CITY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 601, 26 April 1870, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, April 25. The Council met for the transaction of their weekly business at the usual hoar, his Worship the Mayor presiding, all the Councillors, except Councillor Jameson, being present. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Town Clerk reported, per balance sheet, that, during the week, he had received from general city rates, 1868, £2 15s; do., 1869, £30 15a; licenses, £2 103 ; drain pipes, lOs 6d; builders' licenses, 5s ; Marketplace rent, 7s; total, £37 2s 6d ; and thatthe overdraft at the bank was £348 lis 9d. , ,- :> Accounts, amounting to £82 Os 6d, were passed and ordered to be paid. His Worship brought under notice of the Council the resolutions passed at the public meeting held in the Town Hall, for considering the proposed by-law for regulating the hour for closing public amusements within the city. He adverted to the unanimity which characterised the action of the meeting, and said he had no doubt the Council would give fair consideration to the wishes of those attending the meeting. Councillor Pratt, in accordance with the - resolutions, moved that the by-law referred to therein be withdrawn. Councillor Gobs seconded the motion, Q which was carried without a dissentient voice. In reply to Councillor Hart, his Worship said all new by-laws referring to kerosine or other matters would be advertised, prior to being forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent for confirmation. s^The Surveyor reported that the labour gang had been employed during the week in carting stone for channelling ; repairing roadway on the North town belt, and carting side drain rubbish; putting down culvert to right of way in Manchester street North; stone channelling in High street; clearing out drama on the North town belt, and the sides of roadways in Madras street, Papanui road, &c ; putting in sluice gate to the South drain in Montreal street; repairing the East town belt and St Asaph street with shingle; repairing roadway in Cathedral Square; the A triangle, in front of Mrs Butler's, Hereford street, &c, with shingle; picking up High street, and spreading broken metal thereon; " clearing out side drains in Manchester, Montreal, Barbadoes, and Durham Btreets, Oxford Terrace, &c. The report was approved. The following correspondence was read :— Letter from the Provincial Secretary, stating in reply to a deputation from the Council that the prison labour gang wonld remain at the disposal of the Council until Wednesday evening, but that the question of broken metal from the Halswell quarries, and that of the footway over the town belt leadiug to the passenger station at the railway would be deferred until the election of Superintendent was over. Letter from Messrs Brownell and Co., intimating in reply to an application for payment of a part of the expense incurred by the Council in extinguishing the second fire which broke out ou the site of their premises in Colombo street, that they had no interest in the same being done. The Council were of opinion that Messrs Brownell and Co. were liable for the amount claimed, and left the matter in the hands of his Worship for arrangement. Letter from Mr W. H. Jewell, calling attention to a nuisance arising from "the swamp" in Peterborough street East, which had been used as a cesspool. The letter was referred to the Works Committee, with instructions tbat if the swamp could be levelled by tbe labour gang . that it should be done at once, but if not, to report to the Council at next meeting. Letter from Mr J. Campbell, applying for permission to uee a portion of the City Council reserve on the Sandhills near Horse-shoe Lagoon, for a stock-yard, and offering to pay a nominal rent (£2 per year) for it, with an agreement to give up possession on three months' notice being given him by the Council. On the motion of Councillor Hart, the application was granted for a term of three years, subject to the condition that a wire fence which Mr Campbell proposes to erect should be left when he may be called upon to vacate the land. Letter from residents on the Whately Road requesting that the Council wonld lay down wooden kerbing on the east side on the same terms as they had done on the west side — the Council providing labour and the owners or occupiers of property interested the timber. Letters from residents on an accommoda- .. . tion road leading from Manchester street to '■- Madras street north, requesting that the road be placed under the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act. — Referred to the Work* Committee to be reported upon. , . Circular from the General Government printer respecting a new work arout to be published, entitled "The New Zealand Justice of the Peace." The Clerk was instructed to procure a copy of it. Letter from Mr James Crowley asking whether the Council would provide pipes to carry off rain water instead of allowing the 6arae to run over the footpath. Several residents were about to have their paths asphalted y . v and would be willing to lay the pipes if supplied to them. Clauses 12 and 13 of the by-law No. 1 of the Municipal Council Ordinance providing that occupiers of houses should, at their own expense, ba compelled to carry off rain water by pipes or otber means under the footpaths, the Town Clerk was directed to reply to Mr Crowley calling his attention to the same. The Sanitary Committee reported in con- "■'■'■. nection with the large hole near Mr Manning's premises on the Berry Road that the only way to abate the nuisance was to fill it up. They, had directed the Inspector to serve Mr Man-

ning with a notice to cause the work to be done at once. The report was approved. j The Nuisance Inspector reported that he had served the notice npon Mr Manning as ordered. The report was approved. A cab owner's and driver's licenses were granted to W.Dunn. Licenses were granted to W. Cartwright for a spring cart, and to Samuel Ward for a dray. A discussion, in roduced by Councillor Hart, took place upon the present mode of collecting the rates, which was generally condemned as unsatisfactory. It was ultimately resolved that the matter be taken into full consideration at a future meeting, with a view to ascertaining what improvement could be effected. In reply to Councillor Pratt, his Worship said that the offtr of a reward for discovering the incendiary in the late fire was postponed until the conclusion of the inquest. The Council then adjourned.