CITY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 567, 15 March 1870, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, March 14.

The Council met for the transaction of their weekly business at the usual hour. Present : His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Anderson, Jameson, Pratt, Hart, Bishop, Calvert, Sawtell, and Goss.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The Town Clerk reported that duriug the week he had received from General City Rates, 1868, £1 ss ; ditto, 1569, £42 3s ; Watering Rate, £3 3s 9d ; Scavengering, £6 ls 9d ; Licenses, £1 10s ; Repayment for Fence broken in Cranmer Square, 16s; Drain Pipes, and Rent from Market Place, 9s Gd; total, £55 Ss ; and that the overdraft at the Bank. was £179 14s Bd.

Accounts amounting to £59 7s 2d were presented by the Clerk, and being approved, were ordered to be paid.

His Worship intimated that after the occurrence of the recent fire in Cashel street, he communicated with J. W. S. Coward, Esq., Coroner, expressing an opinion that it would be advisable to hold an enquiry touching its origin, and that in accordance therewith, an inquest was commenced at the White Hart Hotel on Friday last, but adjourned for further evidence for a week. He had also to state that, having his attention called to the condition of the building recently occupied by Mr Brass, draper, but gutted by the late fire, he advised with Councillor Anderson upon the matter, and an inspection proving the walls to be in a highly dangerous state, Mr Brass had been written to and had replied that he would take the necessary steps to make them safe at the earliest opportunity. /

The Council approved of his Worsh^ conduct.

'1 beSurveyor's report was read and consider^?*' The committee had decided to place the fountain, presented by Councillor Anderson, at the corner of the footpath opposite the Bank of New Zealand and at the junction of Colombo street with High street. The length of channelling in Colombo street, from Gloucester street to Armagh street, had been completed. The residents and owners of property fronting on the length suggested to be laid in High street, had declined to pay for the kerbing first required by the Council to be done. A. quantity of stone pitching had recently been -taken up irom a stable in Hereford street, and being suitable for the cab stand in Cathedral Square, the owner of it had expressed his willingness to sell it to the Council at 3s per superficial yard, and it could be laid for ls 6d per yard more. Ihe Works Committee recommended that the stone should be pitched. The same committee also recommended that two or three extra hands should be employed clearing out side drains before winter. The £10 voted for footbridges, across side channels at sireet crossings had all been expended, the bridges laid down with it being one at the Colombo and Hereford street crossings, two at the Bank of New Zealand, one at Phillips' corner, one at Hobbs' corner, and one at White's corner. The labour gang had been employed during the week in watering the streets ; carting side drain rubbish ; clearing out side drains in Colombo street, Hereford street, Oxford terrace, Durham street, Montreal street, Manchester street, and also the south drain ; puttiug down culverts on the South belt, and the footbridges above enumerated. , The Captain of the Caduceus_ had offered the granite on board that ship, to the Council for use as broken metal, provided that the Council would pay the expense of bringing the same to Christchurch.

The action taken or recommended by the Works Committee in reference to the fountain, stone pitching, side drains, and footbridges, was approved.

« Councillor Jameson stated that the fountain would be erected during the present week.

The stone channelling in High street was ordered to be done, and the kerbing left as at present, until a future date. This was understood to be a deviation from the general principle laid down some time ago by the Council, but the urgency of the channelling being pronounced great, it was deemed most advisable in this instance to make an exception to the usual mode of procedure.

On the motion of Councillor Calvert, who highly eulogised the benefits accruing from the footbridges over side channels at the street crossings, a further sum of £10 was voted for the purpose of having a further number laid down.

The Council were of opinion that the carriage to Christchurch of the granite offered by the Captain of the Caduceus would make the metal too expensive, and the offer was declined with thanks.

The remainder of the report was approved.

A letter was read from the Chairman of the Board of Corservators, applying for permission to copy such portion of the Christchurch City Rate Roll as may be necessary for the formation of the South Waimakariri Rate Roll— -Granted.

I he following reports on the recent fire in Cashel street were read : —

" Christchurch, March 14, 1870. To his

Worship the Mayor. Sir, — At about 3.20 a.m. on the 10th inst., I was alarmed by Police Sergeant Pratt crying ' Fire.' Before I could dress, I could see that it was at the London Restaurant, in Cashel street. I proceeded by the right of way, in Colombo street, to examine the back of the premises, when I found the fire had made considerable progress. I then ran to the front, which I found fully on fire, and so rapidly did itburn that iv less than ten minutes the two shops belonging to the Restaurant and Mr Sandstein were enveloped in flames. The various companies of the Brigade arrived in the following order : —No. 2 engine first, but before this company could lay their hose, the Hook and Ladder Company and the No. 1 engine arrived, at the same time I could see the steamer passing the Bank of New Zealand towards the tank. The water from No. 2 engine I directed to the back, at the same time I set the Hook and Ladder Company to remove the fences and outbuildings at the rear, together with some of No. 1 Engine Company to assist them, as their engine could not be used, as it is not of sufficient power to force water so far ; before this work had been accomplished the hose from the steamer was laid, and could I have had the water from this engine then, much valuable property might have been saved. As it is the first time the steam has not been ready as soon as the hose, I have requested the engineer to report thereon. "In consequence of the alarming increase in number of fires, in the centre of the city, I would suggest to your Council (in addition to having the roof lined, as stated in the engineer's report) the advisability of horses being in harness from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., which Mr Beecher is willing to do for the sum of twenty pounds (£2O) per annum ; it is scarcely necessary for me to say that a minute or two saved with this engine at one fire in the centre of the city would save the amount it would cost for years. The spread of the fire to Mr Brass's premises is accounted for from the want of parapet walls, which I pointed out tp the proprietor at the time it was being built. I have also to call attention to other brick and stone buildings similarly constructed, as I fear, should fires occur adjacent to any of them, the difficulty to save them would be great. A large body of Fire and Regular Police were early in attendance. — W. Harris, Superintendent and Chief Fire Inspector." \, iXChristchurch, March llth, 1870. Mr /Harris, Sir,—l beg to forward you the following report on the working of the steam fire engine at the late fire in Cashel street, on the morning of the 10th instant. From receiving alarm to time of leaving station, say five minutes ; immediately the funnel was clear of the building I lit the fire ; driving to tank, say three minutes ; in nine minutes from arrival started engine with SOlbs steam, thus making SOlbs steam in twelve minutes. A few minutes after starting to pump, received orders to close the canvas hose, working a short time with one hose only, steam pressure lOOlbs, water pressure 751bs, revolutions of engine about 90 per minute ; after starting both lines of hose, water pressure 40lbs, steam pressure as before, revolutions of engine about 140 per minute ; worked at same pressure and speed until tank was quite emptied. The engine worked to my entire satisfaction the whole time. It will be necessary to Une the roof on engine house with iron, so that I can light the fire before starting, as it is very difficult to do so when going, and with the new arrangement of hose reels, the horses drawing the engine out of the house, I have to light while going. George Croll, Engineer."

