CITY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3555, 2 September 1879, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

4 The weekly meeting of fche City Council was 'held last evening at seven o'clock ; present — The Mayor, Councillors Gapes, Jenkins, Ayerq, Lezard, Binstead, Wilson, and Cass. WHAjrcs, The receipts for fche week were reported as £488 .8s .3d, debtor balance general account £3713 ia. Bills to the amount of £321 9s 8d were passed for payment. WATHBIKO THE fiTBSBTS. A petition from the ratepayers of certain streets was wad, praying fchat a rate may be struck for watering suoh streets, whioh was agreed to. . WAJKAKABIBI StfPPLT. r In reply to Csunoillor Jenkins, Councillor [Cass said thafc the experiment at the Waimakariri was complete, and the experiment i had succeeded beyood their most sanguine . [expectations, one cylinder being capable of ] melding a million gallons in 24 hours. An i official report would be brought up afc tho ; nexfc meeting, and suggestions for further i tests would be given. The expense of fche t tnperimenfc up to date was #508, and he c might say that the Sydenham Water £lom< t

/mitfcee had passed a resolution whioh would be submitted to the Sydenham Borough Counoii for adoption, recommending that Council to' bear a proportion of fche expense of further experiments. The cost of the ex* perimentshad exceeded the sum voted by .about £100. V . THEATBIOAL PATBONAGB. A letter waa read from Mr Gardner asking the patronage of the Council to a benefit foi two of the Juvenile Troubadours. After a slight discussion, a motion to grant the patronage was negatived. • SUBVBY KABKB. A letter was read from the Chief Surveyor enclosing a notice from the Minister of Lalsda calling attention to fche penalties for removing survey marks, wifch a request to have it jttstec in some conspicuous place where contractor would be likely to see ifc. Referred to the Oity Surveyor, wi<& powei to act. / THB TBAMWATS A letter was read from Mr G. Thornton Engineer fco the Tramway Company, request ng fco be informed aa to what decision thi Dounoil had arrived at with regard to bringing the approach to the railway 'crossing to ib permanent level before laying down the tram way. Referred to the City Suweyor for a rul report thereon. Another letter was also read, requesting th< Council to assent to the construction of t loop lino of tramway from Manchester streel to Colombo street, along the Town Belt. 1 This was also referred to the City Surveyor. THE OLD PBOVf NCIAL OIOCK. The Mayor stated that he had received & telegram from the Premier, stating thafc fche Council mighfc erect the old Provincial clocl where fchey fchoaghfc proper. SURVEYOR'S BEPOBT. The City Surveyor reported as follows : — "1. The Water Supply Committee on Thursday last visited the Waimakariri in order to test tlie tjuantity of water obtainable from the cylinder. Tour hundred gallons were pumped oufc of the cylinder in 50 seconds, which lowered the water 4ffc 2in in fche cylinder, leaving still a depth of 18ft of water. The hose was then removed from the pump, which increased fche flow of fcho pump fco about SOO gallons per minute, and this rate of pumping was continued for half an hour, whioh only lowered the water six inches more. If a very much stronger pump were used, the water perhaps mighfc be lowered a couple of feet more, but there is no pumping power in Christchurch capable of doing more than fchafc. " 2. I find I have in stock about 200 superficial yards of paving stones. The cab-stand by Matheson's ordered to be paved will tako 60 superficial yards. I should therefore like to know which of the ofche* 1 stands the Council would like paved with the remainder of fche stone." Councillor Jenkins, as Chairman of the Works Committee, said fchafc the Committee wished to know where the surplus stone was fco be used. The matter was ordered to be read over. INSPBCTOB OF NUISANCES. A report was read from the Inspector of Nuisances, stating that the Local Board of Health had refused to take action for abating a nuisance in Peacock street. The Inspector further stated fchat fche nuisance arose from a quantity of stagnant water. The required notice to abate the nuisance within 24 hours was directed to be given. BANGER'S REPORT. This report was read and approved. LIGHTING COSIMITTBE. A report was read from fche Lighting Committee, with certain correspondence, and stating thafc they were not prepared to recommend the acceptance of the offer for lighting made by the Gas Company. On the motion of Councillor Jenkins, tho report of the Lighting Committee was adopted. TOWN HAIL DESIGNS. Councillor Gapes moved — "Thafc fche designs for the Town Hall and Municipal Buildings be left over