CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 320, 22 June 1875, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, June 21. The usual weekly meeting was held in the Council Chambers, Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Bishop, Ick, Jones, Schmidt, Raphael, and Gapes. The minutes of the previous weekly meeting were read and confirmed. The town clerk reported receipts for the week to be as follow ;—From rate collector: Account general city rates, 1874, £lB 15s; Waimakariri do, £3 2s fid ; watering rate, £3 8s 9d; licenses, £ll 10a ; rent from Market place, 7s; fines from Resident Magistrate’s Court, £3 5s Total receipts, £4O 8s 3d. Overdraft at Bank on general account, £3271 6s 3d. Drainage account—Or, £412 15s Id, Drainage rate account Cr, £1267 14s Id, Wages, &c., to be paid on general account, £225 18s lid; on drainage account, £9l Os sd. The Mayor said that the majority of the Council would no doubt have seen the action taken by the Chamber of Commerce with reference to the erection of public buildings. It was the intention of the Chamber to send a memorial to the General Government, urging that the erection of these buildings should be proceeded with. He had received some private documents from the secretary to the Chamber, which he would read later in the evening, when he would move the Council into committee. If, as he believed they would, feel with the Chamber the necessity that existed for the erection of buildings for the transaction of public business, then a memorial from Ihe City Council would strengthen what was being done by the Chamber, He and Cr Bishop had waited upon the Superintendent and Executive with reference to the conditions attached to the grant, and the result was satisfactory, as they were subsequently told by the Provincial Auditor if he found at the end of the financial year that the amount stated had been spent as directed by the grant, no objection would be raised by him. The £SOOO would be paid by instalments ; the first of which (£1250) would be paid on the 30th June. He and Cr Raphael had waited upon the commissioner of police relative to procuring two mounted police to patrol the suburbs at night time, and had been told that every attention would be given and means ;taken for the protection of the inhabitants. He (the Mayor) regretted to see by the Registrar’sjstatistics that the death rate for the last month had, with the exception of Hokitika, been greater in proportion to population than in any other city in New Zealand.

Or Ick desired the consideration of the Council for a moment while he took exception to his Worship the Mayor having sat upon the Bench during the time the appeals against valuations preferred from that Council were being heard. His having done so was to lis (Or Ick’s) mind wrong in principle, and as the cases heard in the Resident Magistrate’s Court had previously been heard in the Council Chambers over which his Worship had presided, he did not think he should have again assisted 1 o hear those appeals. He hoped each councillor would express an opinion on this matter. Or Bishop had heard some remarks upon the same thing, and had been very careful while he occupied the position of Mayor not to sit upon the Bench on any case in which the Council were in the least interested.

Cr Jones considered that the Mayor’s knowledge of the value of the city properties must have been of great assistance to the Resident Magistrate. Crs Gapes, Raphael, and Schmidt did not think his Worship should have sat upon the Bench while any appeals from the Council were being heard. His Worship said that he had attended the Court the days the appeals were being heard in his position of Justice of the Peace without any respect to that of Mayor. His knowledge of the value of the city properties had not only been of assistance to Mr Mellish, but had also been advantageous to the ratepayers, in whose interest he had alone attended. If he occupied his present position next year, he would feel it to be his duty, and would certainly again attend «t the Court while the appeals were being heard.

The city surveyor reported—“l.l have been obliged to stop the building of the sewer on the South town belt owing to the great quantity of rain that has fallen, the ground is so full of water that it cannot be well worked.

“2. There is some portion of the belt where the ground is baggy that will necessitate extra work to make a foundation for the sewer.

“3. Last week we had fourteen carts at work drawing shingle to the roads and footpaths, besides those engaged in contract work. “ 4. Six extra men have been taken on, and are employed in dressing the footpaths and roadsides where channelling has been laid.”

The clauses of the report were approved as read.

A discussion took place on the advisableness of some action being taken with reference to the Lichfield water supply. Or Raphael moved—“ That the Council approves of the plan of the surveyor, for a tank to be erected in Lichfield street to hold 20,000 gallons water, and that the works committee be authorised to call for tenders when the funds will admit.” Cr Ick seconded the motion.

Cr Gapes moved as an amendment—“ That the plan of the tank to contain 32,000 gallons be approved.” Cr Jones seconded the amendment. On being put, the motion was declared to be carried.

