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CITY COUNCIL.

• Mondat, Mat 1. The Council met for the transaction of their weekly business at the usual hour. Present: His Worship the Mayor; Councillors Anderson, Calvert, Pratt, Hobbs, Sawtell, Jones, and Bishop. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Town Clerk reported, per balancesheet, that during the week he had received from general city rates, £33 13s ; scavengering, £3 4s 8d; carriers' licenses, £1 10s; rent of shop in Marketplace, 7s ; total, £38 14s 8d; and that the credit balance at the bank was £524 13s 4d. Accounts amounting to £218 3s Bd, inclusive of £55 lis 8d for Fire Brigade, salaries, and expenses, were passed and ordered to be paid. The City Surveyor's report was read. Tenders had been invited for the alterations to the new Fire Brigade Hall, but they would not' be laid before the Council until next meeting. The alterations to the Post Office had been completed during the week, and the painting now only remains to be done. It was necessary for the Council to obtain permission from the Heathcote Road : Board to break up the several roads that intersect the new line of drainage, for the purpose of laying down bridges and cul- < verts. The labour gang had been employed during the week in carting footpath shingle i to Hereford, Casbel, and Worcester streets; carting side drain rubbish; repairing foot- < path — Hereford street and Worcester street ; i mowing grass in Cranmer square ; repairing the streets with- shingle; clearing out side : drains in various parts of the city; wood kerbing in Kilmore street; stone channelling in Caßhel street, and other minor works throughout the city. The report was considered. The clause referring to crossings on the new line of drainage, was ordered to stand over until it is definitely known what kind of bridges or culverts will be required. The remainder of the report was approved. Councillor Jones asked whether it would not be advisable to test some of the concrete blocks for the new tank with water, before using them. It was said that some of those in the High street tank absorbed water, and if so, no tank could be made properly watertight. Councillor Anderson thought the test might be applied with advantage, and the Works' Committee would see to it being carried out. Councillor Bishop asked whether the blocks in being made were subjected to a certain pressure, in order to prevent them being left porous. Councillor Andeerson said the blocks had not been subjected to any specific pressure, in consequence of the machinery that would be required, but the material had been well hammered into the boxes, and thoroughly compressed in that manner. Councillor Jones asked if the time had expired in which watering the streets was to be carried on. If so, he thought that, as the season had been so light in its demands on the water carts, consequent upon the unusual prevalence of rain, it would only be fair that the carts should be allowed to continue at work a little longer. The streets during that day had been in a very bad state indeed. Councillor Calvert said the streets were in a worse state that day than he had seen them this year and that tbe watering should be continued. His Worship said the season had expired and the water carts had been put away, but seeing the alteration in the weather he had authorised the Surveyor to resume watering, whicb, as Councillors must have seen, was done on Saturday. Nothing had been done that day because there was every appearance of rain. It was resolved that the watering of the streets should be Continued for some time longer, if the weather shoald render it necessary.