for the new Council aboufc to be elected." Councillor Wilson seconded the motion, which after a slight discussion «vas carried by 4 to 2. PENDANT TO THB MAYOR'S CHAIN. Councillor Wilson moved— "That the central link to the Mayoral chain having been presented by fche first Mayor of the Oifcy of Christchurch to tho municipality, ifc would be judicious thafc the Council should provide a Eendanfc fco be suspended from the central nk lately presented by Councillor Wilson, to occupy a central position, and which shall bear the arms of the city, and that such pendant shall be selected by His Worship the Mayor, with tho advice of Councillors Cass, Ayers, and Lezard ; and that the choice made shall be of such an ornamental and valuable character aB shall be worthy of the name of the City of Christchurch." Councillor Jenkins seconded the motion. Councillor Gapes objected to the resolution on the ground fchafc fche Council was nofc in a position to afford a costly pendant at the present time. Councillor Lezard supported the resolution, contending thafc fche Council was bound to do all in its power to enhance fche dignity of fcho Mayoral office. Councillor Cass moved as an amendment — " That designs for a Corporation pendant to the Mayoral chain [be called for, Buoh designs fco be sent in in one month." Councillors Ayers seconded the amendment. Councillors Gapes and Binstead opposed both the resolution and amendment on tho Bcore of economy. The Mayor remarked thafc if the holder of the office of Mayor did nofc support its dignity, a bit of tinsel in fche shape of a pendant would nofc add to ifc. Councillor Wilson having replied, The Mayor pufc the amendment, bufc only the mover voted for ifc. Councillor Gapes moved another amendment "That the consideration of the question be deferred for the prosont." Councillor Binstead seconded fche amendment, whioh was carried by 4 to 3. THE FOOTBAIiLEES. Councillor Cass said that afc a former meeting in support of a resolution respecting football, &c, he had made certain remarks which had been taken badly by certain visitors, and tho Football Club and fchey accordingly, after dining afc an hotel, proceeded in a body to his house, preceded by three or four cabs, and a policeman who took no steps to stop their proceedings. Arrived in front of his houso, they attempted to set fire fco an effigy, and then they yelled and cursed, and created such a disturbance, thafc Mrs Cas3 was frightened into hysterics, and had been unwell ever since. If members of Football and Cricket Clubs thought thus to intimidate him, they would find fchat they had mistaken their man. Councillor Gapes deprecated the action taken by the footballers, at tho same time he said ho blamed fche police more than them. Councillor Ayers said thafc he had been informed fchafc one had been taken into custody and had been rescued by force. Councillor Jenkins said fchat he thought the matter was more for the police than for the Council to deal with. Councillor Lezard was of opinion thafc ifc was time such ruffianism was put a stop to. Ifc spoke little for the young men's sense, and was the more unpardonable because they were supposed to be educated gentlemen. Such conduct spoke little also for the training fchey had received. Councillor Wilson moved — "Thafc this Council is of opinion that the aotion taken by the low mob which assembled round the houso of Councillor Cass on Thursday night was a deep disgrace fco those who joined in such an unseemly breach of the law, and who disturbed and alarmed the whole neighbourhood, such conduct being intended fco restrict the free discussion of publio subjects in the City Council." Councillor Lezard seconded fche motion. The Mayor said fchafc he sympathised with Mrs Cass and the family deeply, in fact; more than he did with Councillor Cass. This no doubt was an after dinner frolic, and too muoh had been made out of the matter. Councillor Case said thafc this was a premeditated affair, inasmuch as during tho day the parties in question on passing his house had given him three groans. Tho Mayor said fchafc however greatly he regretted the action of those young men, whioh no doubt they now regretted themselves, still he also regretted thafc such a resolution as fche present should bo placed on the books ofthe Council. The petition upon ivhich he invited the citizens to close their shops was signed by 101 persons, including merchants and retail traders, and he certainly mould, on tho presentation of such petitions, 3xerc ; so his prerogative of Mayor, and invito ihe citizens fco join in fche holiday.

The motion was then put and passed unanimously. ...,..' * After the disposal of certain minor busi--1 ness in Committee, the Council adjourned.