BOROUGH COUNCILS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 131, 13 October 1868, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCILS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, Oct. 12. The Council met at 7 p.m.; present, his ' v orsl>ip, the Mayor, and Councillors Jaraeson.Tombs, Anderson, Angus, Sawtell, Sheppard, Calvert, Ruddenklau, and Duncpn. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. Tiie Clerk stated that he had received £136 3s lOd during the week, nnd that the existing overdraft was reduced to £278 19s. Accounts amounting to £125 8& 9d were passed and ordered to be pa; 1. In answer to Councillor Angus, the Town Clerk said Messrs Coker and Keath had given no notice to the Surveyor before erecting the new building on their propeity between Gloucester and Worcester streets. ■- Nothing was known of it until erected, when • the Surveyor at once sent a nolice informing the proprietors that they had acted in contravention of the Fire Prevention Ordinance, but nothing more than a mere acknowledgment of the letter had resulted. A discussion ensued as to whether the penalty which had been incurred by erecting the building should be imposed. Councillor Sawtell asked if the ordinance had been published in any other manner than l>y means of the Gazelle. If not, he thought it would be hard to strictly carry out its provisions, as such notice would not have made the matter sufficiently public. The Mayor said it had been published and commented upon by one, if not more, of the local journals. The Surveyor was called in to give informa-

tiqn as to what proceedings he had taken in the matter. He confirmed what the Town Clerk had said and added that Mr Coker when spoken to personally said he had Leen told by several persons that the building was. not within the prescribed district. Mr Coker might however have easily made sure of the matter by enquiring at the clerk's office. Councillor Duncan said the matter had evidently resulted from error, and thought they would scarcely be justified in enforcing the full provisions of the Ordinance to the probable ruin of Messrs Coker and Heath. It was ultimately resolved that Messrs Coker and Heath be requested to shew cause why the provisions of the Ordinance referred to should not be enforced against them. The following tenders fur re-painting the Post-office and Weighbridge buildings were opened and considered :— j. C. St Quentin, £14 19s ; R. Smith, £21 ; Chas. Freeman. £15 ; J. D. Stokes, £15 ; G. W. Allan, £21 ; Geo. Lummis, £22 ; Thompson and Baldwin, £20. The tender of J. C. St Quentin was accepted. The surveyor reported that the stone channelling in Gloucester and Colombo streets had been commenced, and would be finished in about a week. He called attention t.) the grip in the crossing near Hobbs arid Sons' in Colombo street, aud asked whether a culvert should be placed as soon as the channelling reaches that point. He also referred to the watering of the streets, and said two small artesian wells would bs cheaper than a large one. He recommended the centre of the west side of Cathedral square as the best site for them in respect to drainage; and further suggested that the shingling of Eilmore and Peterborough streets, where recently formed, should be proceeded with. •He stated that the labour gang had been employed during the week in improving the drainage of Durham street north, completing the formation of the roadway in Antigua street, levelling plantations on the East town belt, clearing out the side drains on the Papanui Road, High, Cashel, Hereford, and Montreal streets, and Cambridge terrace. The report was discussed seriatim. The advisability of continuing the stone channelling was discussed, and referred for consideration to the Works committee, with a request to report at next meeting. Councillor b'awtell said he would prefer the 'matter being left in abeyance until the new year, when he would introduce the question of carrying it out, to a larger extent, and borrowing capital for that purpose. The second clause was ordered to be car■ried out, stone being used for the purpose. The third was postponed; and the Works committee was ordered to report upon the fourth. The following correspondence was read and considered: — A letter from the Provincial Secretary, enclosing a copy of the bill relating to the management of rivers in the provinces, was ordered to be acknowledged. Letter from the Mayor of Lyttelton, referring to the Provincial Solicitor's decision respecting the Lyttelton Town Reserves, which affected all parts of the province alike, and requesting co-operation in endeavouring to procure a new bill for securing the reserves to the various municipalities. The Mayor said the subject was a very important one, and as he had great reason to doubt the correctness of Mr Williams' decision, he considered the Council should take some decided steps without delay. , After a brief discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr 'Sawtell, that the Council's solicitor be instructed to examine the title under which the Christchurch Borough Council hold the several reserves, and if many way the tenure is defective, that the solicitor be instructed to advise the Council what step 3 ought to be taken to validate them. Letter from Capt Wilson, stating, in answer to a communication from the Council, that the present concentric of the eteam fire engine is faulty, and having been patched is not safe to work at a higher pressure than 80 lbs. He therefore recommended that the new casting should be fitted at once. It was resolved that such should be done, and the damaged one handed over to Messrs Hey wood and Co. >)<^Letter from Mr R. P. Crosbie, intimating that several gentlemen were interesting themselves in promoting the establishment o* the floating baths, ami that by Monday next a detailed report and various suggestions would * be laid before the Council. Another letter from the same gentleman, ' in reference to the proposed swimming class in connection with the Railway Rowing Club, and enclosing part of the intended rules. It was deferred until detailed rules be received. A letter from the Heathcote Road Board in reference to the drainage Tieir the Gas Works, and stating that, on receipt of a rej ly from Mr J. Hall, who was interested in the matter, they would be prepared to co-operato in carrying out the necessary works, was ordered to be acknowledged. The Fire Brigade Committee's report on the Liverpool, London and Globe Brigade's by-laws was read, and the suggested alterations adopted. The subject of utilizing artesian wells at fires whs referred back to them for further consideration, the suggested fixing of couplings not meeting with the approval of the Council. The Nuisance Inspector reported that in accordance with instructions, he had called upon the ratepayers and residents in the streets proposed to be watered, and he found that 52 persons were favourable to the rate in High street, 25 in Cashel street, 54 in Colombo street, 32 in Hereford street, and 7 in Gloucester street. Many of the signatures to the petition were given with some reluctance, in consequence of former attempts at watering having been unsuccessful. The refusals to sign were prompted by a dread of increasing taxation, the Kducation and Waimakariri rates being enumerated in every instance. In Colombo and High streets the work was greatly approved of. The petition bearing the signatures of those

acquiescing in the rate was also laid on the table. Councillor Jameson considered the report very satisfactory, and moved that the required rate be struck at once. Councillor Ruddenklau was of opinion that the Council should contribute a portion of the cost, after which the amount of rate necessary could be decided. It was resolved that, the petition should be granted, and steps taken for levying the rate required for defraying the cost. Tenders -were ordered to be invited for sinking two '2-inch artesian wells on the sites indicated in the Surveyor's report, if permitted by the Government; or, if not, on the plot of land opposite Mr Symington's store, and for making the necessary alterations in the water carts. A driver's licence was granted to Patrick McDonagh. The clerk tendered his sureties for proper fulfilment of the duties of treasurer to the Council. The Council then adjourned.