CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 109, 6 October 1874, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, October 5,

The usual weekly meeting was held in the Council Chambers. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Calvert, Hobbs, Ick, Raphael, Bishop, Gapes, Jones, and Farr. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The town clerk reported receipts for the week to be as follows :—From rate collector, account general city rates, 1871, £216 10s; Waitnakariri do, £3G Is 8d ; quarter’s rent of Resident Magistrate’s Court, £3l 5s ; fines from Resident Magistrate’s Court, £3 ; subscriptions towards Park terrace, £4l ; rent of market place, 7s ; total receipts, £331 3s Bd. Diainage account, dr, £llß3 19s 8d ; drainage rate account, cr, £782 15s 2d; wages, &c, to be paid on general account, £2G9 18s 5d ; wages, &c, on drainage account, £l4 8s 6d ; overdraft at bank on general account, £!)L Is 3d. The report of the bye-law committee, accompanying draft bye-law, was brought up and both taken as read

Cr Bishop moved, “ That the draft bye-law now proposed by the bye-law committee be published in the Lyttelton Times newspaper of the Bth October instant, and that the Council do meet to consider the same on the 18th of October next, of which meeting special notice is to be given.” Cr Hobbs seconded the resolution, which was agreed to. The city surveyor reported : “ 1. Detail drawings of the ironwork for Victoria bridge footpaths will be laid before you. It will be observed that I have put in a different pattern railing, which I think will have a better appearance. I should be glad to have instructions whether to invite tenders for the work.

“2. Armagh street bridge—l believe the best plan for giving additional support to this bridge would be by driving two piles in the centre.

“ 3. I think the brick sewer at present being built on the East belt ought to be carried across] the Ferry road drain, in order not to be inconvenienced with water whenever the sewer is continued along the belt. “ 4. After the late rains I found a great quantity of water on the East belt, which came down from the Hcathcote district, and in order to relieve the belt and enable the work to continue, I was obliged to turn it into the sewer.

“5. Park terrace, Cranmer square, and Chester street are now finished with the exception of laying in some pipes.” The first paragraph of the report was considered. After some discussion, the drawings submitted were approved, and it was resolved that the surveyor be instructed to prepare specifications and call for tenders for the ironwork of the bridge. The remaining paragraphs of the report were approved as read. Several works throughout the city, requiring repair, were brought under the notice of the works committee.

A letter was read from the Assistant-Sec-retary for Public Works, acknowledging receipt of letter re watering streets, and stating that the matter would be considered at the next meeting of the Executive Council. A second letter was read from the same official, with reference to the clearing of the River Avon, stating, in reply, that the Provincial Engineer had, prior to receipt of the Council’s letter, been instructed to report on the matter.

Three letters were read from the Heathcote Road Board, calling atbn'ion to a fence on Matheson’s road being an obstruction, and desiring its removal ; giving notice that a gorse fence on Ollivier’s road, Heathcote, the property of the Council, must be cut; and enclosing letters from Mr W. Sneddon, Stanmore road, and Mr H. Oxford, East Town belt; the former referring to the drainage of his property, aud the latter to the state of the belt.

It was ordered that the first letter be acknowledged; that the gorse fence alluded to in the second be cut, and with reference to the third letter, it was resolved “ That the Council have no control in the , r matter referred to in the first enclosure ; and with regard to the second, the Council are prepared to make improvements in the East belt, if the Board will contribute half.” A letter was read from Mr J. Newton, enclosing catalogue for a stone breaking machine.

Resolved—“ That this letter be handed to the surveyor to report.” A letter was read from the secretary to the New Zealand Insurance Company, stating that he would be prepared to pay an iustalmei't of the loan of £IO,OOO as soon as the debentures are received back from Wellington stamped. Agreed to. A letter was read from Mr D. B. Bowie, of South belt, again referring to the bad state of drainage in his neighborhood. Referred to the works’ committee.

A letter was read from Edwards, Bennett, and Co, stating that they were about making some additions to their premises, which would necessitate them closing up the present cart entrance in Manchester street, and asking for a crossing nearer Lichfield street in lieu of it.

Permission granted on the condition that the otherentrance is filled up. . A letter was read from Mr R. Wilkin, as agent for the Kev Chas, Fraser, asking t a the Council would cause the drain running through Lot 159, Christchurch Town Reserves, to be filled up, as it is becoming a nuisance. Resolved, that the land referred to is private property, and the Council have no control over it. A letter was read from Mr Hawkes, asking the Council to grant another week to the promoters of the Market House Company, as owing to pressure of business he bad been unable to get the committee together this week. A definite answer would be given by Monday next.—Granted. The town clerk drew attention to the assessment of the Council’s quarry, at Halswell, the Board having assessed it at £3O, which he thought excessive. Resolved that the assessment be appealed against. Cr Bishop at this stage moved, by permission, the following motion — ll That the following shall be considered as the special duties of the finance committee, without interfering with the right of each member of taking part in discussions at all meetings of the Council.

