CITY COUNCIL

Monday, Avo 5. The Council met at 7 p.m. Present — His Worship the Mayor, and Councillors Jameson, Bishop, Pratt, Hart, Jones, Anderson, Calvert, and Hobbs. The Town Clerk reported that tho overdraft at tho bank amounted to £559 4s 9d. Tho following had been the receipts during the week :— Rates, 1870, £7 9s ; ditto, 1871, £5 ss; ditto, 1872, £91 2s 6d; Waimakariri, 1871, 17s 6d ; ditto, 1872, £18 4s Gd ; scavengering, £25 16s 2d; fines from Resident Magistrate's Court, for July, £9 ; weigh-bridge rent ; £4 ; building fees, £8 ; Maiket Place, 7s ; kerbing, £1 7s -id ; total, £171 9s. Overdraft on ordinary account, £559 4s 9d ; credit on drainage account, £3565 3s ld. Accounts to the amount of £201 8s 5d on the ordinary account, and on the drainage account of £58 15s 3d, were passed and ordered to be paid.

An account, amounting to £3 16s 43, expenses of the recent public meeting at the Oddfellows'* Hall,, was laid before the Council. Councillor Anderson objected to the ratepayers being called upon to bear expenses of this kind. If people went in for politics, he thought they should pay the expenses themselves. Councillor Jones said he took quite a different view from that expressed by Councillor Anderson. He thought that the election of a member of the Provincial Council for the city was a. matter that concerned the interests of the ratepayers, and "he was of opinion that the account should be paid. Councillor Pratt said he agreed with what had fallen from Councillor Anderson. If candidates wished to express their views at Riccarton, Leeston, and elsewhere in order to obtain votes, they always paid the expenses of tlieir meetings, and he saw no reason why they should not bo made to do the same thing in Ohristchurch. Ihe meeting in question was got up at the request of the supporters of only one of the candidates. The Mayor said he could not of course know this. Councillor Pratt said that the requisition was signed by Mr Williams's supporters only. Councillor Calvert inquired what had hitherto been the practice. The Town Clerk replied tbat the expenses of all meetings called by the Mayor had hitherto been borne by the City Council. Councillor Jame3on said that ho thought the Mayor bad taken the proper course (when a petition was presented to him) in calling the meeting in question. ' * Councillor Anderson said he quite concurred in this, but at the same time he was of opinion that those who went into politics should bear the expenses of these meetings. Councillor Hart said he thought the account must be paid by the Council. Councillor Bishop said it would have been a different matter if the candidates themselves had called the meeting. The account was then passed. The Mayor informed the Council that a deputation of the residents along the river facing Hagley Park had waited on him to ask the Council to name the road from Armagh street to Salisbury street " Park lane." Councillor Jones suggested that Park terrace should be the name given to the street. Councillor Anderson suggested that tho same name should be given to the whole extent of street from the College bildge to the Carlton Hotel. Councillor Calvert gave notice for next Monday that he would then move — Tbat Park terrace be the name given to the street extending from Armagh street to Salisbury street. - An application for a 'bus and driver's license, made by Walter Hartnall, was ordered to stand over until Monday next. Councillor Jameson said he thought that a strict rule should be established to the effect that no communications received at the offico after 4 p.m. on Monday should be considered at that evening's meeting of the Council. (Hear, hear.) The City Surveyor reported as follows : — " I estimate the cost of forming the roadway on the East town belt, east end, from Cashel street to the south side of the Stanmore road, a distance of about 3J chains, and shingling the same with 20 yards of gravel to tho chain, at about £15 12s. . " I estimate the . cost of forming the 30 chains of roadway on the north side of the North town belt, from the Caledonian road to the Papanui road, and placing 22 yards of shingle on it and the footpath, at about £145 Is. " I estimate the cost of reforming and shingling Lyttelton street, without footpath on account of the width of the street, and shingling the same with 20 yards of shingle to the chain, at about £20 10s. " The labour gang for the past week have been employed carting shingle, scrapings, &c.; laying down pipes on Cambridge terrace, clearing out side dvains and edges of streets, scraping the roadways, stone kerbing Worcester street, wood kerbing in Durham street, placing footbridges in Cashel and Colombo streets, and other small works." On the motion of Councillor Jameson, seconded by Councillor Anderson, it was resolved that the Council undertake the work mentioned in the first paragraph of the report, on receipt of half the cost from the Heathcote Road Board. Councillor Anderson moved that the work mentioned in the second paragraph bo put in hand on receipt of half tho cost from the Avon Road Board. Councillor Calvert seconded the motion. Councillor Bishop suggested that the work should be deferred till after the end of the financial year. The motion was carried. Councillor Hart moved that the work mentioned in the third paragraph be put in hand on receipt of the expenditure. Councillor Calvert seconded fche motion, which was carried. Councillor Anderson handed in the following report : — " To the Chairman of the Works Committee. " Memo, on the Drainage Works. " M'Namara's contract will be completed in a short time, and if the Council intend to call for fresh tenders, it would be advisable to do so at once, to have no stoppage to the works. " The timber is ordered for the additional fifty-six chains of timber work, with the exception of the additional four planks on the sides of drain, and the culverts of the land drain, but we are at present using part of our first order. . "It would be a great advantage if, in lieu of taking uncovered brickwork from the end •f Smith's lane, the timberiwork was continued as far as where the covered sower leaves off, viz., at Ollivier's lane, aB it would require an additional £110 for extra brickwork.

