CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 214, 19 January 1869, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

w ... "•''*"• Monday, Jan. 181 '.'■?"■'. At the usual meeting of the Council' his Worship the. Mayor, and all the 'Councillors except Councillor Sawtell were presents The minutes of last meeting were, read and confirmed. . .. „.-,. Th'e clerk reported the palance 1 at the bank after last sitting'£4st)' 4k Bd, and receipts for the fortnight £206 Bs. 6d-,> leaving a nett available balance of £666 :lßsi 2d. 'Accounts amounting to £147 1 9s i were passed and ordered to be paid. . .: i. \ A statement of expenditure in connection with the reception of his Excellency the Governor, was also laid upon the table. The total amount was shewn to be '£157 4s lld, from which had to be deducted £4i 8s J 6d received for tickets and from the Provincial Government, leaving a nett debit against the Council of £109 16s sd. The respective amounts being considered satisfactory they were all passed, and their payment authorised. The reply of his Excellency the Governor to the address presented by the Council, was laid on' the table. .**'.* The Surveyor's report for the fortnight was read arid considered. It stated thathe watercress contract with Mr McNamara expired on the 31st of last month, and. it was very desirable that another should be entered ' into without delay. 'The Provincial Government hid done nothing with ' respect to their portion of the river, either above or below the hridg|2kbut the Surveyor would call upon the Provincial Secretary with reference to it, and r^pqi't at the next meeting of the Council. 'The wooden 'fence near the Post Office had been completed,' and one' on the Ferry Road was being proceeded with. The extra hands employed in making preparation's for the reception of the Governor were discharged at the early part of last week. The labour gang had been employed during the fortnight in erecting the arch; and tent at the Railway station, , -.clearing Cathedral Square, High, Madras, "and Tuam streets, the Market Place, and Papanui Road, carting earth from Cambridge Terrace to level the Market Square, erecting iron posts and chains in Oxford Terrace, fencing near the Post Oflke, aud Ferry Road drain, and clearing out side drains* and mowing weeds, in several of the principal streets within the city. A i lt was decided to await the Surveyor's report before any steps were taken to execute a new contract for clearing the river of watercress. • The remainder of the report was approved. The following correspondence was read and considered. Letter from the Colonial Secretary intimating the appointment of the Mayor as a Justice of the Peace. Letter from the Commissioner of Police, acknowledging one from the Council in respect to the complaints made to them of unlicensed persons carrying parcels in the city. The writer said the attention of the officer in charge of the city police had been called to the matter, but the Commissioner did not think there were nny just grounds for complaint. The Resident Magistrate had decided that in cases where carriers enter into a contract to remove goods they do not render themselves liable to a prosecution under the provisions of the by-law No. 6. Councillor Duncan said such being the opinion of Mr Bowen, he hoped the Council would take the earliest opportunity to pass a by-law which would bring tbe parties complained of under their control. He considered it highly necessary that those paying for licenses to carry parcels should be protected. ■ ■ , , , ' The Council acquiesced in tliis suggestion. Letter from the Heathcote rtoad Board stating that a considerable increase of water to be drained into the. fcouth drain will accrue from works now being carried out by the Spreydon Road Board, and intimating the desire of the writers to act in conjunction with the Council in stopping the increase, as it will result in injury to both districts. The letter was referred to the Works Committee, with a request to communicate with the Heathcote jßoard and report at next meeting. . . ,_. Letter from Rilr James Wood, calling attention to, the great increase of traffic over -Lane's' Mill Bridge, ' and suggesting that 'whilst the present repairs' are being effected, a footbridge should be erected on the South side. He, estimated the cost of such a work at £25, one half of which he was assured he could raise by public subscription. ' Councillors' Duncan, Tombs, and Calvert testified to the boon which would be conferred upon the public by such a 'bridge, and £12 lOs was voted _ towards its erection, the Works Committ^e r being requested to put the work in hand a't'brice: A lengthened discission ensued respecting the compilation ofithe new/irate rol', Councillor Calvert moving that tenders should be invited, but Councillor Jameson opposing, as h© did) not 'think' any one but Messrs Tribe. snd, Haskins were capable of doing the

work in a proper manner. It was ultimately resolved that these gentlemen should, be asked what tbey would do tbe work for. The rates of Mrs Graham, Peterborough street, amounting to £\, were remitted on the ground of poverty, the Collector certifying to. the same being correct. . „.X ' A A driver's license was granted "to Peter M'Donald. X Councillor Angus moved that a memorial stone be erected on the East Town Belt, bearing the inscription " Commenced 1868 — W. Wilson, Mayors ».■..<-; /"Several t^otSncuTors opposed. the motion on the ground that ;the memorial- ought to. be deferred until the Town Belts were completed, and ultimately the subject droppejLjf Councillor Sheppard moved that the reception committeer-be requested to continue in oftlce until the' visit of H.R.H. the Duke Oil Edinburgh. He complimented the members of it on ; the very excellent < arrangements which they had made fortbe reception his-Ex--1 cellency the Governor,and he considered theexperience gained, on that occasion would be of great use -to them, .whilst they would in the meantime be open to receive suggestions for improvements. . He had been informed that a number bf private gentlemen : in the city were already forming together for the purpose of .making arrangements for the visit of his Royal Highness, and he: thought the Council ought to : take ths lead in such matters. Councillors Ruddenklau, A»gas, Calvert, and Sawtell considered it would be impolitic to appoint a standing committee ih such an important matter. Councillors Tombs and Jameson supported the motion, the latter pointing Out that it would enable pecuniary means to be devised for carrying out tbe demonstratipns, and enable the Council to take measures for doing so more economically tban hitherto. Councillor Duncan also supported the motion. The Mayor commented very strongly upon Councillor Sheppard's statement that a,number of private gentlemen were already bestirring themselves in the matter. He considered if such was the case it was a most unwarrantable liberty ou the part of the private gentlemen, and amounted to little short of an expression of want of confidence inthe Council. ... He deemed it entirely out of the question that any one but themselves should attempt to take the lead in such a matter. He for one would not sanction any _uch proceedings for a moment, and should assert the .authority of his position. (Hear, hear.) ' , After some further conversation the motion was carried. , The Inspector of Nuisances was ordered, to examine and report upon the nuisance emanating from the side channel in High street, commencing a,t the White Hart Hotel and running to the junction of High-street with 'Lichfield street. The Council then adjourned. .■■^ — —