Or Ick complained of soixn filthy water, from which the stench was abominable, being allowed to flow into the side channel at the corner of Colombo and Cashel streets. As the case had been in Court, he might mention that the nuisance arose from Mr Sharpe’s place. The inspector of nuisances, if the report of the case heard in Court was true, had made strenuous efforts to prevent Mr Sharpe from being fined. This nuisance had again been committed by Mr Sharpe on last Saturday night. Numerous persons had complained to him of this nuisance. Cr Raphael said that he had also received complaints about this filthy water being allowed to flow into the side channel at this place. The inspector of nuisances was called in, and said that he had made every inquiry in that neighborhood, and had visited the place himself, and could find no one who complained of this nuisance having been created. When he visited the place, there was clean artesian water running, and Mr Sharpe always kept his shop scrupulously clean. Cr Ick said that when he was told of the nuisance he went there, and lound a man

cleaning puddings with gloves on, and to this refuse was added the scourings of tripe. The stench was abominable, but of course as this water had not far to run, it had disappeared before the inspector saw it. Neighbors, of course, felt a delicacy in reporting unfavorably of each other, but he had a duty in that Council to perform, and would do it fearlessly. Referred to the sanitary committee.

On the motion of Cr Bishop, the town clerk was instructed to write a letter (read) to Mr Parker, pointing out inaccuracies in weights and figures, which were shown on tickets that had been submitted to him (Cr Bishop). Several tenders for channelling in Hereford street, were opened, and that of Messrs Prudoe and Cooper was accepted. The following letter from the Provincial Auditor, dated June 17th, and addressed to the Mayor, was read : “ I have the honor, by desire of the Colonial Government, to request the favor of information bearing upon the following points : “ 1. What was the total sum leviable by the Corporation lor rates during its past financial year ? “2. What portion of this sum was for ordinary Municipal purposes? *• 3. What portion was for supply of gas? “ 4. What portion for water ? “ 5. What for any other special purpose ? “ 6. What is the total sum leviable during the Corporation year now current ? “ 7. What portion of the same is leviable for each special purpose as above ? “ 8, How is the rate—or if there be more than one—how is each rate struck? e.g. — on annual value of property, or on the foot frontage, or otherwise, and what is the amount of rate per cent per foot or otherwise, as the case may be ? <• As the above information is required without delay, may I request the favor of your supplying me with the same at your earliest convenience.” The town clerk was instructed to forward the information asked for. A letter was read, signed by a large number of residents in the western portion of the city, complaining of the very great public inconvenience experienced by the closing of the Montreal street bridge for so many months, and submitting the necessity of the bridge being re-opened as quickly as possible. In connection with the above, a letter was read from Messrs W. Montgomery and Co, renewing their offer of bridge timber made to the Council some time since, and mentioning that a vessel now lying in the port has a lot of large sized iron bark timber on board very suitable for bridge building purposes. As Cr Raphael had given a notice of motion bearing on the first letter, consideration of both were deferred. A letter was read from Mr G. Willmer, calling attention to his former letter respecting the road in the extreme south of Durham street. Referred to the works committee. A letter was read signed by several ratepayers, calling attention to the state of the footpath between New street and the north belt in Madras street; also to the state of the side channel between New street and the belt. Referred to the works committee. A letter was read from Mr M. Sandstein, calling attention to the state of the footpath in Gloucester street, extending from Madras to Barbadoes streets. Referred to the works committee, A letter was read, signed by several ratepayers, again calling attention to the footpath in front of their premises in Whately road. Referred to the works committee. A letter was read from Messrs Harman and Stevens, as agents for Mrs Simeon, agreeing to pay the customary rate of £2 12s 6d per chain for concrete kerbing and channelling along the western side of town section No 610. It was resolved that this work be carried out. The rate book for the year 1875 was laid on the table, and signed by the Mayor, and the seal of the Council was ordered to be affixed to it, under clause 229 of the M. O. Act, 1867. A report was read from ihe rate collector, giving a return of rates remaining unpaid on June 20th for the year 1874. Cr Bishop’s motion of last week, “ That a discussion be allowed with reference to suburban drainage,” and which had been adjourned last week, was again brought on for consideration. Cr Ick said that as he had moved the adjournment on last Monday, he supposed he would be first to speak, and would begin by regretting that two of the oldest councillors were absent that evening. As the Mayor last Monday evening had read and handed to the reporter for publication his views upon the question of drainage, it was only fair that those who took part in the discussion with the chairmen of the suburban Road Boards should also have an opportunity of expressing their views in a similar manner, It would be remembered that some months ago he (Cr Ick) moved a resolution in this Council—” That no general system of drainage would be satisfactory that did not include the immediate suburbs of the city.” He was still of that opinion, but differed with the Mayor in the means of carrying it out. He objected to a Board of Commissioners or any other body overriding a corporate body like that of a City Council. The appointment of such a Board meant additional taxation, which the city was not able to bear, besides the existence of two governing bodies for the same place would be in his opinion extremely inexpedient: the result would be continual bickerings and jealousies, which would not be advantageous to the ratepayers. He might be asked, “Then what do you propose?” Well, he was in favor of extending the municipal boundaries, so as to include the immediate suburbs, or those parts which naturally drained towards the city, and for which this great outcry for drainage was being raised. He would increase the number of representatives, by giving to what were now the suburbs an equitable representation at the City Council Board. He would also divide the whole into wards, believing that a more direct interest would be created, and a healthier tone given to the Council. By this means the interests of the city and suburbs would be one, as they were naturally ; and he ventured to think no additional taxation would be necessary, because the means already existing for outfall drainage wonld be immediately available — and so far as the south and east parts were concerned, it would be a very simple and inexpensive method to construct another drain along the belts to connect with the main outfall sewer, which, in connection with the outfall land drain, was competent