" The additional amount of. timber required for the fifty-two chains of drain altered, would be about 73,003 feet, besides the 29,0C3 feet of o Iditional planKng already sanctioned (without the culverts.) " The relative cost for the fifty-two chains, if in brickwork, with 5-acreased height to support the banks, would be for brick tunnel, £2728; for timber, £1017; m^kr'ig a saving of £1681. " The bricks ordered would go towards covering over the sewer, wbich requ ;, es 590,000, and there aro 50,033 only ordered. " Aug. 5, 1872." Councillor Jameson moved that the recommendations of the Works Committee be adopted. Councillor Calvert seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Works Committee were instructed to take the necessary steps in the matter. Councillor Hart inquired if the necessary plans, &c, had been prepared by tho City Surveyor re the Cathedral Square Roadway. The Town Clerk rep] ied in the negative. The matter was ordered to stand over until Monday evening next. Councillor Bishop said that a3 negotiations wero being carried on by the General Government for the purchase of the Cathedral site for public offices, he thought it would be better for the Council to postpone any altei_tionß which would involve the expenditure of a large sum of money unt : l it was ascei Lamed whether the negotiations of the Government were successful. In that event, they might perhaps be able to have the roadway perfectly straight. He had been told that the cost of the necessary alterations would be £200. Councillor Anderson said he was surprised that Councillor Bishop shovld now oppose the object after the difficulties had been got over. The work would not CD3t anything like £200. Councillor Pratt said he thought the footpath should at all events be proceeded with.' He believed that a slight curve there would be a featr^e in Cathedral square whether public offices were erected or not. Councillor Hobbs said that perhaps Mr Gordon could inform the Council whether the negotiations were likely to come to a successful issue. Councillor Hart said that the Government had offered £8000 for the site, and the Cathedral commission wanted £12,0 C 3. He boli.ved that if the Government offered £10,00, it would be accepted. Mr Gordon stated thab if £10,000 were offered the standing committee would recommend the convening of a special session of the Diocesan synod. The matter then dropped. A letter was read from Mr A ldrew M'Taggart, asking for an interview respecting his license as a driver. The Council declined to grant the request. A letter was read from Mr Charles Pritchard, Managing Director of the Press Company, Limited, asking permission to erect a gas lamp at their own cost on their premises in Cashel street, the said lamp to project over the footpath, say three feet from the bu : lding. The light would be a great pubHc benefit in this, the worst lighted street in Christohuroh. The request was acceded to. A letter was read from Mr G. A. Reade, calling attention to the present much -neglected state of the belt between the Papanui road and river Avon. Referred to tho Works Committee. Two petitions were read from about 250 residents in Christchurch and Lyitelton and surrounding districts, requesting the Couucil to allow the coaches plying for hire between the Railway station and Post-office to stop at the Whito Hart ten minutes. A letter was read from several cab proprietors of the city, pointing out tho 7-rjustice of proclaiming a coach stand at the White Hart Hotel. The letter stated that thero wore 28 licensed cabs in the town, and as the proposed stand was close to one of the present cab stands, serious injury and injustice would be done to them. The letter also pointed out tho danger that was likely to accrue from obstructing a public thoroughfare. Councillor Jameson moved — " That tho time allowed to the omnibusses for stopping for passengers at the White Hart Hotel shall be limited to five minutes, except in cases whore tho spot is the torminus to their route, and then the time shall be exter led to ten minutes ; the same to apply to Cobb and Co.'s office." Councillor Jones seconded tho motion, which was agreed to. A letter was read from the Clerk to tho Lyttelton Borough Counc?', stating that the Lyttolton Borough Counc'l woro w^V'ng to co-operate with the City Counc n in the passing of an Amended Municipal Corporations Act. A letter was read from the Tow.i Clerk, Timaru, stating that the Mayor's letter on the subject of an amended Municipal Corporations Act had been received. Tho Inspector of Nuisances reporiod that Mr Dennis, of Whately Road, was doing all that was possible to abate the nuisance that existed on his premises. He (tho Inspector) had again visited the premises of Mr Alchin, Manchester street, who was actively engaged in removing tho stagnant watar. His attention had been called to stagnant water on the premises of Mr Thomson, KPraore street. Mr Thomson had promised to remove the nuisance during this week. The report was approved. A kerosene license was granted to Joseph Johnston, Cambridge terrace east. Councillor Bishop said he had been -requested to bring the present high tariff charged by the cabmen, under the notice of the Council. Residents in Christchurch, as well as those living elsewhere, and commg from other parts of the colony, complained of the high rates which were charged, and he had been requested to bring the matter forward in ordor to ascertain whether the Council would consent to some alteration being made. Councillor Hart said that the strangers with whom be had come in contact complained of

the overcharges that were made — not of the scale laid down in the schedule. Councillor Jameson suggested that every cabman should be compelled to post up the scale of charges in a conspicuous place in his Cab. The Mayor 6aid that one cabman had charged him what he considered to be ls 6d too much. He paid the monoy quietly, but immediately took out his pocket-book," took the number of the cab, asked the driver what his name was and what was the number of the license. Next morning, the individual in question came to his office and begged of Inn to take the ls 6d back. Councillor Calvert moved tho appointment of Councillors Bishop, Hart, and Jameson, aa a committee to consider the question, and report thereon. Councillor Anderson se conded the mot : .on, which was agreed to. The Council then adjourn^ 3.