CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 303, 4 May 1869, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, May 3. The ordinary weekly meeting was held at seven pm. Present — His Worship the Mayor, and all the Councillors. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The weekly balance-sheet was submitted, aud showed the receipts to have been £88 18s lid, and the overdraft at the Bank £54 ss. Accouuts amounting to £415 5s 3d — inclusive of £134 9s ld for expenses incurred for the reception of 11.R.11. the Duke of Edinburgh were passed and ordered to be paid. The Mayor adverted to the apparent largeness of the amount expended in connection with the Royal visit, and stated that the actual cost to the Council was only £66 Is 9d — the timber remaining from the arches and reception tent— all useful in city works — together with the grant received from the Government, making up the balance between that and the sum shown in the accounts. The Surveyor's report was read and considered. It stated that during the month the prison labour gang had been employed partly by the government in levelling the footpaths near the Provincial Council buildings, and partly by -the Council in Cranmer Square. The contract time for erecting the Worcester street cart bridge had expired, but the work would not be completed for ten days, in which time the earth for the approaches would also be ready. Xpuring the present week it was intended to advertise for tenders for the formation of the South and Ea3t Town belts from the gas works road to the Ferry road, and also the" former belt from Madras street to Colombo strecfj Henry Jackson had completed his contract for shingling Gloucester street from Durham aud Antigua street and Peterborough and Kilmore streets, from Montreal street to Antigua street. The labour gang had been employed during the week in removing the arches and tent at the Railway Station, clearing out side drains and repairing footpaths in St Asaph, Colombo, Cashel, Hereford and Tuam streets, and cutting drains on the North Town belt. A fortnight's extension of time was granted to the contractors for Worcester street bridge. Some complaints were made of the stones not having been sufficiently broken, in the shingling done by Mr Jackson, and the Surveyor was instructed to have the same done before finally passing the work. The remainder of the report was approved. A letter was read from the Secretary of the Ancient Order of Foresters, calling attention to the bad state of the footpath in front of their hall in Oxford terrace —referred to the surveyor. Councillor Duncan brought up a report of the committee appointed to consider the new by-laws for the Council. It recommended the adoption of part 1 of the 13th schedule of The Municipal Corporations Act, 1867, together with the appendix, providing certain regulations for the erection of porticos and verandahs in the city, the description, materials to be used in constructing drains under footways, and for prohibiting the driving of cattle within the city, during certain hours. He moved that the report should be received, and, subsequently submitted a resolution adopting its provisions. A brief discussion ensued, but resulted in the recommendation of the committee being approved and adopted. The Inspector of Nuisances' reported that a complaint had been made of the practice of driving horses and carts across a vacant corner section in the city, and pointing out the amage to side channels which accrued from such practice, and the danger to pedestrians. It was advised that as occasional summonses by the police proved ineffectual, a by-law should be framed to meet the difficulty. Councillor Ruddenklau did not see how a by-law could be brought to bear more upon the matter than at present. He was aware that frequent offences of the kind were committed, but the police had full power to proceed against offenders,, and he really thought they should look more smartly after theni. Some other remarks of a similar nature were made, after which it was resolved that the footpaths, where now required, sliould be repaired, and instructions given today an information against the first person known to drive over them in such cases as that under consideration. Councillor Duncan, on behalf of the Finance Committee, laid on the table statements of estimated receipts and expenditure up to the close of the current financial year and the one ensuing. On the former a deficit of £262 lis 8d wa< shown, and was carried forward to the debit side of the latter, which gave the expected receipts from rents, licenses, scavengering, sale of pans, grant from the Government, aud contributions from the Insurance Companies towards the Fire Brigade, at .£l4ll. The expenditure for salaries and ordinary City works, repairs, &c, including also the deficit from the previous account, amounted to £4271 lis Bd, and this left a deficit on the whole of £2860 Us 8d; against this was placed £4184 19s anticipated proceeds of a suggested shilling rate, and the surplus of £1324 7s 4d, was credited to the Works Committee, for new works in the City. Councillor Jameson on behalf of tbat committee, then submitted a list of new works it was essentially necessary to carry out during the ensuing year. The items were : £790 for bridges, culverts, tanks, and wells (fire supply), channelling, fencing, and planting belts and squares, tools, plant, and general contingencies; £400 for gravel and broken metal, and £486 for. labour in forming and shingling Antigua street from Kilmore street to Salisbury street, north town belt ; Worcester street from Cambridge Terrace to Antigua street ; half of Peterborough street, I Oxford Terrace from Colombo street to I Manchester street east, and south town belts'

i>y the Wesleyan parsonage, aud the south town belt from Colombo street to Madras street ; the whole representing a total estinated expenditure of £1676. A week's extension of tim. "was granted to die Financial Coramith-e to bring up their •eport relative to the leasing of the cattle narket. On the motion of Councillor Sawtell, it -vas resolvod that the Solicitor to tho Council ihould be instructed to draw up a deed for jonveyauce of the Municipal Reserves from ;he Government to the Council. Councillor Duncan, moved that notice >c given of the intention of the Council :o strike a shil ing rate on all assessed iroperty during the ensuing year. In join so, he reviewed the items in th j chedule of estimated receipts and expendiure, Avith a view to showing that a smaller >urn would not answer the requirements of he city. In referring to the amount set lown for new works and comparing it vith the sum asked for by the Works Committee, he said it was certainly as much _ could be spared, and urged great care and conomy in laying out the works, in order to bviate the difficulty. ' ouncillor Jameson seconded the motion, ut said the sum asked for new works would 11 be re uired, as several streets were yet nformed. After a brief opposition from Councillor Lngus, on the ground that, according to the let, time should be given for studying the tatements laid on the table before a shilling ate wasdecided upon, the motion was carted. The Council then adjourned.