CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 192, 23 December 1868, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

♦ Tuesday, Dec. 22. Yv The ordinary weekly meeting was held la^tfnight. .:,; « ■ v ■■■-,-■ ,-j rrcsent-^-llis Worship" 1 the Mayor, in'd Councillors Ruddenklau, Calrert, Sheppard,

Angus, Tombs, Jameson, Sa\rtell, and Duncan. . The minutes of la^t were rekd and confirmed:The Clerk reported that he had received £187 7s 9d during the week, and that the balance at the bank was "£437 8s 4d. Accounts amounting to £39 14s 9d were passed and ordered to be paid. ;■ In answer to Councillor the Clerk stated' that he had wriitten to the Colonial Secretary informing him of the election of i.Mr Anderson as Mayor of the city- ' The Mayor intimated that on Saturday evening he had presided at a meeting of gentlemen called for the purpose of arranging rural sports for New Year's Day. And he had been requested to enquire whether the Council would devote a small portion of their rfu'nds towards meeting the necessary ex■penses. He did not wish to bias members, but he might point out that in 1864, a sum of £15 had been similarly appropriated from the Council's funds, and he thought the matter was certainly worthy of their consideration. / j Councillor Jameson was of /opinion that the Council should, at least, assist in publiq sports, if even they did not/initiate thenr and moved that a sum of £10 should, bje voted towards those intended for New Yearjs Day. f Councillor Kuduenklau endorsed these observations, remarking that holidays In Christchurch were more like days of mourning than anything else, and it was really incumbent upon them to do something towards providing amusement of some kind on sudji occasions. All the outlying districts h*i their regular days for recreation, and yet kChristchureh, the centre and most populated of the province was without. I Councillor Sheppard had opposed the"g«tfit of £50 to public baths, and for consistency, he must adopt the same course in respect to the sports. He was decidedly of opinion that such matters should be paid for by individual subscriptions, and not from public funds. Councillor Tombs, in consideration of the difficulty experienced in collecting rates, could not support the motion. He did not think the Council would be justified in voting any sum, however small.jtowards the proposed sports. .' Councillor Angus also opposed the motion, Councillor Calvert agreed with the principle of the motion, pointing out the great necessity of some kind of regular recreation being provided in the city. The Mayor and Councillor Jameson having made some further remarks in support of the motion, it was put and agreed to. v The Surveyor's report was ftsad and considered. It stated as follows : — two sets of plans for the Worcester street bridge had been prepared, the first having a clear span of 50 feet, and the other with a length of 50 feet between the abutments, but of the ordinary description for piles. Both had a clear roadway of 14 feet between the wheelguards, and were designed for New Zealand timber only. The city portion of the south drain had been deepened as agreed upon, and the double pipe culvert across the South Town Belt had also been completed. Attention was called to a general subsidence in the flow from artesian wells in the city, and the fact that the water at the reservoir in front of Matheson's agency does not now rise above the level of the upper basin. It was suggested that two or three wells in each quarter of the city should be selected, and tested every two months during the ensuing year, with the view of ascertaining whether the falling off was due, to the dearth of water during the summer months, or a real decrease of the underground supply. The labour gang had been employed during the week in deepening the south drain, clearing side channels, collecting loose stones, and placing the pipe culvert across the, South belt. At the request of the Works committee, consideration of the plans for Worcester street bridge was postponed until next meeting, Councillor Jameson intimating that a third one would then be submitted. In remarking upon the suggestion respecting the artesian wells. Councillor Jameson saidjthe matter was a very important one to the city, and ' moved that the result of the periodical tests should be carefully recorded, wliich was agreed to. The remainder of the report was approved. Thi following correspondence was read :— Letter from Mr R. J. S. Harmau asking if the Council would entertain the idea of erecting a footbridge, across the Avon in continuation of Antigua street, provided that residents in the vicinity subscribed the sum of j£2o towards the cost. The writer pbinted out num,erQ.ug advantages which would accrue from it. , Councillor Sheppard had previously given notice of motion that such a structure should be erected, ; and on being proposed and seconded, it was decided that the Surveyor should, prepare plans and estimates with a view to ascertaining the actual cost before Mr Harman's letter was considered. A letter from Mr T. D. Jones, calling attention to the bad state of a side channel in the vicinity of Mr B. Ware's store, and pointingfout -jthe necessity of some improvements being ' effected was referred to the Wpxkai committee. - , : , : The report of the Committee appointed to consider the<grievances complained of by the licensed carriers at the last meeting was brought up and read. They had conferred with the carriers, whose complaints were that many persons were in the habit of conveying goods about the city without a license, and that tjie- attention of the police had been called to the fact,' but they had taken r.o steps to prevent its recurrence. The committee saw the justice of their complaints, and would recommend that a letter should be written to the Commissioner of Police, drawing bis attention to the matter. With reference jto .the, stand for licensed vehicles, the deputation l Mid l requesWa tßaPtnM^ne^opposite the City Hotel should be discontinued, and a central

I one appointed in Cathedral Square. The committee agreed with this, and would recom- . mend it for adoption. A protracted discussion ensued on the first clause, the Council being of opinion that carriers were injured in the manner complained of, hut differed in opinion as to whether s carriers conveying goods from store to store or to and from the railway station without seeking employment on a stand were plying s for hire within the meaning of the Ordinance i or not. It was ultimately resolved that the suggestion of the committee should be car- . u ried out, the inspector being further requested to assist in bringing one of the offenders I before the Bench in order that the matter ■ smight be decided. i I The Nnisancc Inspector's report was api proved. Councillor Duncan complained that the • Inspector was not so vigilant in " his , r duties as could be desired, and spointed out -j several instances where he considered neglect i had been evinced; ' ' Some conversation ensued, and the Inspec- / tor's attention was ordered to be called to f them. • j Authority was given to the Clerk to renew • the licenses for vehicles, and after consider- .. ing some further portionsof the new by-laws, '■ the Council adjourned. 1 • KMBMmnMMH