CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 232, 9 February 1869, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

♦ Mondat, Fkßi 8. The weekly meeting was held this evening His Worship the Mayor presided, and the other members present were Messrs Duncan Ruddenklau, Sawtell, Sheppard, Angus Tombs, and Jameson. The Clerk reported that the receipts fo last week amounted to £102 13s 7d, and tha the credit at the bank amounted to £i 73 4i 6d. Accounts to the amount. of £82- 3s -8c were passed and ordered to be paid. The Surveyor reported as follows : — Thi artesian well at the Post-office was* complete! last week. .The flow is about 13 gallons pc minute, at the height of about three fron the surface. The following is a list of ne* works which the Works committee recom mend should be put in hand at once, viz -:- The formation of St. Asaph street from Barbadoes street to the Eas Town belt; cost about £76. ■ The foi mation of Peterborough street, froi Manchester street to Madras street; coi about £36. : The shinglirig of the East tOw belt, from Armagh street to thie Ferry Roac with 10 yards .of shingle to the chain; cot i about £106. The shingling of Glouoeste | street from Madras street to - the Eafl jtown belt, with 10 yards' to ttfl chain ; cost about £62. "•' Edmonds ! • anH Company have sent ffom their new quarrfl a' sample of stone suitable for kerbingiAofl of the side streets. The stone is five inChfl in width by 12 inches in depth, : and the cofl 4s 3d per yard: "The footbridge adjoinin Jj Mr Lane's cart bridge will be completed fl the course of a day or tyro. The two lettefl referred to the Surveyor by the Council lafl Monday are being attended to;, they areonfl matters of small importance, requiring a fefl hours' labour.' The labour gang for trfl past week have been employed erecting fooH bridge at Lane's mill, deepening drains eH the East town belt, and otherwise- improvirfl the drainage'in that neighbourhood,' cleariifl out side drains, repairing streets, and OthJH minor works." H It was resolved that tenders be advertisJß for at once, for the works mentioned in t^H Surveyor's report. • H Councillor Jameson moved; and it wH agreed to— That tenders he called for layiafl stone channelling in High street, from TuaW street to- Barrett's hotel. - _t_\ The following correspondence was read :H From the Superintendent • stating that teH

d^rffwottld be invited f of clesarinff- the-fivef abpvje the city. : V ', „ EKs YiTdrahip explained that the dep'utatiori ffaited tiU his Honor arid onepf his Executive on the ; morairig', fdildvring. its ,app.ointment r apd.his Honor intimated that f eridef s "i^ouid be called . for without .. delay. With regard to. the lower part of the river, his Honor was inclined to think that it was a work which should fall into the. hands of the Road Boards. * V ' , • The matter was deferred until a future meeting. From the Superintendent with reference to the overflow of the Waimakariri river, forwarding a copy of .the Gazette containing the proclamation of the district under " The Canterbury Biyers Act, 1868," and stating that he had appointed Mr Harman, Mr Peacock, and Mr Fisher to act on the Board, of which the May Or exofficio was a member ; he had also requested Mf John N. Tosswill to act on the'Bdard. He suggested that the members o f f the iJoard should meet at an early date, say"Friday next, at noon, in the Governttient Buildings, when he would be glad tp afford them. any assistance they may require iii iflaliiag .preliminary arrangements. . Frohi the Secretary to the Comnilttee df • the ForestefsVarid Oddfellows,' soliciting the patronage of the Couiicil to a demonstration intended to be given in aid of theWidowand Orphans' Fund, of both Orders, on the occasion of the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh, • 'The letter was ordered tobe acknowledged. letter from Mr W. E. Stamtfofd, relative to the powerof the Council to prevent a tannery being, carried on within the city bounds was endorsed^' The Council cannot advise in the matter^ ' . The report of the Finance Committee was brought up and approved; it gave a statement of receipts, and disbursements to date, arid also an estimate of ordinary income and expenditure for the eleven months ending Dec. 31, 1869 ; the committee could : not advise the Council what rate it is necessary to strike for the public works of the city, until the valuation of the year had been made; it, also recommended the collection of the rate for watering the streets. Councillor Sawtell moved, and Councillor Tombs seconded, and it' was carried, "That the Town Clerk add the following words . to the form of tender furnished by the City Council— •' We^ the undersigned, hereby agree to hold ourselves , responsible for' the proper execution' of the works above referred to, should' the said tender he accepted-'." ■■- • . ; Councillor Sawtell also moved; V That all parties tendering for any work" of contract ffoni this *date, -(shall provide two.* sureties^ \vho shall- sign >-their names, to: thei tender, urider taking -'to hold* themselves , i responsible for the execution ■ of- the work * according: to plans and specifications furnished by- the Cbiidßft'^; 1 ' - .•• . •'■*.*"}'« xyyy , Councillor Sheppard seconded the .motion;, which was carried. ■ -a. ; - ' ;• -.■. ■-•; :JL* ' / The : Fire Brigade Committee requested > by yTesolution of the Council, to > investigate, the cause of the apparent want T, of ; efficiency -of the brigade at>the late fire in Durham street, beg to mak'flthe following report .r—'i ' :,, At-the request of Captain Wilson (the superintendent) the' committee attended ' a . brigade practice; ther steam fire engine being placed- in the same spot as oh Sunday morning, when playing on the above' fife,' with a view especially of proving- its capabilities of sending water to a great distance through a. singleide-livery hose. The engineer considered that it was -unsafe, and at the late fire hesitated to do so on that account. There are two openings or deliveries from the chamber whence the water is discharged' from the engine, 'either of which oan be uded separately, or both of them at once. One only was used at the practice, steam was got up and water driven through as far as the scene of the late fire,; without apparent difficulty, in fourteen minutes. . , Your committee then, proceeded to the Council Chamber, and commenced their investigation. Notes of the evidence taken are hereto appended. From these it will appear that on Sunday morning the engineer, after lighting the fire and getting the engine in position, which was very promptly done, gave instructions to the hose man after running out one length of hose, to return with the reel for the purpose of attaching a second delivery, but on reaching the scene of the fire they were ordered to leave the reel and assist to bring up. the handengine, the engineer not considering it safe to force the water through one hose; and not receiving orders: to start, hesitated for ,sqine time after being ready. From the evidence of the deputy-superintendenVit seiemsVthat it has been usual for him to remain with the fire engine till the hose was attached, then make for the fire and immediately pass the word back to the engineer if all was ready. This is a good plan, but in his absence his substitute did not adopt this course at the late fire, and no orders coming to the engineer nor the hose-reeb being returned, though a signal whistle was blown, he waited some time. Hence the delay in having water. Besides the delay in throwing water from the steam-fire engine, your. committee would remark on the hand-engine not having been brought into use at the late fire, and consider that it might have been of service if it had been early at work. The obvious conclusion is, that the/brigade did not shew itself as efficient as might reasonably be expected. There was a want of organisation, of a better method of communicating orders, and of a systematic . arid : united action. With respect to the use of one delivery hose by the steam-fire engine, your committee consider that, unless- in very urgent cases, it is better, when waterhas to. be forced a long distance, to use two,jthe time required for attaching them being but a few seconds. It is recommended that in future, the duties of each officer be thoroughly understood by his next subordinate, so that in case of absence, the post may be ** efficiently filled. No cases of insubordination haying- come before your Committee, it is considered that the brigade ■ < . ■ . ■ ,a. , ,£s.-j-.' .L — ■' ■ :■•■ .;.*** ;;k'.'

