CITY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3489, 17 June 1879, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

+ The ordinary weekly meeting of the Citj Council was held yesterday evening ; preeent— - Hit Worship the Mayor, Councillors Gapes, Lezard, Jenkins, Tremayne, fiinatead, Wilson, Ayors, Clifford, and Csss. . , „ FIKANOIAi. . ■-..-.•■-■ ... The Town Clerk reported the debtor balance at the bank on account of general rate to be £3893 Is 3d; receipts for the week, £169 lie 9d; bills to be paid, £125 13s Bd. Drainj ago rate account', creditor balance, £861 135. i .. . .. . CITX -BBSBBTB, ..'' i - > '■ ' The Mayor stated that the 2000 acre reserve had been, offered for lease by Mr Alport, but he believed there was no bid owing to the shortness of the term, of lease, and no provision being made for the valuation of imiprovementß. He hoped the Beservea Committee would do something, in.the matter, andreport next week. ..... * . „ ; ;! ; . ' : lASIPS. ' . .. •. ! .Councillor Wilson drew attention to the |fsot, that, the lamps being put out at a very ■ early ; period hv tpe .morning, great inconvenience was experienced., . : The Lighting Committee were instructed to report on the nutter next week, QUBSTIONB. Councillor Tremayne asked what progress the By-law Committee .were making with reigard to hawkers' licenses. Councillor Ayers said the Committee had no authority in the matter. . In answer to. Councillor Jenkins, Councillor Ayers said he knew nothing about preparing 'new, building bylaws. The Committee had noauthority. " ' • '■■■■ i ~ ■'■ The Mayor said there was po minute on the matter, but it was understood that steps 'were? to be taken by the Byrlaw Committee. A minute to ttie effect was subsequently turned up with regard to it, but Councillor Ayers was not present at the meeting. MUNICIPAL COBPOBATIONS ACT. A copy of the amendments proposed by the Auckland City Council to be embodied in the Corporations Act Amendment Bill was laid upon the table. , ■■.-■. : It was resolved, to give each member a copy of proposed amendments, and that the Mayor should call a speoial meeting within 14 days to. consider the matter. ; COBBESPOXDBNCB. " A letter was read from! the Kaiapoi Bjrough Council, enclosing a resolution passed by that body regretting they had no funds to carry out works for the employment of the unemployed. ■ A letter was read from the Avon Road Board relative to the unemployed, stating that the Board had put on additional hands. The Heathcote Road Board also wrote, stating they could not put on more hands than they had at present, owing to the state of their .finances. . ... A letter was read from Messrs Garrick and Cowlishaw, accepting the appointment of City Solicitors. , ■The Secretary for the Foresters solicited the patronage of the Council at a performance to be given, at the Oddfellows' Hall on Thursday, July 3, in aid of the Widows and Orphans Fund. Agreed to. Mr Fuller wrote, asking for the sole right of posting bills or gutter slips on the curves of the pavement for show companies and other entertainments. He would undertake to wash off all gutter-slips, if required. After discussion, the request was declined. The, Church of England Cemetery Board wrote m follows : — " I am directed by the Chairman of the above Board to call your attention to the fact that, owing to the recent; action of the Drainage Board at the south end of the Cemetery, the water from the sido channel on the east side of Barbadoes street, now runs into the Cemetery ground, and at the same time and' for the same reason, there is no outlei for it. The amount of water through . the late rains is now bo great, that it will form a permanent lagoon, unless means are taken to draw ib off." The Surveyor said ho had taken stop 3 to remedythe evil. CAMBRIDGE TEEEACB EAST. Councillor Ayers called. the attention of the Works Committee to tho bad state of Cambridge terrace east. '■' . The Sydenham Borough Council wrote acknowledging receipt of the City Council's resolution relative to the South Town belt, and forwarding copy of tho resolution passed by them on June 12 ; also, copies of resolutions passed by the Borough Council relative to a foot- bridge across the railway in a line with Madras street. [Tho resolutions have been previously published.] Councillor 'Wilson moved tho following resolution, whioh ho thought would go/far to meet tho views. of both Councils :— <" That' the Government having refused to subsidise the £1000 proposed to be expended by the City Council and Borough Council, this Council desires to meet the Sydenham Council so that the two Councils may be enabled to meet the necessities of tho unemployed, by agreeing to" pay £500 in aid of the formation of the South Town belt. It is agreed, therefore, as follows, viz., that upon the Borough Council of Sydenham paying £500 towards the formation of the belt, the footpath on the south side of the belt, together with the channelling of the same Bide of the bolt, conditional upon the channel being properly and satisfactorily formed to the satisfaction of the City Surveyor, such channel to be constructed at the same time, and that meantime the unformed portions of the channel along the whole length' of the. belt, from Barbadoes street to the Lincoln road, be kept in a cleanly, wholesome, sanitary, condition, free from complaint by either the Board of Health or tho City Council, the Sydonham Borough Council properly signifying their approval of this motion, otherwise it shall be deemed to have lapsed ; and immediate action to be taken thereon with a view of affording extensive employment to the unemployed.^ Councillor Lezard pointed out that the resolution was similar in effect to the one already passed by the Council. Tho motion , lapsed from want of a seconder.

