CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 368, 17 August 1875, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, August 16,

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

The town clerk reported receipts for th» week to be as follow :—From rate collector: account general city rates, l 8ro ) A 232 7s t Waimakariri do, £3B 6d ; fines from Resident Magistrate’s Court, £ls 15s ; received for licenses, £2 15s; rent from Market olaee, 7s, Total receipts, £289 18s (id. Overdraft at Bank on general account, £3296 Is sd. Drainage rate account—Dr, £340 18s. Drainage rate account Or, £lOl2 10s 7d. Wages, &c., to be paid on general account, £395 11s lid ; on drainage account, £835 Is lOd. The Mayor said that in accordance with the resolution passed at the last sitting of the Council, the town clerk had telegraphed to his Honor the Superintendent, the Hon E, Richardson, and Mr E. Wakefield. A telegram was also forwarded, stating that an election of some members of the City Council would take place on the 9th September, when a general expression on the Bill would be obtained. To that telegram, the following reply had been received—“ Have received your telegram re postponement of Drainage Bill. It is now in possession of House, &c. I have promised members of Drainage Conference to take it through. This promise I shall do my best to fulfil ; but there will be no need to press its third reading till after September 9th. I cannot, however, delay the intermediate stages without prejudicing the prospect of passing it at all.—W. Rolleston.” He (the Mayor) desired to say that, in compliance with a requisition signed by eighty-nine gentlemen, he had convened a public meeting, to be held in the Oddfellows’ Hall, on Wednesday next, as that was the only evening on which the hall would be disengaged. A revision court, to revise the burgess list, would be held in the Council Chambers, on Thursday next. He (his Worship) had seen Mr Craig during the week with reference to the loan of £9OOO, and that gentleman had told him that the money would be paid over after the debenture forms had been drawn out.

On the motion of Or Jones, it was resolved that the necessary steps bo taken to have the debentures drawn out for the £OOOO.

A lengthy discussion here took place, in which Crs Ick, Bishop, Hart, and Raphael dwelt strongly on the discourteous manner iu which tlie Council had been treated by the representatives for the City, in not consider ing and paying deference to a resolution passed by the Council, and thus staying the Bill in its first stages; while the Mayor, Cis Jones aud Gapes held that the resolution agreed to by the conference was passed with others by the representatives of the Council, his Worship adding that the Council seemed to think that any resolution passed by them must override a resolution passed by any other legally constituted body. Ultimately Or Gapes moved—* 1 That this Council desires to thank his Honor the Superintendent for his telegram re Drainage Bill; also for bis courtesy in delaying L the third reading

until after the election on the 9th September, when an expression of the opinions of the ratepayers will be obtained. Cr Jones seconded the motion, which was carried.

The city surveyor reported ; “ 1. The works committee recommend that the evergreen shrubs on the North belt should be thinned out, as it will give more space and air, and consequently make the roads drier.

“2.1 have ordered six of the city men to be discharged tb-morrow in order to reduce their number.

“ 3. The water carts I am going to have painted and repaired so as to be ready for the dry season. “4. The tank at Lane’s mill is so much out of repair, that I take the liberty of suggesting a more permanent one, of brick and stone, being built in its stead. After discussion, farther consideration of clause No 1 was, on the amendment of Cr Hart, deferred for a week..

The remaining clauses of the report were approved. Three letters were read—From the Hon B. Richardson—l. Acknowledging receipt of letter enclosing copy of resolution with reference to establishment of Drainage Board. 2. Acknowledging letter forwarding draft of Drainage Loan Bill. 3. Acknowledging letter of 4th instant, and stating in reply, that no such Bill as the Pollution of Rivers Bill is before Parliament, bus should such a Bill be introduced, a copy will be forwarded. Received with thanks.

A letter was read, signed by some residents in Conference street, asking what the Council would charge per chain to shingle and take over that street.

Referred to the surveyor to report. A letter was read from Mr H, Marks, complaining of the manner in which the gravelling of the footpaths in Barbadoes street, from Worcester to Gloucester street has been performed. Resolved, a reply be sent that this matter will be attended to as soon as possible. A letter was read from Mr George Findlay, calling attention to the state of the footpath on the North Town belt, between Madras and Barbadoes streets. Referred to the works committee.

A letter was read from Mr W. Palmer, calling attention to that part of the North town belt between Manchester and Madras streets. Referred to the works committee.

A long letter was read from Mr John Lee, bringing under the notice of the Council “ the present unsatisfactory manner in which questions of great importance to ratepayers are now discussed and disposed of at what are called public meetings of ratepayers.” After some discussion, Cr Ick moved—- “ That the town clerk be instructed to have the necessary number of tickets printed, signed by the town clerk, and issued to ratepayers and burgesses of Christchurch who shall apply for them, and only be admitted to the meeting to be held on Wednesdayevening next. Cr Calvert seconded the motion.

After each of the councillors had spoken, Cr Ick withdrew his resolution, expressing an opinion that the result of the meeting to be held to-morrow would not be an expression of the ratepayers of Christchurch. An expression of opinion followed on the petition on which Wednesday’s meeting had been called by the Mayor, one or two councillors stating that the names had been obtained by a wandering vagrant in the shape of a little boy who was told not to say who sent him. His Worship said he took upon himself the responsibility of calling the meeting (though he would have desired his Honor the Deputy Superintendent to take the chair, and permit him (his Worship) to take an independent position that evening)—guided by the names of responsible signatures to the petition, of whose genuineness he had not the slightest doubt.

