CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 362, 10 August 1875, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, August 9.

The usual weekly meeting was held in the Council Chambers. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Ors Calvert, Bishop, Hart, Ick, Jones, Raphael, Gapes, and Schmidt.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The Mayor said that the committee appointed to'set on foot the petition to obtain a larger representation for East and West Christchurch had drawn up a petition and placed on two men to obtain the signatures of ratepayers. Cr Hart, as the mover of the resolution appointing that committee, regretted that he had not at least been permitted to see the draft of the petition before being sent out for signature. The Mayor said he was not aware this had not been done. In reply to a question from Cr Raphael, Cr Bishop, another member of the committee, said he also had not seen a draft of the petition before it was finally drawn out. The city surveyor reported—“l. The forming of Peacock street, and shingling same with fifteen cubic yards per chain, and gravelling footpaths, will cost £7 per chain. “ 2. With regard to the application made by Mr Strouts to construct areas under the footpaths and cover them with iron gratings, the works committee recommend that the gratings should not be allowed to extend more than one foot into the path, and that the space between the iron bars should not be more than one inch and a half, “3. I hope to have the Montreal bridge finished towards the end of this month. On No. 1 clause of thejeport being read, it was resolved that Peacock street be taken over so soon as the necessary amount towards the required expense of placing the street in condition is paid in. In connection with No. 2 clause, it was resolved that a reply be sent to Mr Strouts, in accordance with the recommendation of the works committee.

Several works in the city, requiring the attention of the works committee, were brought under the notice of the chairman, among others, the bell tower at the Market place was spoken of by Or Hart, and the street near Mr Hamilton’s house referred to by Cr Raphael. Cr Bishop replied that the bell tower had been safely secured, and that the street on the East side of Latimer Square, to which Cr Raphael referred, would be formed and metalled the moment fine weather sets in.

A long letter was read from Mr E. J. Wakefield, M.H.R, sending copies of financial statement, Local Government Bill, and Abolition of Provinces Bill, with a request that the second copy of the Abolition Bill s«nt should be handed to the chairman of the Road Board district which contained most of the electors of Christchurch east, and promising to send further copies as soon as he should be able to obtain them. A copy of Hansard was also forwarded. Mr Wakefield then referred to the progress of the different Bills through the House, adding, that the opposition contemplated would only, he hoped, arrest for a brief period the progress of the Bill through the House, and believed that “ when fruitless opposition shall have proved in vain, a sufficient majority will prevail to pass the Bill right through.” After dilating on the satisfactory result that would accrue to municipalities from the passing of the Bill, Mr Wakefield concluded by saying that he would not vote for its third reading “ if the clauses assuring the localisation of the land revenue should be expunged or abandoned.” The town clerk was instructed in reply to forward copies of the resolutions passed at the public meeting held last week. The following report was read from Professor Bickertou in reply to a letter from the works committee; —

“ Report on the suitability of gas tar for the preservation of wood. “Gas tar, when well boiled to expel ammonia, may safely be substituted for Stockholm tar. Crude creasote, the best known preservative of timber, is obtained by distilling coal tar. First, driving off the more volatile parts, and then condensing and using for this purpose the products which come off next, the asphaltic portion being left in the boiler. It is of importance that the material should penetrate some distance into the wood to be of permanent service, and it is of prime importance that the timber should be seasoned, especially is this the case in merely coating it,as otherwise the air is prevented from coming into contact with the albuminous material of the sap, in which case decay is sometimes more rapid than when the timber is not coated at all. This could scarcely be the case, however, with timber intended to be buried.

“ I would propose that the timber should be heated somewhat strongly, that the tar be boiled, and that the timber be coated while both are hot. Heating the wood would drive out a considerable quantity of the moisture, and if it were coated whilst hot, on the contraction of the expanded air and steam in the wood, the tar would be drawn into its pores, both of which actions would tend materially to increase its durability. “The city surveyor prefers a long tank to immerse the wood in the tar. If this were done the flue under the tank might be made large enough to place the wood in, so that the gases from the fire might pass over it, something like the following [A diagram of a tank is given here.] Ur, the fire might be made under the middle of the tank, spread in both directions, and be brought back through the drying flue. The surveyor, however, would be the best judge of how this might be effected. “ A. W. Bickerton.”

A letter was read, signed by a number of residents in St Asaph street, drawing attention to the footpath on the South side of that street, from Jenkins’ mill to East town belt.

Resolved —“ That a reply be sent that the work will be carried out as soon as practicable.”

On the motion of Or Ick, seconded by Or Bishop, a resolution was carried—“ That the surveyor be present on each Monday evening while questions respecting the works of the city are being considered.” A letter was read from Mr J. Dixey, Cambridge Terrace, calling attention to the state of the drain at the corner of his house. Referred to the works committee.

A letter was read from Mr G. Cooper, Tuam street, asking for some remission of rates on account of injury sustained in his garden, through the insufficiency of the drain to carry oil surface water. A letter was read from Mr W. Fyke, relating what inconvenience and, loss he had

suffered by the recent flood, and asking that some remission might be made in his rates on that account.

A letter was read from W, A. Hubert, storekeeper, East town belt, enumerating his losses by the late flood, and asking that his rates may be remitted as a consequence. On the above three letters being considered, Cr Raphael moved, and Or Ick seconded, a motion—“ That the inspector be instructed to visit the places mentioned in the letters and report to the Council.” Cr Jones moved, and Cr Gapes seconded pro forma , an amendment —“ That the four chairmen of committees visit the places and decide upon the applications.” Or Ick opposed the amendment. Cr Hart felt the Council, in considering these letters, were opening up a large field for compensation, to which the applicants were not in the least entitled by law.