to take all the water that could possibly be led to it. He was fully persuaded the true interests of the suburban population lay in the direction he had indicated. A system of drainage had been initialed for the city which had every promise of success. It was now in active opera lion, and being extended daily, and as fast as circumstances would allow, A sum of £25,000 would soon have bem expended, and other contracts to the extent of £IO,OOO more would soon be under weigh. It could not be said, therefore, that the citizens themselves or their representaiivcs had been unmindful of their wants in this respect, nor had they been unwilling to tax themselves ; but he questioned very much whether they would be willing to have a Board of Commissioners appointed over them, to have power to levy fresh taxes to do that which they were quite willing and competent to do themselves. If the suburbs objected to throw in their lot with the Council, then he humbly submitted they could unite, two or more of them, and form themselves into a municipality, and borrow money as the city had done for their own drainage purposes. The Road Board districts of Heathcote and Spreydon were admirably adapted for the purpose; but if they thought the time had not come for them to unite for municipal purposes, it remained open to them to accept a Board of Commissioners who should make the question of drainage their especial forte. Supposing that none of these suggestions were acceptable, there yet remained another plan of getting over the difficulty. Let the Road Boards interested unite with the City Council, and get the Government to purchase the brick sewers and outfall land drain at the cost price, say £15,000, make it public property, and then charge the city and the road districts according to the population or the extent of the acreage drained. He could not conceive any objection to this plan, because it appeared to him to be just to all parties concerned, and had the great advantage of being immediately available, providing the Government had noobjectiontopurohasing the drain. Something had been said about the high and noble duties the Council had to perform, and that they should be willing to sink their dignity and fall in with the views of the Road Boards. No doubt such expressions were very taking, and looked extremely well on paper, and served well to round a period; but he took it their duties were first to the ratepayers of Christchurch, to conserve their interests, and to take care that no undue taxation should be put upon them to serve the purposes of those who have shown no disposition as yei to tax themselves for the object sought. As for “ sinking their dignity,” he did not think the most inveterate democrat that ever mounted a tar barrel would say they had any dignity to lose. It was an attribute they did not possess; they were simply nine plain business men sent there ot do the ratepayers’ business to the best of their ability; ..therefore all such high-fainting expressions were, to bis mind, uncalled for, and mere empty sounds. Cr Bishop did not wish to be misunderstood on this subject, therefore he had followed the fashion and taken some notes:—lf Christchurch were in its primitive state with respect to drainage, if no works for this purpose had been commenced, it was quite probable that his views upon this question would not be the same as those he now held. The circumstances, as'.they now stand are as follow That several reports have been obtained as to the best means of drainage for the city; and after lengthened consideration, a system has been initiated under the recommendation of Mr Bray, consulting engineer to the Council. Large works have been carried out, and several miles of channelling are being constructed with money borrowed for this special purpose. The time has arrived when such works should be extended to the suburbs, in consequence _ of a large population having located in those parts; the question is, how to accomplish this. It appeared to be the desire of the Road Boards to have a special Drainage Board, who should exercise power not only over the suburbs, but also over all drainage matters in the city. Now, he thought that taking into consideration the present position of these two areas, where one was far advanced in the work of a special scheme, and nothing had been done in the other; where the one already possessed the power to perform the work, and was carrying it out, and the other had to commence a plan yet undefined, he said that it would be very unfair to create a new power to put the City Council on one side, and be allowed to levy rates and carry on works independently of the Council. The result would be that much of the suburban drainage works would have to be done with city rates. Much had been said about the necessity of including the city with the suburbs, on account of the former being the watershed. This implied that the whole of the city was a water shed. He denied that such was the fact. The water shed was confined to the South and South-eastern part of the city, and to prove that the Council were not so selfish as to deny all reasonable means for the districts in those localities to get rid of their water, and allow it to pass through the city, he would here quote what was mentioned to the Heathcote Road Board a short time since. After explaining that they could not offer to take the water from the railway into the underground sewer on the South belt, as its size was barely sufficient to take the quantity which might have to enter it from the city, they went on to say as follows ;—“ The works committee are of opinion that when the land drain is put mto proper order it will, in conjunction with the outfall drain, be capable of taking the water from the district, in addition to that of Christchurch, therefore suggest whether the districts had not better unite their influence to make the outfall and its overflow public property, and afterwards have an independent drain down the South and East belts to convey their water to the outfall, which would cost about £3600.” He therefore thought this was quite sufficient to show their willingness to do what they reasonably could to assist the drainage of those districts to get to the estuary. What in his opinion was really wanted was a Drainage Board for the suburbs, to act independently of the Road Boards (who pos sessed no power in these matters). They should be authorised to borrow money for long periods, levy rates for interest and sinking fund, and carry out all drainage work. At a conference meeting with the chairmen of Road Boards a resolution was carried requesting his Honor the Superintendent to promote legislation for the purpose of creating an elective body of commissioners to be charged with the drainage of Christchurch and the surrounding country. He now begged to move—" That this Council desired to urge the necessity for a complete system of drainage for the suburbs of Christchurch, but that

