CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 369, 20 July 1869, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

.*. MONDAT, JuLT 19. The ordinary weekly meeting was held last night at seven o'clock; present, his Worship the Mayor and all the Councillors. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The Clerk reported that during the week he had received £277 6s lOd, and that the overdraft had been reduced to £540 14s Bd. Accounts amounting to £68 0s lOd were passed and ordered to be paid. "VThe following tender for lighting the street lamps with kerosene during the ensuing twelve months was opened — George McCullagh, 7d per lamp— and being the only one, was accepted. The Surveyor's report for the past week was submitted, and stated as follows: — The south drain had been examined, and although late rains had cleared away almost all the sediment; there was a great deal of rubbish such as old trees and branches lying at the bottom, which will be cleared away so soon as the water subsides. Tuam street, from Montreal street to Durham street, and Lichfield street, from Colombo street to High street, require re-shingling with about 10 yards to the chain, and the Public Works Committee recommended that the -work should be given to Mr Lewis at the same price as he received for Worcester street, namely, 3s 3d per yard. The length of the two streets will be about 24 chains ; the formation of the South town belt, from Colombo street to Madras street, had been completed, and in consequence of the heavy traffic would shortly require shingling with at least 25 yards to the chain. A letter had been received from the manager of the Gas Company, intimating that the lamp at the corner of Oxford Terrace and Cashel street had been extensively damaged — apparently from a vehicle coming in contact with it — and that repairs had also been necessary to the one near the Junction Hotel, one at the corner of Gloucester street and Oxford Terrace, one at the west side of Cathedral Square, and the one near the Government Buildings, the damage being principally the result of the heavy storms lately prevalent. The prison labour gang will complete their work in Cranmer Square within tendays,and instructions were desired relative to the ploughing and sowing with grass, together with the advisability of leaving openings in the boundary fence opposite the footways in Montreal and Worcester streets. Instructions were also desired relative to the broken fence on the North town belt, as the contractors will be ready to commence the planting in a few days. The labour gang had been employed during the week in. driving piles for the Antigua street footbridge, repairing streets with shingle, repairing and shingling footpaths on the East town belt and Colombo street, and cleaning out side drains in various parts of the city. The report was considered seriatim. The second clause was ordered to be carried into effect. The third clause was deferred for consideration until next meeting. In reference to Cranmer square, Councillor Sheppard intimated that the openings noticed by the Surveyor had been suggested by him at the request of several of the subscribers to the fencing, who were also desirous of knowing what kind of fence it was intended to put up, what planting was intended to be done, and what means of access would be provided for volunteers who might at some time desire to use it as a review ground. He moved that the Surveyor be instructed to prepare plans of the fence, showing such gates as it was intended to provide, and any planting suggested by the Planting Committee. Councillor Jameson seconded the motion. Councillor Ruddenklau was favourable to large gates for admission to the Square in the event of public amusements, but opposed those suggested in continuation of the street footways, urging that the Square would soon be disfigured by deep "tracks" being trodden down across the sward. Councillor Duncan was favourable to crossing places being provided for pedestrians, but suggested turnstiles instead of gates; and in answer to Councillor Sheppard'a questions, said that the Planting Committee intended planting a belt of Oriental plan* trees ten feet within the fence, and about forty feet apart from each other. These, when provided with seats, would afford shelter for spectators during public Amusements, and at the same time improve tha appearance of the Square. After some further discussion, the motion was carried, and the Planting Committee were requested to provide plans by next meeting. The Surveyor was also, in the meantime, authorised to have the Square ploughed and prepared for laying down with grass. In adverting to the broken fence on the North town belt, Councillor Jameson said the roadway proper, from Colombo street to Caledonian Road, bad been thoroughly metalled, and, being now in good order, ha would more that the fencing be repaired, and a board placed thereon, offering £10 reward for such information as may lead to the conviction of any person doing further damage. He said he did not anticipate that the fence would again be interfered with, as the road would afford better walking ground than crossing the plantation. The motion was seconded, and carried. . The remainder of the report was approved.

j The following correspondence was read j and considered: — Letter from the chairman of the Board of Conservators, requesting the co-operation of the Council in preparing the Christchnrch i rate-roll for the conservation of the South Waimakariri, and offering the Council five per cent, on the assessment, if they would j undertake the copying of the city roll, which ;. would in every respect answer their purpose, ') and collect the rate. A discussion arose as to whether five per cent, would remunerate the Council for the { work incurred. The general feeling was \ evidently to assist the Board as far as possi- ! ble, but not to incur an absolute loss in so ? doing. i The Town Clerk said that independent of ; printing or collection it would take a man , fully three weeks to copy the roll. The matter was ultimately referred to Councillors Jameson, Duncan, and Sheppard, -to report upon at next meeting of the Letter from the Heathcote Road Board, asking permission to use the side drain on the east side of the East town belt, for providing a channel for the drainage of the outskirts of the city into the Ferry Road drain, and offering to undertake certain .works in connection therewith — referred to Works Committee. Letter from the secretary to the Gas Company, acknowledging the receipt of a communication from the Council, respecting a reduction in the price for lighting street lamps, and promising that the same should be laid before the directors at their first meeting. Letter from Messrs Morley and Cohn, asking for permissioi^tb burn a quantity of gorse in a paddock in Gloucester street East. Councillor Calvert supported the application. Councillor Duncan objected to any permismission of the kind being granted within the boundaries of the city. He urged that hedges should be kept regularly trimmed, when such a necessity would be obviated, and pointed out that smouldering gorse was easily carried a long way by wind to the great danger of adjoining buildings. In face of this latter, he moved "That this Council does not feel justified in granting permission for the burning of gorse within the city." The motion was seconded and carried. Letter from the cab proprietors, asking for a copy of the new scale of cab fares about to be adopted in the new by-laws of the Council. . The Clerk was instructed to supply the information. The report of the Chief Tire Inspector on the recent fire at the Warwick Hotel stables •was read, as also one from Mr West, captain of the Liverpool, London, and Globe engine. A report was also read from the rate collector, in reference to the summons cases heard in the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. . The Inspector of Nuisances reported upon a nuisance to which his attention had been called near the Devonshire Arms Hotel. It was referred to the Sanitary Committee. The Council then adjourned.