CITY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2041, 22 September 1874, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, Sept. 21. The Council met at the usual hour. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Jones, Gapes, Farr, Bishop, Ick, Calvert, Hobbs, and Raphael. ' The Town Clerk reported that the overdraft at the Bank amounted to £291 12s 6d. Receipts during the week— From the ratecollector, city rates, 1874, £200 6s; Waimakariri do, £33 7s 8d ; fines from R.M. Court, £6 ; rent from Market place, 7s ; total, £240 Os Bd. Overdraft (drainage, account), £972 9s Bd. Credit (drainage rate account), £1091 19s 4d. Wages, contracts, &o. (city account), £164 Oa sd ; do (drainage account), £209 10a. The City Surveyor reported that a plan and specification of the culverts on the North town belt would be laid. before the Council. Tenders would be called for- the work. If traffic on the North town belt could be stopped during the progress of the work, it would tend to facilitate operations and conduce to the safety of the public. Owing to the, rainy weather, he had not been able to complete Park terrace, but with two or three fine days it would be completed. ' It was his intention to have commenced the repairs to. Colombo street bridge last Thursday, but on examining the bridge he, found that the piles were completely rotten; and as there was no. timber ordered for this purpose, he had not touched the bridge. The driving of new piles would necessitate the entire taking down and reconstruction of the. bridge. Under these circumßtacces, perhaps the Council would see fit to have a bridge of a more permanent nature to replace the timber one. A number of complaints . had been sent in with regard., to the scaffolding and the bad state of the footpath in front of Mr Storage's new building in High street. The license granted to Mr^oss stipulated that the public should n'ofc be inconvenienced, and as this stipulation had not been properly attended to, the Works committee deßired him to report the matter to the Council. The labour gang had been employed during the past week in forming footpaths and planking drain in Antigua street, besides the general cleansing of channels, &c. A tender was accepted for the culverts on the North town belt. Councillor Jones moved, Councillor Calvert seconded, that traffic be stopped on the North belt, from Colombo street to the East belt, in accordance with the City Surveyor's suggestion. The motion was agreed to. On the motion of Councillor Bishop, the consideration of the , matter with reference to Colombo street, bridge was postponed for a week. ; =..■■- .•■ . : ,- ;: ■ ■ •.• 'V ;.'■; :: • ■ ;; With regard to the hoarding at; Storage's ; new buildings, it was resolved, 'on the motion of Councillor Ick, seconded by Councillor Jones, that Mr Gobs be written to and requested toplaco the footpath in proper order. A. letter was read \from Mr E. Wadman, clerk to the Heathcote Boad Board, asking the Council to inform the Board as to the exact locality on the East town belt where the nuisance existed which was complained of in the Council's letter of Sept. 16. * The letter was referred to the Sanitary committee. A letter was read from the Very Rev the Dean of Ohmtchuroh, calling attention to the state of the drainage in Chester Btreet west, from the Deanery to Park terrace, and asking to be informed on what terms the Council would lay down stone or concrete channelling, to carry off the drainage in the part referred to. Referred to the Works committee, to report thereon. A letter was read from Mr J. E. Anthony, again calling attention to the state of the drain from New street to Salisbury street. The Town Clerk said he had made inquiries, and was informed that the drain had been cleaned out. The letter was ordered to stand over until the receipt of a statement referred to by the writer. A letter was read from Mr D. Cameron, calling attention to the footpath in front of his premises, Montreal street. Referred to the Workß committee. A petition was read, praying for the levying of a watering rate in certain portions of the City. It was moved by Councillor Jones, seconded by Councillor Gapes and agreed to — " That the prayer of the petitioners respecting the watering of the streets be granted, and that the Council take the necessary steps for levying the separate rate for the purpose, under tte provisions of clause 204 of the Municipal Corporation Act, 1867." A lt^tor was read from Mr E. Long, calling attention to the state of the footpath in Colombo street, from Kilmoro to Peterborough streets. Referred to the Works committee. A letter was read from a number of carriers, .with reference to the state of Manchester street, from the Railway station to High street. Referred to the Worka committee, to be attended to as soon as possible. The Lighting committee reported that, finding Mr Anderson bad some of the copper lamps in stock (the same as the Council had from him last year), they ordered him to supply the number required. The committee recommend the present arrangement for lighting the kerosine lamps to be continued, until it is known what addition can be made by the Gas company to their present number of the existing kerosine lamps. The report was received and approved. Councillor Raphael said, with regard to his notice of motion concerning the non-payment of the Mayor, that he found seven clear days' notice was required. Consequently, he could not move the motion, but he would give notice of a fresh motion for that night fortnight. A fresh notice of motion was given accordingly. Councillor Bishop moved :— " That the Fire Brigade committee be requested to report as to the expediency of having, for fire-

extinguishing purposes, floodgates in some of the open ditches which have a constant flow of water ; and if so, to recommend their position." Councillor Gapes seconded fche motion, which was agreed to. Councillor Bishop moved — " That the Registrar-General's report of the vital statistics for August last be handed to the Sanitary committee, to report (if necessary) as to the healthy condition of Christchurch." Councillor Ick seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Councillor Jones moved — "That the By..law committee be requested to report on the Cab, Hackney Carriage, and Borough Stage Coach By-laws, and to suggest such alterations, if any, they may think desirable ; to consult at their deliberations, the City Solicitor, Dr Foster, and to report this night week." Councillor Gapes seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Councillor Raphael gave notice of motion for next Monday, that all papers relating to the discharge of ex-foreman Burgess be laid on the table. The Inspector's report was read and approved. The Council then went into committee.