CITY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 714, 6 September 1870, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, Sept 5. The weekly meeting of the Council was held at the usual hour. Present : His Worship the Mayor and all the Councillors. The minutes of tbe previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Town Clerk reported, per balance sheet, tbat during the week he had received from general rates, £140 Is ; Waimakariri rate, £22 lis ; scavengering, £7 16s 5d ; fines from Resident Magistrate's Court for August, £8 5s ; building fees, £\ 15s ; public building license, £1 ; by-laws, 9s ; hawker's license, 10s ; rent of shop, Market Place, 7s; —total, £182 14s 5d ; and that the overdraft at the Bank was £72 3s lld. Accounts to the amount of £208 1 5s 4d were passed for payment. The Surveyor reported that modifications were desirable in the new Building By-Law, as in cases of small alterations or additions to existing buildings it would be frequently inapplicable, Mr Nashelski had, by letter, called attention to the unsatisfactory state of the New Town Hall aa endangering the! safety of the public, and his premises immediately adjoining to it. The hall had been examined, and Mr Nashelski informed that' although the building had been shaken it was not in such a state as to call for the Surveyor's interference, as Inspector under tbe licensing of buildings by-law. The Works Committee had arranged with the contractor for keeping the plantations in order on the Town Belts to give up his contract on account of his inability to carry it out, and had accepted the tender of Mr J. McWilliams for the work. The labour gang had been employed during the week in carting footpath shingle ; carting side drain rubbish from Montreal street, East Belt, and Barbadoes street ; clearing out the side drains on the East Town Belt, South Town Belt, and Tuam and St. Asaph streets ; also, wet drains in Salisbury street, Madras street, North Town Belt, and Antigua street ; erecting fencing to the north approach of Madras street bridge ; clearing out the south drain ; and raking in ruts in various Btreets throughout the City. The report was discussed. In reference to the first clause, it was resolved that the Council would at any meet ing^ consider such modifications as might be desired under the circumstances referred to, and would make any alterations then deemed advisable ; all cases to be reported to the Council by the surveyor as they came under his notice. The remainder of the report was approved. W. Dunn, a cabman recently fined in the Resident Magistrate's Court for drunkenness and disorderly conduct whilst in charge df his licensed vehicle, attended to show cause why his license should not be cancelled. After hearing his explanation of the matter, the Council decided to endorse on his license to the effect that if he was not again charged with any breach of the Hackney Carriage by-law before the time for issuing new licenses, his license would be renewed, but that otherwiso it would be withheld. Tbe following correspondence was read: — Letter from MrG. S. Sharpe, calling attention to the bad state of tho footpath at the corner of Montreal Btreet and the South town belt. Referred to the Works Committee, to be attended to as soon as the weather permits. Letter from Mr Thomas Whitfield, complaining of the collection of rain water on tbe thoroughfare at the Lincoln Road end of the South town belt. Tbe Town Clerk stated tbat tbe accumulation was caused by the want of a culvert on Provincial Government property outside the boundary of the city. He also said that Mr Whitfield was not a resident in the city-. It was decided to inform Mr Whitfield that in consequence of the latter circumstance, his complaint could not be recognised. Letter from Mr J. Rowley, calling at'ention to the inefficient drainage of the Windmill Road. His Worship said he understood that men had been engaged upon improving the drainage, but were compelled to be withdrawn by reason of the wet weather. It was intended, however, to put the men to work again aa soon as practicable. The Town Clerk was instructed to inti mate this to Mr Rowley. Letter from Mr James Badden, pointing out the bad 6tate of tbe roadway on the north side of the North town belt, between Papanui Road and Durham street, and requesting that it be metalled. Hia Worship said that Mr Badden was not a resident in the city, and as the Council had only formed other portions of the outer sides of the Town belts, on the Road Board whose boundary it skirted paying half the cost of work, they could not do otherwiso in this case. The Town Clerk was instructed to refer Mr Badden to the Avon Road Board, in whose district he resides, and also to inform him that on that Road Board subscribing half the cost of the improvements desired by him, the Council would willingly carry them out. A report was read from the by-law committee, recommending the repeal of the 4 ind clause of by-laws referring to cattle depasturing on unfenced land. On tbe motion of Councillor Sawtell, the report was adopted. Councillor Anderson moved, and it was seconded and agreed to, that the Town Clerk be instructed to summons a special meeting of the Council for Monday next, the 12th inst., at 7 p.m., for the purpose of agreeing to a resolution to make a by-law under the 13th schedule of the Municipal C-rporations Act, 1869, as recommended by the by-law committee in their report. In answer to Councillor Sawtell Councillor Anderson said the By-Law Committee would bring in a by-law to deal with cattle trespassing on public uufenced land not included

in the clause referring to thoroughfares and squares, if desired so to do. Councillor Pratt thought whilst making amendments it would be advisable to remove the prohibition now existing in reference to the driving through the city of sheep during certain hours of the day. As the by law now stands, it is a source of great inconvenience to farmers, and he did not think the alteration he suggested would result in any public annoyance. Councillor Bishop adverted to a report he had seen in the papers of a man having been fined for leading a cow through the city with in the hours in which cattle-driving was prohibited. He did not know whether the report was a mistake, or that the driving by-law enabled such an interpretation to be put upon it as to include the leading of cattle, bat if the latter were the case, he thought it was not such an interpretation as the Council intended. After a brief discussion, it was resolved that his Worship should wait upon the Resident Magistrate and enquire into the circumstances of the particular case referred to by Councillor Bishop with a view to the further consideration of the matter by the Council. On the application of Councillor Sawtell, a week's extension of time was granted to the Cathedral Square Road Diversion Committee, in which to bring up their report. The Inspector of Nuisances reported that Messrs Bird and Bennett had taken efficient measures for removing all further annoyance to Messrs Marley and Cohn by the drainage from the artesian well on the property originally in the occupation of Mr Barnard. The following licenses were granted : — Carrier, Ben Bulmer; hawkers, Ben Bulmer and Joseph Smith. Councillor Anderson moved, and Councillor Calvert seconded, " That a cordial vote of thanks be accorded to the retiring members of the Council — His Worship the Mayor, Messrs Jameson, and Goss, — for their services in aiding to carry out the business of the Council during their respective terms of office." The motion was supported in eulogistic terms by all the Councillors, and was carried unanimously. The vote was acknowledged in the usual manner. The Council then adjourned.