"1. To give the collector of rates such instructions for the collection of rates they may deem necessary. All such instructions to be entered in the minute-book, and report to the Council ail matters of importance connected therewith. “2. To sign cheques for payment and for that purpose they shall attend at the Council office every Tuesday morning between the hours of nine and ten. Should any member he unalfie to attend, he shall give to the town clerk previous intimation, in order that he may obtain the signature of some other councillor.

“3. To keep a continual watch on the financial condition of the Council ; advise the Council when necessary as to the propriety of deferring expensive works, and towards the end of the financial year make such recommendations to the Council the committee may deem fit, in order to conform to clause 9, M. C. Act, 1871. “4. To assist the town clerk in making out the usual estimate of our financial position before striking the annual general rate.

“5. To be the acting committee in endeavoring to obtain the licensing fees, &c.

“6. Drainage matters. —When the halfyearly is duo, to examine the account before it is submitted to the Council for payment. Once a year to see that the balance of interest is passed to the sinking fund account. Invest sinking fund account in General Government securities, as provided by the Act. Apply at the proper time for the interest, which is to be placed to the sinking fund account. The General Government debentures are to be placed in the box at the bank.” Cr Farr seconded the motion. The clauses of the motion were considered seriatim.

The first clause was carried. On clause 2 being considered An amendment was moved—“ That the clause be expunged.” The amendment was put and lost. Cr Jones moved a further amendment—- “ That the finance committee attend at the City Council Chambers every Monday, for the purpose of auditing the Council’s accounts, and also attend on Tuesday mornings to sign cheques.” Cr Raphael seconded the amendment.

This amendment was also put and lost.

Cr Hobbs moved as a further amendment —“That all accounts other than those connected with Finance of Public Works, be referred to the finance committee before payment.” Cr Tck seconded the amendment. Cr Hobbs’ amendment on being put, was carried by the casting vote of the Mayor.

Clause 3 and 4 were carried as read. By leave of the Council, Cr Bishop with drew clause 5 of the motion.

Clause 6 was passed, and the whole of the resolution passed as amended. The sanitary committee reported as folio s a :

“The sanitary committee beg to report that in reference to the Registrar General’s return of the vital statistics of municipalities, they recommend the Council to inform the Registrar-General that the hospital is not in the city, and that it receives patients from all parts of the province, and that, therefore, the monthly returns show unfavorably. “ The committee suggest that the table of mortality should be altered, making the minimum seven years instead of five. “Your committee, having consulted with Dr Powell, beg to submit the following evidence as submitted by him :

“ ‘ I regard the high per centage death rate during the last three months as casual, and not in any degree attributable to unfavorable sanitary conditions, a large proportion of the deaths having occurred among young children in consequence of an epidemic of catarrhal bronchitis and pneumonia, consequent upon the very changeable weather which we have experienced this spring. For five months of the eight (January to October) of this year, Christchurch compares favorably, as regards the death rate, with other towns, and there is no reason for thinking that after the cessation of the present epidemic the mortality will exceed that of the chief towns of the other provinces. I beg to point attention to the fallacious nature of percentage returns as regards small communities, and when extending over short periods of time, such returns being so very largely influenced by casual circumstances. I have no means of estimating the healthiness or the reverse of Christchurch, as compared with previous years, but if the whole district be considered, it will prove that if the year 1878 is compared with say the years 1861 and 186!), the mortality in the district, as compared with the birth-rate for the year 1873, is less than that of the years 1864 and 1869 by nearly 20 per cent. I consider that Christchurch, when we regard its very unfavorable situation—nearly a dead level, only a few feet above high water mark—is a remarkably healthy town, and that this is in chief measure One to our magnificent supply of artesian water, and I am confident that our death-rate will be rendered still smaller when a system of drainage shall have been established, more especially when the present stagnant sidechannels, subject to periodical drying and welting, and to the accumulation of all kinds of household ref ise soaking into the soil and impregnating it with organic matter, shall have been replaced by permanent stone or concrete channelling irrigated by a coustant stream of running water.’ ” The report and letter were received. Cr Ick thought the report was a very satisfactory one, and he hoped it would tend to

diminish the fears entertained as to the healthiness of the city. Several articles had lately appeared in some of the papers stating that the City Council had not done their duty ih sanitary matters, and were not exercising their powers under the Local Board of Health Act. He considered it his duty to say (hat that Act was not in force now. Whose fault it was he would not say, but that Act had to be proclaimed every six months, and it was now fourteen mouths since this had been done.

