CITY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3550, 27 August 1879, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

4 The Council mot at seven o'clock lasi evening ; present— His Worship the Mayor, Councillors Jenkins, Ayers, Binßtead, Gapes, Cass, Lezard, Wilson, and Tremayne. The Mayor reported the debtor balance at the Bank to be £3609 7s ld. Tbe Town Clerk reported fchat thb receipts had amount;d to £457 2a lld. THB MAYOR'S REMAHK3. His Worship said he was pleased tb say that he had some good news for the Council. He had interviewed the Premier the day pre: viously, with regard to tbe clock in the Government buildings, which had been thero for the last 16 or 17 years. The clock had cost a very large sum of money, abou'- £750 he believed, and was obtained for the city of Ohristchurch. Part of tho clock bad been lost sight of for somo time, having been placed in one, of the outbuildings, and the clock itself had almost been lost from view. When representing the matter to the Premier, he had asked him if he could see his way clear to giving the clock to tho city. He hopod to soe it ereoted in the eastern part of the city, whore there was a necessity for the erection of a clock. The Premier entertained the request in a most graceful manner, and in* structod his Private. Seoretary to write to his colleagues on the subjeot, and assured him (the Mayor) that the matter should receive his utmost attontion and hearty support. Another matter he would mention was in oonneotion with speoial constables. A letter had been received from the Under-Secretary . on the matter, and the Fire Police would now be placed on the same footing as they were some time ago, and he could assure the Councillors thafc there would be no delay in {tutting them on such a footing. He would ike to call tho attention of the Council to the necessity that existed for better provision being made for the safety of large gathering's in Ohristchurch, such bb that on Saturday lasfc^ihthe Oddfellows' Hall. The doors of that Hall opened inwards, and had there arisen a panic that night from a cry of fire or any, ofcher cause, the result would have been most disastrous, and serious loss of life must have ensued. He did not know whether better provision was made at the Gaiety Theatre. He thought the Council might instruct the Surveyor on tho matter, bo as to avoid any serious calamity. A great responsibility rested upon the Council, and they should take action in the matter. The Committee for considering the designs for the Town Hall met at 4 p.m.,

and their report would be laid on the table so that the Councillors could consider it. TOWN HALL DESIGNS. The Committee reported that none of the designs could be accepted, as they were all outside the drafted specifications. Councillor Jenkins nsked if the Oddfollows' Hall was licensed, and had been inspected lately. The Surveyor said that the Hall was licensed, and he had inspected it about twelve months ago. It was then in a very satisfactory state as to stability. The doora were as they were when the Hall was built. Councillor Gapes remarked that the doors of the Gaiety Theatre opened outwards. They had been altered some time back. THE TOWN OLOCK. Councillor Jenkins remarked that the cost for building s stone base for the superstructure of the clock would be a very heavy one. His Worship here stated that he was engaged to preside at Mr Stevens' meeting at tho Gaiety Theatre, and would ask the Councillors to appoint a Chairman in his absence. On the motion of Councillor Ayers, seconded by Councillor Tremayne — " Councillor Gapes was voted to the chair." QUESTIONS. Councillor Ca?s laskecl what had been done re East Town belt bridge. He had asked repeatedly, but could get no satisfaction regarding the state of that bridge. The Chairman remarked that that matter had been treated of in the Surveyor's report. Councillor Wilson spoke of the state of Harry street, and mentioned that none of the residents could get coal or wood brought to their houses owing to the disgraceful condition the street was in. One of the residents iv tbe street had spoken to him that day on the Bubject, and he hoped tbat the Council would tako action in the matter. Councillor Jenkins said tbe street was a privato street, and no one was to blame but the inhabitants, who refused to comply with certain conditions offered by tho Council for the formation of the street. Councillor Ayers said tho Council were taking Bteps to enter upon these private streets, and so improvo them. Councillor Wilson thought such a sta^e of things required alteration, so that residents who had to pay rates to the Council could have access to their premises. It was pointed out that tho law regarding private Btreets was defective, and required amendment. Councillor Lezard askod if the attontion of tho Board of Health had been called to the state of the right-of-way at the back of tho City Hotel. Councillor Tremayne said that the matter had been attended to, and that the improvements would soon bo male in the place in question. Councillor Binstead said the work of improvement had been commenced. Councillor Gapes asked if anything had befen done regarding the footpaths of the north Bide of tho North