mr E. Long complaining of tho state of tho footpath in Colombo street, from Kllmore street to Peterborough street. Letter from Messrs Smith and Coates. calling attention to tho disgraceful state of tlic footpaths, aidc-draini, and road fronting tbe Caversham hotel. Lstter from Mr James Faulkner, asking for two months in wiiich to pay rates for which ho had consented to judgment. The Council decided that they could not interfere with tho judgment of tho Magistrate's Court. . - Letter from Mr J. Cliff requesting some shingle to be laid on the footpath in Madras street north. Letter from John Woodard, calling attention to tho impassable stato of the side channel an footpaths in Whatcly road. The subjects of the abovo correspondence wero roferrod to tho Surveyor. yPho report of the Planting committee on Latimer and Cranmer squares was read.

It stated that Latimer squaro boing oxtcn-. {lively used as a recroatton ground, and having nlrendy boon laid down in English grasses, shouhl be first laid out. The cost would only bo about one-third of tho expenditure required for Cranmor square, oxcluslvo of fencing, in consequence of tlio unovon sujrfaco 6f tho latter, which will require levelling with tho spade, whilst tho former could ho dono by a plough, The estimated cost of tho .necessary work would bo ploughing and loVelllng, £7 por acre,* planting, sowing, and cost of trees, £20 for tho wholo j and the ••fencing about £00, making tho total amount 4110, Thp objections raised to Cranmor! square were that tho subsoil was of a Yory Bandy * nature, whioh will ontail ft large amount to kcop tho good surfaco floll on the top, nnd that thocoufcof tho necessary work .would bo about £210. In tho ovent of improvement to cither 'of tho squares being decided upon, tho trcoa recommended to bo Slanted woro the Oriental Piano and Horso Ihosnut nt a dlatunco of six foot each from tho fenco, and thirty feet from ono anothorj - Councillor Thomson moved tho adoption of iho report, which ho considered ln ovory respect satisfactory, and ho thought! -.the Counoll was in a ponltlon to carry lt out. A sum of &n for tho Improvement of squares had already been voted, and ho boiiovod tho f-jUbflcrlpMonfl which had boon promised towards Latimor squaro would bring that amount up to tho estimated coat, . , Councillor Duncan seconded tho adoption of tho roport, also speaking in favour of Latimer square bofng pro-coded with n» early nfl poimlblo. „ Councillor Shoppard urged the claims of Cranmor squaro, poluUitff out Its bad stato, •whilst Latimor sqyaro was ln comparatively good condition, and capablo of being at present used for almost any purpose of recreation. Councillor Ruddcnklrtu objected to olthor of tho squares being proceeded with at present, calling attention to tho monetary position of tho Counoll, nnd tho many works required to bo carried out in connection with tho Btrcots and footpaths of tho city. Mr Oalvort agreed with Mr Ruddonklaiv Ho considered that in faco of tho many letters complaining of tho stato of tho strcots, &o. which woro rccolved every meeting, tho Council was not In a position to Improvo public squares, Aftor somo remarks from tho Mayor ln favour of Latimer square, tho roport was Adopted, but tho carrying out of Its recommendations was doforrcd, Tho Nuisance Inspector reported that a notico had been served upon Mr Peterson ln Canhol street to cloanso nnd drain hls back yard. No result had yot bcon attained in roforonce to Mr Trcaoy's case. Councillor Shoppard withdrew his motion in roforonco to tho nuisance existing in Cathodral squaro, • no was glad to loam that tho Commission had expressed their Intention of levelling tho ground, and any action by tho Council would consequently be unnccoesary in the matter, ' ' )< A short discussion ensued rospcotlng tho straightening of tho roadway through tho square, during whioh tho Blshop'H title to tho ground was questioned, and it wan re solved, on tho motion of Councillor Jameson, that legal advice should ho takon ns to •whothor tho Counoll could tako such portion of tho ground nn would bo necessary to straighten tho street. On tho motion of Councillor Thomson, tho old seal of the Council wan adopted pro, lorn, A notice of motion waß given by Councillor Ruddonklau, for noxt mooting, to the <efl!oet that hls Honor tho Superintendent bo.roquostcd to place a sum of £1000 upon tho estimates for in/ilntcnnnco of main thorough•fares in tho city of Christoliuroh. Tho Council then adjourned.