Cr Gapes felt that it was the duty of the Council to make application for this power every six months, and in not making this application they were not doing their duty. His Worship said that at a meeting of the Central Board of Health held that day, he had moved a resolution asking that the Governor would again proclaim the Local Board of Health to he in force, which resolution had been carried.

Cr Bishop would have liked to have seen another recommendation in the report to the Registrar-General, as he observed that in compiling the returns, that adults were included with children of seven years of age. The report was then adopted. Cr Jones obtained permission to postpone his resolution for a week, and Gr Bishop obtained similar permission for a resolution of which he had given notice. Cinders’ licenses were granted to Henry Turkington and George Barrett. Cr Rapha 1 moved—That the resolution No 23 on the minutes of the Council, 17th September, 1873. with reference to the sum of £3OO being allowed for the Mayor’s official expenses, be rescinded from the expiration of the present Mayoral year.’’ He intended to slate various reasons why he considered the resolution should be allowed to pass. On the 2nd of September, 1872, Cr Calvert moved a resolution that a sum should be paid to the Mayor. The resolution, on being put, was lost. In November, 1873, a resolution was moved by Cr Calvert that £3OO be placed at the disposal of the Mayor. Cr Ick moved as an amendment that the sum be paid to the Mayor as official expenses. The Mayor (< V Bishop) gave his casting vote for flu; amendment, and it was carried. It had been a popular delusion that the Mayor had given a birthday dinner, for which the Council had paid. On looking at the Council’s book, he saw that a committee had been appointed by the Council to make arrangements for the opening of the outfall drain. That committee consisted of Crs Lane, Bishop, and Ick. The committee mot on 16th January, and decided that 150 persons should be invited to that dinner: and he considered the £lB9 voted for that dinner would have been better spent on the streets looking at the present condition of them. He saw the works committee had passed this account. (Cr Ick—No, the works committee did not pass the account ; it was the Council who did.) Well, if it had been handed to the finance committee it would not have been passed. The Mayor had been blamed for doing away with this money, and where the blame really lay he thought— Cr Jones would rise to say that he thought Cr Raphael was going away from the words of his resolution.

Cr Raphael thought he was simply confining himself to his resolution. The Mayor had taken the whole of the blame of this dinner outside, and ho (Cr Raphael) had since seen that the dinner had been given in connection with the opening of the outfall drain, and not in commemoration of the Mayor’s birthday, though that happened to fall on the same day. If he disagreed with the resolution what must he think of the amendment in connection with official expenses ? What were official expenses ? He had received an official invitation from the Mayor to go down to New Brighton to open the season, and he did go. and had since received an account for £1 17s 6d for his dinner. [Laughter.] Could that be cp.lled an official expense ? The banquet had not been a birthday one, but one authorised by the Council, and he would ask that the resolution on the books of the Council be altered from what it then stood.

Cr Gapes seconded the resolution, and said a committee had been appointed for the opening of the outfall drain, but no committee had been formed to get up a Mayor’s banquet. (The Mayor read the minutes.) (Cr Ick—Perhaps Cr Gapes thought it should have been an infall drain.) [Laughter.) He (Cr Gapes) never thought such a banquet was included in the resolution then passed, and when the banquet did come off, he did’nt even then think it would bo charged to the Council. When the account came down to the works committee for £lso—(The M nyor — Half-year’s salary)—he asked for items, and said that they (the works committee) were there only to pass accounts for work done The ctiairman could not give him items, and they agreed that it should be referred back to the Mayor. At night time the accounts came down, increased to £IBO. Then came the question that this expense was incurred at the Mayor’s, banquet, which the Mayor could call official expenses if he liked, and the Council could not get out of it. He didn’t know that Vie would have gone to the banquet if he had believed it was to bo paid out of the rates. [Oh !] There had never been any report from the coramitt’e appointed to make arrangements for the opening of the outfall drain. If there bad been he would have opposed the payment of this account.

Cr Bishop would support the resolution, not from the same view as that held hy Or Raphael, but for rhe same reason why he opposed it in 1872, viz, for one of finance, as they could not afford the expense. He had voted for the amendment as in the position he then held he would have been acting in an unhandsome manner to the Council if he had opposed both resolution and amendment. He thought the office should be held by merit and not from the emolument to be received from the position. About the arrangements for the opening of the outfall drain, there had been one small cask of beer and one bottle of wine obtained for that purpose. It had been tho wish of the Mayor that a banquet should tie held, as a section of the public had been so opposed to the work, and foretold that it would be a failure, that its successful issue should be marked. The Mayor said that was his birthday. A great work had been successfully achieved, and a banquet should be held, but it was then m derstood that payment should come out of the sum voted to the Mayor. j Hear, hear ] Ho considered that a perfectly legitimate action, and he would be quire willing to act his part over again if called upon under similar circumstances.

