CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 4298, 5 December 1876, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held this afternoon. Present— Lhe Mayor (in the chair), Cra. Thomson, Crant, Gibson, Wright, Walter, Brown, Isaac, Mollison, Roberts, Fish, Campbell, and Woodland On a communication being read from the secretary to the Bnitcd Suburban Councils, Cr, Fish contended that the City Council had done wrong in deciding to continue the tramway through the suburbs. The action of this Council could not bind suburban councils.—Cr, Chant denied that the Council bad incurred any responsibility beyond its _ own boundaries. - Other Councillors having stated that they bad no apprehension on the matter, the letter was referred to the Work# Committee,

The Water Supply Committee recommended that baths in hotels should be exempt from charge, as in the case of private bouses. The clause was opposed by Os, Fish and Woodland, and its retention strongly supported by Cr. Walter.- Cr. 1 saac wanted a scaling-charge adopted for hotels, boarding-houses, and private hotels, and carried his point. Consequently the charge for these places will be L2 for a first bath, and Ll for every additional bath. The Finance Committee’s report was adopted. It recommended that the salary of Mr Youngmaa, ranger, be increased to L 175, it being understood that any spare time he has should be devoted to the duties assigned him by the Town Clerk. Applications for the vacancy for a clerk in the Municipal Department at a salary of L2OO had been invited. The Gas Committee recommended that after December 31 all charges in respect to meter-rents be abolished; and that the dis> count to private consumers of gas be re* duced to 10s in the £, provided the amount be paid into the Corporation offices bj the 20th of the ensuing month—no discount to be allowed after that date.—Cr* Fish pointed out that from a compilation laid on the table it appeared that the first item meant an annual charge of L 561, and the reduction by private consumption L 2,840 13s lOd. This affected the revenue considerably, seeing that no reduction was proposed for public lamps.—Cr. Walter strongly supported the report, and moved its adoption.—This was seconded by Cr. Gibson. —Cr. Fish wanted the discount reduced from 12s 6d to 11s, a reduction in a like ratio to be. made for public lamps. The amendment was lost by the Mayor’s casting vote.—Cr. Fish then proposed that a reduction of 2s fid be also made in the public lighting, which was agreed to. The committee’s report was then adopted with this addition. [Left sitting.]