no system should include the city without the approval of the Council.” Cr Raphael seconded the motion. Or Jones said that he rose at a very great disadvantage, as other Councillors had written most elaborate notes. He would support the resolution of thejßoad Boards, as he believed it would result in most general good. No one could say that any of the South-East portion of the city had in any way benefitted by the outfall drain. Even London, that large city, could not execute a successful work of drainage by itself. If the Council would sink its dignity, if that were being considered, he was certain that if a general commission were formed from the Road Boards, a more complete system of drainage must result at a comparatively less cost than the work of drainage if carried out by the Council. [“ No.”J This unity with the Road Boards he had advocated before. Let them now avail themselves of the opportunity they had of uniting themselves with the Road Boards to carry out this work, and the result, depend upon it, would be to make this a most perfect city with regard to health, and the ratepayers would heartily support such a movement. [Cr Raphael— No.] If this were made an electioneering question, depend upon it the people would support a commission. [No, no.] The commission, if formed, would have no control over the special works of the city. He hoped that no resolution would be carried that night, and he felt that if the result was as he desired the greatest good would result. Cr Gapes could not support the resolution, and would support a metropolitan board, if he thought it would work, but he did not think such would be the case. The next best thing would be to ask the outside boroughs to annex themselves to the city as they could by the Act, and if a Metropolitan Board could not be found to work, he would desire that the boroughs should be annexed for the purpose of drainage. Or Ick would like to reply to a remark that had fallen from Cr Jones, that if the Road Boards joined the Council, the work would be done as well and as cheaply as by the Council. He would merely point to a monument of engineering skill in the work of drainage in the Waltham drain, and he had also heard of some work connected with drainage carried out by the Avon Board which had not resulted very satisfactorily. So far as the Heathcote Board was concerned, the work carried out by them in drainage matters could not be looked on as a success. He had only to instance their closing up the Ferry road drain. In conversation with several leading citizens, they agreed with him that it would be a great mistake for the Council to hand over to a Board the power to complete the system of drainage which had been so satisfactorily initiated by the Council. Cr Raphael said that if a Board were formed they would have to tax the citizens for the greater portion of the money that would be required to carry on drainage, and a fresh tax would have to be levied on city properties for what was required to carry out the drainage of the suburbs. [Cr Jones—" No.”] Cr Jones might say no, but he said yes. To do this would in his opinion be unfair and wrong in principle. If the Board were elected on the basis of population, it would be a toss up at times what particular motion for certain drainage might be carried. He felt that this question of drainage should be settled at once, as he admitted its urgency, but he would not agree with the citizens being taxed to drain the suburbs. He would support Cr Bishop’s motion. The Mayor said that all the arguments used by Cr Ick had been used by hira on various occasions, and he did not now object to its being made public that he was the writer of those letters that had appeared in the Press signed “ Investigator.” Up to the time that he had attended the meeting of Chairmen of Road Boards, he felt that the City Council was fully competent to deal with the question of drainage, but after he had listened to the arguments used at that