CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1949, 4 August 1869, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The Council met this afternoon at 3 o'clock. Present— Mr Griffon, in the chair ; Messrs Fish, Wilkinson, Walter, Simpson, Thoneman, Dods, M‘Glashan. FINANCE. The Finance Committee brought up the fo-lowing report, wliich was ordered to lay on the table for a week. “ Your Committee embrace this opportunity of bringing before the Council the financial position of the Corporation for the year 1869. and bee to annex to this report statements Nos. 1 and 2. .-hewing details of income and expenditure f-T that period. Stateme - t No. 1 shews the income actually received for the six months ending 30th June last, to have been L 8531 10s, and the income for the remaining ha f of the year, is estimated at, LS24B 17s. Total for the year, LI67S3J7s; of this amount, however, th sum of L 950 12s lid, received as Government subsidy, really belongs to last year, being balance of subsidy as against the rates of 1868. The items, ‘ refunds from Government,’ and ‘ sundry persons for City works,’ cannot be included as a part of the grand annual income of the Corporation. The same remark applies to tlic amount received, from the sale of a fire-engine, viz. L2OO. Deducting these items from the total shown in table No. 1, the ordinary income of the Corporation for the year 1868 will stand at L 14,593 6s 6d. The expenditure for the same period will amount (provided no new works of importance are initiated) to L 15,809 3s 2d. This includes, of course, the sum of L 1,038 7s 7d, refunded as explained above. The only item which require special notice is, the amount of L 540 for sinking fund. This amount your committee are of opinion should at once be appropria ed towards a sinking fund, as required by the Act. Your Committee are glad to he able to congratulate the Council upon the sound state of its finances, and more especially upon the fact that the documents submitted show that the Corporation is now living within its income. This state of affairs your Committee beg most strongly to urge upon the Council to endeavor to continue. A statement annexed herewith (No. 3) shows the total indebtedness of the 'orporatiouupon bonds and debentures to be L 40,600, the annual charge for interest ou which amounts to L 2.842. To this have to be added the oiho- items of fixed expenditure —viz., gas, L 4,180; salaries, L 2,225 ; Fire Brigade, L 40 0; contingent expenses, LI,OOO ; ‘ sinking fund, L3OO ; day labor, LI,BOO. The gross fixed expenditure of the Corporation, in round numbers, will therefore stand at about LIS,OOO per annum. Referring to statement No. 1, it will bo found that the income from rates, even at the high assessment of Is Gd in the £, only yields about L 9,000 per annum, and that the ordinary income from oth r sources amounts to about L 2,500 per annum. Judging from this, it must he clear that unless the Provincial Government continue to subsidise the rate, as they have done for the past three years, to the extent of about L 3,000 per annum, the Corporation cannot afford to keep up even the present expenditure, which is notoriously inadequate to meet the requirements of the city. Your Committee would therefore recommend the Council to endeavor to get the Government subsidy continued after the expiry of this year, as such continuance is in tlu-ir opinion absolutely necessary, and without doubt a fair claim upon the Provincial Government. The expenditure for lighting the city is an item which your Committ e hope the Council will be able to reduce considerably at the expiry of the present contract. The present expenditure is beyond all proportion, and is a serious burden ou the citizens. Your committee in concluding this report beg to offer their opinion that for some years to come the Corporation cannot afford to borrow any fur her amount of money on debentures -without for some special reproductive works, such as gas, water, markets, &c. Your committee recommend that LlO be voted for the purchase of additional books for the Fire Brigade library. Your committee leg to report having passed accounts amounting to L 1,169 19s 9d.” 'I he application for a lease of ground for the Volunteer Artillery Corps was postponed.

Me-srs Guthrie aud Asher made application for an extension -of their lease on payment of an increased rent of L 35 per annum.

Mr Fish moved the adoption of the clause in the Reserves Committee’s Report.

Mr Simpson seconded the motion. • Mr Dous objected. It was remitted to the Reserves Committee for further report. The report of the Public Works Committee was read. It recommended several small improvements, and permissions to be granted for taking gravel and other trill iug privileges. The report was adopted. The report of the Town Belt Ranger was referred to the Reserves Committee. duke’s visit. The statement of receipts and expenditure in connection with the Duke’s visit, was adopted. DAY WAGES. A memorial from several workmen, complaining of the offer of six shillings a day, was considered. Mr Dods thought the better plan would be to pay them by piece work. Mr Fish thought six shillings a day too little if the men were wanted, and able laborers.

Mr Dons suggested, that supposing the men were engaged in stone breaking, they should be paid a certain rate per yard. The Chairman thought the Corporation should at once decide. Eight shillings a day was not. too much at the present season. Mr Walter supported that view. Mr M'Gl.v-has considered, as the memorialists were only occasi nally employed, Ss per day was not too much. Mr Fish did nob consider a uniform rate of wages for men, able or not, should be given. Mr Dods would be the last man in the Council to reduce wages. Referred to Works Committee, with power to act. mayor’s salary. Mr Fish moved that the Mayor’s salary be fixed at L4f)o. Mr ThoNeman seconded the motion. It was carried. the auditors’ salary. Mr Wilkinson moved, aud Mr Fish seconded, that the Auditors’ salaries by, each. Mr Thoneman thought the salary should be the same a' 4 in-■ ormer years. It was not adequate to the wo-k. Mr Simpson seconded the amendment, aud thought the honor and LlO would be sufficient indue, m uit.

Mr Dods and Mr Walter supported the motion, which was carried. The Council was left sitting.