Councillor Bishop said he had been re-l quested to call attention to the necessity of having the footpath on the eastern part of Cranmer square between Armagh andj Kilmore streets put in order, and a small j sprinkling of shingle placed thereon, also to similar work being required on the couth side. ' The matter was referred to the Work 9 Committee. Councillor Pratt said some time ago attention had been called to a great hollow near Mr Nalder's house in Peterborough street,) and having examined it he found that it could be put in order and that street properly formed for less than £20. The hollow was a great source of inconvenience, and he would therefore move that the Surveyor invite tenders for the formation of Peterborough street from Madras street to Cambridge terrace. His Worship said a letter on the subject had been received, aad it would be as well that it shoald be read. The Town Clerk then read a letter from Mr W. H. Jewell, who in reply to Councillor Sawtell's remark on Monday the 18th April, that Worcester street was the only street which needed forming, stated that there was not merely a street but a swamp which required forming near the cemetery, and which he said was a nuisance. He also requested that a portion of the rubbish from the side channels, &c, should be carted there, instead of on to private property. His Worship said he was not aware that rubbish was carted on to private property. The Town Clerk said he believed there were a few loads given away now and then. Councillor Pratt said he considered that the work was a most desirable one to be carried out, and he would move that tenders be invited. Councillor Jones asked if the labour gang could not do the work. Councillor Anderson said he did not think this would be an advisable proceeding. The labour gang were already fully employed. He would suggest that the matter be left to the consideration of the Works Committee when they would consult with the Surveyor, and either call for tenders or otherwise, as deemed most advisable. Councillor Sawtell objected to this, and also to the suggestion of Councillor Jones, which, if adopted, would cause some other works in the city to be neglected. The forming or metalling of all streets should be done by public tender. He was not aware that he had said that Worcester street was the only street that required forming. What he did say was that Worcester street was about the only one that required attending to at once. Councillor Calvert seconded the motion, which was agreed to. His Worship said there were several letters bearing upon public works which it would be as well to consider now. The following correspondence was then read. Letters from residents in Lyttelton etreet stating that a difficulty had been found in raisiog the funds necessary to put the street into the order required before the Council would take it over, and saying that in order to prevent sickness arid great inconvenience they deBired the Council to strike a special rate — (clause 104 Municipal Corporations Act) — of sixpence in the £ on property in the street, to be continued yearly until such time as the cost of the necessary work be made up. His Worship pointed out that the amount of rates that would be raised each year at sixpence in the £ would only be a little over £2, and it would require eight years to raise the sum necessary for the forming of the street. It was for the Council to consider whether it was worth while to go through all the formalities each year for the sake of such a small amount. Councillor Bishop said he was assured that the rate was the only chance of raising the money, and it was absolutely necessary as a sanitary measure that the street should be formed. He would move that tbe request of the writers of the letter be granted. Councillor Pratt pointed out that the printing of rate-books and other such expenses, would nearly exhaust all the proceeds of the rate, and it would be better for the Council to at once advance the sum necessary to form the street. His Worship pointed out that the street was private' property, and the Council must look at it in the light that if there was a nuisance, they must call upon the persons interested to remove it.. If the tenants could not do so tbe freeholders must. Councillor Bishop, in reply to Councillor Pratt, said that the rate would be struck in the same manner as a watering rate, therefore J there would be no expenses for printing. Again, in answer to his Worship, he must state that all the sections were sold subject to use of the right-of-way, thus no one had any legal right to the road, and, therefore, it J was not private property. ' Councillor Sawtell said it appeared to him that the matter came within the province of the Sanitary Committee to inquire into. He would move that it be referred to them for that purpose, and to report upon at next meeting. Councillor Jones, adverting to the length of time which the rate of sixpence in the £ would have to be continued, and the doubt as to whether all the present tenants would continue to reside in the street, aßked whether it might not be better for the Council to assist them at once with a portion of the money. The matter was ultimately referred to the Sanitary Committee to report upon. Letter from Mr John Baylee, of the Cri terion Hotel, intimating that if the Council would stone channel the side channel from the Shakespeare Hotel to Manchester street, he would himself pay the sum of £4 for the wood kerbing first required to be done. Councillor Pratt said he had very great pleasure in moving that the channelling be carried out at once. "■Councillor Hobbs seconded the motion, and