Town Belt, to which attention had been called some time sinco. The Surveyor said he would sco tho Surveyor of the Avon Road Board regarding the matter. COBRE3rOXOENCE. A letter was read from the Manager of tho Colonial Bank of New Zealand, offering to pay the charges on Mr Sannders' premises latoly destroyed by fire, and requesting a remission on the amount. Councillor Ayers moved—" That tho letter be acknowledged, and that an answer be returned to tho effect that tho Council had no power to romit the rates." Seconded by Councillor Lezard and carried. The following lotter from tho Commissioner of the Armed Constabulary waß read : — " Commissioner of New Zealand Constabulary, Wellington. "Your lotter of August 6, addressed to the Colonial Secretary, on the subject of gazetting certain members of the Fire Police as special constables having been referred to the Hon the Commissioner of Armed Constabulary, I am instructed to say that this is unnecessary and unusual, and that tho proper course is to swear in special constables if it ie found necessary to assist tho police in the preservation of order." It was resolved to acknowledge the lotter with thankß. SUEVBYOB's BEPOET. The followirg reportjras read : — "1. I, last week, received from Messrs Garrick and Cowlishaw tho dr^ft deed of submission for the MWamara arbitration case, and I have handed it to the Town Clerk. Tlio delay which hns occurred in this matter was occasioned by Messrs Harper and Co. " 2. The channelling of Queon street is completed, and tho forming and Bhingling will shortly be finished also. "3. I havo had an iron culvert built across Tuam street, which I hope will have the effect of distributing the storm water in that street, and do away with tho inconvenience caused by heavy rain. "4. I sent tho centrifugal pump to the Waimakariri thia morning." It was resolved to consider tho first clause of the report in Committee. Tho remainder of tho report was approved. COLLECTORS EEPOBT. A report from tho Collector was read re collection of rates, and recommending that tho rates be remitted to certain persons, viz., Mr Easton and Mrs M'Taggart. It was resolved to remit the rates recommended by the Collector. baxgeb'b BEPOBT. A report from the Ranger was read, recommending that tbe c&bstand in front of the White Hart should bo formed. Councillor Lezard moved — "That tbo Surveyor be instructed to have the footpath in front cf the White Hart Hotel stone pitched." Councillor Ayers seconded the motion. Councillor Tremayne would rather sco the matter referred to the Works Committee, to visit tho Bpot with tho Surveyor. Oounoillor Lezard objectod to this. Councillor Cass said he thought that thero wore moro cabs on the stand than were originally intended should Btand thoro. Councillor Wilson supported the motion, which was curried unanimously. : LIGHTING COMMITTEE'S EBrOBT. The following report waa road:— "Tho Lighting Committee has had under their consideration the quoation of gas supply, with the view of ontering into a contract with the Gas Company on a more economical basis, and have obtained an offer on tho conditions submitted to them. The Commit tee, after careful consideration, have determined to place the wbolo of the correspondence on the cost of gas supply received from Melbourne and other cities, together with tho offer sent in by the Gas Company, before tho Council, as tho Committee are not prepared to recommend tho acceptance of the offer sent in." " Town Clerk's office, Bydney, August 7. "Sir, — I do myself the honour to onolose for your information replies to the several questions contained in your letter of June 24 last, respecting tho lighting of this City. I may stato that the Gaslight Company are now introducing a new description of lamp and burner, producing a far more powerful light than those hitherto used (12 candles), but tint no arrangements havo at present boen made for thoir adoption as streot lights. "Chas. W. Woolcott, Town Clerk. "Memorandum. " Lighting the City of Sydney. " (1.) Eaoh street lamp (1200 in number) at pregent costs £6 12s 6d psr annum, but the charge will be reduced to £6 2s Gd on Jan. I next. (2.) Lampß are kept alight for 12 hours every night throughout the year, except for five nights at time of full moon, when they are not lighted. (3.) The cost of gas coal alongside the works is 10s 9d per ton, and kerosene shale 65s per ton. (4.) Private consumers are charged 7s per thousand feet. (5.) The lamps and columns are provided, and cleaned and painted, and the lamps are lighted and extinguished by the Company. (6.) Wherever mains are lowered or relaid in consequence of alterations, &c, in levels, of streets, the cost of the.work is borne by the Corporation." "Sir, — In answer to your letter of July 24-— (1) The cost of gas for street lamps is £8 per lamp per annum. (2) The lamps are kept alight from sunset to sunrise, except for three nights at full moon, when they aro not lighted. (3) The average cost of gas coal delivered: is 28s : per ton. (4) Private consumers are charged 7s6dper 1000 ft of gas. (5) The street lamps are lighted, extinguished, cleaned, painted, and repaired by the Gas Company, the cost being included in the above-mentioned oharge of £8 per annum. I forward per book-post a copy of our own local Gob Act, which, nbwever, is by no means a faultless measure, and shall at all times be happy to furnish you with any further information in my power. "E. G. Fitzgibbon, " Town Clerk, Melbourno." The Town Clerk of Hobart Town wrote to