It was ultimately resolved that a letter of thanks be sent to Mr Lee for his suggestions.

A letter was read from Mr J. Struthers Williams, requesting that enclosed demand for rates for offices might be brought under the notice of the Council with a view to a reduction.

On the motion of Cr Raphael, seconded by Cr Hart, the reduction from £l9O to £9O was granted, as the valuer said a mistake had occurred by a clerical error.

A letter was read from Mr J. Tonge asking that the inspector of nuisances might be sent to see his property. A report was read from the inspector of nuisances on applications (the foregoing one among the rest) for the remission of rates submitted to him at last meeting of the Council, and reporting unfavorably to the applicants.

On the motion of Or Hart the following resolution was carried—“ That this Council sympathises with the applicants, but is not in a position to give compensation in these cases, as they had no control over the causes of the flood.”

The following letter, with enclosures, were read from the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade “ His Worship the Mayor. “ Sir, —I enclose a letter which I have received signed by three members of the Brigade containing statements made by Cr Raphael, and calculated to pervert the good feeling that, has hitherto existed between the members, and myself, and the City Council. “ To prevent any further disruption, I have to ask the Council to say if the whole is not an utter perversion of the true state of the case. *• I have, &c, “ W. Haeris, “ Superintendent.” ENCLOSURES. “ W. Harris, Esq., Superintendent C.V.F.B. “In consequence of the discussion at the annual meeting last night on remarks made outside the brigade, reflecting on the management of the Brigade in general, and the Superintendent in particular, we, the undersigned members of the brigade, deem it our duty to lay before you the assertions made to us by Mr Raphael on the subject abovementioned. “ Yours respectfully, “ J. Piper, “ Edmund Rose, “ Geo Fuller, j. piper “1. That the brigade costs £IOOO per annum. “ 2. That every fire costs from £2O to £25. “3. That one man ought not to receive £l5O a year, when men who do the work get one pair of boots, value 18s 6d. “4. That all refreshments had by the brigade were not paid for by Mr Harris, only in the first instance, and were charged by him to the Council, and paid by them*

“ 5. That he could produce accounts showing this item. “ J. Piper, “ Foreman steamer Extinguisher.’’ ROSE AND FULLER. “ 1. That the brigade costs an average of £IOOO a year. “2. That all refreshments had by the brigade were charged by Mr Harris to the Council, under the tending 1 Contingencies.’ “Edmund Rose. “ Geo. Fuller,” Attached to the foregoing was a “ Statement of cost and maintenance of the Christchurch Fire Brigade,” for seven years ending August, 1873, showing total receipts, £2268 17s 2d; total expenditure, £5861 6s. Dr balance, £3592 8s Id. Or Raphael desired to say in reply, that any conversations for enquiry as to expenditure he might have had with members of the Fire Brigade, had no reference to his position as a councillor. Personally,_ he held the brigade as a body in the highest esteem. His inquiries had-simply been made in conversation, possibly for the benefit of the ratepayers, but simply in his position as a private individual, and he did not think such a letter should be sent in.

His Worship said that the persons whose names were attached to the letter had waited upon him, after their annual meeting, at which there had been a great deal of dissatisfaction expressed, and Mr Superintendent Harris, and the majority of the members of the brigade, had stated their intention of sending in their resignation. He had requested Mr Harris and the other members to withhold such an intention, as he firmly believed |that such a result would have proved a public calamity. As Cr Raphael had expressed himself that his remarks were merely used in conversation, to be taken for what they were worth, and possessing nothing in fact, he would trust that this matter would now be allowed to rest, with a hope that councillors would be careful in the future not to lightly use expressions which might imply a stigma on so useful a body. As the matter of expense had been referred to, he would merely say that the actual cost of the brigade to the ratepayers was about £l5O a year, and he must congratulate the citizens of Christchurch on possessing so well organised a body, spoken of in every province throughout New Zealand, at so cheap a rate. Or Hart would endeavour to settle the matter by moving the following resolution: — “That this Council are perfectly satisfied with the management of the Fire Brigade and its officers and men, and are sorry any misunderstanding should have arisen with any of the members of this Council when outside the Council Chamber.” Cr Calvert seconded the motion.

Cr Jones was proceeding to address the Council on the resolution, when a passage of arms occurred between him and Cr Raphael, which resulted in the Mayor calling the latter to order, after vihich the resolution was put and carried unanimously. A letter from Mr Aldridge, applying for soil to fill up some low lying land, was referred to the sanitary committee.

A letter was read from Captain Halkett referring to the state of the drain on the north side of Antigua street. Referred to the surveyor to report. A report from the rate collector was read on a letter from J. Oppenheim, endorsing the statement made in applicant’s letter. On the motion of Cr Raphael, seconded by Cr Calvert, the rates were remitted as requested. The usual weekly report of the inspector of nuisances was read and approved. The Council then adjourned, NOTICES OP MOTION FOR MONDAY NEXT.

Cr Raphael to move—“ That the city solicitor be instructed to file an information against Cr Jones, for supplying goods to this Council, and acting as chairman of committee in passing his own account, and sitting in Council and proposing that his account should be paid, contrary to the 37th section of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1867, and the Limitation of Patronage Act.” Cr Jones to move—“ That the plantations on the North Town belt be removed, and that the works committee take such steps they may deem necessary to carry this resolution into effect.”