called attention to the necessity of a lamp at the corner of Gloucester and Manchester streets. He pointed out that it was a very necessary measure on account of the immoral persons who frequented the locality. Councillor Sawtell supported the motion, and said there was very great credit due to Mr Baylee for the spirit he had shown in paying tbe money for so necessary a worK. The motion was put, and agreed to. Letter from the Provincial Secretary, stating, in reply to the deputation from the Council, that all the spare shingle at tbe Female Gaol, amounting to about 100 cubic yards, would be placed at the disposal of the Council for metalling the approaches to the Railway Station via C >lotubo and Manchester streets, but that the application for the stone in front of the Supreme Court House could not be granted. Letter from the same, intimating that tlie hard labour gang will not have completed at the Femala Gaol for some time, therefore they cannot be placed Ht the disposal of the Council; also, that tbe Government were not cognizant of any understanding that after the work at the gaol was finished the hard labour using would be placed at the disposal of the Council. When the gang is no longer required on the works at the gaol, their disposal would be a matter for further consideration. . Letter from the same source, covering a Copy of the Provincial Government Gazette, containing thegeneral drainage by-la wreceutly adopted by the Council. His Worship remarked that the by-law referred to comes into force now, and that breweries cannot drain into the side drains without the wash having first gone through the specified process." Councillor Sawtell expressed regret at the answer respecting the hard-labour gang. He had hoped they would have been available again to complete the river bank. He had understood Mr Kennaway to say that such would be the case, and if there was nothing urgent required from the gang by the Government, the Council should make another application. He believed if this were done the services of the gaug would still be secured. His Worship said he had been informed by the Provincial Secretary that after the deputation left he wrote to the architect of the gaol who said there waa still a great deal of work for them to do. Hia Worship also understood that the refusal was not a permanent one, but ooly until the gaol works are completed. V'Councillor Jones asked whether it would not be better, if the river bank work was very necessary, that the Council should employ a number of the men now walking the streets out of work, even if it were only at a low rate of wages, instead of running after the labour gaq^Q After some desultory conversation the matter was allowed to drop. Councillor Bishop suggested tbat notice of the .by-law being in operation should be served upon the brewers. He knew it was not absolutely necessary, but he thought it should be done as a matter of courtesy. Councillor Jones supported this, and said he did not think the Council would have! much trouble in getting the brewers to carry out the provisions of the by-law. It was decided that the Surveyor give notice to the brewers respecting the by-!aw. Letter from Mr I. Herman, complaining of the very unsatisfactory state of the main rosd in front of • bis residence in St. Asaph street, between Madras and Manchester streets. The letter waa referred to the Works Committee. . Letter from Mr James Potts, calling attention to the foul state of the culvert crossing Antigua street south, near section 13-), which caused a stoppage of the drainage, and rendered his property almost unfit for occupation . Councillor Calvert said the work was a very urgent one. The Works Committee were requested to call the attention of the Surveyor to the matter. The quarterly report of the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade was read. There had only been four alarms of fire by the bell, three of which were gorse fences, and one a cottage belonging to Mr Rees. The Brigade had alao attended fires at three gorse fences for which no alarm by bell was given. The engines were in good order. No. 2 engine had been thoroughly overhauled, and fitted with new pump leathers, and is now in firstrate workiug condition. The report was deemed very satisfactory. The report of the Finance Committee on the mode of collecting the scavengering accounts, as given in last week's report of proceedings, was again submitted for consideration. Councillor Sawtell moved the adoption of the report. He said it would assist the collector very materially in getting in the money, and the system would prove much more satisfactory to the Council. Councillor Bishop endorsed these remarks, and seconded the motion. The motion was put and agreed to. The new rate lißt was signed by three members of the Council, as required by clause 210 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1867. The Town Clerk was authorised to give the notice required by clauses 211 and 222, that the rate list is open for inspection, and that objections to it must be lodged with him seven days before the 2nd of June next, on which day they will be heard and decided at the Resident Magistrate's Court. The inspector of Nuisances reported that his attention had been called to a nuisance arising from an accumulation of stagnant water on several private sections of land lying between Antigua and Montreal streets south. At present, the locality referred to isimperfectly drained by the surface into the side-channel in Montreal street. The proper course for the drainage appears to be south ward, and into the south drain, bat the

objection to this course is, that the drain must be taken through private sections. At present the evil is aggravated by the stoppage of a culvsrt laid across Antigua street. This culvert was laid, some years ago, by the Provincial Government, to drain water from a land spring near the street. The report was referred to the Works Committee. Councillor Jones moved that, in conformity with the request of the petition signed by many respectable citizens, the cab-driver's license formerly held by Andrew M'Taggart, but suspended on account of drunkenness, be reissued to him. Councillor Pratt seconded the motion. Councillors Calvert and Sawtell supported the motion, provided tbat an addition was made, to the effect th-it if McTaggart again offended by drunkenness his license should be cancelled, and on no account re-issued to him. Councillor Jones said he was perfectly willing to accept such an addition. The motion was then put and agreed to. The Town Clerk then called McTaggart in, and his Worship informed him of the. terms on which his license was returned. McTaggart thanked the Council, and informed them that he had signed the Total Abstinence pledge, and he was determined to keep it. , The Council then went into committee to discuss several matters connected with the Ferry Road drain, after which, the Council adjourned.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS18710502.2.11

Bibliographic details

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1001, 2 May 1871, Page 3

Word Count
2,811

CITY COUNCIL. Star (Christchurch), Issue 1001, 2 May 1871, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL. Star (Christchurch), Issue 1001, 2 May 1871, Page 3

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