say that in that city tho cost of gas for Btreet lamps was £8 per annum. The number of hours the lamps were kept alight was from sunset to sunrise, with the exception of the night of the full moon, and the three nights next before and tho one after the same. The cost of coal gas was 21s per ton. Private consumers were charged 12s 6d per 1000 ft, and the lamps were fit and cleaned by the Gas Company. Ar'A. ; " Christchurcb, August 9. ■ " I have the honour to request reference to your letter to me of July 31, and now beg to reply thereto. In handing you the accompanying abstract of tho different phases of prict s and conditions, which have obtained in connection with tho public lamps of .this city, I am directed to inform you that the Board of Directors are prepared to contract with the City Council the supply of gas to the lamps, the lighting, extinguishing, and cleaning of same, upon the following terms, viz, — For a term of 3 years, from the day of tbe date of accceptance of this tender. (1). Commence lighting tbe lamps at sunset, and to extinguish at sunrise, except for 39 nights at the fnll of the moon, during the year, ordinary lamps at £11 per lamp per annum. Large lamps at £14 10s 6d. (2). For a term of three years from the day of date of acceptance of tender, commence lighting the lamps at sunset, and to extinguish at 3 a.m., except for 78 nights at the full of of the moon during the yoar. Ordinary lamps, £9 per lamp per year ; large lamps, £10 Bs. The Board decline to undertake the repairs to the lamps otherwise than upon the principle which has prevailed hitherto, viz., charging the Citj Council with the exact costs as paid by the Company, the Board feeling that the lamps being the property of the Council it stands to reason that the weight of the Council must act as a much stronger deterrent to mischief than the Company can possibly expect to possess. " C. W. Bisnop, " Secretary Cliristchurch Gas Company." The consideration of the Lighting Committee's report was held over until the next ordinary meeting of the Council so as to enable tho Councillors to give the matter their attention. VOTE OF THANK 3. Councillor Lezard moved — " That a cordial vote of thanks be recorded on the minutes of the Council for the abo and efficient manner in which the officers of this Corporation have carried out their various duties during the past year." Councillor Wihon seconded the moticn. Tho whole of the Councillors expressed their approval of tho resolution, which was carriod unanimously. POSTPONEMENT OF BUSINES3. Councillor Cass moved — " That in the future it is undesirable that the business of this Council should be postponed in favour of the games of football, cricket, or any such boyißh and profitless pastime as was done this week without the consent of tho Council." This was seconded by Councillor Wilson, and after discussion carried. MAYORAL CIIAIN. Councillor Wilson asked the Council to accept a pendant for tho Mayoral chain, as from the first Mayor of Christchurch. Councillor Wilson remarked that for some time past he had been anxious to present the pendant for the chain. He had hoped to have been able to have had the pendant made of the gold from the mines he was intoresled in on the West Coast, but had been unable to do so, and had had tho present pendant manufactured, and begged the Council's acceptance of the same. The Chairman remarked that he thought it was a question for the Council to decide as to whether the ornament presented by Councillor Wilson was to be accepted a 9 the actual pondaut for the mayoral chain. He thought it was understood all along that the Council should supply the pendant, which would of course bo a very expensive one. The gift of Councillor Wilaon was certainly a very handsome one, but he considered that an important city like Christohurch should havo a much handsomer ornament for the pendant to their Mayoral chain, and one which should bear tho arms of the city. Councillor Lezard considered that the pendant ehould have the city arms engraved thereon. Councillor Wilson said it waß his privilego as the firat Mayor to present tho pendant, and no one had a right to deny him that privilege. After some further discussion en the matter, Councillor Cass movod — "That the very handsome gold link presented by Councillor Wilson bo accepted with the thanks of the Council and be placed as tho centre link of the Mayoral chain, from which tho Corporation pendant shall bo subsequently suspended." Seconded by Councillor Ayers and carried. LICENSES. Tho following licenses wore granted: — Owners' licenses, Horace Barlow, Robert Nelaon ; carriago license, Thomas Andrews. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £592 Oa 2d wero passed for paymont. The Council then went into Committoo to consider the first clauso in the Surveyor's report, tho report of the Committee on the Town Hall designs, and other matters, and on resuming as a Council, adjourned.