Or Hobbs would support the resolution, as he considered the citizens of Christchurch could well afford to pay their Mayor.

Cr Jones said (lint (o disabuse the minds of the ratepayers he would tell them that in 1807 £240 had been spent fur official expenses, and in 1809 £2 12. and in addition to that amount, the gentleman who then occupied the position of Mayor must have spent some £IOO or £SOO more—[hear, hear]—find if in those times of depression the ratepayers paid those amounts, he thought in the present prosperous times, the ratepayers ought not to grumble at paying £BOO for official expenses. [Hear, hear ] At any public event, such as the visit of a Prince, or Governor, he felt they should not allow (hem to go away wi'bout some public demonstration, which might reasonably be borne at the expense of the ratepayers. Their present Mayor deserved this amount being paid him as expenses, as but for Ids action when standing for (he Provincial Council, they would never have received the amount voted for municipalities. Cr Farr would support the resolution if only to allay a little feeling of irritation that existed outside, and he thought this would ho the case if the resolution were rescinded.

Cr Calvert would support the resolution, and considered that the money should be given to the Mayor to spend as he liked. Or Ick hoped whoever occupied the chair — whether money for the position Avcre voted or not—he would never put one penny of it into his own pocket [hear, hearj —and to prevent any such contingency lie had voted for the amount being given as official expenses. Ho would regret that it should go forth to the public that they Avere acting so shabbily to their Mayor as to refuse to vote him £3OO for money spent in his official capacity, and In thought that much more had been made of this matter than it Avarranted, both inside and outside the Council. With reference to his appointment on the committee, he knew nothing of it, as he was not in the province at the time, and ho had since particularly regretted his absence during the time the committee were tasting (lie wines [Laughter.] The Mayor said that it vas known eighteen months before lie was elected that he would not take the position of Mayor unless £3OO wore A'oted to him. lie wanted to he pa das the Waimakariri Board were paid, viz , for at - tending to their duties. It Avas a most humiliating position to ask their Mayor to account for every penny he spent in charity or anything else. A committee had been appointed—and Cr Gapes bad A'oted for its appointment—which had cairied out the arrangements of the dinner in connection Avith the Mayoral banquet. The man who Avas considered the greatest man in New Zealand (he meant Julius Yogel) had told him personally that he considered the opening of the outfall drain second to no other undertaking in Canterbury, not even second to the opening of (he tunnel ; and if the taking aAvay of the filth of the city was not a greater public be nfE than the visit of a Piince, then he did n t know what a great undertaking Avas. A committee had made all the arrangerm nts. had tis'ed the wines, had issued the invitations, and if that was not done officially, then he did not know what Avould be ca’ied official. Why ho wanted the £309 voted for the position. Avas that they might have a good man. who could not afford to fill the position without some payment. What did they call official expenses ? Why, his friend Cr Raphael wanted him to invite him down to New Brighton, and give him a dinner at the Mayor’s expense. Would that have been official ? Cr Jones Avanted his boys, Avith their new clothes on, to have a treat, all at the expense of the Mayor. Perhaps that would have been official? Councillors wanted a visit to the stone breaking machine, and a little outing, and avlao did they want to pay for it all, why the Mayor ; and if a poor Avoman came Avith six children, and didn’t know what to do with them, Avhy who was she sent to —why the Mayor ; and perhaps all those would not be considered official expenses. If they didn’t have confidence in the Mayor chosen by them, then the sooner be Avas elected outside the better. If they Avanted to get a Mayor with a pudding head and plenty of money, they could, no doubt, find him, but if they wanted a man Avith brains and money too, they might have some difficulty in obtaining one. This was a lesson to other municipalities Avho had now an opportunity of looking down on them. He hadn’t got his £3OO yet, and was going to send in a bill for £llO, and he hoped they Avould pay it, and Avben he did they could say that they had paid him the sum voted for official expenses. It was his intention to support the resolution .

Cr Raphael having replied, the resolution Avas pnt and carried, with Cr Jones as the only dissentient.

The usual weekly report of the inspector of nuisances was read and approved. A letter was read from Mr B. Midgely, calling attention to the assessment of his property in Team street West, compared with that of last year. The Council decided that they had no power in this matter. An estimate of the receipts and expenditure of the Christchurch City Council to 1 nth November, 1874. amounting to £2911 (is Bd. and approved by the finance coni mif tee, was laid on the table. The Council adjourned at five minutes past twelve o’clock.