meeting, he felt there was but one solution of the difficulty. The Road Boards say “we have not the power to borrow money nor to carry out this work; therefore,for the general good, we are prepared to allow our functions to be dispensed with.” Now, it had arrived at a point when some action should be taken to drain the suburbs, and he might mention that he had closely watched the motions brought forward in the Provincial Council, and he had noticed that where one municipality was mentioned, the vote would at once be objected to ; but where any general scheme was introduced, it at once found favor. He also believed that if a general system were initiated, the Board, if properly formed (and it must be elective, and on the basis of population) the Provincial Council would giant such a sum to this Board as would prevent any additional taxation beyond what would exist for the present work of drainage. As Mr Fisher had said the other day, they all thought that they were clever fellows, and should not be superseded; but he really felt, looking at this matter in a broad view, that they ought to give way. If a petition were sent to the Assembly to annex the suburbs for the purposes of drainage, no doubt the suburbs would send a counter petition, and judging by the relative numbers of representatives in the Assembly, the petition would have but a poor chance of being carried. The only solution was, as he bad said, a Board, but not constituted as were the Board of Conservators, as he had seen sufficient as a member of that Board to lead him to believe that unprincipled men could do a great deal of mischief. Unless some person could point out to hira a better plan for carrying out this scheme than by a Board of Commissioners to be generally elected, then he would be still prepared to use his best effort to have this Board constituted as the only real solution of the difficulty. Cr Gapes said that as two councillors were absent that evening, and this was a very important question, he would move that further discussion be adjourned for a fortnight. Cr Ick seconded the motion. Cr Bishop said that they must remember that the resolution passed by the meeting of the chairmen of the Road Boards and a committee from the Council had asked the Superintendent to take action on the resolution, and, as his motion was a most simple one, be thought it would be injudicious of the Council to adjourn the discussion. Cr Gapes’ motion for adjournment was put and carried. The weekly report of the inspector of nuisances was read and approved, Cr Raphael moved—" That the surveyor b; instructed to prepare plans and specification of bridge for Madras and Montreal street.”

Cr Bishop seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A letter was read from Messrs Lindner and Grandville, asking permission to place some timber on the East town belt, to be used for additions to Ward’s brewery. Permission was granted under the supervision of the surveyor. The Council wont into committee to consider copy of memorials and resolutions which had been agreed to by the Chamber of Commerce. On resuming, a sub-committee appointed in committee to draw up a memorial from the Council, was affirmed. A carrier’s and hawker’s license was granted to W. Thomas. NOTICES OP MOTION FOR MONDAY NEXT. Cr Raphael to move—“ That a petition be presented to Parliament praying that the suburbs be annexed and form part ot the City, under clause 18 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1867.” Cr Gapes to move—“ That the nuisance inspector be instructed to give notice to all owners and occupiers, as the case may be of lands within the city who have not sufficient drainage for carrying off storm water, to cause the same to be properly filled up and levelled in accordance with clause No 324 of the Municipal Corporations Act, so that storm water shall not be allowed to remain and stagnate detrimental to the health of the residents of the city.” The Council then adjourned.