Councillor Cass moved the resolution carried by the conference of the two Councils last week.

Councillor Jenkins seconded the resolution.

Councillors Gapes and Binstcad saw little use in making this offer to the Borough Council, and urged tho necessity of putting on the unemployed within the city. Councillor Lezard said the. Borough Council ought to be given to understand that thifl motion would be the City Council's, ultimatum, as tho Borough Council had proved so thoroughly stiff-necked that . they would not concede the slightest point. The Mayor Baid it was hardly fair to say the Sjdenhain Borough Council had made no effort. If a legal guarantee could be given by tho Borough he would be happy to fall ia with their views. Ho regretted that there seemed a possibility of nothing being done. After further discussion

CounoDlor Ayers moved as an amendment — " That tho Works Committee be empowered &t this mooting to put on as many men as possible within the city forthwith, to expend a sum of money not exceeding £500." Tho Mayor pointed out that the Works Committee's report dealt with the matter.

Councillor Ayers said ho moved the amendment to Bottle at once the whole question. Councillor Gapes seconded tho amendment, and hoped that there would be no more dillydallying. Councillor Tremayno asked that tho amendment be withheld till tho Works Committee's report was read. ' Councillor Gapes had no objection to do so if tho resolution was withdrawn.

After farther discussion, the motion and amendment were withdrawn, and the matter dropped for the time.

Tho Council then considered tho Borough Council resolution re the erection of a footbridge across the railway. On the motion of Councillors Ayers, it was resolved— ■" That the City Council join •the Sydenham Council in asking the Government to put a sum of money on the estimates for ihe work."

The following Setter was read from Mr M'Nataara s— '■.

" Gentlemen,— ln reply to the letter received from your Surveyor, dated June 5, 1 beg to say that, with, .regard to paragraph 1, 1 admit that one of the butt joints is wide at thfi top jolihough touclwog at tho bottom. It consequently has a true ■bearing, and does Dot affect the stability of the bridge in any way. Tho remaining joints axe fair joints. With regard to wy making them fit now it is simply ridiculous, as it could not be dona without breaking up the whole superstructure of the bridge, Apart from being quite unnecessary, and cawidering that your Surveyor cot only saw and passed the work during construction upan several occasions, and besides had an inspector • continually on the works who passed the work (torn time to time, I

JPM.W^JBcjte,j»ow«.cleolixie .to ,do anything more to theae joints. " j "Paragraph 3; Bearers to be r dre,B3ed and j put info straight lines; as known on drawing. :My reply is that they AH present very fair ; lines, and I decline to alter them for the same reason as quoted in previous paragraph', they having been passed at the time of construction.

[ "Paragraph 3:" 'Four of the crosses to hand-rails to be renewed. 1 I have renewed one which I have observed to be damaged, but failed to find the other three! ' The one I have reriewed I believe to have been damaged 'by loaded barrows being wheeled across the !bridge;wbilst Snaking up the approaches 'your men. However, if' the remaining three .can be pointed out to me, and they are sufficiently defective to warrant me taking them out and replacing them; vl shall be hSppy to do so, as these can be readily got at. j -'iParagrapb.4: Hand-rail to be strengthened. ;This Lean only, say is impossible to bajiainV ■tamed in a straight linemß designed. It is due to the want of proper stanchions fixed to it to keep same in position bolted to the planking or bearers. As it is, either side can be readily pushed out of shape, the arched iron rods not being sufficient tie. . :

" Paragraph 5 : North-east corner . post to be repaired. This I have attended to.

"Paragraph 6 : Two turned tops to posts at end of bridge are broken, and are to be renewed. These, are not broken, and I must decline to interfere with them. •

" Earagrapb. 7 : Tron spandrils to bridge to ,be let into piles. The ends of the iron spandrils are certainly not let into the piles, but are fixed with the bolts, as shown on plan, and were seen by your Surveyor, at the time of being fixed, and no demur was then made, but as these spandrils are certainly more for ornajment than use, and they could not be altered 'without considerable expense, apart from any benefit to be derived from doing so, I must deolioe to alter them. . . -

• ."Paragraph 8; Referring to a number of wooden wedges to make the iron spandrils fit to the timber work. I beg to say -that' there were only two wedges which I have removed, and have altered the iron work to fit. .'-.■ ':■:'■}■><■>.' '•• :

" Paragraph 9 : • Large iron rings to brackets to be welded or properly fastened.' These are attended to, and will be completed' by Wodnesday. ■ . ; ; " Paragraph 10 : ' The whole bridge to •hav6 two coatß of oil colour paint.' This has been done. .■