tf The alteration to the fire engine shed was ordered to be done, but the question of keeping horses harnessed every night all the year round, was left entirely to the discretion of the Fire Brigade Committee, the Council being generally of opinion that the additional expense was not required, as a certain time must necessarily be expended in getting up steam.

The Fire Brigade Committee, according to instructions, reported upon the question of permitting the Fire Brigade plant to be used at fires beyond the precincts of the City. The members of the respective sections of the brigade had all been asked (except No. 2 engine company, who did not attend the meeting), and were willing to attend fires in the country provided the necessary means of locomotion were provided. The committee therefore laid down a number of rules which they considered best for ensuring the re-couping of all expenses from those benefited by the attendance of the engines.

The report was discussed in emmittee at great length, but the suggested rules were not generally deemed practicable at the present time. The matter was therefore deferred for the present, the report of the committee being ordered to be filed for future reference.

Councillor Anderson again impressed upon the Council the necessity of procuring another steam fire engine for the city. He was credibly informed that many gentlemen were ready to subscribe towards the purchase of one, and he had not the slightest doubt but that if the matter was once taken up by the Council, it would easily be carried out. In addition to private subscriptions, the Government would also, no doubt, contribute towards such a desirable purchase.

His Worship entirely concurred with these remarks, and also urged the necessity of more reservoirs being constructed. He did not anticipate much aid from the Government, but if the Council would publicly express their readiness to pay one-third the cost of an engine, he b?lieved the Insurance agents and merchants would contribute the remninder.

Councillor Hart approved both projects urging that tenders should nt once be invited for constructing at least three reservoirs, each to be capable of containing 20,000 gallons of water.

Councillor Pratt hd J almbstV 'precisely the same views, remarking that whilst the reser-

voirs were being erected, the engine could be procured from England. Councillor Jameson opposed the purchase of another steam fire engine, averring that the income of the Council would not permit of an additional company of firemen being employed; also arguing that the requirements of the city were not such as to justify the outlay. The Fire Brigade had always proved themselves capable of coping with any fire which had yet occurred, and he believed always would do so for a very long time to come. He regarded the purchase of another steam fire engine as purely a luxury, and one which they could not afford. He gave a resume of the expenditure of the city on general works, and urged that the money which would be absorbed by a new engine would be much better employed on city improvements.

Councillor Calvert supported the purchase of an engine.

His Worship, in reply to Councillor Jameson, pointed out that if a steam engine were obtained, one of the present hand engines could be done away with, and plenty of volunteers could also be found, thus making the support of an additional steam engine company but a very trifling, if any, burthen upon the city. He was quite satisfied, from recent experience, that it was most desirable indeed that a new engine should be procured, and he was also confident that, either in point of contribution towards first cost or future support of the engine, the Council would be at no heavy outlay. It was their duty to lead the way in such matters, and if the public did not support them then no complaint could be made against them at a future date.

Councillor Anderson regretted that Councillor Jameson should have taken up such a position as he had upon this important matter, and was confident that, ere long, all who opposed the purchase of an additional steam fire engine would have reason to regret their conduct. In order, therefore, not to come to a hasty decision, he would suggest that the discussion should be adjourned until the next meeting.

After Borne further conversation, this mode of procedure was adopted.

Permission was granted to Mr C. Oswald to move a house from St Asaph street east to Colombo street south, subject to the usual conditions.

A copy of the new Gas Act, shortly to be "topplied for by the Christchurch Gas Company, was laid upon the table. Objection was taken to a clause whereby the Council would be compelled to give forty-eight hours notice before inspecting the company's premises in respect to nuisances, as it was considered that such an excessive length of notice would be likely to operate prejudicially to the interests of the city. It was, therefore, resolved, after a lengthy discussion, that the company should be requested to strike out the forty-eight hours, otherwise the Council would not assent to the bill.

The Inspector reported that the Antigua street drain from the brewery downwards, was in a very offensive state, the liquid matter flowing from the latter place being the sole cause of it. There had been several complaints, and the brewery yard itself was also very deficient in drainage.

The matter was referred to the sanitary committee, with instructions to take immediate steps to abate the nuisance.

A carrier's license was granted to J. Gahagan.

The Council then adjourned,