Cr Bishop had seen for himself the houses of the applicants of last week during the flood, and from personal observation felt that Messrs Dowdale and Geoghegan had a good claim on the Council. Though ho would oppose the amendment, he would certainly go down and see for himself, Cr Jones obtained leave to withdraw his amendment.

Cr Raphael having replied, the resolution moved by him was put and carried. An application from J. Coombridge was read, asking to be allowed the privilege of standing with his barrow for fifteen minutes in the street.

Permission was granted on the usual terms.

A letter was read from Mr J. C. Lea referring to a previous letter from him having reference to a crossing on the East town belt. Referred to the works committee. The following report was read from the finance committee.

“ Your committee beg to report that with reference to the application from Mr Haskins for increase of salary, they recommend his salary to be increased by £SO per annum, Mr Haskins having agreed to work overtime in conjunction with the collector, Mr Tribe, in order that all rate notices may be delivered by the end of the month. Your committee expect by this means to have the overdraft paid off by the end of the financial year. “ Your committee have given instructions to the town clerk to forward the draft of the Drainage Loan Bill to the Hon E. Richardson, to lay before the Government.” The. report was approved and adopted. The usual weekly report of the inspector of nuisances was read and approved. A driver’s license was granted to George Barson, and owners’ licenses to J. Coskeril and F. Hammond.

Cr Ick, after some lengthy remarks in which arguments used by Councillors in the Council and at the Drainage Conference were reiterated, moved—-“As the ratepayers of this city will be very largely affected by the establishment of the proposed Drainage Board, this Council is of opinion that no action should be taken in the General Assembly until the ratepayers shall have an opportunity of expressing their opinions in the only legitimate way open to them at the forthcoming election in September, and that a copy of this resolution be immediately forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent and the members for the city in the General Assembly.” Cr Bishop seconded the resolution, and read some notes which he had written as the result of the meeting of the Conference on last Friday. Cr Gapes moved as an amendment—“ That the Mayor call a public meeting at an early date, inviting all persons interested in the drainage of the city and suburbs to consider this subject.” The amendment was not seconded, and fell through. After a long discussion, in which Crs Gapes, Jones, Raphael, and Hart spoke, repeating arguments which have been already reported, The Mayor said that why he had taken the action he had was his knowledge of the public health of the suburbs, which necessitated some prompt action being taken in the matter of drainage for the general good. In doing what he had done, he had acted also in the interest of the city; and in the Drainage Bill lie felt the city had received fair play and full consideration ; and he would also mention, that virtually the city would ha.ea majority on the Board. Now that the session was sitting, some immediate action should be taken to prevent another year’s delay. He thought that the only fair way to have an opinion on this question was a public meeting, and he would be quite willing to bow to a decision of such a meeting. He wished to deny altogether that he had acted in any way solely in the interests of the Road Boards; his whole actions had been in the interest of the city, and he would tell them that Christchurch had all to gain, as the first duty of the Metropolitan Board would be to look to the centres of population, where, as Cr Raphael had truly said, disease was rampant. He could not understand the narrow views of some members, as the first duty of the Board would certainly be to relieve the thickly-populated portions of this city from stagnant water. They, might remember Mr Taucred’s remark at the conference, that it was quite within the province of any individual to take measures in moving Legislative action in this matter in the Assembly. He would tell them that their Superintendent, Mr Rolleston. knew a little of Canterbury and its requirements, and of what had been done by the City Council in the direction of drainage, and his Honor’s opinion was no doubt supported by the Provincial Council, and he would tell them also received the support of every intelligent man in the city. [Cries of “Oh !”] With reference to his being called a Road Board partisan, he would again impress on them that all his efforts had been in the interests of the general public, and he would add, in conclusion, that while he was a member of the Council he would always hold an independent opinion, nor would he respect any member of the Council who did not hold the same.

Cr Ick having replied, in which he asked Or Jones whether he (Cr Jones) would submit to the dictum of a public meeting, to which the latter replied in the affirmative. The resolution was put and carried. For —Crs Bishop, Calvert, Hart, Ick, and Raphael. Against—Crs Jones, Gapes, and Schmidt.

A letter was read from the Engineer Corps, asking the patronage of the Council on the occasion of their entertainment to be held at the Oddfellows’ Hall, on the 26th inst.

It was unanimously resolved to accede to the request. The following letter, addressed to the Mayor by Hr Foster, was read:

“ Dear Sir, —As you have been so good as to let me see a copy of the Drainage Bill, I do not think I ought to let it go without saying that the Council should not allow it to be passed with the 124th clause as it stands. Omitting any question of mere policy, the Council is at present under covenant with the vendors of the soil over which the drain is carried to prevent any nuisance. In some cases this covenant is absolute, in others modified. In one case the Council have acquired no interest in the soil, the grantors refusing anything beyond a license to cut and maintain the drain. Both the Council and the various parties with whom the covenants are entered into are interested in seeing that their respective interests are duly provided for. The Council must be indemnified, and the owners of the soil duly protected.” It was understood that after the Bill has passed through the first stages, the Mayor instruct Mr Cowlishaw to send up a clause to be inserted in the Bill. The Council then adjourned,