I "Paragraph 11: 'Iron braces to centre .opening, to be fixed.' These I have attended to. As I consider I have now completed all that can be, reasonably asked of me, I shall bePglad if you will give instructions for my certificate . to be given to me without further delay. — I have, &c, : "June 16, 1879. M. M'Namaba." Councillor Jenkins stated that the Works Committee considered the question one for the Council to deal with.. , , r Tho City Surveyor said tho statements that an inspector was there, and that the work was passed, were untrue. It was resolved, on the motion of Councillor Cass, seconded by Councillor Ayers— " That all the Councillors who had not seen the .bridge,- should meet there at 9.30 on Wednesday morning." . riBE BBIGADB TTNIFOBM3. Councillor Gapes presented the tenders for uniforms for the 'Fire Brigade. Ho explained that there was such a marked difference between the English and Colonial prices that the Committee left it for the Council to. deal with. The prices ranged from £5 5s to £51556 d.. ;; „ . ■ ■ : . -:,. -t The matter' was left to the Fire Brigade Committee to dea} with, Councillor Casa being added to the Committee. : BUEVErOB'S BEPOBT. The Surveyor reported :— • "1. Some time ago a lamp was ordered' to be placed at tho juhctioa of Park terrace and tho North Belt, and the main being pow hud> the work can be done, but it would be of more service in that locality if the lamp were made a pedestal one and placod in tlfe'open r space opposite the Carlton : bridge, at' the junction of the four road 3. ; ?

"2. The Works Committee this morning had under consideration the placing of lamps on Madras and Barbadoes bridges, but they conoluded that it would be better to refer the matter to the Council.

11 3: Mr Bmart i 9 desirous of drawing his 10 per cent and giving sureties in lieu thereof, in accordance with the terms of his contract. The sureties he proposes for the acceptance of the Council are Mossrs Gosld and Lewis.

The Town Clerk is desirous of having the necessary power to prepare the preliminary work for the watering rate of next season. The cost of watering for the last season was £585, and the amount roalised by a three halfpenny rate was £405. 1 ■" 5. In view of the tramways being laidj it would be advantageous to lower a portion of Victoria street, and also lower High street. "6. One of the winge of Manchester street bridge gave way in consequence of the timber beinjj decayed. I have had the damage repaired, and tho bridge is again open for traffic. It is about three years since I reported to tho Council that this bridge would only last three or four years longer, and now tho other wings are liable to give way at any time with rain and frost to cause their doing so. The centre of the bridge or driving way is still quite safe.

"7. The work of widening Colombo street bridge is being proceeded with. "8. Ihe foundations of Barbadoeß street bridge are being laid." On Clause 5, Tho Mayor stated that he had seen Mr J. E. Brown, one of the Directors of the Company, who stated that the Company would be in a position to commence the tramway from the railway-station to Papanui within six weeks from now. Tho next sections would be down Colombo street and then to Addington. They had at present no power to lay tho tram down Ferry road to Sumner.

Councillor Gapes moved—" That the Works Committee be requested to re-form Victoria street in order to complete t!:e «ame previous to tho Tramway Company laying down the line of tramway along the said street." The street was at present absolutely dangerous, and tho work would give some of tho unemployed employment. - Councillor Jenkins seconded the motion. Councillor Cass approved of the motion. Councillor Clifford said the roason ,the road required to* bo lowered was to meet, the lo.vql of the channelling. : The motion was carried. '. ; ; r Councillor Jenkins asked if that resolution gave the Works Committee po.w.er to put on the unemployed ? Tho Mayor replied in the affirmative. Tho latter part of tho clause^ with regard to Lower High Btreet, waa allowed to stand over. The report was then adopted. SOUTH TOWJff BELT, The Sydonham Borough Council's letter enclosing the motion previously referred to relative to the South town belt was again brought up. Councillor Jenkins moved, and Councillor Lezard seconded — "That the Sydenham Borough Council's offer be declined." Councillor Wilson- moved as an amendment—"That in the opinion of this municipality this Council should meet the Sydenham Borough Council in the matter of the forma-, fcion of the South town belfc and south footpath of the same, together with the channel on the same aide of tho belt, such works to be commenced forthwith, with a view to affording immediate work to the unemployed." Tho amendment was not seconded. Tho motion was carried unanimously. inspector's bbpobt. The Inspector reported that the pan system would be in general use before next meeting; and other matters relating to sanitary affairs. • -■■ The roport wag considered satisfactory. Attention was drawn to complaints made by residents outside the Belt of a nuisance caused •by cess pits. The Council decided that they could do nothing in the matter. ' ' danger's bbpobt. The Ranger's report was received and adopted. DBIVBBB' IIOENSEB. Soveral drivers' licenses were granted. Councillor Case moved — " That in view of the infirmity of Mr Tribe, the collector, and the absolute necessity that tRe utmost activity should be shown in collecting the rates, it is desirable -that Mr Tribe should receive a month's notice to quit his office, and in consideration of that gentleman's long services, ho be pensioned by this Council on a salary of £B 0 per annum." On the motion of Councillor Ayers the Council went into Committee to consider the motion. It via subsequently reported that the motion was withdrawn, and the matter left to the Finance and Works Committees to bring up a, report that day fortnight.