CITY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6282, 13 September 1898, Page 4

CITY COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of the Christchurch | City Council was held last night; present • — Tho Mayor and Councillors C. M. Gray, W. E. Samuels, W. Woods G. Andrews, A. Appleby, J. Hamilton, T. Stapleton, C. Morris, G. Payiing, H. B. Suensen, W. Prudhoe, T. Kin caid, H. H. Loughnan, and J. T. Smi'-h. An apology ■( r absence on account of ill-health .us received from Councillor Sandstein. I FINANCE. ' The balance-sheet showed the following items: — Receipts since last meeting — General account, £484- 15s 7d; cemetery account, £25 19s ; suspense account, £51 13..; interest account, £72 4s ; loan account, £16 6s ; total, £650 17s 7d. Expenditure — On general account, £448 18d ; on suspense account, £7 ; total, £455 18s. Debit balances — On general account, £.'595 Os sd; on cemetery account, £1769. '1 h . accounts were passed as read. COB_EB_O_rDENCE. Among the correspondence were letters from the Government, replying to a letter from the Council asking for aid in facili_ating the erection of a morgue on Cam- . bridge Terrace. The letter now read .tated that the matter could probably be dealt wi _ under the Public Reserves Aot of 1881, and asked the Council to forward a plan of the reserve. It would be seen from Section 5 of the Public Reserves Act that the reserve in question was set aside for public purposes, ana it was open to question whether the erection of a morgue was a proper use to which to put the reserve. The letter further asked for the reasons which had influenced the Council in deciding upon the site. Councillor Kincaid moved, and Councillor Morris seconded — "That the letter be referred to the Reserves Committee for an answer." Councillor Payling moved as an amendment, and Councillor Woods seconded — " lhat the matter be dealt with at once." After soma discussion it was resolved, on the motion of Councillor Smith, that further consideration of the subject should be postponed until the next meeting bf the .Council. The Government Life Insurance Department wrote, coruplainiug of the obstruction caused in Cathedral Square by the New .Brighton tramway cars \,e\vg left standing upon tho roadway. On Saturday last two cars had been left so standing from 11.50 a.m. until 1 p.m. ■■ : ." ■ ' The letter was received, and the Council resolved to prosecute in future for similar offences. Mr H. Forwood wrote, asking for one of the male black swans. 'The Mayor pointed out that they could not well spare one at present, as the bird in question was engaged in an interesting occupation. The letter was received. An invitation was read from Mr E. Doinbrain, asking the Mayor and Council to attend a trial of the Little Giant Extinguisher Engine, at the Chester Street Fire Brigade Station, at 7.30 on Thursday evening next. REPORTS." The Works Committee reported that the cost of laying a 9in pipe from Cr.yke Street to the river Avon, including sumps and connections, would be approximately £150. In the opinion of the committee it almost seemed that this drain, if required, should be constructed by the Drainage Board. T en ders had been received for the supply and delivery of sand and gravel for kerning and channelling under the Rich- : xnond loan, and the committee recommended Mr J. Ditfort's tender for acceptance. The work under the Richmond loan __,'.-.____ been started, last week, and would be pushed on with all possible speed. • On the moticn of Councillor Smith, seconded by Councillor Morris, it was resolved that the Works Committee should •wait on the Drainage Board with the object of asking the latter body to undertake the work of laying a pipe from Creyke Street to the river Avon. The report was adopted. The By-Law Committee's report stated that the committee had considered Mr Matthew's letter regarding Hawdon's right-of-way, and did not think that the Council could interfere, as it seemed to be a question of legal right as between adjoining owners. The committee had considered the , resolution passed by the Ashburton , Borough Council on the Water Supply Amendment Bill now before the House, and did not recommend the Council to take any action in the matter, as the Bill did not affect Chiistchurch. The report was adopted. ' The report of the Cemetery Committee recommended the formation of three footpaths running east and west; the pegging off of more sections ready for use. that monumental masons should remove their chippings on completion of the work; free graves to be kept free of -weeds, that power' should be given to sell Division 1 of the cemetery in plots of Bft by 9ft at £5, instead of 16ft by 9ft at £10, as it had been found that the larger size was not inquired for; that an assistant sexton shorld be temporarily engaged at £2 a week, so that the cemetery might be' kept in better order ; and that the application of the- sexton for an increase of wages should not be granted. - The report as a whole was adopted. QUESTIONS. Councillor Payling .asked who was responsible for properly keeping the rate rolls of the different wards, as the rolls used at the recent election were inaccurate. _ The Mayor explained that last year's roU had been used. No roU had been printed this year. Councillor Sorensen asked the Chairman of the Works Committee when proper repairs would be effected to the street channelling where out of order. The reply was that the Committee was doing its best, but this work could not be done all at once. ' The Mayor said that if any Councillor who noticed these defects wonld report them to the office the Surveyor would see that the work- was done. MISCELLANEOUS. Councillor Samuels gave notice that he would . move at the next meeting of the Council—" That all minutes referring to "" the morgue be rescinded, and that the morgue be built on the mill site." Councillor Sorensen moved, and Councillor Kincaid seconded — " That the Works Committee examine the River Road between the Avon Rowing Club shed and Mrs Basset., honse with a view to having the road widened." The motion was carried. Councillor Gray moved — "That the sumps in the principal thoroughfares be emptied before eight o'clock in the morning." Councillor Sorensen seconded the motion, which was carried. Councillor Woods moved — " That it be an instruction to the Works Committee to supply a greater number of drinking troJUghs for horses at the various deep wells in the city streets." Councillor Payling seconded the motion, which was carried. The committees which held office last year were reappointed without alteration. The Council then went into committee to consider a communication from the Defence Commission and other matters, and on resuming rose.