CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 561, 8 March 1870, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, March 7

The weekly meeting was held at the usual hour, his Worship the Mayor presiding, and all the councillors present except Councillor Sawtell.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The Town Clerk stated that during the week he had received from general city rates £51 12s; watering rate, £10 3s Id; scavengering, £7 I2s Id ; Provincial Government halfyearly contribution towards the expenses of the Fire Brigade, £25 ; fines from Resident Magistrate's Court for the month of February, £2 lOs ; licenses, £3 ; Market-place rent, 7s ; total, £100 4s 2d ; and that after payment of last week's accounts an overdraft had been created amounting at the date of his report to £129 14s 7d.

Accounts amounting to £104 19s ld were passed and ordered to be paid.

The following tenders for carting, stacking, and spreading shingle in Oxford terrace, from the Victoria bridge to Antigua street ; and in Tuam street, from Durham street to Colombo street, the shingle to be procured from Mr Palmer's section in Worcester street, were opened and considered. W. Sycamore, 3s 4d per yard ; James Wittington and Fred. Smith, unscreened, ls 11 id, screened, 2s sd; Joseph Hadfield, unscreened, ls lOd ; screened, 2s 4d. The tender of Joseph Hadfield at ls 10& was accepted.

The Surveyor . reported that the Works Committee recommended the invitation of tenders for supplying and carting shingle necessary to repair the streets during the ensuing six months ; also, that the new fence erected in Cambridge Terrace be painted by Mr Marsh under the terms of his present contract for painting the fence in Oxford Terrace. The prison labour, gang had been away during the whole of the past month, but are now at work for the Council on the river bank between Manchester street bridge and Colombo street bridge. The labour gang had been employed during the week in watering the streets ; carting side drain rubbish ; laying stone channelling in Colombo street ; clearing out the South drain, and the drains in Worcester, St Asaph, Colombo, und Gloucester streets; putting in culverts in the South town belt ;

repairing the fence in Cranmer square ; fencing Cambridge terrace, and making culverts and bridges.

The report was considered,

The recommendations of the Works' Committee were ordered to be carried into effect.

The remainder of the report was ap proved.

The following correspondence was read. Letters from Mr Thomas Bruce, requesting permission to erect a signboard, 14 feet high, across the footpath in front of his stables, Gloucester street, and also to place a footbridge across the side channel at the same place.

The Council having previously vetoed similar sign boards across footpaths in othw: parts of the city, decided that they could nog accede to the first request, but gave the necessary permission for the footbridge. Letter from Mr B. Simpson, respecting the late narrow escape from fire by phosphorus in the Triangle. After stating that at the time of the fire his clothing was seriously burnt whilst extinguishing the flames, Mr Simpson complained that no steps had been taken to remove the residue of the phosphorus from the ground. He said that a child had burnt its hand by touching the chemical, and that his dog, together with the neighbours' fowls, were all suffering from eating food which had been in contact with it.

The Clerk stated that the letter was sent by Mr Simpson to the Fire Brigade Committee, who after considering it, had authorised Councillor Calvert to employ men to remove the remnants of the phosphorus. This had been done, but the Committee desired the lett r to be laid before the Council, together with a request from Mr Inspector Harris, of the Fire Brigade, that he should be made acquainted with those persons who are in the habit of storing gunpowder or any other explosive compound within the city.

Councillor Hart asked whether phosphorus and gunpowder did not come under the provisions of the Dangerous Goods Act.

The Town Clerk replied in the negative.

Councillors Calvert aud Bishop explained that the reason why Mr Harris desired to be informed as to those who held licenses from the Customs authorities for storing powder was that special attention might be paid to its removal on a fire breaking out. This was necessary to the safety of the men, and should certainly be attended to.

After some conversation, it was decided that Councillor Bishop, as chairman of the Fire Brigade Committee, should wait upon Mr Mills, of H.M. Customs, and endeavour to arrange for being regularly supplied with the information desired by the Inspector.

The weekly reports of the Rate Collector and Nuisance Inspector were read, but contained nothing of public importance.

Carriers' licenses were granted to James Sogg and Richard Martin. , 55'0uuncillor Anderson said the ornamental drinking fountain and lamp post, combined, which he had spoken to the Council about some months ago, had now come to haud, and he was iv a position to fulfil his promise of presenting it to the Corporation. It was of the kind very much used in England, and would, he thought, be useful to the city. He had intended to keep the matter quiet until the structure had been fixed, but his Worship had desired him to bring it publicly forward that evening, and, as in duty bound, he of course bowed to his Worship's decision. Ifc now therefore only remained for the Council to decide upon a site, and he would cause it to be at once put in position.

His Worship said that Councillor Anderson having expressed his intention of making the gift during his mayoralty, he thought it was very inadvisable that the matter should be made a " hole and corner" affair of now. If gentlemen were public spirited enough to act with such generosity to the City, he deemed it only just that their actions should be made as public as possible. For his part, he was pleased to know that such an addition was io be made to the attractions of the city, and thought they were in duty bound to let the public, who would be equally glad to hear of the gift, be informed of all the particulars. He had inspected the fountain as erected in Councillor Anderson's yard, and he must say it wa3 a very handsome memento to hand down to future generations.

A drawing of the fountain was laid upon the table by Councillor Anderson, and greatly admired, Councillors Jameson, Pratt, and Calvert, also giving very eulogistic particulars of its appearance.

After some conversation the Works Committee were instructed to report upon the most suitable part of the city in which to erect the gift.

The Council then adjourned,