CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 315, 18 May 1869, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, May 17. A special meeting of the Council was held in accordauce with the requirements of the Municipal Act, 1867, for the purpose of considering the adoption of certain by-laws reported upon at the previous weekly meeting. His Worship the Mayor presided, and all the Councillors were present. The minutes of last meetiDg were readand confirmed, and after a brief discussion, it was resolved that all the clauses of part 1 of schedule 13 to the Municipal Corporations \ct should be adopted as by-laws of the Council. The ordinary weekly meeting was then held. The Clerk reported the receipt of £80 Is 4d from various sources during the week, and that the overdraft was £422 6s lld. Accounts amounting to £178 12s lld were passed, and ordered to be paid. The Surveyor reported that the Worcester street bridge had been completed, and will be open for traffic in a day or two, when the approaches will also be finished. The corners of the footpaths at the junction of Tuam street with Montreal street, aud Oxford terrace with Montreal street, required stone kerbing, as it is impossible to keep the earth up without it. The lamp at the junction of Madras and Lichfield streets was lit with gas for the first time ou the Uth inst. The carting of shingle from Hagley Park for the footpaths in St Asaph street, near tbe Lincoln Road, had commenced that morning. The stone c'-anuelling in Colombo street — the last of the three lengths sanctioned by the Council — had been completed, and further portions would be brought forward at next meeting. The labour gang had been employed during the week in draining the North Town belt ; stone channelling in Colombo street -, placing wire in the fence on the East f own belt ; repairing streets with shingle ; clearing out side-drains ; repairing footpaths, and carting earth for the approaches to the Worcester street bridge. The report was considered seriatim. The second clause was ordered to be carried into effect, and the others were ap proved. The Mayor called attention to Mr Lewis having stone kerbed the footpath in front of

his building in Colombo street, under a promise from the Works Committee that stone channelling should be laid down, but the work had not been commenced, and he was complaining of the Council having broken faith with him. Councillor Jameson said the committee had been waiting for the other buildings in the block to have kerbing laid, and Mr Lewis had not received any promise, only on condition that such was done. A letter from Mr Robert Black, complaining of the bad state of the footpaths and side channels in Montreal street south and St. Asaph street, near the railway, was referred to the Works Committee. The new rate list was laid on the table, and signed as required by the Act, the Town Clerk being also instructed to take any further measures required to put it in force. Councillor Sheppard on behalf of the committee appointed to report upon the duties of the officers of the Council, with a view to reducing expenditure, by amalgamating one or more of the offices, stated that no meeting had been held, and he wished to be released from his appointment as chairman. Three different days had been arranged for the committee to meet, but from the absence of one of the members nothing could be done. Councillors Angus and Sawtell made some explanations, and the former hoped that the committee might not be allowed to fall through, but another member be appoiuted in lieu of Councillor Sheppard. All the Councillors declined to act on the committee in such capacity. Councillor Ruddenklau expressed his regret at the committee having failed to bring up their report. They had been allowed a month in which to do so, and it was tlie first occurrence of the kind since he had been connected with the Council. Councillor Duncan moved that the committee be discharged, remarking that, if necessary, a new one might be appointed afterwards. Councillor Jameson seconded the motion, and hoped that as the matter was an important one it would not be allowed to fall through The motion was carried, and all the councillors, except Messrs Sawtell and Angus, declining to act upon the committee, the Mayor himself agreed to mako up the number stipulated in the by-laws. Councillor Duncan brought forward a motion for authorising the formation, fencing, and planting, of the three remaining blocks on the East town belt, and the two on the North town belt between Colombo street and the North Road, but it was resolved to postpone the matter until next meeting, in order that an estimate of the expense could be prepared, and information obtained as to whether any residents in the vicinity would assist in the work. The Council then adjourned until Tuesday next at 7 p.m.