! are^ffeleflt-qaly-in a^full understanding of their citifies, the responsibility of wbich rests -with; the superintendent. .."Your committee regret to have to draw the attention of the . . Council to disrespectful language Used by the engineer to the Superintendent^ on one occasion _ih'ce the fire, for which they consider .him deserving of eeri^ure^ ..They have the satisfaction of recommending a ijote .of thanks to be passed by the Council to' thie' Liverpool and London (No 2) Volunteer Brigade, for the promptitude with which •they feaeHed the scene of the ire, and the . energy and r efficient service which they rendered on this occasion.". „..'. The following is the efiderice referred to in the above report : — 1. Captain Wilson. — Believed it to be quite safe to send water through one hose at that distance. In his opinion, the delay was caused by a misunderstanding, the- engineer., believing that two .branches, should be attached before starting* His standing orders were to send water with all possible speed. . :,(,',';. '„.■.-. ■2. The Engineer.— -Did not think it safe to send water, through one hose, at such a. long distance. He had done so once at the College, fire, tand. the hose burst. At the late fife he gate orders to the hose-foreman ; to bring back the hoseHf'e'el tof the second con:-, nection, but he did not return. Gave. signal that steam was up. Sent his assistant to see what was the cause of delay in the reel not coming back. Would have started with ohe hose if ordered to do so. Some minutes elapsed bef of c IV received orders to start '■ with one hose. I usually receive the word to' .' start " when hose is properly laid' down and connected. ,' 3. Acting Depitty-^uperiritefident. — ■ Was; acquainted with that duty- the engine -1 placed, the hose connected, and proceeded to* the scene of fire. Assisted afterwards to get; the hand-engine to work, but Jthe hose would 1 not reach. Was surprised the water did not come. Sent down Haddrell to know the cause of delay, and tell, the engineer to send the water on. 4. Foreman of the Hose. — Proceeded with two others to lay down the hose.- On start-' ing, received orders from the engineer to return with the reel for a second connection. Should have done so, had I not received orders ffom the deputy-superintendent to assist at the hand-engine. 5. Assistant to Engineer.- — Serif his brother ,to. know why the reel did not come back. It is , the custom to receive the word "start." Water .might have been sent at least five minutes sooner. ' .''""' ' V. 6.,Haci^reil, formerly a member of .the brigade: Stood near the engine till .^he second whistle. Ran towards the scene of th 6 fire. Heard Capt Wilson give; orders to put down the reel. . Met the acting assistant j superintendent, who told hfmV to go back, < and tell the engineer to send water upV* Hfc : <met the water on the bridge, coming up. ! . : 7. Brockery deputy-superintendent : Wak ' •Qut.of totvny; arid, not present at', the late fire. His duty ds> to; .start .the, hand-engine, place < and. remain; .wUh i ..the,,. steanjef,', see thp branches connected. Wbea; steam is up-' report', *.himßelf,, to .the ...superintendent. Usually. word is. given to. the. engineer to start. .- 1 am aware of the; engineer's opinion, .that it ia hot safe, to force, the ..water through one hose.-. .Such, was also the opinion of Mr Booth, the. late engineer. : If I had been present, I should have.: put two- branches on. T considerit would be safe to start with one connection.,, i ! 8i Doran, branchmau — Assisted in laying down the hose. , He thinks ten minutes elapsed after, the hose was laid down before the water came up. ;. Considerable discussion ensued. ' Councillor Duncan complained that the report was not sufficiently explicit. Tbe conclusion arrived at by the committee was,that the Brigade had hot shewn itself as efficient as might have been expected* at the late fire. It stated that there was a want of. orgapization, &c, but why. didn't it s^plainly and plumply who was responsible for' this disorganization. He was not at the. fire; in question, but he had heard sufficient to satisfy his mind that Captain Wilson made use of language which he should not have given utterance to. Capt. Wilson was a personal friend of his, but he would not allow personal friendship to interfere with public duty, nor did he think that any of his brother councillors would, do so. He considered that Capt. Wilson was deserving of very grave censure, and if a similar thing happened again, he would not hesitate in moving that Captain Wilson's services should be dispensed with. After some discussion, the report of the committee was approved. .-• A communication was read from Captain Wilson concerning the recent practice. VCaptain Wilson and tho Engineer were called into the Chamber, and Councillor Duncan, who was in the chair, said that- the Council desired that the brigade should continue, and that the/breach between the Superintendent and Engineer should he healed. The latter apologised to the former for having used disrespectful language towards him before the committee. The superintendent, on his side, pleaded guilty to having made use of rather extraordinary language at the fire in question, but he felt in the position of a captain rising out of bed, and finding' that his chief officer had run his vessel on a reef. / TEe Council adjourned at 10.50 p.m.