CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 179, 8 December 1868, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, Dec. 7. Present — His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Duncan, Ruddenklau, Calvert, Sheppard, Angus, Tombs, Jameson, Sawtell, and Anderson. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The receipts for the past week were £125 I 12s ld, and the credit at the bank was £290 j 5s 3d. Accounts to the amount of X1 56 15s 8d were ordered to be paid. ' The Mayor stated that the Municipal Reserves Bill had passed the Provincial Council, after clauses 1, 2, 3, and 6 had been amended; and that, as. amended, it appeared to be all that was necessary for Christchurch aud Lyttelton; he added that he had written to the Mayor of Lyttelton, informing him of what had been done in the matter. . I Iv reference to ths proposed cattle market, the Mayor said that the deputation appointed by the Council had waited on the Superintendent this day, and stated that thoy had seen the land proposed to be assigned for the market, and approved of the plan submitted aud its railway reserves. The Council went into committee to consider the matter thus brought before them, and having resumed, Mr C:ilvert moved that the Mayor be requested to state to the Superintendent that the Council approved of the site of the proposed market, and to ask that conveyance of it might be made to the city. Councillor Jameson seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. A letter from the Superintendent was read on the subject of the baths proposed to be established in the city, approving of the plan and situation submitted ; and it was ordered that the matter be referred to the Batli Committee. The report of the Surveyor was read. .X.ln reference to the subject of artesian [■wells, referred to in his last report, lie said 8 J private wells, and two public ones had been sunk during the past 3 r ear, and that he took the total number of such wells now in tho city as 302 ; which discharged four million gallons of water daily, and which he i calculated had cost £5400. He submitted to the Council a" plan upon which the sites of j these wells were marked. The following fresh tenders for supplying 500 yards of stone channelling were opened : — Blunt and Co., 4a 8d per yard ; Edmonds and Co., 3s 9d do ; Ellis and Co., 4s Bd. The tender of Messrs Edmonds and Co. was accepted. The suggestion of the Works' committee, that the posts and chains lying in the Council yard should be fixed around the open ground in frout of the Post-office, the consideration of which was adjourned last week, was now re-introduced. Councillor Jameson said that besides the space referred to at the Post-office, it was important to fence the river befcsveen Victoria bridge and the foot-bridge at the Government Buildings. The posts and chains in the yard were sufficient for one of these works, but he thought that both ought to be done. He would move that the posts and chains should be used to fence the river, and that a substantial fence of j.osts and rails should be put around the ojien space at the Post-office. Councillor Tombs seconded this motion. Councillor Anderson feared that the fencing of the river might oppose an obstacle to the duties of the fire brigade ; but ou being assured that this would not be the case, he withdrew his opposition, and the motion was carried. Councillor Duncan said that Mr Stiffe had inquired of him on what terms the Council would sink an artesian well at the junction of Wliately Road and Peterborough street. No formal application had been made to the Council on the subject, but as the question had been put to him he had thought it right to introduce the matter for consideration. Councillor Jameson moved that the Council should make the well if the inhabitants of the neighbourhood will raise £8 ; and the motion was seconded by Councillor Duucan. Councillor Sheppard thonght that all public wells should in future have tanks attached to them ; they would- be useful in cases of fire, and for watering the streets, and he said that two of them could be bought for £7 10s. lie thought that if the Council rssolvcd to aid in the sinking of the proposed well, it should also resolve to have a tank iv connection with it. Councillor Tombs agreed with this suggestion, but Councillor Duncan proposed that the Council should first ascertain what flow of water could be obtained. Councillor Sawtell considered that the Council should not at present spend any money on the proposed well; it would, no doubt be a great benefit to the neighbourhood, but it had been promised that Peterborough street should be made when the Council was in funds, and he thought that street ought to be formed first. Councillor Anderson was of opinion that the Council had neglected the north side of the river, and that the well ought therefore to be made. Councillor Calvert said the Council had | resolved to make a well whenever the inhabitants of the neighbourhood requiring it were willing to subscribe half the cost; ancl that, therefore, if the present applicants would subscribe £8, the Council was bound to make the well in question. Ultimately the motion was carried. A letter from Mr Shand, Chairman of the Riccarton Koad Board, on the subject of changing the market day, was read to the Council. This was the last of a series of communications on that subject received by the Council in reply to applications made by it to the authorities in the districts surrounding Christchurch ; and it stated that there was a majority of 27 in favour of Saturday. Councillor Jameson said that he thought all the communications on the subject which

they were likely to get had been received, and tliat as they were not able to alter the market day, all they could do was to hand over all the letters they had received to the Press, with a request that the opinions expressed would be published. He said the Council could not alter the market day until it had a market its own. He moved that the letters be handed to the Press. Councillor Angus said that no reliance could be placed on the letters received. He knew one case in which the large farmers only had been consulted, who had conveniences at their command which small farmers had not. Councillor Sheppard said that it would not do for the Council to question the communications which had been made; they were official returns, and the Council must receive them. " Councillor Calvert seconded the motion. Councillor Sawtell moved as an amendment " That the communications on the subject be submitted for the consideration of the Council on Mouday next." He thought that as they were to have a market of their own it might be desirable to consider them. Councillor Ruddenklau thought this was no amendment; the Council was competent to carry both motions ; and on the resolutions being submitted, both were adopted. The Mayor then handed an abstract of the letters to the representatives of the Press with a request that they would, if possible, obtain its publication. . The results were as follows: — Lyttelton. — Not much interested in the matter. Kaiapoi. — Not interested in the proposed change but another, day would do as well as Saturday. Spreydon. — 13 for change to Thursday, 10 for Saturday. Heathcote. — Desirous of change; no day mentioned. Avon. — Desirous of change; not particular as to day. Leeston. — AVould retain Saturday. J Lincoln. — Would change to Thursday. /. Templeton. — AVould change to the middle bl the week. j Halswell. — Did not desire change. Springs Road. — Wanted change by a large majority. Riccarton. — As above stated. A letter was read from Mr AY. Manning, 'complaining of a nuisance in front of his house in Barbadoes street. The matter was referred to the Sanitary Committee. '1 he Inspector reported a nuisance on the premises of Mrs Ashwin, in Armagh street, and the Council ordered lhat it should be abated instantly, or a summons issued. On the motion of Councillor Jameson it was resolved to have a clock in the Council Chamber, to cost not more than £8. On the motion of Councillor Angus it was resolved to append drinking cups to the fountains opposite Cobb and Co.'s and Matheson's Agency, and to have the name of the Mayor, and the dates of their erection cut in the stone of the lamp pedestals at the junction of High and Cashel streets, and near the Post-office. On the motion of Councillor Calvert it was resolved that a special meeting of the Council be held on Friday evening, at seven o'clock, to take the new by-laws into consideration. After some notices of motion had been given, the Council adjourned.